VFORCE RACE REPORT – CROW HILL 1

BROUGHT TO YOU BY MOTO TASSINARI
MOTO TASSINARI IS THE PREMIER MANUFACTURER OF PERFORMANCE ENHANCING REED VALVES

CANNING SCHOOLS THEM AT CROW HILL

Chris Canning on his Factory Connection / canningmx.com / FXR / MotorBikes Plus entries took both PRO classes to school at Round 10 of the FOX Racing J DAY Off Road Championship in Templeton MA as he won all four motos. Even a crash that looked more spectacular from the Crows Nest than it actually was, deemed a tip over by Canning on the Red Bull Podium after the days races, couldn’t keep him from achieving the four moto sweep that was impressive to watch. I’ve often said during the race day and especially on the podium that if you want to go as fast as Chris Canning you should attend one of his riding clinics that he teachs all over the country and could even be at a track near you soon. 

With his fourth overall win in 2023 Canning took back the Championship points lead that he is dedicated to winning. The track today featured all of the immaculately prepared Moto Cross track which favored the multi time NESC MX Champion but the woods are boney and as the day wears on with over 600 motorcycles riding the course for 9 hours the rocks show up everywhere and even the fast parts are increasingly difficult. This shows the dedication towards improving his woods skills that Canning is fast accomplishing. He excelled everywhere today and it showed as he won his motos handily with his smallest margin of victory 14 seconds and in the moto he had the tip over  16 seconds, with his largest being 41 seconds in a dominating PRO moto number 1. 

Chris Canning got good starts all day and put his booming four stroke Gas Gas 450 out front early and lead every lap of the PRO class today. He had some competition from the usual suspects and Rocky Mountain / Tely Energy / Loud Fuel Co rider Bubz Tasha on holiday from his GNCC tour gave everything he had to hang with Chris and would come home second on the day with 5-2 moto finishes even surviving a fuel line displacement in moto one where he came from way dead last to finish fifth. Reigning J DAY Champion Simon Johnson joined us on the podium and took his Plaistow Power Sports Yamaha to 2-5 scores for third overall and sits only 7 points adrift of the championship lead. Brandon Gregoire took the Factory Connection / LBR Yamaha to fourth overall and is only 12 points out of the battle. With 5 rounds left and 12 points separating 4 riders it is going to be the closest championship battle in years if not ever. Brayden Nolette came fifth overall today with a brilliant ride to 3rd in moto two and still has an outside chance at the Championship 41 points back. Remember this is J DAY baby and anything can happen……and usually does. Filling out the rest of the top ten in the PRO class was Gavin Simon on the Edelmans Husqvarna who lost the championship points lead but sits only 6 points back with 5 rounds to go. Kyle Murdoch took time off from his MX schedule and went 6-6 on the MotorBikes Plus Husqvarna for 7th overall, Nick Casey took the MHR KTM to 8th, Dylan Moriarty rode his Yamaha to 9th and Nate Smith took his TE Enduro version Husqvarna with headlight and tailight on board to tenth overall and made the MHR / FXR / POR team proud. It was an impressive effort on the more recreational rather than race platform motorcycle against the stiffest competition in the Northeast by one of the most likeable and popular riders on the circuit who spends his days as the parts manager at MHR. Great guy with a great effort.

……And now for the rest of the story

On the first race of 2023 that was not affected by the rain the Kenda Pee Wee Challenge set off on their once a race day 40 minute moto with bright shiney faces and ended the with the same. These kids have so much fun and you can’t help but smile while interacting with them due to their enthusiasm for the sport and their comraderie and friendship for one another. Tucker Aldrich is back to his winning ways and was a pleasure to watch. Sawyer Langenback had a tree jump out in front of him mid moto but would shake it off and persevere to finish second and Tyler Del Mauro from Connecticut who is usually a MXer joined the J DAY scene for the first time and took his Husky to 3rd overall.

The rest of the Pee Wee winners included Crue Hopkins who got some greenbacks for the Hot Lap Award and took the win in the Bantam division and finished 10th overall in the moto, Bejamin Silva took his first win in the Squirt division, Hunter Aubin again was the best Trailrider on his Honda, David Alipio kept the family tradition alive and well with his win in the Electric division and Isla Kastel took a surprising win over Sophia Teixeira who had a little bike trouble but sorted it out and finished second while the always smiling Delaney Levesque took the # 199 Central Mass Powersports KTM to third overall in the Pee Wee Girls division making her extensive racing family proud.

Usually at the end of a race day I am joined on the Red Bull Victory Lane podium by Connecticut fast guy Flyin’ Ryan Amancio but today may have marked the changing of the guard in the Super Mini class shape of things to come. Change happens in phases and I am not saying that today’s winner is going to start beating his older buddy Ryan on the regular but what I am saying is in racing momentum is built through confidence and today when Colton McQuarrie stood on the top step of the Super Mini podium he continued to build the confidence necessary to become successful at this very  difficult sport where at the highest level intelligence, creativity and mental toughness are what separates the most talented riders. Amancio did win the first moto but McQuarrie came back after being passed to battle regular second placer in class Kamden Krause and finish second in that moto and back it up with a second moto win over Krause by 50 seconds. We must remember that Colton is at least 3 years younger than the fastest guys in the class and is already running their pace and now beating them. The way a true racers mind works is once you have tasted victory you know it is possible and you will do any and every thing to feel that rush that comes along with it.  A third generation racer from New Hampshire who is already a J DAY and GNCC Champion at the ripe old age of 11 gets it from both sides of the family, McQuarrie will most definitely make every effort for victory and will attain it again rest assured….. it just might be sooner than we all can imagine. His victory was sealed a few moments later when his friend Ruby Fustini, the reigning J DAY Womens PRO Champion gave him a Champagne Bath but only after asking for permission to do so moments before and though he walked away with a scowl because that stuff is sticky he was beaming inside. 

Mini class winners included Caleb Kaminski on a Gas Gas in the A division, Jayson Labouef took B class honors with a double moto win on a KTM, Tyler Del Mauro on a Husqvarna won the C division and Madison Kazimir did what not many have done in 2023 when she defeated Addie Harris both motos to claim victory in the Girls class on her Husqvarna.

The top 3 overall C Class riders were all from the 250 class with the friendly and fast Porter Breton winning both motos on his KTM, Maxwell Rivera who has been good competition for Breton all year took his KTM to second place and Joey Nadworny continues to improve this season and rode the Gas Gas to third Overall for an all Austrian podium.

The multi time Womens Champion Savanah Kipp on the Edelmans KTM  won here at Round 10 and now holds a 13 point lead in the title fight. Reigning Champ of the Womens PRO Class at just 15 years old Ruby Fustini took second today and with her six overall wins this season to 3 for Kipp is still very much in the hunt for her second title. Addie Harris on her Trail Jesters KTM battled with the Womens PRO riders throughout the day to claim victory in the Womens Amateur class. Greg Urquhart took the Masters class, Nate Martel rolled the Yamaha to Super Senior Superiority, Leandro Cardoso sailed to a double moto win in the C Vet class and Wederson Maximo had his own doble in the C Senior class.

As mentioned earlier Chris Canningmx.com took the PRO 125 class by storm and won both motos but not without a little excitement in the second go round. On the first lap in the 2nd moto while battling for the lead with 5 time J DAY PRO 125 Champ Kyle Hangos Canning would experience as he called it “ a small tip over “ in Sector 8 on the Crow Hill MX track that looked worse than it was from a spectators point as the middle berm in the turn exploded as KTM and earth colided. Chris would pick it up quickly, the true Champ he is and press on regardless gaining the lead on lap 2 and cruising to a 16 second win over his nearest competitor Plaistow Power Sports’ wily veteran Hangos who has a J DAY Overall Championship of his own in 2018. Kyle would finish Third  PRO 125 overall for his best finish to date in 2023. The rider who actually finished Third Overall in this combined moto was 14 year old Junior A standout Flyin’ Ryan Amancio and he of course won his class too. Second Overall PRO 125 went to Gavin Simon on his Edelmans Gas Gas as he holds down third in points after Round 10 just 16 points behind the leader Brandon Gregoire who had one of those days he would rather forget when he scored 6th in the 15 rider PRO125 class. Gregoire rode to 3rd in the first moto and 10th  in the second moto and has to be thinking to himself as many others have in the recent past that something is flawed with the moto and overall points paying system. As a result of this he saw his significant points lead shrink to just one over PRO rookie sensation Van Gosselin on the Ronnie’s Cycles KTM who is quickly becoming my new favorite VerMonster as he fought through bike handling issues and took it all in stride with his customary smile and upbeat attitude and took what the day would offer him which was four four for fourth and set him just a point out of the championship battle with 5 rounds remaining…..Go Van Go !!!! Kyle Gaetani was a popular 5th Overall at his home track and is having a good year sitting just outside the top 5 in points. Got to give a shout out to the Hawaiin Shirt Brigade just having fun out there in the true nature of J DAY Off Road !

B class overall winner was Open class rider Cohen Ayer while Austin Brouillette took his Husky to a double moto win in the 200 class Shane Czelazewicz did the same in the 250 class.

Senior A class win went to Leo Silva with a 2-1 after Will Hopkins on the Plaistow Power Sports Yamaha got the measure of him in the first moto but DNFed the second go round. Trail Jesters Jiggs Fustini took the win in Junior B via double moto wins not only in his class but in the entire combined moto overall. Jiggs was flying out there and though a lot is said about a couple of our other young up and comers please do keep your eye on this young man because he has something inside called determination and that my friends comes from within and can’t be taught. In this same moto the B Vet riders were bested by Alex Saunders and the B Seniors by Emmasum Cayer.

Exciting action in the A Classes continued throughout the PRO motos as the battles within the battles were won by Van Gosselin ( oh where have I heard that name before…PRO 125 ) in the A 250 Class while beating all the other A riders he also finished 11th Overall for the day in and amongst the best FOX Racing J DAY PRO racers and is by the bye still 5 months short of his 16th birthday. A Vet class always has some topsy turvy results with no clear favorite this year in the motos but it has been Dennis Baker with the most overall wins and as a result he leads the points with a healthy 41 point margin. At Round ten he would finish 2nd to Heath Francois who comes around every once in a while to stir the pot and Heath had some very determined rides where he made his moves timely when he gained the Overall by going from 4th to first on the last lap of moto 2. Wassley Teixeira , BJ Lanigan and the Kawboy Clint Angwin rounded out the top 5. Grady Hall took his Gas Gas to the A Open win and 14th Overall against the PROs and Jacob Pacheco rode the Dunkin’ Donuts KTM to the A 200 win.

Exciting racing on an awesome track with a great host in the Marshall family who know how to do Moto Right !! Always a great time at Crow Hill as the MX track has the Best Dirt in the area and it is so much fun to ride the flowing circuit. Next Round at Jake Sanborn’s awesome SandBox in Rumney NH and I can’t wait to see you all there.

It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from the Best Damn Off Road series in the World. I am sad that I will not see all of you on the regular in 2024 because you all are why I do the things I do on the microphone and with the pen but I am happy that I will be moving on to the next chapter in my life which is being mostly retired in my new favorite country of Costa Rica. Yes, I am older than you think LoL. I say mostly because you know I can’t let this great sport go and I have to be a part of it still even in a small way. I will be doing Dual Sport Motorcycle Tour Guiding in Costa Rica and You All are invited to come ride with me.  I would love to be your perennial emcee at your awards banquet and have told Ethan of those wishes so we can all catch up with each other every February and rest assured all of you at J DAY will always be present in my mind. You have all been such good friends to me and I really appreciate your kindness and support over these many years my dear friends. 

I’ll be around for the remainder of the 2023 season so we’ll have a chance to say “ See You Soon “ and that brings me to the point of my telling all this…. J DAY Off Road needs it’s next announcer and if you want to be that person I will be more than happy to pass on my experience and help you ease into the role.

What we have proposed is that for the last 5 rounds of 2023 we will audition as many people as want to sign up. How it will work is you come to the announcing area at the start of the day with me and we talk a bit before and you listen to me announce a race or two and then we give you your opportunity to announce the C Class moto and the Womens PRO moto also. If you would like to sign up for this awesome opportunity please contact Ethan Broatch at J DAY Off Road.

Until next time this is JJ saying “ See You at the Next J DAY “