VFORCE RACE REPORT – SANDBOX GP
BROUGHT TO YOU BY MOTO TASSINARI
MOTO TASSINARI IS THE PREMIER MANUFACTURER OF PERFORMANCE ENHANCING REED VALVES
RUSSELL BLASTS ‘EM AT THE SANDBOX
Ricky Russell of the Am Pro Yamaha Team took a little vacation to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and came away with the Lions Share of the PRO Purse at Round 11 of the FOX Racing J DAY Off Road Championship. This was Russell’s first trip to the J DAY Tour in 2023 as he was in New Hampshire for the week to test with the Factory Connection crew at the suspension company’s Interplanetary Headquarters but he is no stranger to our series and has a lot of fans up here in the Great White North and had the support of the J DAY faithful. In the first moto it was hard to tell who the fans were cheering for more , Russell or reigning champ Simon Johnson on the Plaistow Power Sports / Am Pro / Factory Connection Yamaha as the two were locked in a battle so close that they ran the exact same lap time on the final lap but Russell got the nod to win by just two seconds. Johnson was fast all day and showed he is still very much in the hunt for his second championship as he not only battled Russell but early in the moto had a fierce battle with Championship point leader Chris Canning and pulled off the Moto Tassinari Move of the Day when he was passed by Canning going into the S Turns between the trees just before the FMF Extreme section and zapped Canning in the second bend in the S with a beautiful outside move using the berm like a slingshot and set sail for Ricky Muscle , quickly putting time between he and the Factory Connection / Canning MX / FXR Gas Gas rider. Canning would ride mostly alone for the remainder of the moto finishing 3rd and Bubz Tasha took the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC / Tely Energy / Loud Fuel Co KTM to fourth while Brandon Gregoire rounded out the top 5 on the Factory Connection / FXR / LBR Yamaha.
Moto 2 would see Gavin Simon on the Edelmans Husqvarna grab the Holeshot but that would be the bright spot of his day as he had a rough one. Russel would pass him quickly and lead all 8 laps and cruise to a 34 second win over Chris Canning who would turn his 3-2 moto scores into second overall. Simon Johnson would get a good start and complete lap one in second place but this time the battle on lap 2 between he and Canning was won by the veteran Canning and Johnson would finish third in the moto and overall. Gavin Simon would press on regardless and take fourth overall with 6-5 scores. Brayden Nolette had an inspired second moto on the V3 Kawi finishing fourth and with an eighth in the first scored 5th overall. Both riders keeping slim chances for the 2023 title alive. Rounding out the top 10 overall were Brandon Gregoire ( 5-7 ) who is still in contention as well, Jeremy Whalstrom showing some sand skills and scoring his best PRO overall finish going 9-6 for seventh, Nick Casey on the Evans Coolant KTM ( 7-10 ) was eighth, Bangor, PA native Neil Enman rode 11-9 scores to ninth overall and Super A Class rider the fifteen year old sensation out of Poultney Vermont on his Ronnies Cycle KTM Van Gosselin went ( 10-11 ) for a second consecutive top Ten Overall against the best PRO riders in the North East. Van is fast and getting faster, smooth and getting smoother and he manages his race very well but one thing that stands out is he is someone who fellow competitors can trust in a tight racing scenario and he leaves it all out there on the track holding no grudges , the way it should be.
Oh and if you are keeping score on the Championship race it’s Canning by 9 over Johnson who leads Simon by one point who leads Gregoire by another 9 points. It’s getting…..Spicey….with Four Rounds to Go.
……And Now for the Rest of the Story
Kenda Pee Wee Challenge set off for their once a day 40 minute moto under bright sunshiney skies and it was Tucker Aldrich from Greenfield, MA who had the biggest smile as he stood atop the Red Bull Victory Lane Podium and continued his winning ways. Aldrich has had some competition this year from 3 different riders but he does hold a healthy 20 point lead and has 7 wins in 11 rounds and looks strong to repeat as Champion. His strongest competition this year has come from Sawyer Langenback who finished third today and Jaikan Johnson who lead early but had to battle back to second after being in 4th on lap 6 of 13. There was great racing throughout the moto with many passes and position changes as Destry Tucker was in the mix and finished fourth with Coleston Swift fifth.
Pee Wee Bantam winner Crue Hopkins was impressive at 7th Overall. The Squirt class winner was Dino Lucchetti on a Honda, Trailrider winner was Hunter Aubin on his Honda , Sophia Teixeira took another Pee Wee Girls win and Teagan Tucker took the win on a Gas Gas in the Electric class over Tripp Lever.
Super Mini honors went to Flyin’ Ryan Amancio with Kamden Krause second and Colton McQuarrie third. Mini A win went to DJ Leblanc, Mini B was Bodie Preece , Mini C was Jaikin Johnson and the Girls class win went to Addie Harris.
The C class Overall win went to 250 winner Max Rivera with fellow 250 riders Joey Nadworny second and Richard Moquin third overall.
Womens PRO winner Ruby Fustini had her hands full with veteran and former Champ Savanah Kipp who was second in class and the ” Rhode Island Rocket “ Addie Harris the 14 year old Trail Jesters KTM speedster who won the Womens Amateur class and finished second overall in the combined class. Eden Netelkos joined us on the third step of the podium.
Nate Martel had another Super Senior win but only after a second moto loss to Ryno Brown on the HK Powersports Kawi who went ( 3 – 1 ) for 2nd overall. Masters class win went to Wayne Garneau on his Garneau’s Garage Kawasaki as he lapped the field. It’s almost Ski Doo season and you should call Wayne if your looking to buy one as he owns one of the oldest Ski Doo dealers in the World in Twin Mountain NH. C Vet win went to Leandro Cardoso and Wederson Maximo beat John Padden in the C Senior class.
PRO 125 saw some of the best action of the day and had the entire crowd on their feet and cheering on their favorite riders and one of J DAY’s favorite sons Flyin’ Ryan Amancio did what no Junior A rider has done before….Amancio WON the first PRO MOTO !!!!! History in the making and it won’t be the last time in the already successful career of the 14 year old Connecticut rider who has already won J DAY and GNCC Titles. Ryan beat in that first moto a rider he has raced many times and beaten on occasion Van “ the Vermonster “ Gosselin and it was a delight to see both young men on the podium and reliving the moments with excitement and respect for one another. Brandon Gregoire would finish third in the first moto and draw from his years of experience to win a battle from the two youngsters in the second go round and come out on top in the overall standings on the day and bring it home for the Factory Connection / LBR / FXR Team. Gosselin would go ( 2-2 ) for second overall and Amancio ( 1-3 ) third overall and Junior A class winner over Hawaii native Thor Powell of the Blu Cru.
The B class overall winner was Shane Czelazewicz as he won the 250 division over New Hampshire rider Josh McCommish. Open B went to Ethan Benoit over Evan Veit on the A& E Racing Husky and the 200 class was won by Robbie Webb as he traded moto wins with Karson Dias.
Wilbur Hopkins on the Plaistow Power Sports Yamaha followed Crue’s example and kept the family in the win column when he cruised to the Senior A Class win. Junior B win went to Trail Jesters KTM rider Jiggs Fustini with Jonathan Alipio a respectable 2nd. Alex Saunders took the Vet B win over Kevin Johnston and the Senior B win went to Emerson Cayer over Pat Devine and Paul Gallagher.
The Vet A class is always exciting to watch and Wassley Teixeira took both motos with Clint “ the Kawboy “ Angwin second overall.
A 250 Class was won by Van Gosselin over Andrew Veit on the A&E Racing KTM, while second generation racer Nate Marr , who gets his off road racing talents from both sides of the family picked up his first A Open win on the Plaistow Power Sports Yamaha and Jacob Pacheco took top 200 honors on the Dunkin’ Donuts entry.
The track was well layed out and super fun to ride with all the sand on the moto track and the woods sections almost the complete opposite with black dirt and lots of mud too with Deeeeep Holes.
Jake and The entire Sanborn family and crew are the finest kind and we always feel so welcomed when we are at the Sandbox. It truly is a pleasure to be there so don’t forget you can ride there on the moto track to practice and hone your moto skills several days a month so check them out at www.sandboxnh.com for the schedule.
Great racing at a great track with the best people….it don’t get no bettah !!! Another Granite State venue on September 24th at the Buccaneer GP in Lempster and I’ll see you there as the countdown continues to FOUR !!!
Until next time this is JJ saying See You at the Next J DAY !!!!