VFORCE RACE REPORT – THE FINAL EDITION
BROUGHT TO YOU BY MOTO TASSINARI
MOTO TASSINARI IS THE PREMIER MANUFACTURER OF PERFORMANCE ENHANCING REED VALVES
CANNING CROWNED KING AT THE ‘WICK
Perseverance is the mind set that won the 2023 FOX Racing J DAY Off Road GP Championship for Chris Canning in his first full season chasing that goal. He survived injury, equipment failure and a full race disqualification and never gave in or never gave up. Every time something reared it’s ugly head and tried to deter the Factory Connection / MotorBikes Plus / FXR / LOUD Fuel Co. Gas Gas rider he met it straight on and came back stronger each time adversity tried to take from him what is now rightfully his. With 6 Overall wins in 2023, the most of any competitor on the season, Canning was able to cancel any bad results and take the Championship by 21 points over Vice Champion Brandon Gregoire on the Factory Connection / LBR Moto / FXR Yamaha who had a terrific season and did plenty persevering of his own. The battle for the title went right down to the last moto of the season and going into the day only 23 points seperated 4 riders with 2022 J DAY Champion Simon Johnson taking the third step in the Championship title tally. The Championship run at Round 15 was so tight that this is the exact order of how these riders finished the event overall with Canning taking the win, Gregoire second on the box and Johnson filling out the podium on the Plaistow Power Sports / Factory Connection / AM PRO Yamaha and all 3 giving maximum effort on this fateful day where Chris Canning fulfilled his dream of becoming an Off Road Champion and better still the 2023 J DAY Off Road GP Champion. On the podium with the light fading Canning’s contagious smile brightened the venue and was a mile wide as he revealed that his Championship success brought with it a Factory Beta ride for 2024 where he will defend his J DAY title and also ride a few PRO MX Nationals as well where he will again be a top 100 ranked rider Nationally. Congratulations on a well deserved opportunity for Chris and it shows how perseverance pays off and you should always follow your dreams. Fourth overall for the day was one of the original J DAY Off Road fast guys Jake Abbott on his MotorBikes Plus Husqvarna and was indeed his finest ride in many years as he flowed through the treacherous Southwick Sand and bested Gavin Simon on the Edelman’s Husqvarna and Jimmy Decotis on his new BLU CRU ride. The three had some great battles both times out and put on a great show for the J DAY faithful. Brayden Nolette took the V3 Kawasaki to 7th overall, Super Duper ‘A’ class rider Van Gosselin again beat most of the PRO riders finishing 8th overall at round 15 and astonishingly SIXTH Overall in the final Championship Point standings. Van will soon turn Sixteen years old and his Future in Off Road racing is So Bright He’s Gotta Wear Shades. Watch for the Ronnie’s Cycle / Battery Park sponsored KTM rider in 2024 and beyond because he is going to turn some heads here in New England and on the National Level as well. Ninth Overall went to one of the most popular J DAY racers ever Nate Smith on his MHR / FXR / POR Husqvarna and the top ten was rounded out by Nick Kordana on the Motorsports Nation Yamaha.
What a nail biter of a season the kind every racing fan loves as the title fight went right down to the final lap of the final moto of the final race of the season. Chris Canning proved he was more than a contender and that he is a pure and true Champion not only in his preferred sport of MX where he is a 19 time Professional Champion but now in his new favorite discipline Off Road. He stated in his podium interview that this was his hardest Championship to win and the satisfaction indescribable as he conquered the closest multiple rider fight in series history.
……And Now for the Rest of the Story
Pee Wee Senior Round 15 Winner was Tucker Aldrich who is the 2023 Champion. Crue Hopkins took the win at the ‘Wick and the 2023 Bantam title. Dino Lucchetti took the ‘Wick Squirt win but it Bryan Ramos winning the ’23 title. Matheus Soares took the Trailrider class win at round 15 but it was Hunter Aubin taking home the title for ’23. Delaney Levesque took her first ever win in the Pee Wee Girls class at the last round and it was Sophia Teixeira the class Champion this year. David Alipio won the race and the Championship in the Electric class.
Super Mini today the winner was the class champion Ryan Amancio.
Mini A round 15 winner Cameron Bachand / ’23 Champ DJ Leblanc
Mini B round 15 winner and ’23 Champ Bodie Preece
Mini C round 15 winner Jaikin Johnson / ’23 Champ Ashtin Dumeer
Girls round 15 winner and ’23 Champion Addison Harris
C 200 round 15 winner Noah Willis / ’23 Champ Devon LaRoche
C 250 round 15 winner Jake Dondero / ’23 Champ Porter Breton
C Open round 15 winner Chase Setzer / ’23 Champ Joseph Werner
PRO Womens was won by my friend Addie Harris in her first ever PRO race at only 14 years old. She has been beating the PRO Women on occasion this year as an Amateur classified rider but now has bumped up to PRO and I will miss the great racing in this class next season between the 15 year old reigning 2 time Champion Ruby Fustini, who was off riding Enduro Cross in Idaho, and the Rhode Island Rocket. Congratulations Addie on your first of many PRO Womens class wins and I know you will always make me proud to be your friend not only because of your racing accomplishments but more importantly because of the warm hearted person you are and the wonderful woman you will become.
Womens Amateur round 15 winner Sadie Dodge / ’23 Champ Addie Harris
Masters round 15 winner Peter Sprague / ’23 Champ Mike Hauser
Super Senior round 15 winner Scott Phelps / ’23 Champ Nate Martel
C Veteran round 15 winner William Judd / ’23 Champ Victor Medeiros
C Senior round 15 winner and ’23 Champion Wederson Maximo
PRO 125 round 15 winner Chris Canning got a warm up for the big PRO Class race and ’23 Champ Brandon Gregoire reveled in his first Professional title. At the start of 2023 Brandon Gregoire’s name was not on the tip of anyone’s tongue regarding the winner’s of either of the PRO Class championships. As a matter of fact with many he didn’t even get a mention for top 5. I have always seen the potential in Brandon due to his skill set on a dirt bike and his tremendous speed and Gregoire always brought excitement when he entered a J DAY race but with all young riders harnessing that speed and keeping focused is difficult especially when a rider has aspirations in another discipline of our sport. In 2023 the 22 year old Brandon Gregoire committed himself to the entire J DAY Season and proved to the off road crowd he has what it takes when he gains that focus and harnesses that speed to win the PRO 125 Championship and finish second to the venerable veteran Chris Canning in the Overall J DAY Championship. I have a feeling that at only 22 if Brandon Gregoire puts his mind to it and he came a long way in that department in 2023 that this will be the start of a very successful career battling for J DAY titles for many years to come.
Junior A round 15 winner was Jiggs Fustini who I spoke so highly of in my last report. In an incredible turn of events Jiggs moved up to the A class after winning the B Championship a round earlier and beat a rider who has been almost unbeatable in this class and has at some points in this season been able to beat the PRO riders in the 125 class. That rider being none other than 2023 class Champion Flyin’ Ryan Amancio. Big things to come for both of these riders for certain.
B 200 round 15 winner Dylan Sharpe / ’23 Champ Robbie Webb
B 250 round 15 winner and ’23 Champ Shane Czelazewicz
B Open round 15 winner Jackson Miner / ’23 Champ Ethan Benoit
A Senior round 15 winner Will Hopkins / ’23 Champ Leo Silva
Junior B round 15 winner Oliver Cortis / ’23 Champ Jiggs Fustini
B Veteran round 15 winner and ’23 Champ Brian Hopkins
B Senior round 15 winner Emerson Cayer / ’23 Champ Elias Roberto
A Veteran round 15 winner Heath Francois / ’23 Champ Dennis Baker
A 200 round 15 winner and ’23 Champ Jacob Pacheco
A 250 round 15 winner Andrew Veit / ’23 Champ Van Gosselin
A Open round 15 winner Corbin Owens / ’23 Champ Grady Hall
It has been a fantastic season with some of the championship battles going down to the final round at the ‘Wick where we always feel so very welcomed by the Johnson family and all the people employed by them. The facility is top notch and Keith and Rick and JD and crew do a great job to keep it that way year after year and rest assured it is all made possible by Mike Grondahl and the American Legion Post 338.
I have some very fond memories from the time I went to see the first National MX there in 1972 and then my first race there in 1976. My fondest memories coming from the years 1978 through 1981 when I raced the National MX there. Some of my fondest memories being the great J Day races I have experienced at the ‘Wick and there have been so many good years spectating at those Nationals and watching the success of some of the greatest Sand riders in the World who just happened to be from New England. Sothwick is still the only track on the National MX Circuit where there are surprise performances from some local guys who really know how to fly on the grueling world famous sand track. Some of the names worth mentioning and not limited to are Ellis, Iott, Roy, Granville, Robillard, Guerra, Keller, Morrison, Burdette, Barton, Waddington, Treadwell, Carter, Silva, Johnson, Dowd, Henry, Marshall, DeCotis and Canning. I know I forgot a few but it’s getting late and I hate to run on too long but you get my meaning there have been so many great riders to come out of New England and we should be proud of all of them and proud to be a part of the system that helped shape them into the great guys they all are. Please help keep the tradition alive and present in people’s mind in my absence.
Speaking of my absence I won’t be too far and we’ll see you at the Banquet and we’ll visit every once in a while and if you miss me come do some Dual Sport motorcycle riding with me in Costa Rica. My FaceBook page is MORE TOURS COSTA RICA and you can contact me there to book your tours.
It truly has been a pleasure to call the J DAY races for you all these years and then to bring you these race reports for the last three. The race reports would not be possible if not for the generosity and dedication to racing of my dear friends Steve and Scott Tassinari of Moto Tassinari who make V FORCE REEDS in Lebanon New Hampshire, a true New England company. Please use their product only if you want your motorcycle to perform at it’s Best. V FORCE really works and I have it in my Husqvarna.
Thank you all for your kind words over the years and the friendships we have enjoyed. Thank you for sticking around and giving me a send off at my final podium appearance. It really meant a lot to me that you all think so much of me to stay in the rain and the dark and I really do Love you all. We will meet again.
For the Last Time this is JJ Saying See You at a J DAY