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Matt Whites comes out on top at Round #2 of the
PAMX Series
Duncansville, PA
-- For Round #2 of the American Suzuki Regional
MX Championship series, riders and their crew
headed to North West Pennsylvania. In the small
town of Sugar Grove lies Mapleshade raceway. A
large rain system would push through beginning
Friday night into Saturday afternoon, causing
the cancelation of Saturday's practice. Despite
conditions, riders made the best of the
situation, hanging out with new and old friends.
As the rain pushed out early Sunday morning, the
crew began extensive work on the track. Although
the decision was made to shorten the track, the
crew got every extra length they could by
cutting new lines into the spectator grass area.
Kyle Dammann, Cernics Suzuki Rider, entered
the weekend with one win already under his belt.
With a win already in wet condition, he was a
favorite for a repeat win. With a two moto
format and nearly a full gate, the spectators
quickly filled the fences as the Pro-Am riders
took to the line. When the gate dropped, the
riders charged the long holeshot and swept into
the sharp left hand turn. Joe Bruening would
take an early lead on his ATV Fourplay Yamaha.
Joe would hold his lead and take a moto one win.
Team Hetrick Kawasaki rider, Bobby Ross would
hold off Matt White for the number two spot.
Tony Lucarelli would hold onto the fourth spot,
while Kyle Dammann would finish out the top
five.
As the second moto rolled around, the track
had developed into a true test of endurance.
Although only a few jumps were left on the cut
down track, braking bumps and ruts would take
every ounce of energy for riders to muscle
through. When the gate dropped in the final moto
of the Pro-Am class, it would be the #41 machine
of Tony Lucarelli grabbing the holeshot. On lap
two, Matt White would make a charge up the grass
hill from third place to take over the lead.
Soon after, Bobby Ross would slip by Lucarelli
into the second place position.
Bruening would then begin to apply pressure
to Lucarelli, but it would not be enough to
overtake the position. Back out front, Ross was
trying every angle to slip by White to take the
moto win and overall. His push would not be
enough to get by White as they crossed the
finish line. White would take the moto win and
overall. Ross's 2-2 moto finishes secured him
second place overall while Bruening would wrap
up the podium with his 1-4 finishes. Lucarelli
would walk away with a 4th overall with Kyle
Dammann rounding out the top five.
In the 450A class, Kawasaki ride, Billy
Cottage was on a mission and with no words
proved why he is on a factory backed ride for
2008. Although he had a small mishap in the
Pro-Am class, he bounced back and took two moto
wins and the overall. Kyle Dammann would take
second place with two second place finishes,
while Trevor Borger snagged the final spot on
the podium with his 3-3 finishes.
Michelle Suciu made it back to back wins on
the season in the women's class. While turning
laps times on track with some of the 450A
riders, she pumped out two moto wins to score
the overall. Myka Carpenter went 4-2 to slide
into second overall. Kristen Weiss drove in from
Pine Island, NY and would drive home with a 3rd
place trophy. Rounding out the top five would be
Kelly Winters and Vicky Wnyegar.
The 90 Product Jr. class has some of the top
youth riders in the country. Walking out on top
would be Brandy Cottage on her Honda 90. Her two
moto wins left Kyle Kozura and Maccoy Shine
battling for the number two spot. While the two
would swap finishes, Kozura would take the
second place overall finish with his 3-2 moto
finishes. Shine would mark up a 2-3 for the day
and round out the top 3.
From what many thought would be a rained out
weekend, hard work and sunny skies made Sunday
just like another day at the track. Please take
note that Round #3 has been move to R&D Raceway
in Bentleyville, PA.
PHOTOS BY:
SHANE HARTMAN
About the ATV Association (ATVA)
The ATV Association ("ATVA") is the official
sanctioning body of the amateur division of the
ATVA ITP/Moose ATV National Motocross
Championship Series Presented by Parts
Unlimited. The 9,000-member ATVA is a sister
organization of the 260,000 member American
Motorcyclist Association (AMA). ATV racing has
experienced phenomenal growth at the rate of 25%
in the past two years, and continues to gain
momentum and support, outselling off-road
motorcycles annually. Each ATVA round attracts
hundreds of racers who compete for bragging
rights to one of 31 amateur national titles. For
more information, please visit
/em>
www.atvaonline.com.
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