Racing Kicks off Opening @ the New Riding Park!

Photos by 451 Photography

Story By Kenzie

Results

May 17th the first organized riding, or racing has been done at this facility in over 17 years! Parking was a little tight and so was the course but made for an exicting day of racing as the riders were able to actually see what is going on at the new Fox Valley Off Road facility!  Long start, dusty as there was no water supply set up and a fun course that young and old enjoyed all day.  One of the better races of the day was the Supermini/85cc class.

The 85/Supermini class took off the line and Vincent Binkowski (545) snatched the hole shot to take the lead! Wyatt Sandy (301) grabbed second while Gavin Myers (191) was right on him in third. Just within the first lap Binkowski was already pulling away while Myers was up in second now with Sandy hanging right on him. The three kept things interesting for the first couple laps then spread out from each other over time. They held their places to the finish, Binkowski took the win, Myers finished with a second, and Sandy took third!

Tyler Spizzirri (143) and Troy Lawrence (28) battle it out in B class. As soon as the race started the two were right there with each other, Spizzirri keeping just those couple inches ahead of Lawrence. The two kept the audience on their toes the entire race, neither one backing off from one another. They were taking their battle to that checkered flag, the two were going around the chicane right before the finish when Lawrence was trying to wedge himself on the insides of the corners. Last corner before the arch and the two are bumpin bars. Come out of the corner to go under the arch and the two crash to the ground. Spizzirri took the second place while Lawrence took third.

Amanda Ward (451) takes the lead as the Womens class takes off the line, Alli Kocher (452) right on Ward in second, with Taylor Longstreth (405) and Nicci Balzer (806) hanging right with them all in a close group! Beginning of second lap, Ward goes down, Longstreth takes that opportunity to snatch the lead up and leave Kocher in second, and Balzer up in third now. Ward came around about a minute or so behind the group. Longstreth quickly took off from the rest of the class, Kocher was now hanging out by herself in second still, Zola Andonopoulas (17) came around in third now. Balzer must of went down somewhere as she was no longer up with the rest. The last couple laps around things heated up as Balzer tried to close in that gap on Ward once she got back up and going. By the end of the last lap around Balzer was back within sight of Ward, but Ward made sure to make no mistakes and held her position till the checkered flag came out. Longstreth took the win, Kocher finished in second, while Andonopoulas took third!

The 65cc Beginner class kicked off our morning for the Hare Scramble race! Brecken Shannon (181) took off with the lead while Kyson Hockman (192) and Preston Stambaugh (117) started their intense battle going into all the corners right up next to each other! 10 minutes in and the two continue to go head to head, Hockman making sure he stays on the insides of the corners to stay just those couple inches ahead. The two continue this battle for a few more laps, neither can make a mistake or else they give that spot up to the other. At this point they are 24 minutes in, only 11 minutes left in the race, they get back to the track area Hockman still ahead, they go around a couple corners, hit a straight away and that’s when Stambaugh makes the move right up next to Hockman. Stambaugh gets ahead as they go into that next corner! Within just a lap, Stambaugh had pulled away from Hockman to try and keep that second place spot to the finish line flag. Time was up and finish line flag was out, Stambaugh was going around the last corner and slid out! Stambaugh takes a minute to get back up and going again. As Stambaugh is getting up, Hockman comes right around him and gets the finish to take second place leaving Stambaugh with that third!

I didn't get a lot of time for this story as working this event was a little more intense then usual.  We had a lot more moving around the park then normal at the old place but as it all jelled together the race days went smooth!  Can't wait to see what the boys have instore for the riders coming fathers day as the park has endless ways to make a course or track!  Next race will be father's day weekend and that is June 14th and 15th!  See ya there!