From Cycle News Online:

Lawrence Laughs at the Mud

ENGLISHTOWN, NJ – Only one thing is predictable about the weather in the Northeast in March, and that’s that it is totally unpredictable. The day before the Yamaha-sponsored 31st annual opening day at Raceway Park, riders were treated to sunny skies and warm temperatures – but when it came time to race on Sunday, things were quite different. The day dawned with grey skies and drizzle; however, the weather forecasters said it would clear up.

Boy, were they wrong. Not only didn’t it clear up, but the rain actually got worse. The endless hours spent by Mickey Kessler and his crew getting the track in shape were all for naught, as the torrential rains turned every inch of the track into a soupy, sloppy mess.

Many riders chose to go home and not start the season off on the wrong foot; many stayed and braved the conditions. As a friend of mine once said, “It’s anybody’s race in the mud” – and it sure was. The decision was made to change the racing format to a single-moto, winner-take-all format. The riders would be forced to put it all on the line if they hoped for the victory.

The big winner of the day was Rockstar Energy rider Jason Lawrence, who was home in New Jersey during a break in the West Coast Supercross season and decided to pay a friend a little visit. While many factory support riders would have left with their rent-a-cars when the rain came, Lawrence gutted it out in the awful conditions. He won the Collegeboy class, and then, after going down early in the 250cc Expert class, Lawrence came back to win the moto with no gloves or goggles. Hopefully Jason can use some of this grit on the National tour this season.

In 85cc (7-11) racing, Honda rider Anthony Maimone jumped out to the early lead, over Bobby Lipyanek, Robert Piazza and Richie Trevelise. This moto was a battle of survival, as the lead changed continually among the riders. Just when one rider would take the lead, he would get stuck in a deep rut and be passed by another rider – and back and forth it went. Piazza eventually held on for the victory, followed by Lipyanek, Maimone and Trevelise.

So opening day of the 31st-anniversary season wasn’t bright and sunny, but the racing was excellent anyway. Everyone will be ready for the next race.

Just don’t listen to the weather forecast the night before… and pack an umbrella.

Results

65 (7-9): 1. Jacob Hartranft (Kaw); 2. Casey Tynan (KTM); 3. Logan Ehrets (KTM); 4. Lucas Brzostowski (Kaw); 5. Andrew Maroney (Kaw).

65 (10-11): 1. Bobby Lipyanek (KTM); 2. Matthew Gahrmann (Kaw); 3. Richie Trevelise (Suz); 4. Anthony Maladra (Kaw); 5. Brian Laul Jr. (KTM).

85 (7-11): 1. Robert Piazza (Kaw); 2. Bobby Lipyanek (KTM); 3. Anthony Maimone (Hon); 4. Richie Trevelise (Suz).

85 (12-13): 1. Talon Distefano (Suz); 2. Austin Harvey (Kaw); 3. Matt Hammer (Yam); 4. Christopher Dasilva; 5. Christopher Duymich (Hon).

85 (14-15): 1. Larry Cella (Kaw); 2. Trey Rasmussen (Kaw); 3. Eric Murther (Hon).

JR MINI: 1. Austin Harvey (Kaw); 2. Matt Hammer (Yam); 3. Michael Rose (Yam).

S/MINI: 1. Timmy Vogel (Suz); 2. Michael Martin (Kaw).

125 NOV: 1. Nick Keefe (Hon); 2. Arthur Stryker (Hon); 3. Christopher Meade (Hon); 4. Jason Gourley (Suz); 5. Nicholas Peccarelli (Kaw).

125 AM: 1. Peter Devlin (Suz); 2. Mike Tippin Jr. (Suz); 3. Mike Emick (Yam); 4. Kiel Dwyer (Yam); 5. Christopher Tierney (Kaw).

125 EX: 1. Robert Jiminez Jr. (Kaw); 2. James McIlvaine (Hon); 3. Robert Malkiewicz (Kaw); 4. Ronnie Stewart (Hon); 5. James Mushalla (Yam).

250 NOV: 1. Greg Ziola (Hon); 2. James Moore Jr. (Hon); 3. Joseph Bekus (Hon); 4. Jeffrey Mesler (Yam); 5. Jon Colatrella (Hon).

250 AM: 1. Daniel Fodor (Suz); 2. Paul Meier (Yam); 3. Ash Gaskill (Hon); 4. Richard Jacobs (Hon); 5. Kiel Dwyer (Yam).

250 EX: 1. Jason Lawrence (Suz); 2. Ty Wallace (Hon); 3. Christopher Chomko (Hon); 4. John Niedzialkowski (Kaw); 5. Edward Leclerc (Hon).

WMN: 1. Nikki Stewart (Kaw); 2. Virginia Roma (Hon); 3. Christina Basna (Yam); 4. Emily Suydam (Hon).

SCHBY: 1. Joey Peditto (Suz); 2. Nick Keefe (Hon); 3. Travis Clarke (Yam); 4. Dylan Ahlert (Suz); 5. Bruce Carpenter (Yam).

CLGBY: 1. Jason Lawrence (Suz); 2. Peter Devlin (Suz); 3. Edward Leclerc (Hon); 4. James Mushalla (Yam); 5. Ash Gaskill (Hon).

25+ AM: 1. Paul Barrera (Yam); 2. Matthew Lopreato (Hon); 3. Sean Gillies (Hon); 4. John Tavernese (Yam); 5. Richard Jacobs (Hon).

25+ EX: 1. Ty Wallace (Hon); 2. Greg Pamart (Hon); 3. Darren Edsall (Kaw); 4. James McIlvaine (Hon); 5. Christopher Chomko (Hon).

30+ NOV: 1. Keith Adolf (Suz); 2. Kevin Kerr (Hon); 3. Joseph Petrarca (Hon); 4. Joao Emery (Kaw); 5. Peter Purcelly (Yam).

30+ AM: 1. Sean Gillies (Hon); 2. John Tavernese (Yam); 3. Paul Barrera (Yam); 4. Ed Graham (Suz); 5. Robert Moore (Hon).

30+ EX: 1. James McIlvaine (Hon); 2. Darren Edsall (Kaw); 3. Brian Smith (KTM); 4. Antonio Poccia (Yam); 5. Ty Wallace (Hon).

40+ AM: 1. Jeff Mesler (Hon); 2. Jerry Rizziello Jr. (Hon); 3. Karl Baumann (Hon); 4. Ken Roma (Hon); 5. Tom Scott (Kaw).

40+ EX: 1. Harold Glissen (Yam); 2. Ken Bordzuk (Hon); 3. Craig Hatch (Hon); 4. Edward Olsen (Hon).