From Cycle News Online:
Lawrence Rocks E-Town!
ENGLISHTOWN, NJ – For the past 21 years, Raceway Park has hosted the Suzuki-sponsored New Jersey State Championship, and this year’s race was run as part of the Ultimate MX Series. As has been the norm this season, rain was again the forecast for Sunday, but the riders didn’t stay away. Contingency from the major manufacturers and prizes from Ultimate Series sponsors MSR, Answer and Pro Taper made this a must-attend event, regardless of the weather. Fortunately, the rain held off, and the racing was top-notch in all the classes.
With a break in the national series, Rockstar Suzuki rider Jason Lawrence (X) used the weekend off to come back to his home track and compete, riding an RM-Z450 instead of his usual RM-Z250.
The 250cc Expert class was looking like it would be the race of the day. Along with Lawrence, the lineup included newly signed MX Payday/PDL Honda rider Phil Nicoletti, national arenacross star Damien Plotts, and local favorite Barry Carsten – all set to do battle on the rough Raceway Park track.
When the gate dropped for the first moto, Nicoletti and Lawrence were side by side, with Lawrence grabbing the slight advantage going over the staircase. During the early stages of the moto, Lawrence kept his advantage, with Nicoletti staying close. RRP-sponsored Greg Pamart was third, and MSR/Bromley’s/Arai-sponsored Carsten in fourth. With a slight rain falling, the track was starting to get slippery, and Lawrence went down when his front wheel washed out in the middle of the track, handing the lead to Nicoletti.
Lawrence quickly remounted and set out after Nicoletti again. The lead duo set a pace that would take them to a more-than-40-second lead over Pamart and Carsten. Eventually, Carsten got by Pamart and tried to reel in the lead duo. With two laps to go, Lawrence made his move and got by Nicoletti before the staircase and held on for the moto win. Nicoletti was second, with Carsten, Plotts, and Pamart rounding out the top five.
Nicoletti grabbed the SOBE holeshot award as the second moto got underway, followed closely by Honda rider Onorino Fascelli. Coming over the “Plunge,” Nicoletti had the lead, followed by Fascelli, Plotts, Darren Edsall, and Lawrence. Nicoletti overjumped a double-double section in the front of the track and went down hard. Lawrence made his move and got around Plotts and took the lead. Nicoletti got back up and rejoined the race back in 10th place. Lawrence was now the leader, followed by Plotts and Carsten. Lawrence went on to win the moto, followed by Plotts in second. Nicoletti, showing no ill effects from the crash, sliced through the pack to take third. Lawrence (1-1) was the overall winner, followed by Nicoletti (2-3), and Plotts (4-2) rounded out the podium.
Results
65 (7-9): 1. Tyler Betsch (Suz); 2. John Sheaffer (Suz); 3. Joseph Galbraith (KTM); 4. Rocky Cagno (Suz); 5. Lucas Brzostowski (Kaw).
85 (7-11): 1. Nick Desiderio (Suz); 2. Luke Renzland (Kaw); 3. Luke Palonicola (Kaw); 4. Tyler Betsch (Suz); 5. Richie Trevelise (Suz).
85 (12-13): 1. Larry McVay (Suz); 2. Talon Distefano (Suz); 3. Damian Krause (Yam); 4. Christopher Duymich (Hon); 5. Tyler Conner (Suz).
85 (14-15): 1. Lowell Spangler (Kaw); 2. Daniel South (Kaw); 3. Damon Benefield (Kaw); 4. Jon Westphal (Yam); 5. Joe Mumola (Suz).
JR MINI (9-13): 1. Nick Desiderio (Suz); 2. Luke Renzland (Kaw); 3. Damian Krause (Yam); 4. Luke Palonicola (Kaw); 5. Tyler Betsch (Suz).
S/MINI (12-15): 1. Lowell Spangler (Kaw); 2. Christopher Duymich (Hon); 3. Timmy Vogel (Suz); 4. James McCooe (KTM); 5. Tyler Conner (Suz).
125 NOV: 1. Randy Saxenmeyer (Hon); 2. Matthew Moore (Yam); 3. Larry McVay (Suz); 4. Andy Wellema (Hon); 5. James White (Suz).
125 AM: 1. Bryan Wallace; 2. Dakota Kessler (Suz); 3. Erik Wilson (Kaw); 4. Daniel Fodor (Suz); 5. Paul Meier (Yam).
125 EX: 1. Phillip Nicoletti (Hon); 2. Brian Mulcahy (Kaw); 3. Barry Carsten (Suz); 4. Mark Lindsay (Kaw); 5. James McIlvaine (Hon).
250 NOV: 1. Randy Saxenmeyer (Hon); 2. James White (Suz); 3. Gregory Jaronczyk (Suz); 4. Billy Gallagher (Hon); 5. Michael Moore (Yam).
250 AM: 1. Dakota Kessler (Suz); 2. Andrew Mikolaichik (Kaw); 3. Erik Wilson (Kaw); 4. Bryan Wallace; 5. Paul Meier (Yam).
250 EX: 1. Jason Lawrence (Suz); 2. Phillip Nicoletti (Hon); 3. Damien Plotts (Kaw); 4. Barry Carsten (Suz); 5. Jason Harper (Suz).
250 4-STRK: 1. Arthur Stryker (Hon); 2. Cel Napolitan (Kaw).
450 4-STRK: 1. Ronnie Stewart (Hon); 2. David Sterritt (Kaw); 3. Mark Lindsay (Kaw); 4. Shelby Reitz; 5. Daniel Fodor (Suz).
WMN: 1. Nikki Stewart (Yam); 2. Jennifer Singleton (Yam); 3. Emily Suydam (Hon).
SCHBY (12-15): 1. Kody Renzland (Kaw); 2. Larry McVay (Suz); 3. Ed Molfetta (Yam); 4. Joey Peditto (Suz); 5. Lowell Spangler (Kaw).
CLGBY (16-24): 1. Jason Lawrence (Suz); 2. Drew Kibler (Hon); 3. Mike Minnick (Hon); 4. Gregory Jaronczyk (Suz); 5. John Dubanowich (Kaw).
25+ AM: 1. James Wilkie (Hon); 2. Sean Gillies (Hon); 3. Michael Lewis (Hon); 4. Victor Palmieri (Hon); 5. Ed Graham (Suz).
25+ EX: 1. Greg Pamart (Hon); 2. Damian Plotts (Kaw); 3. Kurt McMillen (Suz); 4. Jason Harper (Suz); 5. Onorino Fascelli (Hon).
30+ NOV: 1. Kevin Kerr (Hon); 2. Jochy Gomez (Suz); 3. Mike Garbacik (Hon); 4. Peter Purcelly (Yam); 5. Chester Mills (Kaw).
30+ AM: 1. Sean Gillies (Hon); 2. Ed Graham (Suz); 3. John Bossany (Suz); 4. Michael Lewis (Hon); 5. John Tavernese (Yam).
30+ EX: 1. Damien Plotts (Kaw); 2. Barry Carsten (Suz); 3. Greg Pamart (Hon); 4. Kurt McMillen (Suz); 5. Darren Edsall (Kaw).
40+ AM: 1. Edward Rapp (Kaw); 2. Steve Lewis (Suz); 3. Gregory Lykens (Hon); 4. Doug Reitz; 5. Jerry Rizziello Jr. (Hon).
40+ EX: 1. Kurt McMillen (Suz); 2. Jerry Seip (Hon); 3. Larry Harper (Suz); 4. Mark Loniewski (Hon); 5. Ken Bordzuk (Hon).
