From Cycle News online:
Kessler Cleans Up at Raceway Park
ENGLISHTOWN, NJ – The day after the annual Vet and Vintage Reunion held at Raceway Park, many of the riders came back to do battle again on the rough, Mickey Kessler-prepared racetrack. In an effort to keep the dust down during the summer months, Kessler has been layering the track with mulch each week to keep the moisture in the ground. His efforts have been well-received by the racers, as the normal summer dust has been replaced with rich loam.
In the first Supermini moto, Mount Holly Suzuki rider Michael Sowa grabbed the holeshot but was quickly joined by F&S Suzuki jockey Jesse Kuzbyt. As the duo disappeared over the staircase into the back section of the track, Kuzbyt took the lead. The top two Suzukis were joined by the Honda-mounted duo of Dakota Kessler (49) and Charles Sherby, as well as the rest of the Supermini class. Kessler got by Sowa going into the middle horseshoe section of the track and set out after Kuzbyt.
Halfway through the second lap, while gaining on Kuzbyt, Kessler washed out in a slippery corner. He kept his KPS Honda running and was quickly back up, but he gave up second to Sowa and had to chase him down again. Riding on the edges of the track to find a smooth line – a style his dad made famous – Kessler reeled in Sowa, made the pass, and again went after Kuzbyt. Unfortunately, the moto wasn’t long enough, and Kessler had to settle for second, behind Kuzbyt, with Sowa settling for third.
The top two riders had different ideas on where the best gate spot was as they lined up for the second moto. Kuzbyt lined up all the way on the inside; Kessler took the more unconventional far-outside gate. Who would be right when the gate dropped?
As it turned out, they would both be right, as the duo rounded the first turn side by side and went over the staircase right next to each other. Kessler stretched out a bit of a lead going into the back of the track, but Kuzbyt wasn’t going to let him go. The two riders began to build a gap on the field, while Honda rider Charles Sherby and Suzuki-mounted Greg Lehto were battling each other for third.
At the end of the moto, Kessler held on for the win, followed by Kuzbyt in second, and Lehto got the best of Sherby for third. That’s how they would finish in the overall results as well.
Results
65 (7-9): 1. Anthony Maimone (Kaw); 2. Jacob Hartranft (Kaw); 3. Tyler Betsch (Kaw); 4. Rocky Cagno (Suz); 5. Brandon Hartranft (Kaw).
65 (10-11): 1. Matthew Gahrmann (Suz); 2. Richie Trevelise (Suz).
85 (7-11): 1. Richard Kastle (Kaw); 2. Damian Krause (Yam); 3. Thomas Sherby (Hon); 4. Brett Forman; 5. Matthew Gahrmann (Suz).
85 (12-13): 1. Michael Sowa (Suz); 2. Jesse Kuzbyt (Suz); 3. Charles Sherby Jr. (Hon); 4. Austin Harvey (Kaw); 5. Timmy Vogel (Suz).
85 (14-15): 1. Dakota Kessler (Hon); 2. Billy Allen Jr. (Suz); 3. Phillip Mackay (Kaw); 4. Austin Ebberup (Kaw); 5. Robbie Babb (Hon).
JR MINI (9-13): 1. Austin Harvey (Kaw); 2. Charlie Miller (Yam); 3. Damian Krause (Yam); 4. Adam Scicchitan (Suz).
S/MINI (12-15): 1. Dakota Kessler (Hon); 2. Jesse Kuzbyt (Suz); 3. Gregory Lehto (Suz); 4. Mike Chemerks; 5. Kyle Pugrab.
125 NOV: 1. Chris Forman (Suz); 2. Bryan Weimer (Yam); 3. Henry Rojas (Suz); 4. William Francisco (Yam); 5. Tyler Golding (Hon).
125 AM: 1. Jesse Festenstin (Suz); 2. Mike Tippin Jr. (Suz); 3. Bryan Wallace; 4. Jeremy Weniger (Hon); 5. Will Hecksteden (Yam).
125 EX: 1. James McIlvaine (Hon); 2. Taylor Murphy (Suz); 3. Brian McCullough (Yam); 4. Richard Lax (Yam); 5. John Whitney (Yam).
250 NOV: 1. Joey Peditto (Suz); 2. William Francisco (Yam); 3. Ash Gaskill (Hon); 4. Scott Kukan (Hon); 5. Christopher Tierney (Hon).
250 AM: 1. Robert Malkiewicz (Suz); 2. Mike Tippin Jr. (Suz); 3. Derek Zydalis (Hon); 4. Jeffrey Yeomans Jr. (Yam); 5. Richard Jacobs (Hon).
250 EX: 1. Ty Wallace (Hon); 2. Ronnie Stewart (Hon); 3. Darren Edsall (Hon); 4. Jeff Roma (Hon); 5. Onorino Fascelli (Hon).
WMN: 1. Kate Stewart (Hon); 2. Nikki Stewart (Kaw); 3. Virginia Roma (Hon); 4. Michelle Kastle (Hon); 5. Meaghan Metz (Yam).
SCHBY (12-15): 1. Bryan Wallace; 2. Ryan Gainey (Hon); 3. Joey Peditto (Suz); 4. Henry Rojas (Suz); 5. Nicholas McPhee (Suz).
CLGBY: 1. Jesse Festenstin (Suz); 2. Brian McCullough (Yam); 3. Kevin Rogers (Hon); 4. Jeremy Weniger (Hon); 5. Robert Malkiewicz (Suz).
25+ AM: 1. Joe Pateman (Hon); 2. Michael Yonkowski (Hon); 3. Brian Cirello (Suz); 4. Sean Gillies (Hon); 5. Richard Jacobs (Hon).
25+ EX: 1. Ty Wallace (Hon); 2. James McIlvaine (Hon); 3. Darren Edsall (Hon); 4. Onorino Fascelli (Hon); 5. Frank Eckel (Hon).
30+ NOV: 1. Sean Gillies (Hon); 2. Alfred Batelli (Hon); 3. Marco Velecela; 4. David Ammendola (Hon); 5. Harold Herbert (Yam).
30+ AM: 1. Michael Yonkowski (Hon); 2. Alex Litash (Hon); 3. Ed Graham (Suz); 4. John Tavernese (Yam); 5. James Kusmider (Hon).
30+ EX: 1. Darren Edsall (Hon); 2. James McIlvaine (Hon); 3. Chris Prenderville (Suz); 4. Kevin Miglione (Hon); 5. Ty Wallace (Hon).
40+ AM: 1. Ted Howell (Hon); 2. Byron Culbertson (Hon); 3. John Stewart (Hon); 4. Albert Perzan (Hon); 5. Chris Tierney (Hon).
40+ EX: 1. Marc Tiesler (Hon); 2. Ken Blackwell (Hon); 3. Donny Lingle (KTM); 4. Larry Harper (Suz); 5. Ken Bordzuk (Hon).
