2010 Northeast Classic Motocross Series

By Jim Sanderson

Clifford, PA, April 18, 2010

The Fritz family, promoters of Hurricane Hills, hosted round two of the Northeast Classic Motocross Series at their beautiful facility in Clifford, Pennsylvania. The weather wasn’t the greatest, but then it certainly could have been worse. Rain fell the day prior the event and again in the early morning but the track remained in un-expectedly good shape.

The weather affected rider turnout for the second round, as it did for round one and unfortunately, if this new trend continues, the currently featured motorcycle manufacturer’s contingency programs for the series offered by Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha could disappear in 2011 if attendance continues to decline.

Kawasaki pilot, Brad Roth, topped not one, but two podiums, Open and 250 Novice, with perfect 1-1 scores in both divisions. Roth nailed four holeshot’s too boot and rode wire to wire, almost uncontested. Kevin Hicks, another Kawasaki mounted pilot, took the runner-up tier of both podiums via his set of 2-2 rides. Hicks tried to catch Roth and reel him in, eventually reducing Roth’s leads but simply ran out of time. Yamaha mounted, Fred Kramer, closed out both podiums with identical 4-3 tallies.

Roth, Hicks, Kurt Mondrone and Chris Ray led the pack out of the second turn in the first Open Novice moto. Roth and Hicks quickly left the pack behind. Roth started lap two three seconds ahead of Hicks. Ray was now third, Kramer fourth and Casey Wygant took fifth after a short battle with Mondrone, who was displaced to sixth.

Roth extended his advantage to five seconds over Hicks at the start of lap three. The top five were all spread out and the rest of the moto looked to be a snoozer but Hicks began to cut Roth’s lead. Roth took the white flag three seconds ahead of Hicks and held on to get the win with a two and half second advantage. Hicks, Ray, Kramer and Wygant completed the top five.

Roth and Hicks led the start of the final Open Novice moto with Ray, Kramer and Mondrone in tow. Again, Roth and Hicks set the pace. Roth took the green flag at the start of lap two three seconds ahead of Hicks. Roth increased his lead to four seconds after two and a half laps and to five by the start of lap three. Hicks slowly reeled Roth in but ran out of time. Roth took another win. Hicks, Kramer, Ray and Wygant followed.

Roth, Hicks, Fredric Marsalisi, Ray and Kramer led the start of the opening 250 Novice moto. Roth pulled away and started lap two with a four second advantage. Hicks, Ray, Kramer and Korey Holby followed. Roth increased his lead to five seconds at the start of lap three. Hicks mounted a late moto charge and began cutting Roth’s lead but came up short again. Roth took the checkers and the win by a three second margin. Hicks, Ray, Kramer and Gary Smith closed out the top five.

Roth, Hicks, Kramer, Ray and Holby led the pack out of the second turn in the final 250 Novice moto. Roth continued to set the pace and started lap two with another three second lead. The top four were unchanged when Marsalisi passed Holby taking fifth along the tree-line section. Holby battled back but got out of shape in the rhythm section at the end of lap two and went down. Hicks closed in on Roth and reduced his lead to three seconds on lap three but Roth kept just enough distance between himself and Hicks to secure another win, taking the checkered flag two seconds ahead of Hicks. Kramer, Ray and Smith completed the top five.

Results

Round Two - Hurricane Hills Sports Center

Brad Roth (422) leads the pack out of the 2nd turn in the opening 250 Novice moto at round 2 of the Northeast Classic Series at the Hurricane Hills Sports Center in Clifford, Pennsylvania on April 18th

Chris Ray (930) runs third in the first 250 Novice moto at round 2 of the Northeast Classic Motocross Series at Hurricane Hills on April 18th.

Kevin Hicks (131), Fredric Marsalisi (70) and Chris Ray (930) battle for second through fourth on the opening lap of the first 250 Novice moto at the second round of the Northeast Classic at Hurricane Hills on April 18th in Clifford, Pennsylvania.

Brad Roth (422), Kevin Hicks (121) and Fred Kramer (487) battle for the lead on the opening lap of the final 250 Novice moto at round 2 of the Northeast Classic Motocross Series at the Hurricane Hills Sports Center on April 18th in Clifford, Pennsylvania.

Brad Roth (422), Kevin Hicks (131) and Kurt Mondrone (18) lead the start of the first Open Novice moto at round 2 of the Northeast Classic Motocross Series at the Hurricane Hills Sports Center on April 18th in Clifford, Pennsylvania.

Kevin Hicks (131) runs second in the first Open Novice moto at round 2 of the Northeast Classic Motocross Series at Hurricane Hills on April 18th.

Fred Kramer (487), Chris Ray (930) and Kurt Mondrone (18) battle for third, fourth and fifth on the first lap of the final Open C moto at round 2 of the Northeast Classic Series at the Hurricane Hills Sports Center in Clifford, Pennsylvania on April 18th.

Photos courtesy of Jim Sanderson.