LePage, Morin split Pro finals at Hickory for Rock Maple Racing snocross series

WARRENSBURG, NY (Dec. 14, 2009) – Veteran snowmobile racers Bobby LePage and Mathieu Morin each earned victories in the Pro division Sunday, as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) kicked off its 2009-10 snocross season at the Hickory Ski Center.
LePage, (Hulten Speed Sports/Polaris) of Duluth, MN, set a blistering pace as he dominated the Pro Stock final. Defending RMR champion Danny Poirier finished second to his new teammate, while New York native Jason Stone filled out the podium. Six of the 10 riders finished on the lead lap, while LePage’s margin of victory was 3.75 seconds.
Morin, (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo) of Val D’ Or, Quebec, excelled in his debut with the Ingles squad, finishing over four seconds ahead of LePage to claim Pro Open. Poirier managed to salvage a respectable third with an engine that was about to expire. Only four riders completed all 20 laps, an indication of just how fast Morin can be when he’s dialed in.
Defending Pro Vet champion Joseph Lemieux, of St. Johnsbury, VT, kicked off his 2009-10 season in fine style, holding off Jason Soucy and Rene Desrochers to claim Sunday’s final. Joe’s daughter Steffanie kept up the family tradition, winning the Pro Women final over annual rivals Paige Calderwood and Melanie Acker.
In Semi-Pro action at Hickory, pre-season favorite Corin Todd (D&Z Racing/Ski-doo) chased down and passed Lincoln Lemieux with four laps remaining to claim the Open class final by less than half a second. Trevor Bouchard got the holeshot on his new Arctic Cat, but Todd and Lemieux found some great lines and drove around him. Garrett Mees was consistent all weekend and hustled his way into third as the laps wound down.
Mees (All-Island Plumbing/Ski-doo) grabbed his time in the spotlight in the Stock final. The rising star from Setauket, NY, outgunned RMR veterans Lucas Brunelle and Michael George by over four seconds to capture a thrilling Semi-Pro Stock final. Eight of the 14 starters finished on the lead lap.
Competition in the Sport division was also intense on Sunday. JJ Kent earned a victory in the Super Stock 600 final, with Jesse James Bonaduce second and Jake Scott third. Scott also finished third in Sport Stock 600, an excellent first effort for the 2009 Junior division champion.
Bonaduce grabbed his opportunity for redemption in Sport 500, holding off Joe Bishop and Marshall Himes for top honors. Whitney Covill rounds out our list of Sport division winners with his victory over Bonaduce and Scott in the Stock 600 final.
In Junior division action at Hickory, Edward Bandel scored a hat trick. Bandel earned victories in Jr. 14-15 Stock 600 Fan; Jr. 14-14 Stock 600 and Jr. 16-17 Stock 600 Fan. Bonaduce added to his impressive weekend with a victory in Jr. 16-17 Stock 600, while Montana Jess, also known as “The Flying Onion,” picked up wins on both Saturday and Sunday in Jr. 10-13 Stock 600.
Other winners over the weekend in Warrensburg include Paige Calderwood (Women’s 600); Katelyn Olsen (Jr. Girls 10-13); Max Burrier (Jr. 8-10 Sat.); and Montana Jess (Jr. 10-13 Stock 600 Saturday).
Rock Maple Racing would like to thank event sponsor Woody’s Traction & Control Products, along with Shawn Dempsey and the entire staff at the Hickory Ski Center. As a new host site, Hickory extended open arms to the Rock Maple family and went the extra mile to ensure the event took place.
For full results in all classes from Warrensburg or for more information about Rock Maple Racing, please go to www.rockmaple.com.