LePage, Morin split Pro finals in Belmont for Rock Maple Racing snocross series

BELMONT, N.H. (Jan. 24, 2010) – Ever since it was announced that Mathieu Morin and Bobby “The Rage” LePage were coming to New England to compete this winter, everyone who follows the sport of snocross figured they would steal the headlines on a regular basis.
Seeing these two well-trained athletes on top of the podium has become a familiar site, as they continue to dominate here in the East. Morin and LePage put on another exciting show Sunday afternoon in southern New Hampshire, splitting the Pro finals as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) completed Round 4 of its 2009-2010 schedule at The Lodge at Belmont.
LePage (Hulten Speed Sports/Polaris), of Duluth, MN, grabbed the holeshot in Sunday’s Pro Stock final and led the first five laps. Morin (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo) powered his way into the lead on lap six and appeared to be headed for his fifth victory of the season. Yet as the two leaders entered turn 4 with just three of 24 laps remaining, Morin got caught behind Chris Chico on the outside, LePage blasted by on the inside and sprinted to the finish. Morin settled for second while multi-time champion Jason Boron claimed third.
In the Pro Open final, it was all Morin from start to finish. After the disappointment of losing in Pro Stock, he was determined to seal the deal on the mighty Mod sled. LePage slotted into second at the start, but came off his sled in turn 4 on lap six and had to fight his way back to fourth. Defending champion Danny Poirier was smooth all afternoon, piloting his Polaris to second while Boron once again filled out the podium in third.
Pro division rookie Brennan Berardo (DooTalk.com/Ski-doo) raced like a veteran on Sunday. The 17-year-old from Essex, VT, ran near the front for 18 laps in Pro Stock and came home with a solid top-five run. He got off to a strong start in Pro Open, as well and managed to secure another top five after completing 23 of 24 grueling laps on the tight and challenging track. Joseph Lemieux (Pro Vet) and Paige Calderwood (Pro Women) earned final round wins in their respective divisions Sunday. Lemieux, of St. Johnsbury, VT, held off Maine-based Jason Soucy and fellow Vermonter Rene Desrochers for top honors, while Calderwood, of Phoenix, NY, outgunned Melanie Acker and KC Anderson to notch her victory.
Corin Todd and Lucas Brunelle also thrilled the fans in Belmont with their victories in the Semi-Pro division. Todd (D&Z Racing/Ski-doo), of Otego, NY, powered by early leader Ash Woskob on lap eight and went on to record his fourth win of the season in the Open final. Lincoln Lemieux finished three seconds back in second, while Michael George came home third.
Brunelle (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo), of Boucherville, QC, capped a full day of racing as he held off Todd in Semi-Pro Stock. George made it an all-Ski-doo podium as he claimed third. All but nine of the 14 starters completed all 12 laps, while Brunelle’s margin of victory was just a tick over two seconds.
Jake Scott was the man to beat in Sport division action over the weekend. The young athlete from Port Jefferson, NY, claimed Saturday’s Sport Super Stock final over Chris Ingles and Mike Billow, then repeated the performance Sunday as Billow and Jesse James Bonaduce filled out the podium. Joe Bishop piloted his Ski-doo to victory in the Sport Stock 600 final, while Scott settled for second and Billow snagged another third.
In Junior division action over the weekend, Montana Jess registered a hat trick while Edward Bandel, Hunter Patenaude, Leo Patenaude, Wade McPherson, Jayme Lynch and Mason Pierce also earned final round wins. Jess, known in snocross circles as “The Flyin’ Onion,” piloted his Ski-doo to victories on both Saturday and Sunday.
Other final round winners over the weekend in Belmont include Rene Desrochers (Plus 35 Masters); Glynn Desilva (Plus 25 Stock); Steffanie Lemieux (Women Stock 600 Saturday and Sun.); and Jared White (Trail Stock 600 Sunday).
Rock Maple Racing would like to thank event promoter Craig Harmon, Lodge at Belmont general manager Rick Newman, the Belmont Bogie Busters, Bobcat of New Hampshire and everybody who worked so hard to make last weekend’s event such a success. With perfect weather conditions on Saturday and sunshine for most of Sunday, fans turned out in big numbers to enjoy the high-flying excitement of snocross.
Teams and officials from RMR will now enjoy a weekend off before a trip to Farmington, NY, on Feb. 5-6, for the ISOC Eastern Nationals. For full results in all classes from Belmont or to learn more about RMR, visit them online at www.rockmaple.com.