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

BARTON, VT (Mar. 1, 2010) – All season long, they’ve battled side-by-side and nose-to-tail for championship points, wins and bragging rights.

Veteran snowmobile racers Mathieu Morin and Bobby ‘The Rage’ LePage have thrilled fans in New York, New Hampshire and the province of Quebec. Last weekend, the dynamic duo took their high-flying war to Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom for another amazing display.

Morin and LePage split the Pro finals again over the two days, as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) completed Round 7 on the 2009-10 snocross schedule Sunday afternoon at the Orleans County Fairgrounds.

Morin (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo), of Val D’Or, QC, slotted into second at the start of Sunday’s Pro Open final behind LePage, then powered by before halfway and pulled away to a convincing win. LePage hung on for second while defending champion Danny Poirier was third.

LePage (Hulten Speed Sports/Polaris), of Hermantown, MN, out-gunned Morin to win Saturday’s Pro Stock final, while multi-time champion Jason Boron filled out the podium.

Local favorites Joe and Steffanie Lemieux were successful at their home track over the weekend. The talented father/daughter team from nearby St. Johnsbury earned final round wins in Pro Vet (Joe) and Pro Women (Steffanie) on Sunday, while another local rider claimed the Plus 35 Masters final. Newport native Rene Desrochers claimed that class in front of friends and family, while Maine-based Jason Soucy and New York rider Leroy Walker filled out the podium.

In Semi-Pro action at Barton, Corin Todd and Michael George each recorded final round wins. Todd, of Otego, NY, out-gunned George and Lincoln Lemieux to claim Saturday’s Open final. George bounced back with a stellar performance Sunday, grabbing the holeshot in Semi-Pro Stock and running off to victory ahead of Lemieux and Todd. George, of Pine Plains, NY, has been on fire the last few weeks, notching his second career Semi-Pro win Sunday.

Action in the Sport division also provided some excitement in Barton. Jesse James Bonaduce looked to have Sunday’s Super Stock 600 final well in hand, until a bobble in the rhythm section with just two laps remaining allowed Jake Scott to take command and steal the win. Bonaduce, of Somerville, NJ, found redemption in the Stock 600 final, however, leading the entire race forcing Scott to settle for second.

Whether it’s “Mongoose” Mike Billow or the famed ‘Jesse James’ giving chase, it seems as if ‘The Snake’ doesn’t always get away unscathed.

In Junior division action over the weekend, Montana Jess and Edward Bandel continued their 2010 hot streaks. Jess, ( the famous Flyin’ Onion), of Westminster, Mass., held off arch-rival Hunter Patenaude in Saturday’s 10-13 380cc Fan and Stock 600 Fan finals, then won Sunday’s 600 Fan tussle over Nate Newland and Wade Acker. Bandel, of Mohawk, NY, won one final Saturday (14-15 Stock 600) and three more on Sunday (14-15 Stock 600, 16-17 Stock 600, 14-17 Stock 600 Fan) to cap a fabulous outing in northern Vermont.

Other final round winners over the weekend in Barton include Joe Bishop (Sport 500); Daryl Nutting (Plus 25 Stock); Leo Patenaude (Jr. 16-17 Stock 600 Sat.); Katelyn Olsen (Jr. Girls 10-13 Stock 600 Fan); Kassie Thibodeau (Jr. 8-10 300 Freestyle Sat.); Tucker Olsen (Jr. 8-10 300 Freestyle Sun.); Sam Potter (Trail 600 Sat.); and Jared White (Trail 600 Sunday).

Rock Maple Racing would like to thank the Orleans County Fair Association for hosting last weekend’s event. Local support from good folks like Desrochers Construction of Newport who helped moved snow for the track is greatly appreciated. Without those efforts, the races would not have been a reality.

For full results in all classes from Barton or to learn more, go to www.rockmaple.com.

With a little cooperation from the weather, teams will return to Barton again this coming weekend, March 6-7, for the next to last points race of the season.