Hulten Speed Sports nets 10 class titles in 2009-10 RMR snocross season

ST. JOHNSVILLE, N.Y. (Mar. 31, 2010) – Even at the regional level of snowmobile racing, earning back-to-back championships is no easy task.
Just don’t tell that to the folks at Hulten Speed Sports. After Danny Poirier dominated the Rock Maple Racing (RMR) circuit in 2008-09, many wondered how the team would top that feat in 2010.

Enter one Bobby ‘The Rage’ LePage, of Duluth, Minnesota. LePage brought national experience to HSS, and it showed all season long. LePage fought ski-to-ski all winter with chief rival Mathieu Morin, and when it came down to the wire — he had what it took to succeed.

LePage entered last weekend’s season finale trailing by just one point in Pro Open and two in Pro Stock. To earn the titles, he would have to win his heats and capture both finals. In one of the most focused efforts ever witnessed in RMR, he pulled it off. Bobby earned both class titles, giving Hulten Speed Sports and Polaris their second straight RMR Pro championship.
Continue reading “2010 Snocross News: HSS Earns 10 RMR titles” »

RMR snocross circuit available for purchase at conclusion of 2009-10 season

DERRY, N.H. (Mar. 9, 2010) – After a successful eight-year run that saw regional snowmobile racing attain new heights, officials at Rock Maple Racing (RMR) have announced a decision to sell the circuit at the end of this season.

RMR was founded by Don and Nancy Finck in the early 1990s. In May of 2002, New Hampshire businessmen Chuck and Mark Minasalli purchased RMR and their passion for snocross was soon clear. Through hard work and a significant investment, the Minasalli brothers lifted Rock Maple into the 21st century.
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Boron, Eggen split Pro finals in Loudon for Rock Maple Racing snocross series

LOUDON, N.H. (Feb. 22, 2010) – Multi-time snowmobile racing champion Jason Boron and Norwegian veteran Stale Eggen (pronounced Sto-lay Egan) claimed final round wins in the Pro division as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) completed a non-points event Sunday in the inaugural Sno Bowl at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Boron (D&Z Racing/Ski-doo), of Leverett, Mass., jumped out to an early lead in Pro Stock and was never challenged. Swedish athlete Ulf Lif (Team Southside/Polaris) rode a smart race and came home second, while Tim Randall was third. In Pro Open, Boron got the holeshot and checked out on the field once again. Yet with just two laps remaining, Eggen slipped by and held off the famed “Iron Man” to take the win. Boron settled for second, while Randall capped a stellar weekend with another third-place run.

Maine-based rider Jason Soucy had a strong outing in Loudon, holding off Gene Robinson for top honors in the Plus 35 Masters final. Steffanie Lemieux carried the momentum she built the previous weekend into another Pro Women victory, with weekly rivals KC Anderson and Martha Wells filling out the podium.

In Sport division action at Loudon, Aaron Adams and Whitney Covill were on top of their game. Adams, of Avon, Maine, out-gunned Covill and Jared Catlin to claim Saturday’s Super Stock final. Covill, of Pittsburg, NH, bounced back to claim Sunday’s final while Catlin and Adams settled for second and third respectively.

Along with the usual classes for riders of all ages and ability levels, RMR also hosted New England’s first-ever Adaptive Snocross races in Loudon. On Saturday, the four previously profiled drivers (Ryan Begin, Jim Crumb, Dave Dillabough and Richard Curtis) were joined by two RMR regulars who are coming off major spinal injuries.

Robert Graeber, of Willow, AK, sustained severe injuries two years ago while making his debut in the Pro division. Michaela Lemieux, of Bennington, VT, had a bad accident the same season but is attempting to fight her way back into contention.

While Graeber isn’t nearly as fast as he was prior to his crash, his skills carried him to victory in Saturday’s Adaptive final. Lemieux stayed on the throttle and came home second, while Dillabough wound up third. On Sunday, Graeber prevailed once again with Lemieux and Curtis filling out the podium. RMR is proud to have provided a safe place to race for these highly-determined individuals. Their drive to compete and succeed should be inspiring to us all.

Other final round winners over the weekend in Loudon include Cameron Drouin (Sport Stock 600 Saturday, Sport 500 Sunday); Jarett Catlin (Sport Stock 600 Sunday); Martha Wells (Women Stock 600 Sunday); David Camara (Jr. 8-10 300 Freestyle Sunday); Glynn Desilva (Plus 25 Stock Sat.); Lyle Turtlott (Plus 25 Stock Sun.); Jeff Whiton (Trail 600 Sat.); and Jared White (Trail 600 Sunday).

Rock Maple Racing would like to thank Jerry Gappens and the entire staff at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for hosting the inaugural Sno Bowl. As New England’s largest sporting facility and home to NASCAR stars twice each year, it was an honor to race there.

For full results in all classes from the Sno Bowl or to learn more about RMR, go to www.rockmaple.com.

Poirier sweeps Pro finals at Eastern Nationals for Rock Maple Racing snocross series

FARMINGTON, N.Y. (Feb. 8, 2010) – It might be an old, well-worn cliche, but the fact you can’t keep a good man down for long sure is accurate for veteran racer Danny Poirier.

After going winless in the season’s first four events, the famed ‘Canadian Blast’ swept the Pro finals as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) completed Round 5 of its 2009-10 snocross schedule at the ISOC Eastern Nationals Saturday evening at the Finger Lakes Gaming Center and Racetrack.

Fans at the Eastern Nationals were treated to points races for both the ISOC national and RMR regional circuits. The program began Friday afternoon and featured ski-to-ski action from the nation’s top racers. In his final race of the season, Tucker Hibbert (Monster Energy/Arctic Cat) notched his 54th and 55th career wins when he swept the ISOC Pro finals.
Poirier (Hulten Speed Sports/Polaris) went flag-to-flag in the 20-lap Pro Stock final, grabbing the holeshot and running off to a huge 10-second victory over runner-up Mathieu Morin and third place Jason Boron. Bobby LePage made contact with Jason Stone, and after the ensuing collision, both riders failed to complete the race.

In Pro Open, Morin (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo) blasted off the line and led the first 12 circuits. Morin’s sled suffered a rare mechanical failure as he worked the 13th lap, while Poirier, who had slotted into second at the start, inherited the lead and never looked back. LePage kept his JoJo Energy Drink No. 244 on-track and brought it home second, while Canadian sensation Iain Hayden claimed third on his factory-backed Yamaha.

Defending Plus 35 Pro Am champion Joe Lemieux held off Greg Weaver and Michael Berghorn to claim Friday night’s final, while daughter Steffanie out-gunned RMR veterans Martha Wells and Paige Calderwood for top honors in the Pro Women final.

In Semi-Pro action Saturday, Nick Pattyn and Lincoln Lemieux both earned final round wins. Pattyn, of Ravenna, MI, rode his Arctic Cat to victory in the Super Stock 600 final, with Brett Nastala second and Corin Todd making a late-race charge up to third. Lemieux, of St. Johnsbury, VT, used superior horsepower and aggressive riding to chase down Pattyn and score his first career Semi-Pro victory in the Open final. Pattyn settled for second while Justin Ochsner (New London, MN) came home third.

Action in the Sport division was also intense at the Eastern Nationals. Jake ‘The Snake’ Scott powered his Hulten Speed Sports Polaris to victory in the first Stock final, while Joe Bishop took top honors in the second tilt. Bishop also won the Stock 500 final to cap a great day.

In Junior division action at Farmington, Edward Bandel led the way with a pair of wins. Montana Jess, Tyler Adams and Leo Patenaude also earned final round wins in front of a packed house. From the youngest junior riders to the rising stars of RMR’s Sport classes, they all got to showcase their talents in front of the sport’s top riders and high-profile team owners.
RMR would like to thank ISOC and the staff at the Finger Lakes Gaming Center for hosting such a world class event. With nice amenities for fans, strong competition and a great track, it was an honor to be part of the show.

For complete results in all classes from the Eastern Nationals, visit the ISOC Web site at www.isocracing.com. Teams and officials from both ISOC and RMR will join forces again this coming weekend, Feb. 12-14, for the inaugural HK Powersports New England Nationals at historic Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire.
To learn more about Rock Maple Racing, go to www.rockmaple.com.

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.