DIAMONDBACK
MOTOCROSS
October
14, 2001
With the
temperatures on the decline, many motocross riders elected to stay home and not make the
trek to Diamondback Motocross on this past Sunday. Those who made the trip were treated to
some great racing in almost every class.
In the Expert classes, it was anyone’s race.
With Ryan Mills heading to Las Vegas, Mike Leavitt in the Dominican Republic racing, and
Carlo Coen still on the injured list, it was a chess match in the Expert classes.
Most notably, Dave Ginolfi was spotted in the
pits in the morning, and fear was struck into the face of the regular District 34
competitors. Not only is Dave Ginolfi fast, as proved when he made the 125 National main
at Broome-Tioga, and ran with Pro Circuit’s Casey Lytle all race before fading at the
end, but Ginolfi has a determination that would lead him to the promise land. He would
take the overall in all three classes he entered, and go home leaving the D34 boys in
shambles.
The first moto Ginolfi ran was in the 250 A
class. He won moto one with ease over Honda pilot Ivo Camacho.
In moto two, Ginolfi had a bad start and he could
not catch the leader, Camacho. Camacho went on to take the moto win. Camacho took third in
moto one, so his 3-1 would only be good enough for second. Ginolfi took the overall, while
Andrew Pingotti rounded out the podium with 5-3 rides.
The first 125 Expert moto would go to Ginolfi
aboard his YZ 125. He would beat Terry Finkle at the checkers and serve notice to our D34
“ACE.”
In moto two, it was Camacho, who hasn’t been
around in a long time in D34, taking the win, just narrowly edging out Ginolfi.
Lucky for Ginolfi, Camacho had placed third in
moto one, so the overall was all Ginolfi’s again, with Camacho in second. Moroney’s
Honda-backed Andrew Pingotti would take third overall with his 4-3 scores.
In the Collegeboy class, Camacho took the moto
one win for a change, while Ginolfi was second with. Pingotti took third.
In moto two, Ginolfi came back to take the win,
when Camacho wadded himself up hard in the back section of the track. He would go on to
take 11th for the moto.
The overall went to Ginolfi with his 2-1, second
overall was Pingotti with a 3-2, and third went to NEW! 2001 Collegeboy champion Pat Mahan
with his 4-4 tallies.
The Schoolboy class is usually a runaway when
Mills is in the house…this time he wasn’t. It was the Jay Weller vs. John
Lawrence showdown for top Schoolboy honors. In moto one, Weller got out of the gate fast,
and left Lawrence, who did not get a good start. Lawrence wanted to get by Weller in the
worst way, but time ran out on the likeable youngster.
In moto two, it was again Weller out front, but
this time Lawrence was on the back door from the get-go. Lawrence was on Weller throughout
the 3-lap race, but never made a pass, and had to settle for second for the moto, and
second overall. Weller took the overall with his 1-1 aboard the Cernic’s-backed
Suzuki 125. In speaking with Lawrence after his moto, he felt he should have mixed it up
more with Weller, but could not catch a break.
Weller waxed the Super Mini class on his KX 100,
and took both moto wins with ease. Hutson holeshot him in both motos, but couldn’t
hold Jay off.
Props must also go out to veteran John Barry.
Barry piloted the #67 Honda to a convincing moto victory in moto one of the +30 Novice
class.
Barry then held strong in second place throughout
moto two. Barry was bested by Jeff Rossier and his big thumper. The 1-2 ride gave Barry a
first overall, which made his day, and also gave him 10 points towards becoming an
Amateur. Awesome ride John!!!
Rossier was untouchable in the +25 Novice class
however, taking both moto wins there.
Hudson Valley Cycles-backed Kyle Hutson took the
overall win in the Senior Mini class with his 1-1 ride. In moto one, he was hounded by
Mark Lindsay all race long, but kept his cool, and got the moto win. Lindsay did not start
moto two, and would let Hutson have the overall without a battle. Hutson blew away the
field with a 20+ second win in moto two.
With Keith Mann out of the +35 class, it was a
Joe Fritz party in the class. Papa Joe won both motos, and added another 1st
place trophy to his collection for his efforts.
Speaking of Mann, when will this guy ever quit??
Mann entered the +40, +30, and +25 Expert classes, and ripped it up! He went 3-3 in the
+25 for a third overall, he also went 3-3 in the +30 for a third overall, thus proving
that age does not matter as far as he is concerned.
The +30 Expert class was won by Chris Clark with
his 1-1 performances. He went uncontested for the wins, although Pablo “Picasso”
Toribio was there with a 4-2 ride to take second overall.
The +25 Expert class went to D 34 bad boy Steve
Katsenavakis, who diced with Clark in both motos, but prevailed to take both moto wins.
Many people question Stevie K’s riding style, but it got the job done at Diamondback.
Steve was aboard a new YZ 250.
As for the 125 Novice class, the action there was
the best all day in moto one. It was Robert Schneider getting out front, with Manelous
Borgades trailing him around the beautifully groomed Diamondback course. Schneider hit the
deck, and Borgades was right there to take over the top spot. Borgades led for a while,
then he too would eat some dirt, and let Schneider go on for the moto victory. Borgades
would take home second.
In moto two, it was Schneider getting out front,
and never looking back, thus taking the moto win, and the overall win. I have my focus on
this class, as I eye my return to D34 action very shortly. These top two guys were
definitely ripping!
Also, keep an eye out on young Corey Price. I
haven’t watched the kid race in a few weeks, and his speed boggled my mind at
Diamondback. The kid placed 4-5 for 4th overall in the 60cc 10-11 year old
class, but the amazing thing is that he came from almost dead last in moto two, to take
the hard-earned fifth. What makes it even better, is that the 10-11, and 6-9 60cc classes
were combined, so he had to pass a bunch more riders than he usually would have to on his
way to the front.
Corey also rode hard in the Junior Mini class,
going 6-7 for 7th overall. In moto one, he was coming through the pack fast,
and caught up to the battle for 3rd, 4th, and 5th when
time ran out. He got a horrible start in moto two of that class as well. He again came
through the field on a charge, and made it to 7th with only a 3-lap race to
deal with. Watch for the #27 bike at ACE this weekend!
Corey was joking with his pops saying that if he
kept up the good performaces, that he might make the RP Report. Well, I was very impressed
with his riding, and that gets him in the RP Report this go round.
The 125 Amateur class was won by John Lawrence.
Lawrence had a bad start in moto one, and by the time he got going, John Giantonio was
gone out front. Lawrence could not run him down, and would take second to take Kawi rider.
In moto two, Lawrence dusted the field, and Giantonio had problems in the pack. This time
Chris Spear would be second, but Lawrence had the 2-1 rides.
Performance Recreation-backed Mike Stryker showed
heart in the Junior Mini class. After injuring his wrist in moto one, and finishing in 9th,
he came back to beat moto one winner Charlie Fox in moto two, and proved that he is a
threat in the class.
That is about all I have as far as action goes.
ACE should be a great time this coming Sunday. I am looking forward to seeing the dicing
continue.
Around the Pits: Speaking of Performance
Recreation, be sure to check them out in the vendor area. Dan Beebe is at all the races,
and I stopped by and bought a fresh set of Thor cold-weather gloves for the upcoming debut
race. He has a good selection of Thor gear, for you Thor lover’s!
Well, as most of you know Ryan Mills ended up
third overall in the 125 Engine Ice Amateur’s Cup in Vegas. He beat Team Suzuki
hotshoe Shane Bess in one moto. Look for Ryan to return to D 34 soon. (Maybe ACE) He is
the next big thing out of New York.
James McNeill is looking for some support if
anyone out there is looking for a team rider. Jimmy had a bad 2001 season, after making
the 125 National main event in Mount Morris. He had lots of bike trouble, and ended up
getting hurt pretty good at Englishtown a couple months ago.
Pat Mahan is also looking for support for next
year. Remember that Pat is the Collegeboy champion, and is starting to emerge as a top 5
rider in the 250 A class.
Finally, let’s wish Kenny Barton, and Rich
Koretsky speedy recoveries!
RP
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