Mees, Sirjane split Pro finals in Barton for Rock Maple Racing

BARTON, Vermont (Mar. 17, 2008) - Rookie sensation Darrin Mees and current
point leader C.W. Sirjane split the Pro division finals on Sunday afternoon, as
Rock Maple Racing (RMR) completed a full weekend of snocross competition at the
Orleans County Fairgrounds.
Mees (XP-S/WSI Harrison Motorsports Ski-doo), of Setauket, NY, chased down and
passed defending champion Jason Boron to win an exciting Pro Open final, while
Sirjane (XP-S/WSI Harrison Motorsports Ski-doo), of Whitehall, NY, finally
claimed his first victory of 2008 in Pro Stock. Boron and Sirjane finished
second and third respectively in the Open class, while Jason Rudd (second ) and
Boron (third) filled out the Stock class podium.
As fans in the packed grandstand cheered in support, Boron and Mees swapped
the lead often in a fierce battle during the Open final. Mees turned up the
wick at halfway, sailing by the popular 'Iron Man' on lap seven to retake the
lead for good. Sirjane was almost the bridesmaid yet again in the Stock final,
as he bobbled and nearly came off his sled coming through the rhythm section
headed for the white flag. Rudd was ready to pounce if Sirjane dismounted, but
the young man with a Mohawk who so rarely loses control kept it pointed in the
right direction.
Snowmobile enthusiasts from all over the Northeast Kingdom roared as three
locals battled it out in the Pro Vet final. As he has done most of the season,
St. Johnsbury native Joe Lemieux grabbed the holeshot and promptly checked out.
As local favorites Robert and Rene Desrocher of Newport battled for second,
Brent Herrmann closed in on his four-stroke Yamaha. In a wild drag race to the
stripe, Herrmann edged Robert Desrocher for second while Rene and Joel Santy
completed the top five.
Two more Vermont natives put in strong performances in the Pro division, as
Michelle Lemieux (Cabot) claimed top honors over cousin Steffanie Lemieux (St.
Johnsbury) and Chelsea Smith in the Pro Women final. 
In Semi-Pro action Sunday, Jake Melville kept the home-state riders atop the
chart with a thrilling last-lap pass to win the Open final. The talented young
athlete from Pownal capitalized when Jason Stone bobbled slightly headed to the
finish. Shaun St. Onge came from the back row to finish third, capping a
successful weekend for the entire Harrison Motorsports organization.
Derek Graham (Team Southside Polaris) gave Bruce Gaspardi reason to smile
after a long and difficult week with a victory in Semi-Pro Stock. Stone, the
current point leader thanks to a string of top-three runs, claimed second,
while Brad Davis finished third. Michael George (Stock 440) completes our list
of Semi-Pro winners as he prevailed over Nathan Leclaire and Matt Herrmann.
Leclaire posted a win Sunday in Sport division action, as he out-gunned Lucas
Brunelle and Scott Edwards in a hotly-contested Stock 500 final. Corin Todd
continued his dominance in this division, as he out-raced Brunelle and George
to claim Sunday's Stock 600 final. Todd, of Otego, NY, also won Saturday's
Sport Super Stock final over Brunelle and Chris Ackerman. Edwards (600
Performance) and Scott Smith (Stock 600 Fan) also posted Sport division wins.
In Junior division action at Barton, Lincoln Lemieux carried the home-state
theme to it?s next level. The youngster from St. Johnsbury has been sensational
all season long, and added two more wins (Stock 600 Fan & Stock 500) to his
resume on Sunday. Montana Jess, the famed 'Flying Onion,' won the 300 Freestyle
final both Saturday and Sunday, while Joey Stock, Jake Scott and Brian Holbrook
also notched final round wins.
Other winners over the weekend in Barton include Mark Pillsbury (Non-
Traction); Scott Edwards (Plus 25 Stock); Sarah Acker (Jr. Girls 10-13 Stock
600 Fan); KC Anderson (Women Stock 500 & Stock 600 Sunday); Rene Desrocher
(Plus 35 Masters); Michelle Lemieux (Women Stock 600 Sat.); Janell Smith (Women
Stock Novice); Brad Haynes (Trail 600 Sat.); and Tomaharu Yamamichi (Trail 600
Sunday).
Teams from Rock Maple?s East series concluded their 2007-08 campaign Sunday in
Barton. Corin Todd prevailed in Semi-Pro Open, with Scott Edwards and Trevor
Bouchard in tow. Brent Williams claimed the Sport 600 final, while Colebrook,
NH, rider Martha Wells out-dueled KC Anderson and Paige Calderwood to claim the
Women?s 600 final. Other East series winners include Lincoln Lemieux (Jr. 14-15
Stock 500 & Jr. 16-17 Stock 500); and Matt Cameron (Jr. 10-13 600 Fan & 10-13
380 Fan).
Rock Maple Racing would like to thank the entire Orleans County Fair
Association for hosting a successful event for the fourth year overall.
Saturday's warm temperatures and bright sun made it great for the fans, and
Sunday's finals drew a large crowd from area towns.
The season finale for Central series teams is set for April 5-6 at the famous
Mount Snow ski resort in West Dover, Vermont. After several years away from the
region, RMR returns to southern Vermont to wrap up the 2008 snocross
campaign.
Rock Maple Racing is the eastern affiliate of the World Powersports
Association (WPSA), the national sanctioning body for snocross. For complete
results in all classes from Barton or to learn more, visit us online at www.
rockmaple.com.