Rock Maple Racing ready to kick off new season at Whaleback Mountain
By Phil Whipple
With the early arrival of winter-like temperatures and accumulating snowfall
in parts of northern New England, snowmobile racing enthusiasts are getting
anxious to hit the track.
Hundreds of race teams across the northeast will get that opportunity very
shortly, as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) opens its 2008-09 snocross season on
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7, at the beautiful Whaleback Mountain ski area
in Enfield, NH. Whaleback is located just off Exit 16 on Interstate 89.
Spectator gates will open at 8 a.m. both days, with racing getting under way
at 9 a.m. sharp. Admission is $12 per day for adults, while children under
the age of 10 will be admitted free with a paying adult. Pit passes valid
through the entire weekend will be available for an extra $10. Race fans can
save money on advance-sale tickets by visiting the Whaleback Web site at www.whaleback.com.
This event is presented in part by Lucky's Motor Sports, of South Royalton,
Vermont. Lucky's is a full-service dealer for Ski-doo, Yamaha, Can-Am ATVs
and Husqvarna power equipment.
Leading the charge into Whaleback are former Pro division champions Jason
and Matt Boron. With the retirement of last year's champion, C.W. Sirjane,
the opportunity for these two athletes from Leverett, Mass., to get back on
top is here. Jason is a multi-time champion with over 10 years of
experience, while Matt claimed both Pro titles (Stock and Open) two years
ago.
There are several other Pro riders to watch as they look to dominate the top
division. Veteran Danny Poirier, of St. Theodore, Quebec, returns to action
with New York-based Team Cycle Worx. Poirier is a skilled racer backed by
Polaris and guided by respected team owners Ray & Lisa Hulten. Fans of the
Polaris brand will also want to watch former Semi-Pro stars Chris Chico and
Derek Graham, as they make the move to full-time Pro in RMR's Central series
this season. Jason Stone, of Central Square, NY, is another former Semi-Pro
star moving up to Pro for 2008-09, and many snocross insiders suggest this
Ski-doo rider will do very well in his rookie season.
Competition in the Semi-Pro division will also be exciting as a new season
begins. Riders to watch at Whaleback include Brennan Berardo, Trevor
Bouchard, Jake Melville and Shaun St. Onge. Lucas Brunelle and Corin Todd
move up to Semi-Pro from the Sport division this year, adding even more
excitement to this division.
In addition to the high-flying action from the Pro and Semi-Pro divisions,
the weekend at Whaleback will also see great racing in the Sport, Women and
Junior divisions. There will also be a smaller track built for kids ages
6-10 that compete on 120cc machines. These young racers are the future of
snocross, and RMR is proud to provide a place for them to learn the sport.
For those who have never attended a Rock Maple event, here's what to expect.
Saturday is filled with qualifying races for all classes. With roughly 30
classes spread across five major divisions, this makes for a full day of
racing. Sunday begins with Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQs), which fill out the
field for all final rounds. Opening ceremonies begin shortly after lunch,
followed by finals for all classes.
Rock Maple Racing is proud to have support from a host of marketing
partners, which includes Amsoil, Choko apparel, Scott goggles, Woody's
traction & control products, Ingles Performance, Pump-X, Tekvest, Camoplast
tracks, Al's Snowmobile Parts Warehouse, New England Racing Fuels, The Crank
Shop, R.U. Outside apparel, Ontario Snowmobiler Magazine and Marland
Enterprises.
Last Updated on 11/26/08
By George Campbell or Greg Fish
Email: neracing@neracing.com
