The Kawasaki Race of Champions, or KROC, is only a couple of weeks away and its shaping up to be quite an event. The race is held at Raceway Park in Old Bridge Twp, New Jersey, and 2019 marks the 43rd annual event.
Taking place over 3 days, October 4th thru 6th, the race features classes for all levels and ages of racers and always produces great racing action.
Here is the event flyer with all of the details.
As you’ll probably already know, two of the side projects that I am a part of include Lukaitis Photo and NJ Motocross. And by involved with I mean 100% posts are written by yours truly. For 2019, in an effort to expand the content on NJ Motocross, I’ve begun to put together complete weekend wrap-ups. You can find the wrap-up for the Area Qualifier held on April 6&7 below.
On the weekend of April 6-7, 2019 Raceway Park hosted the Northeast Area Qualifier for the AMA Amateur National Championships that will be held in Tennessee later this summer. The area qualifier is the first step in qualifying for the event. The riders that made the cut will go on to the Regional qualifier and then the big show at Loretta Lynn’s in July.
Following is a wrap-up of the weekend.
See all of the photos by Scott Lukaitis from both days are HERE
Complete results from both days are HERE
Manufacturer breakdown –
Saturday.
KTM (88), Yamaha (82), Kawasaki (33), Husqvarna (23), Cobra (20), Honda (12), and Suzuki (7).
Sunday.
KTM (84), Yamaha (83), Kawasaki (38), Honda (31), Husqvarna (25), Suzuki (18), and Cobra (8).
Breakdown by State –
Saturday.
New Jersey (95), New York (77), Pennsylvania (30), Massachusetts (27), Connecticut (9), Maryland (7), Ohio (7), Maine (3), Ontario-Canada (2), West Virginia (1), Georgia (1), North Carolina (1), and Vermont (1).
Sunday.
New Jersey (115), New York (94), Pennsylvania (31), Massachusetts (14), Connecticut (9), Maryland (4), Delaware (4), Florida (2), North Carolina (2), Georgia (2), Ohio (2), Ontario-Canada (2), Rhode Island (2), and Nevada (1).
Who Won What? See all the class winners HERE
Top 5 Results
Pro Sport Class Results
LL 2 – 250 Pro Sport: 1. Bryton Carroll (Yam); 2. Ricci Randanella (Ktm); 3. Cory Carsten (Suz); 4. Renato Paz (Yam); 5. Kyle Bushee (Yam);
LL 1 – Open Pro Sport: 1. Dakota Kessler (Yam); 2. Cory Carsten (Suz); 3. Jesse Pierce (Hus); 4. Renato Paz (Yam); 5. Bryton Carroll (Yam);
51cc Class Results
LL 20 – 51cc (4-6) Special Lim: 1. Leland Jones (Ktm); 2. Lahna Macneil (Cob); 3. Grayson Porco (Yam); 4. Hunter Clayton (Ktm); 5. Cameron Martin (Yam);
LL 21 – 51cc (4-6) Shaft Drive: 1. Grayson Porco (Yam); 2. Jazai Easton-thompson (Yam); 3. Aubree Smith (Yam); 4. Ryder Zicha (Yam); 5. Hunter Clayton (Yam);
LL 22 – 51cc (4-6) Limited: 1. Leland Jones (Ktm); 2. Lyric Zicha (Cob); 3. Lahna Macneil (Cob);
LL 23 – 51cc (7-8) Limited: 1. Hunter Porco (Cob); 2. Ryder Wren (Cob); 3. Landon Palmer (Cob); 4. Wayne Powers Jr (Cob); 5. Brenan Knack (Ktm);
65cc Class Results
LL 24 – 65cc (7-9) Limited: 1. Mason Raynor (Cob); 2. Giuliano Salinas (Cob); 3. Troy Kline (Ktm); 4. Tyler Kirby (Ktm); 5. Ryder Wren (Cob);
LL 26 – 65cc (10-11) Limited: 1. Klark Robbins (Ktm); 2. Tomek Jusianiek (Ktm); 3. Jayden Gomez (Ktm); 4. Michael Cuadra (Yam); 5. Jazuri Easton-Thompson (Ktm);
LL 25 – 65cc (7-9): 1. Mason Raynor (Cob); 2. Tyler Kirby (Ktm); 3. Giuliano Salinas (Cob); 4. Troy Kline (Ktm); 5. Brady Rodecker (Ktm);
LL 27 – 65cc (10-11): 1. Klark Robbins (Ktm); 2. Tomek Jusianiek (Ktm); 3. Michael Cuadra (Yam); 4. Jayden Gomez (Ktm); 5. Jazuri Easton-Thompson (Ktm);
Other Mini Class Results
LL 28 – 85cc (10-12) Limited: 1. Jude Smerlick (Ktm); 2. Gavin Betts (Ktm); 3. Vince Kline (Ktm); 4. Cody Beckwith (Ktm); 5. Cooper Allen (Ktm);
LL 30 – Mini Sr. 1 (12-14): 1. Braxton Keiffer (Suz); 2. Jake Owens (Ktm); 3. Jude Smerlick (Ktm); 4. Grant Davis (Kaw); 5. Brandon Nolan (Ktm);
LL 32 – Supermini 1 (12-15): 1. Jake Owens (Ktm); 2. Braxton Keiffer (Suz); 3. Tyrick Wheeler (Hus); 4. Justin Vincenti (Ktm); 5. Bryan Rosembarg (Hus);
LL 31 – Mini Sr 2 (13-15): 1. Braxton Keiffer (Suz); 2. Jake Owens (Ktm); 3. Grant Davis (Kaw); 4. Brandon Nolan (Ktm); 5. Joseph Spadaro (Hus);
LL 33.- Supermini 2 (13-16): 1. Tyrick Wheeler (Hus); 2. Jake Owens (Ktm); 3. Bryan Rosembarg (Hus); 4. Brandon Nolan (Ktm); 5. Joseph Spadaro (Hus);
Other Youth Class Results
LL 35 -Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C: 1. Sebastian Balbuena (Yam); 2. Deegan Harper (Ktm); 3. Tyrick Wheeler (Hus); 4. Taylor Beckwith (Ktm); 5. Kashon Cross (Ktm);
LL 19 – Schoolboy 2 (12-17): 1. Blaze Cremaldi (Ktm); 2. Cole Jones (Yam); 3. Garrett Hoffman (Suz); 4. Sebastian Balbuena (Yam); 5. Ryan Friedly (Ktm);
LL 34 – 125cc (12-17) B/C: 1. Sebastian Balbuena (Yam); 2. Taylor Beckwith (Ktm); 3. Deegan Harper (Ktm); 4. Brian Espinoza (Yam); 5. Devan Maurer (Ktm);
LL 12 – Collegeboy (18-24) Spo: 1. Renato Paz (Yam); 2. Cory Carsten (Suz); 3. Ryan Trevelise (Yam); 4. Ricci Randanella (Hon); 5. Luiz Tonini (Yam);
B Class Results
LL 4 – 250 B Limited: 1. Garrett Hoffman (Suz); 2. Blaze Cremaldi (Ktm); 3. Joseph Cortigiano (Ktm); 4. Clark Denlinger (Hon); 5. Alex Phaneuf (Yam);
LL 9 – 450 B Limited: 1. Blaze Cremaldi (Ktm); 2. Cole Jones (Yam); 3. Alex Phaneuf (Yam); 4. Ryan Friedly (Ktm); 5. Tom Lees Jr (Kaw);
LL 3 – 250 B: 1. Blaze Cremaldi (Ktm); 2. Garrett Hoffman (Suz); 3. Joseph Cortigiano (Ktm); 4. Cole Jones (Yam); 5. Ryan Friedly (Ktm);
LL 8 – 450 B: 1. Luiz Tonini (Yam); 2. Dylan Kucowski (Yam); 3. Alex Phaneuf (Yam); 4. Sam Messler (Yam); 5. Joe Petro (Yam);
C Class Results
LL 6 – 250 C Limited: 1. Travis Randanella (Ktm); 2. Cole Bader (Hus); 3. Charlie Mohn (Kaw); 4. Elliott Bence (Hon); 5. Brittan Lees (Ktm);
LL 7 – 250 C Jr 12-17 Limited: 1. Travis Randanella (Ktm); 2. Cole Egli (Kaw); 3. Elliott Bence (Hon); 4. Albert Haberle Iv (Ktm); 5. Cole Bader (Hus);
LL 11 – 125 C: 1. Sebastian Balbuena (Yam); 2. Travis Randanella (Ktm); 3. Cole Bader (Hus); 4. Kashon Cross (Ktm); 5. Cole Egli (Yam);
LL 5 – 250 C: 1. Dakota Nyul (Kaw); 2. Elliott Bence (Hon); 3. Ashton Kreiger (Yam); 4. Sam Northrop (Yam); 5. Jeff Ellison (Yam);
LL 10 – 450 C: 1. Travis Randanella (Ktm); 2. Charlie Mohn (Kaw); 3. Albert Haberle Iv (Ktm); 4. Ashton Kreiger (Yam); 5. Sam Northrop (Yam);
Vet Class Results
LL 13 – Junior 25+: 1. Jesse Pierce (Hus); 2. Hunter Stempel (Hon); 3. Kevin Uebrick (Yam); 4. Jason Astudillo (Hon); 5. Max Gomez (Ktm);
LL 14 – Vet 30+ Sportsman: 1. Anthony Roth (Yam); 2. Keith Rose (Ktm); 3. Robert Kirchhofer (Hon); 4. Nicholas Peccarelli (Kaw); 5. Derek Sorenson (Ktm);
LL 15.- Senior 40+: 1. Barry Carsten (Suz); 2. Wayne Powers (Yam); 3. Michael Biondo (Kaw); 4. Nathan Greiner (Suz); 5. Darren Edsall (Hus);
LL 16.- Senior 45+ Sportsman: 1. James Mcilvaine (Kaw); 2. Scott Phelps (Ktm); 3. Wayne Powers (Yam); 4. Derek Sorenson (Ktm); 5. Steve Nickerson (Hon);
LL 17 – Masters 50+: 1. Barry Carsten (Suz); 2. Brian Carroll Jr (Hon); 3. James Mcilvaine (Kaw); 4. Steve Nickerson (Hon); 5. Gary Giacchetto (Kaw);
Womens and Girls Class Results
LL 36 – Girls (11-16): 1. Bella Kozlowski (Hus); 2. Julia Lord (Kaw); 3. Danielle Ehlermann (Ktm);
LL 18. – Women: 1. Emily Post (Yam); 2. Sarah Post (Yam); 3. Erica Hamilton (Hon); 4. Heather Moore (Hon); 5. Kallie Kohnow (Ktm);
Non-Qualifying Class Results
LL Sat Non-Qual 25/30+: 1. Anthony Roth (Yam); 2. Kevin Quigley (Kaw); 3. Peter Cook (Hus); 4. Ralph Roccisano (Kaw);
LL Sat Non-Qual College 16-24: 1. Nicholas Burgess (Suz); 2. Alexander Infurna (Hus);
LL Sat Non-Qual Jr. Mini 9-13: 1. Cody Beckwith (Ktm); 2. Blake Shaver (Kaw); 3. Noah Willis (Ktm); 4. Tyler Kirby (Ktm); 5. Joseph Oconnell (Yam);
LL Sat Non-Qual Schoolboy 2: 1. Taylor Beckwith (Ktm); 2. Chris Sweeney (Kaw);
LL Sat Non-Qualifier Open C: 1. Chase Waddington (Kaw); 2. Tyler Schmidt (Hon); 3. Jacob Cortigiano (Ktm);
LL Sun Non-Qual 51cc (4-6): 1. Leland Jones (Ktm); 2. Lahna Macneil (Cob);
LL Sun Non Qual 51cc (7-8): 1. Wayne Powers Jr (Cob); 2. Anthony Pacella (Cob); 3. Justin Kirchhofer (Ktm); 4. James Gleason (Cob); 5. Tyler Sztancsik (Ktm);
LL Sun Non-Qual Jr. Mini 9-13: 1. Klark Robbins (Ktm); 2. Cody Beckwith (Ktm); 3. Landon Bissonnette (Yam); 4. Blake Shaver (Kaw); 5. Chase Eglentowicz (Ktm);
The next race at Raceway Park will be May 18 & 19, 2019. May 18th will be the first round of the Saturday Night Lights Youth MX – Quad and Adult Pit Bike Series and Sunday will be round number 5 of the D2MX Championship Series. Stay tuned to njmotocross.com for event details as they get closer.
Thank you for reading. See you at the track.
One of my favorite things about the powersports business is the great friends I’ve made over the years. The talented photographers, writers, racers and team members never cease to amaze me with the work they produce. I’m making an effort to spread the word about their work in this series so that my network can see their work.
In this post, I’d like to share an article in the Canadian motocross magazine Motocross Performance (MXP) by Krystyn Slack. Krystyn was the 1st-ever female photographer and writer to Cover all 29 AMA professional supercross and motocross races in a season. She did it in 2017. This particular article is a look behind the scenes at the wives of some of the top racers in the sport. She provides an interesting look at their family life and the week in and week out struggles of a professional motocross racing family.
Click the link to see the complete issue. MXP Magazine
See more of her work on her website FreestylePhotocross.com
Here is a look back to 2006 and some coverage I provided to ATV Sport Magazine. The coverage was of the WPSA Quad Championship event held at Raceway Park in August 2006. The coverage ran in their December 2006 issue and I provided images and text for the 6-page spread.
This week I’ve been busy with drafting and distributing more press releases. The one for the Legends and Heroes Tour announcing Joe Burke as the Legend for the St Louis Supercross and the one below announcing the 43rd consecutive motocross season at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ. The Raceway Park release was not only picked up by the motorcycling community but by several local news outlets including MyCentralJersey.com.
I’ve also posted a quick video announcing the 2018 schedule. It can be found following the release below.
Iconic New Jersey Track Opens for 43rd Consecutive Motocross Racing Season
Englishtown, NJ, March 15, 2018- Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey will open its motocross racing season on March 18th. The 2018 season marks the 43rd year that the facility has hosted motocross racing events making it one of the longest consecutively running race tracks in the country.
Famous for the annual Kawasaki Race of Champions held each October the Kawasaki Motor Corp and their participating dealers have supported the event for more than 40 years. The race has seen the whos who of amateur racing and the 2018 version will surely be a must to attend.
The iconic facility in central New Jersey has hosted a wide variety of activities on the premises and will continue to do so in 2018. Despite the closing of the drag strip portion of the property, Raceway Park will keep most of its operations. Events like the spring and fall auto swap meets, numerous car shows, both motocross racing and practice, kart racing, as well as drifting, a full schedule of road course activities, mud runs, monster truck shows, musical concerts, & festival events and more will all continue at Raceway Park.
The opener on March 18th will be the last event on the current racetrack. Following that race, all motocross operations will move to another portion of the property where a new racetrack is under construction. The move will enable the motocross operations to expand and provide a better racing and spectator experience. The newly built track will take advantage of a more substantial footprint providing a new layout suitable for racers of all skill levels. A rebuilt plunge and staircase will maintain the feel of the old track with a new updated flavor.
“Raceway Park has been such a big part of many lives over the years including my own,” said Raceway Park Track Manager Rich Trevelise. “I hope everyone that can make it out for the last race on the existing race track. So many top riders have rolled wheels through the gates at Raceway Park it is a privilege to be part of the facility. It will be sad to see the existing track demolished, but in the same breath, it’s exciting to make a move to take things to the next level. We have always tried to accommodate the racer, and with the new track and layout, it is going to be exciting. Moving the track will be a monumental task to accomplish during the early part of the season, but we are up to the challenge. I would like to thank the entire Napp family for keeping motocross alive and well in New Jersey, and also thank Ken Landerman and Jay Irwin for all they accomplished in the past that put Raceway Park Motocross and the Kawasaki Race of Champions on the map.”
Following the March 18th opener, the track will host an additional nine events for all two-wheel classes. Also included in the 9 season events are several unique races including the NJ State Championships in August and the 42nd annual Kawasaki Race of Champions in mid-October.
2018 Motocross Racing Schedule
The track will also host a 6 round Youth MX and Quad series that will take place on Saturday mornings before many the other racing events.
2018 Youth MX & Quad Series
For more information on Raceway Park Motocross, along with all of the other activities available, visit them online: www.racewaypark.com.
About Old Bridge Township Raceway Park– Founded in 1965 as a drag strip the facility has evolved into more than 500 acres of motorsports and family fun. The facility contains a motocross track, a 1.3-mile road course, competition kart racing track, autocross, ride & drive site, airport and more. From March through November, Raceway Park hosts a full schedule of motorsports events including; AMA-sanctioned motocross racing, ATV racing, kart racing, road course events, corporate gatherings, the annual Englishtown Swap Meet & Auto Show, the largest monster truck shows in NJ and much more. Visit www.racewaypark.com for the complete schedule.
For the 2018 season, I have been writing and distributing the press releases and some social media content for the Legends and Heroes of Motocross Tour as they honor a different motocross legend each week. For the Atlanta Supercross, they have chosen Robert Neeley. Below is the press release for the event.
Legends and Heroes Tour to Honor Motocross Legend Robert Neeley at the Atlanta Supercross this Weekend
The Tour stands behind the belief that “We Don’t Leave History Behind” and has kept the founding fathers, and mothers, pure in their thoughts by honoring the men and women that shaped supercross and motocross into what it is today. Each honoree receives a special commemorative plaque during a special podium presentation on the stadium floor before opening ceremonies.
About Robert Neeley:
Robert Neeley began racing in the early 70’s locally in and around his South Carolina home. Married and working a regular 40+ hour work week, Robert caught the eye of the new Team Green program at Kawasaki. He would become their go-to guy in the early days of Loretta Lynn’s, Ponca City and Lake Whitney.
From 1883 to 1990, Neeley didn’t miss a Loretta Lynn’s. He scored ten top-10 finishes including 5 Senior 30+championships. Robert came back again in 1994 and won the Senior 40+ crown. During that time frame, he also has four Ponca City and four Lake Whitney championships to his credit.
He began racing offroad at the age of 33 and had success there as well winning the 125 National Hare Scrambles Championship in 1988 and qualifying for the ISDE in both Germany and France. He even has five vintage national championships.
Today, Robert no longer competing himself but he serves as a mentor for his grandson GNCC XC2 class competitor Cole Mattison.
Join us this Saturday night in Atlanta as we honor this great racer.
With nearly 5000 square feet of display space, the Legends and Heroes Tour is a definite must-see during the Pit Party at a supercross near you.
The mobile museum features walk-through display videos that allow our guests the opportunity to take a trip back to back to where the sport began. The videos show the heroes of the sport from the beginning of their careers to the races that made them famous. New to the tour in 2018 is the Supercross Virtual Reality mobile experience (SXVR) where fans can experience the thrill of supercross via VR technology and feel like they are on the racetrack.
Fans are also encouraged to stop by early and pick up a complimentary copy of RacerX magazine while supplies last. And thanks to our local friends at each round, the Legends Tour features some of the best vintage motocross bikes on display in a single location. Featuring different vehicles at each round, our guests can relive the machines of their youth and show their family and friends the early days of motocross and supercross.
See behind the scenes footage and great vintage photos and stories by visiting our website and social media accounts.
Website – www.legendsandheroestour.org
Facebook – www.facebook.com/
Twitter – www.twitter.com/LegendsHeroes
Instagram – www.instagram.com/
YouTube – www.youtube.com/user/
About the Tour: The Legends and Heroes Tour is a professional, historical display and timeline of America’s greatest motorsports, motocross, and supercross. On-site, the tour encompasses nearly 5000 square feet of moto-history with bikes, gear and other memorabilia that transport our guests back in time through the history of the sport. Visited by more than 9 million guests during its previous seven years of existence, the Legends and Heroes Tour attends each stop of the Monster Energy Supercross Series and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Series. Visit us in the Pit Party at a supercross or motocross near you or online at www.legendsandheroestour.org
The Legends and Heroes Tour would not be possible without great sponsors like: Feld Entertainment, Monster Energy Supercross, Food for Life Bakery, Dunlop, EZup Shelters, Wossner, Yuasa, Boyesen, Motion Pro, Engine Ice, Acerbis, Rockwell, Bell, KTM, Rich Designs, Moto X Roads, The Early Days of Motocross Museum, RacerX, MX Sports, Brad Whitworth Photography, Retro Moto, Cycle News, Pro Circuit and Renthal for help with our awards and Yamaha for vehicles for our SXVR program. Thank you all.
