Mini Rider 07
By Scott Lukaitis
Photos by Scott Lukaitis
October for New Jersey motocross fans as meant one thing. The KROC! For the past 31 years Kawasaki Team Green and their participating local Kawasaki dealers have presented the Kawasaki Race of Champions.
Over the years the entry list has read like a who’s who of famous motocross racers. Most recent competitors have included many of today’s famous factory riders including Jason Lawrence, Ryan Villopoto, Zach Osborne, and Kyle Chisholm. Nearly 650 riders signed up on Saturday with the hope of adding their name to the list.
Once the early morning fog lifted on Saturday morning unseasonably warm temperatures in the high eighties and a brand new track layout courtesy of track designer Micky Kessler greeted the packed classes.
In 65cc racing Damian Thompson and Jon Borello took the wins on their respective classes while in 85cc racing Robert Piazza, Zachary Bell, and James Decotis took their class wins. Alexander Frye was the Junior Mini winner and AJ Catanzaro took the Supermini class win.
In addition to the premier expert classes on Sunday two special exhibition races were held for Saturday’s top finishers. Each class also had a great grand prize, a brand new KX85 given away by local dealers. Each rider would be given a raffle ticket and a lucky winner in each class would take home a great surprise. The Kessler Cup for 65cc racers was won by Jon Borello followed by Alexander Frye and Kevin Tompkins and Tompkins brother Justin was the happy winner of the new KX85 courtesy of local dealer Town and Country Cycle Center. The Mt Holly Kawasaki/Fox Mini Cycle Shootout was won by AJ Catanzaro with Zach Bell in second and James Decotis in third. Decotis’ podium finish was especially sweet as he went home with the new KX85 as the lucky winner of the new bike drawing. Monster Energy Kawasaki Factory riders Tim Ferry and James Stewart even flew in from Florida to show the Northeast fans their skills in an afternoon demonstration.
The 31st annual Kawasaki Race of Champions was a great weekend of racing for everyone. Ask your parents to start planning now for a trip to New Jersey next October for the 32nd annual Race of Champions.
KROC Results
Saturday October 6, 2007
65cc 7-9
1. Damian Thompson (KTM)
2. Alexander Frye (KTM)
3. Chase Bell (KAW)
4. Miguel Correla (KTM)
5. Kade Walker (OTH)
65cc 10-11
1. Jon Borrello (KTM)
2. Austin Littler (KTM)
3. Kevin Tompkins (KTM)
4. Aaron Ziefelder (KAW)
5. Trevor Shaffer (KTM)
85cc 7-11
1. Robert Piazza (KAW)
2. Damon Fiore (KAW)
3. Miles Schellenberger (SUZ)
4. James Coen (SUZ)
5. Alexander Frye (KTM)
85cc 12-13
1. Zachary Bell (KAW)
2. Richard Grey (KTM)
3. Kameron Page (YAM)
4. AJ Catanzaro (KAW)
5. Ryan Zaveral (HON)
85cc 14-15
1. James Decotis (YAM)
2. Tyler Hawk (KAW)
3. Austin Phelps (KAW)
4. Max Stevey (SUZ)
5. Adam Scicchitano (SUZ)
125 Novice
1. Andrew Homick (SUZ)
2. Dominick Guastella (SUZ)
3. Mike Correa (KAW)
4. Christopher Duymich (HON)
5. JT Milne (HON)
125 Amateur
1. Lowell Spangler (KAW)
2. Cody Robbins (KAW)
3. Frank Lettieri (SUZ)
4. Addison Kramer (KAW)
5. Kody Renzland (KAW)
250 Novice
1. Michael Sowa (SUZ)
2. Billy Hauser (KAW)
3. Mike Correa (HON)
4. Michael Cox (HON)
5. Alex Stavola (SUZ)
250 Amateur
1. Lowell Spangler (KAW)
2. Cody Robbins (KAW)
3. Frank Letieri (SUZ)
4. Tyler Sanderson (KAW)
5. Joshua Gottshall (YAM)
25+ Amateur
1. Jonathan Bronne (HON)
2. Norman Innis (HON)
3. John Ward (HON)
4. Joey Rogers (YAM)
5. Ethan Waybright (HON)
25+ Expert
1. Damien Plotts (KAW)
2. Barry Carsten (SUZ)
3. Ty Wallace (SUZ)
4. Mark Waldele (KAW)
5. Daniel Grimm (KTM)
30+ Novice
1. Jose Romero (KAW)
2. Edward Lokerson (SUZ)
3. Neal Kitson (YAM)
4. Chuck Schellhardt (KTM)
5. Gerald Ricciardelli (YAM)
30+ Amateur
1. Norman Innis (HON)
2. Victor Palmieri (HON)
3. Carl Herrforth (HON)
4. Ethan Waybright (HON)
5. James Sanders (KAW)
30+ Expert
1. Barry Carsten (SUZ)
2. Damien Plotts (KAW)
3. Kurt McMillen (KAW)
4. Carlo Coen (KAW)
5. Ty Wallace (SUZ)
40+ Amateur
1. Doug Kitchell (HON)
2. Chris Sudyam (HON)
3. George Gilmour (Hon)
4. Dean Mauro (KAW)
5. Joseph Dublas (YAM)
40+ Expert
1.Barry Carsten (SUZ)
2. Kurt McMillen (KAW)
3. Gaylon Dickson (KAW)
4. James McIlvaine (HON)
5. Carlo Coen (KAW)
Junior Mini
1. Alexander Frye (KTM)
2. Jake Scott (YAM)
3. Robert Piazza (KAW)
4. Alec Ethier (KAW)
5. Miles Schellenberger (SUZ)
Super Mini
1. AJ Catanzaro (KAW)
2. James Decotis (YAM)
3. Zachary Bell (KAW)
4. Tyler Hawk (KAW)
5. Ryan Zaveral (HON)
Schoolboy
1. Frank Lettieri (SUZ)
2. Charles Sherby (HON)
3. Sal Calamita (HON)
4. Seth Rarick (KTM)
5. AJ Catanzaro (KAW)
Collegeboy
1. Lowell Spangler (KAW)
2. Colton Bailey (HON)
3. Darryn Durham (SUZ)
4. William Duffy (SUZ)
5. William Shatrau (KAW)
Open 4-Stroke
1. PJ Larsen (KAW)
2. Ryan Blizzard (KAW)
3. Charles Sherby (HON)
4. Shane Durham (KAW)
5. Colton Bailey (HON)
Women
Marissa Markelon (HON)
Brianna Mahon (KAW)
Samantha Fritz (HON)
Nikki Stewart (KAW)
Krisa Sweeney (KAW)
KROC results Sunday October 7, 2007
Kessler Cup 65cc
1. Jon Borello (KTM)
2. Alexander Frye (KTM)
3. Kevin Tompkins (KTM)
4. Aaron Ziefelder (KAW)
5. Trevor Shaffer (SUZ)
Town and Country Cycle Center KX85 Drawing Winner
Justin Tompkins
Fox Mt Holly Top Gun Mini Cycle Shootout
1. AJ Catanzaro (KAW)
2. Zachary Bell (KAW)
3. James Decotis (YAM)
4. Tyler Hawk (KAW)
5. Austin Phelps (KAW)
Mt Holly Top Gun Mini Cycle Shootout KX85 Drawing Winner
James Decotis
Monmouth Cycles Ironman Classic
1. Lowell Spangler (KAW)
2. William Shatrau (KAW)
3. Cody Robbins (KAW)
4. Frank Lettieri (SUZ)
5. Kody Renzland (KAW)
125 Pro Expert Class
1. Robby Marshall (KAW)
2. Darryn Durham (SUZ)
3. Taylor Futrell (HON)
4. Barry Carsten (SUZ)
5. Adam Blessing (HON)
6. Michael Sattile (KAW)
7. Jay Weller (SUZ)
8. Kyle Willis (HON)
9. Ben Ritter (SUZ)
10. Damien Plotts (KAW)
250 Pro Expert class
1. PJ Larsen (KAW)
2. Taylor Futrell (HON)
3. Roby Marshall (KAW)
4. Jay Weller (SUZ)
5. Barry Carsten (SUZ)
6. William Duffy (SUZ)
7. Shane Durham (KAW)
8. Ben Ritter (SUZ)
9. Thomas Addy (HON)
10. Kenny Day (HON)