From Cycle News online:
Desiderio Scares Competition
ENGLISHTOWN, NJ – Old Bridge Township’s Raceway Park concluded its 30th-anniversary season on October 30. Originally scheduled for October 16, the event had to be moved due to the torrential rains that preceded the event. The delay worked out well for both the riders and spectators, as the sun rose to present a beautiful spring-type day, with temperatures in the mid-60s – certainly not the type of weather one normally sees in the Northeast in October.
The first combined Supermini/Junior Mini moto saw KPS Honda rider Dakota Kessler jump out to the early lead, followed by Honda rider Charles Sherby and then Nick Desiderio (57), who just picked up a Suzuki support ride and was anxious to prepare for the Mini O’s in November. The young New Jersey rider was leading the Junior Mini class and was trying to keep the Hondas in sight. Kessler held on for the Supermini moto win, followed by Sherby, and Desiderio held on for the Junior Mini victory, followed by Damian Krause and Zachary Lang.
The second moto again saw Kessler jump out to the early lead. First-moto winner Desiderio went down in the first turn but kept his bike running and set off after the rest of the pack. Sherby had bike problems early in the moto and didn’t finish, allowing Kessler to check out on the field and take the moto and overall win.
The real action, however, was going on in the Junior Mini class. Yamaha rider Krause was out in front but feeling the heat from Desiderio, and he eventually gave up the position to him. The racing wasn’t over yet, as Desiderio went down, handing the lead back to Krause and allowing third-place rider Lang to also get by. Lang got around Krause and took off to lead the class. Desiderio reeled the lead duo back in, and on the last lap he was within striking distance. On the last lap, Desiderio put a move on Krause and got by and took off after Lang. He pulled alongside Lang going into the last corner and made his move going into the new whoop section, getting by for the victory! All was not well for Lang, as he went over the bars, handing second to Krause. Lang got up and settled for third. Desiderio took the overall, followed by Krause in second and Lang in third.
Instead of the normal Expert classes, one combined class was run for all of the Expert riders in attendance. After competing in the Albany, New York, arenacross on Saturday night, Barry Carsten drove through the night to race at his home track on Sunday. Carsten took the first-moto win but was defeated by new Expert rider Adam Blessing in the second moto. Blessing was also at the arenacross on Saturday night and showed Carsten a preview of the 2006 season, battling him all moto long to take the overall with 2-1 moto scores. Carsten settled for second with 1-2 scores, and Taylor Murphy was third overall with 3-5 motos.
Results
65 (7-9): 1. Jacob Hartranft (Kaw); 2. Michael Giovanniello (Suz); 3. Tyler J. Betsch (Kaw); 4. Anthony Maimone (Hon); 5. Leif Rasmussen (Kaw).
65 (10-11): 1. Nick Desiderio (Suz); 2. Bobby Lipyanek (KTM); 3. Matthew Gahrmann (Kaw); 4. Richie Trevelise (Suz).
85 (7-11): 1. Nick Desiderio (Suz); 2. Zachary Lang (Suz); 3. Damian Krause (Yam); 4. Bobby Lipyanek (KTM); 5. Anthony Maimone (Hon).
85 (12-13): 1. Charles Sherby Jr. (Hon); 2. Daniel South (Kaw); 3. Zachary Reinson (Kaw); 4. Joe Mumola (Suz); 5. Evan Connolly (KTM).
85 (14-15): 1. Dakota Kessler (Hon); 2. Phillip Mackay (Kaw); 3. Trey Rasmussen (Kaw); 4. Ricky Benevento (Yam).
S/MINI (12-15): 1. Dakota Kessler (Hon); 2. Joe Mumola (Suz); 3. Charles Sherby Jr. (Hon).
JR MINI (9-13): 1. Nick Desiderio (Suz); 2. Damian Krause (Yam); 3. Zachary Lang (Suz); 4. Bobby Lipyanek (KTM); 5. Zachary Reinson (Kaw).
125 NOV: 1. Michael O’Brien (Suz); 2. William Francisco (Yam); 3. Corey Campo (Suz); 4. Justin Randazzo (Hon); 5. Christopher Tierney (Hon).
125 AM: 1. Jesse Festenstine (Suz); 2. Peter Devlin (Suz); 3. Joey Peditto (Suz); 4. Mike Tippin Jr. (Suz); 5. Robert Malkiewicz (Kaw).
250 NOV: 1. Christopher Tierney (Hon); 2. James Moore Jr. (Hon); 3. Andrew Whitney (Yam); 4. Michael O’Brien (Suz); 5. Marcelo Vasquez (Yam).
250 AM: 1. Bryan Wallace; 2. Robert Malkiewicz (Kaw); 3. Mike Tippin Jr. (Suz); 4. John Burlew (Yam); 5. Mike Bergholz (Hon).
ALL EX: 1. Adam Blessing (Kaw); 2. Barry Carsten (Suz); 3. Taylor Murphy (Suz); 4. Robert Quinn (Suz); 5. James McIlvaine (Hon).
SCHBY (12-15): 1. Joey Peditto (Suz); 2. Will Hecksteden (Yam); 3. Dan Callahan (Suz); 4. Daniel Fodor (Suz); 5. William Francisco (Yam).
CLGBY (16-24): 1. Adam Blessing (Kaw); 2. Peter Devlin (Suz); 3. Jesse Festenstine (Suz); 4. Taylor Murphy (Suz); 5. Jeremy Weniger (Hon).
WMN: 1. Virginia Roma (Hon); 2. Nikki Stewart (Kaw); 3. Rene Kotopoulis (Hon); 4. Jennifer Singleton (Yam).
25+ AM: 1. Michael Yonkowski (Hon); 2. Timothy Lynch (Hon); 3. Richard Jacobs (Hon); 4. John Tavernese (Yam); 5. Jude Harper (Yam).
30+ NOV: 1. Ray Gecormini (Hon); 2. Keith Adolf (Suz); 3. Larry McVay (Hon); 4. Jeffrey Yeomans Sr. (Suz); 5. Brian Betsch (Suz).
30+ AM: 1. Joe Pateman (Hon); 2. Timothy Lynch (Hon); 3. Alfred Portilla (Hon); 4. Michael Yonkowski (Hon); 5. John Tavernese (Yam).
40+ AM: 1. John Stewart (Hon); 2. Jerry Rizziello Jr. (Hon); 3. Scott Sampson (Hon); 4. Ken Roma (Hon); 5. Jeffrey Yeomans Sr. (Suz).
