From Cycle News online:

Lawrence Cleans Up at Raceway Park Opener

ENGLISHTOWN, NJ

March in the Northeast is famous for its unpredictable weather, and when there was snow on the ground the Wednesday before the 32nd annual opening day at Raceway Park, many thought the track would be a muddy mess. However, that was not the case, as track designer Mickey Kessler and his staff worked on the track and turned the mud into a challenging, rough track suitable for an opening-day crowd. The more than 300 riders in attendance were not disappointed.

One of the most well-known riders who showed up on the opening day was Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy’s Jason Lawrence (338). Taking advantage of a break in the Supercross season, Jason came back to his home track to sharpen his outdoors skills.

When the gate dropped for the first 125cc Expert moto, it was Mount Holly KTM-mounted Ryan Gainey grabbing the holeshot, followed closely by Lawrence and KPS Suzuki rider Dakota Kessler, who was making his Expert debut. Lawrence quickly dispatched Gainey and set out to run away from the field. Kessler also got around Gainey and tried to keep Lawrence in sight. Dragon Honda-mounted Adam Blessing was moving through the pack and eventually worked his way all the way up to second place by moto’s end. When the checkered flag fell, it was Lawrence with the win, followed by Blessing in second and Gainey in third.

The second moto again saw Lawrence jump out to an early lead, followed by Gainey, Blessing, Kessler and the rest of the 125cc Expert field. By moto’s end, it was still Lawrence in front, followed by Gainey in second and Blessing in third, both in the moto and overall as well.

In 250cc Expert action, Lawrence took both moto wins, followed by Gainey (3-2) in second and Blessing (2-5) in third.

Lawrence made it six for six by winning both motos in the Collegeboy class as well. On the way to his victory, Lawrence put on a clinic, jumping the spectator section in three leaps and creating a 100-plus-foot double jump that no one in the track’s history had ever done!

A sign that the two-stroke is not yet dead: Trapani’s/Freehold Honda-sponsored Joel Dengler took his CR250 to the Over 25 Expert field with 2-1 moto scores, followed by yet another two-stroke, a YZ250 belonging to Hanover Yamaha-sponsored Rich Zupko. At least in New Jersey, the two-stroke still lives!

The next race at Raceway Park will be on March 24, with Peewee and Youth quad racing in the morning and pit-bike racing later that evening, as well as a full schedule of motocross racing on Sunday. For more information, go to www.racewaypark.com.

Results

65 (7-9): 1. Brandon Hartranft (Kaw); 2. Andrew Maroney (Kaw); 3. Sean Knoll (KTM); 4. Gage Solis (Suz); 5. Brian Engdahl (KTM).

65 (10-11): 1. Keith Pierce (Yam); 2. Daniel Dillin (KTM); 3. Collin Macauley (Kaw); 4. Joseph Galbraith (KTM); 5. Brett Cox (Suz).

85 (7-11): 1. Jacob Hartranft (Yam); 2. Luke Palonicola (Kaw); 3. Angelo Curro (Hon); 4. Brandon Hartranft (Kaw); 5. Keith Pierce (Yam).

85 (12-13): 1. Jesse Pierce (Hon); 2. Matthew Gahrmann (Kaw); 3. Michael Schalkoff (Suz); 4. Evan Priester (KTM); 5. Richie Trevelise (Suz).

85 (14-15): 1. Kyle Hill (Suz); 2. Larry Cella (Kaw).

JR MINI (9-13): 1. Jacob Hartranft (Yam); 2. Matthew Gahrmann (Kaw); 3. Angelo Curro (Hon); 4. Brandon Hartranft (Kaw); 5. Brian Laul Jr. (Yam).

S/MINI (12-15): 1. Jesse Pierce (Hon); 2. Max Gomez (Yam); 3. Jason Chavez; 4. Michael Schalkoff (Suz); 5. Zachary Reinson (Hon).

125 NOV: 1. Brian Kilduff (Yam); 2. J.T. Milne (Hon); 3. Anthony G. Fiore (Yam); 4. Andrew Flood (Kaw); 5. Alex Stavola.

125 AM: 1. Daniel Fodor (Suz); 2. Kevin M. Hudson (Yam); 3. Andrew Slowey (Hon); 4. Rob Kirkpatrick (Hon); 5. Arthur Stryker (Hon).

125 EX: 1. Jason Lawrence (Yam); 2. Ryan Gainey (KTM); 3. Adam Blessing (Hon); 4. Dakota Kessler (Suz); 5. Jesse Festenstine.

250 NOV: 1. Jeff Mesler (Hon); 2. Andrew Flood (Kaw); 3. Cristiano Dutra (Kaw); 4. Stephen Michael (Hon); 5. Michael Moore (Yam).

250 AM: 1. Daniel Fodor (Suz); 2. Larry McVay (Yam); 3. Mike Emick (Yam); 4. James R. Henshaw (Hon); 5. Arthur Stryker (Hon).

250 EX: 1. Jason Lawrence (Yam); 2. Ryan Gainey (KTM); 3. Adam Blessing (Hon); 4. Brian Smith (Yam); 5. Dakota Kessler (Suz).

OPEN 4-STRK: 1. Teddy Grant (Kaw); 2. Paul Dornellas (Hon); 3. Daniel Fodor (Suz); 4. J.T. Milne (Hon); 5. Matthew Lopreato (Hon).

WMN: 1. Virginia Roma; 2. Nikki Stewart (Yam); 3. Rachel Engdahl (Suz); 4. Miranda Reinson (Kaw); 5. Erica Rizzo (Yam).

SCHBY (12-15) 2-STRK: 1. Matthew Moore (Yam); 2. Zachary Reinson (Hon); 3. Talon Di Stefano (Suz); 4. Shane Swenson (Hon).

CLGBY (16-24): 1. Jason Lawrence (Yam); 2. James Mushalla (Yam); 3. Larry Mutschler (Kaw); 4. Jonathan Goldsboro Jr. (Kaw); 5. Brian Kilduff (Yam).

25+ AM: 1. Brian Rule (Hon); 2. Jonathan Bronne (Hon); 3. Paul Denoio Jr. (Hon); 4. Richard Jacobs (Kaw); 5. John Ward (Hon).

25+ EX: 1. Joel Dengler (Hon); 2. Richard Zupko (Yam); 3. Darren Edsall (Kaw); 4. Shane Kelleher (Hon); 5. Brian Smith (Yam).

30+ NOV: 1. Cristiano Dutra (Kaw); 2. Keith Adolf (Suz); 3. Lawrence McVay (Yam); 4. Greg Stackhouse (Yam); 5. James A. Reese (Yam).

30+ AM: 1. John Ward (Hon); 2. Ed Graham (Suz); 3. Mike Biondo (Hon); 4. Marc Ondy (Hon); 5. Hans Palmblad (Yam).

30+ EX: 1. Jim Kapitan (Hon); 2. Darren Edsall (Kaw); 3. Richard Zupko (Yam); 4. Brian Smith (Yam); 5. Joel Dengler (Hon).

40+ AM: 1. Stanley Poulsen (Hon); 2. Russ Meyers (Hon); 3. John Tavernese (Yam); 4. John Stewart (Hon); 5. Ken Roma (Hon).

40+ EX: 1. Jim Kapitan (Hon); 2. James McIlvaine (Hon); 3. Marc Tiesler (Hon); 4. Frank Tussel (Yam); 5. Alan O’Brien (Yam).