Originally published in Cycle News – 2006
Singleton Steals Women’s Class Victory – 8/27/06 – ENGLISHTOWN, NJ
“Rain, rain go away, come again another day.”
This has been the mantra for Raceway Park this season, as Mother Nature has decided to rear her ugly head on many occasions at Old Bridge Township’s Raceway Park. You would be hard-pressed to remember a race this season that did not feature some rain either the night before or the day of an event. Such was the case again on August 27, as torrential rains greeted the riders getting ready for practice in the morning. The monsoon-type precipitation had already forced the cancellation of Saturday’s Pee Wee and Pitbike racing, and due to the horrendous track condition, Sunday’s event was changed to a one-moto, winner-take-all format.
With only one moto deciding the winner, the holeshot was extremely important, and Nikki Stewart knew it. At the start of the Women’s-class moto, Stewart blasted off the line on her Dragon Optical-backed Yamaha YZ125 and grabbed the holeshot, only to go down in the treacherous conditions. This allowed Yamaha riders Jennifer Singleton (16) and Erica Rizzo and the rest of the ladies to go by. Singleton, on the Earthquake Racing-backed machine, inherited the lead and tried to put a gap on the field. Stewart was quickly back up, and she set off to catch as many riders as possible.
By the end of the first lap, Stewart was back into fourth and had the leaders in her sights. By the time Rizzo made the pass on Singleton for the lead, Stewart was already in third. When Rizzo bobbled in the front section of the track, Singleton again went into the lead.
With Singleton leading and Rizzo still in second, Stewart was closing quickly. Then Rizzo went down on a rough straight, allowing Stewart into second.
By now, the mud was starting to get more slippery, which caused Singleton to bobble, handing the lead to Stewart. Now it was Stewart’s turn to lead, and she began to stretch out the gap on the field. Singleton kept her in sight, because anything can happen in the mud.
And anything did happen: In the very last turn on the track, Stewart went down, and Singleton stole the victory. Stewart quickly got back up and rolled across the finish line in second. Rizzo picked her bike up from an earlier mishap and worked her way into third by moto’s end.
The next event at Raceway Park is the 14th annual Vet and Vintage Reunion on September 2. For more details, check out the website at www.racewaypark.com. An keep your fingers crossed for no rain.
Results
65 (7-9): 1. Jacob Hartranft (Kaw); 2. Tyler J. Betsch (Suz); 3. Joseph Galbraith (KTM); 4. Lucas Brzostowski (Kaw); 5. Brandon Hartranft (Kaw).
65 (10-11): 1. Richie Trevelise (Suz); 2. Macklin McQuade (Kaw).
85 (7-11): 1. Nick Desiderio (Suz); 2. Jacob Hartranft (Kaw); 3. Daniel Bromley (Suz); 4. Jake Scott (Yam); 5. Richie Trevelise (Suz).
85 (12-13): 1. Christopher Duymich (Hon); 2. Damian Krause (Yam); 3. Adam Scicchitano (Suz).
85 (14-15): 1. Larry Cella (Kaw); 2. Austin Ebberup (Kaw); 3. Anthony Faccone (Hon).
JR MINI (9-13): 1. Nick Desiderio (Suz); 2. Jake Scott (Yam); 3. Jacob Hartranft (Kaw); 4. Damian Krause (Yam); 5. Brandon Hartranft (Kaw).
S/MINI (12-15): 1. James Di Benedetto (Suz); 2. Charles Saporito (Hon).
125 NOV: 1. Donald Glidden (Yam); 2. Arthur Stryker (Hon); 3. Nicholas Peccarelli (Kaw); 4. Larry Cella (Kaw); 5. Austin Harvey (Kaw).
125 AM: 1. Ryan Gainey (Hon); 2. Mike Lacerenza (Kaw); 3. Jamie Lawrence (Kaw); 4. Mike Tippin Jr. (Suz); 5. Dakota Kessler (Kaw).
125 EX: 1. Barry Carsten (Suz); 2. Adam Blessing (Kaw); 3. John Lawrence (Kaw); 4. Robert Malkiewicz (Kaw); 5. James McIlvaine (Hon).
250 NOV: 1. Gregory Jaronczyk (Yam); 2. George P. Dennis (Suz); 3. Doug McHenry (Hon); 4. Stephen Michael (Hon); 5. John Wehrle (Yam).
250 AM: 1. Dakota Kessler (Kaw); 2. Ryan Gainey (Hon); 3. Mike Tippin Jr. (Suz); 4. Kiel Dwyer (Yam); 5. Chris Reo (Kaw).
250 EX: 1. John Lawrence (Suz); 2. Barry Carsten (Suz); 3. Darren Edsall (Kaw); 4. Brian Mulcahy (Kaw); 5. Adam Blessing (Kaw).
WMN: 1. Jennifer Singleton (Yam); 2. Nikki Stewart (Yam); 3. Erica Rizzo (Yam); 4. Emily Suydam (Hon); 5. Tammy Longacre (Hon).
SCHBY (12-15) 2-STRK: 1. Joey Peditto (Suz); 2. Edwin Way (Yam); 3. Sal Calamita (Hon).
SCHBY (12-15) 4-STRK: 1. Mike Lacerenza (Kaw); 2. Arthur Stryker (Hon); 3. Jon Reber (Suz); 4. Ben Rio (Kaw); 5. Brett Tave (KTM).
CLGBY (16-24): 1. Jamie Lawrence (Kaw); 2. Gregory Jaronczyk (Yam); 3. Kiel Dwyer (Yam); 4. James Mushalla (Yam); 5. Joseph Chmielewski (Yam).
25+ AM: 1. Sean Gillies (Hon); 2. Ed Graham (Suz); 3. Kevin Thomasey (Hon); 4. John Tavernese (Yam); 5. Roy Mwangi (Hon).
25+ EX: 1. James McIlvaine (Hon); 2. Darren Edsall (Kaw); 3. Frank Eckel (Hon); 4. Philip Thompson (Suz); 5. Gabi Stancik (Yam).
30+ NOV: 1. Kevin Kerr (Hon); 2. John Ward (Hon); 3. John Pakenham (Yam); 4. Michael Ferrara (Suz); 5. James Lauria (Suz).
30+ AM: 1. Sean Gillies (Hon); 2. Chris Reo (Kaw); 3. Ed Graham (Suz); 4. Karl Baumann (Hon); 5. Michael Lewis (Hon).
30+ EX: 1. Barry Carsten (Suz); 2. Darren Edsall (Kaw); 3. James McIlvaine (Hon); 4. Joseph Koopman (Hon); 5. Philip Thompson (Suz).
40+ AM: 1. Jerry Rizziello Jr. (Hon); 2. Steve Lewis (Suz); 3. Jason Gennusa (Hon); 4. Karl Baumann (Hon); 5. John Stewart (Hon).
40+ EX: 1. David Hurley (Yam); 2. Mark Loniewski (Hon); 3. Harold Glissen (Yam); 4. Ken Bordzuk (Hon).
