MOTOCROSS 1
MOTOCROSS 2
RACE REPORT: KAWASAKI RACE OF CHAMPIONS (KROC) AT ENGLISHTOWN BY MICHAEL JAMES!
10/10/2006
Story and photos by Michael James; Copyright 2006
Defending double champion, Team Green Kawasaki's Kyle Chisholm was fresh off a Canadian motocross championship and several US nationals and was on a mission to stamp his authority on the rest of the riders. The Floridian hauled butt all weekend and were it not for a fall that knocked him unconscious for several minutes, he'd have swept it all again.
"Factory" Phil Nicoletti on a private Honda was Chisholm's toughest competitor and was able to keep it on two wheels in the 250 Pro class. Nicoletti's 1-2 moto finishes were good enough for the overall win. Phil held off massive attack from Chaplin Kawasaki's Robby Marshall, 2005's vice-champion.
NICOLETTI IN ACTION
PHIL NICOLETTI
Barry Carsten turned forty years old during the week, sharing a birthday with his father. Carsten is old enough to be Nicoletti's father but you would never know it as Carsten managed to make the podium with inspired rides in both the 125 and 250 Pro class finals. Damien Plotts charged to a top three overall in the 250 Pro. On an inspirational note, New Jersey's own Harold Glissen, a differently-abled racer finished 28th overall out of the forty entrants in the 125 Pro class. Even Kyle Chisholm commented on him on the podium.
DAMIEN PLOTTS AND BARRY CARSTEN
Midway through the motos, Team Factory Kawasaki, V. 2007 took to the track for a riding exhibition. While James Stewart went ballistic immediately Tim Ferry took a few laps to before the "factory speed" kicked in. They whipped the crowd into a frenzy by the time they were done. Stewart capped the ride by wheelying through twelve of the gnarliest whoops the Raceway park track has ever seen.
250 PRO MOTO 1
Chisholm started from a coveted inside gate and squeezed through the first turn ahead of Nicoletti, Carsten, Plotts, Ben Ritter, and Brian Mulcahy. Chisholm was n dropping the pack and while he pulled away so too did Nicoletti pull away from the riders behind him. On lap three, Nicoletti came around in the lead with Chisholm nowhere in sight. Kyle had wadded himself up pretty good in the back section of . Nicoletti at the halfway point was still pulling away from Plotts and Carsten. Last year's vice-champion Robby Marshall gated poorly but was making time through the pack. Ritter defended the onslaught of Bill Ainsworth and Roy Holt. At the flag it was Nicoletti, Plotts, Carsten and Ritter, and New Yorker Jay Weller.
DAMIEN PLOTTS ON TRACK
250 PRO MOTO 2
Chisholm made short work of the long start and led the pack again going up the Staircase jump. Carsten, Plotts, Nicoletti and Ritter gave chase for several laps. Marshall got another poor start but blistered his way up into sixth after five laps. In the later stages of the race Chisholm was thirty-three seconds ahead of Nicoletti who slowed when he was told he had the overall in the bag.
ROBBIE MARSHALL HITS THE BERM
When the white flag flew Marshall summoned some more speed and bullied his way past Plotts and pressured a surprised Nicoletti on the final sections to take the final podium spot. Their battle through the whoops had the crowd on its feet and only Nicoletti's leap over the last four whoops kept his position intact. Chisholm first, Nicoletti, Marshall, Carsten and Plotts followed.
A GREAT "PHOTO FINISH" ENDS A FANTASTIC DAY OF RACING
250 Pro Overall
