Ian Howes - Drone Pilot
TASHA SCALPS THE MOHAWK
Bubz Tasha on the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC /TELY Racing / Factory Connection KTM became the Seventh PRO Class winner of the FOX Racing J DAY Off Road Championship in the 2023 season at the Mohawk GP Round 14 in Lanesboro MA and after some bright spots in select motos in his few starts in 2023 finally got that Overall win that has eluded him so far this season. He did it in convincing fashion as he controlled the first moto and won by seven seconds and scored the second moto win and the overall with a hard fought battle against the veteran Chris Canning on his Factory Connection / Loud Fuel / MotorBikes Plus Gas Gas who finished glued to Tasha’s rear fender where he stayed throughout the entire moto. The second moto was one of the most exciting of the year as it was really a four rider battle for the win right down to the last lap with three of the four Championship contenders duking it out to gain maximum points with just two rounds to go. Chris Canning proved that no matter the obstacle in his Championship Title hunt he will not be deterred and gained the most points of the contenders today and vaulted himself into the lead and turned an 8 point disadvantage into an 8 point advantage and looks strong to garner his first J DAY Championship at the finale at the ‘ Wick where he definitely has home court advantage. Canning ran strong all day and went 2-2 for second overall. Third overall at Round 14 was defending champion Simon Johnson on his Plaistow Power Sports / AM PRO / Factory Connection Yamaha where he went 5-3 and kept his hopes alive to repeat while he sits in third 9 points adrift of Canning but because he has been so consistent again in 2023 he looks to have the most to lose when the throw away rounds are factored in. Gavin Simon would take 4-4 moto scores to fourth overall on the Edelman’s Husqvarna and still has an outside chance at the title sitting fourth going into the final round 23 points behind leader Canning. Brandon Gregoire had a great first moto but just couldn’t find his groove in the second moto, which was his fourth of the day and the Factory Connection / LBR Moto / FXR rider carded 8th in the moto and fifth overall. Gregoire has had an inspiring season with his dedication to off road racing and has a strong chance to take both PRO Titles as he sits 8 points out of the lead in the PRO Class and he leads the PRO 125 Class by a seemingly unsurmountable 30 points with one round remaining. Brayden Nolette took the V3 Kawasaki to sixth overall, Nick Kordana was 7th on the Motorsports Nation Yamaha, Vandemonium Gosselin was the sole A Class rider in the top ten with the PROs finishing 8th on his Ronnie’s Cycle / Battery Park KTM as he continues to create an uproar and wreak havoc in this 2023 season. Yamaha pilots Dylan Moriarty brought it home in 9th and nice guy Mikey Bloom had a solid 10th place on the day. Great racing all day with a 4th GNCC regular winning the overall on an infrequent dry day and a great event put on by the Hoosac Valley Riders Club who have been putting on great events since 1954. They have some great members and are lead by a very active President John Malloy who wasn’t as active today as past years because he didn’t have to extract any vehicles from the muddy clutches of the Phelps Family Farm as the corn field has been turned into a hay field. Speaking of the Phelps family it is always a pleasure to see my friend Paul Phelps there at the event selling his family’s Maple Sugar Products and to engage in some great story telling and bench racing with one of the nicest men I have ever known. Keep on supporting the Phelps Family Farm Maple Products as that is what keeps the farm going these days and keeps it open for the recreation we all enjoy.
22 окт 2023
