RMR Snocross News: Rumford, ME Event Recap

Poirier sweeps Pro finals at Black Mountain for Rock Maple Racing

RUMFORD, ME (Dec. 15, 2008) - Veteran snowmobile racer Danny
Poirier began a new season in dominant style Sunday, sweeping the Pro
class finals as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) opened its 2008-09 snocross
campaign at the Black Mountain of Maine ski area.
Poirier, of St. Theodore, QC, passed early leader John O'Malley
at the top of the hill on lap 2 of the 14-lap Pro Stock final and led
to the checkered flag. Former champion Matt Boron powered his way to a
solid second place finish, while O'Malley hung on for third.
In the Pro Open final, Jason Rudd got the holeshot and led the
first couple of laps. Poirier picked up speed on the downhill section
of the track, took command at lap 3 and cruised home to complete the
sweep. For Poirier's Hulten Speed Sports (HSS) Polaris team, the
weekend couldn't have gone any better. Matt Boron got by Chris Chico
late in the going to post his second runner-up finish of the day,
while Chico piloted his new Amsoil-sponsored Arctic Cat to third for a
podium finish. After years on Polaris sleds, Chico is making the
transition to Cat quite well.
Cory Culberson was the first winner in final round action
Sunday, claiming the five-lap Pro Vet final over Vermont's Rene
Desrochers and New York's Joey Santy. Based in Malone, Santy is known
as "the racing chiropractor" and gets around the track in fine
fashion. Defending class champion Joe Lemieux drew a gasp from the
crowd when he crashed hard while going for the lead headed for the
final corner. Fortunately, Lemieux was uninjured and completed the
race.
Although her uncle Joe may not have had the best season opener,
Michelle Lemieux gave the family from St. Johnsbury, VT, reason to
smile. Michelle, who now resides in Cabot (yes, the home of Cabot
cheese) held off defending champion KC Anderson to claim the Pro
Women's final, with Janell Smith finishing third. When she was racing
full time a couple of years ago, Michelle was ranked in the top three
nationally among female snocross competitors.
In Semi-Pro action Sunday, Corin Todd and Lucas Brunelle kept
the crowd cheering. Todd, of Otego, NY, grabbed the holeshot in
Semi-Pro Open and never looked back. Lincoln Lemieux, who jumped up to
Semi-Pro this year from the Junior ranks in 2007, impressed all in
attendance with a solid second place run. Brennan Berardo
(Land-Air/Ski-doo) kept the pressure on all race and came home third.
In Semi-Pro Stock, Brunelle got the advantage early and held off
Garrett Mees (All Island Plumbing/Ski-doo) for top honors. Todd capped
a strong weekend performance with a third place finish.
Sport division standout Joey Stock kicked off his new season in
fine fashion, holding off Charles House and Mike Simonson for top
honors in the Semi-Pro Stock 440 final. Simonson would not go home
empty-handed, however, as he claimed the Plus 25 final over Scott
Edwards and Culberson. Stock also claimed the Sport Super Stock finals
on Saturday and Sunday, along with Sunday's Sport Stock 600 final.
Edwards found redemption in the Sport 500 class, holding off
Andrew Bailey and Bruce Gaspardi Jr. for the win. Anderson picked up
three wins to go along with her second place run in the Pro Women's
final. The gifted athlete from Franklin, Maine, won Saturday's Women's
Stock 600 final, then capped a great weekend with victories in Stock
500 and Stock 600 on Sunday.
Other final round winners at Black Mountain Sunday include
Sarah Acker (Girls 10-13 Stock 600 Fan); Joe Klimas Jr. (Sport Stock
600 Fan); Amanda Patenaude (Women Stock Novice); William Defocie (Jr.
16-17 Stock 600 Fan); Nick St. Amand (Jr. 16-17 Stock 500); Jake Scott
(Jr. 14-15 Stock 500 and Jr. 14-15 Stock 600 Fan); Leo Patenaude (Jr.
10-13 Stock 600 Fan); Montana Jess (Jr. 10-13 Stock 380 Fan); Jessie
Kirchmeyer (Jr. 8-10 Freestyle Sat.); Hunter Patenaude (Jr. 8-10 300
Freestyle Sun.); Derek Corey (Trail 600 Saturday); and Brandon Bell
(Trail 600 Sunday).
RMR's East Series teams were also in action over the weekend at
Black Mountain. Final round winners Sunday afternoon include Matt
Simonson (Semi-Pro Open); Joe Mosher (Sport Stock 600); KC Anderson
(Women Stock 600); Whitney Covill (Jr. 16-17 Stock 500); Nick St.
Amand (Jr. 14-15 Stock 500); Leo Patenaude (Jr. 10-13 Stock 600 Fan);
and Montana Jess (Jr. 10-13 Stock 380 Fan).
Rock Maple Racing would like to thank operations manager Peter
Chase and the entire staff at Black Mountain for hosting last
weekend's event. With the help of several volunteers from local
snowmobile clubs, the place was more than ready for racing when RMR
officials arrived on Friday. An intense snow making effort produced
tons of the white stuff for a great track, and our racers were deeply
appreciative. Having host sites like Black Mountain makes it a whole
lot easier to conduct a motor sports event of this size.
Over 450 entries made for an action-packed weekend, with tight
competition among all divisions. While cold temperatures and a
persistent wind made it hard on fans Saturday, Sunday brought a nice
warm-up so everyone could enjoy the final rounds. Overall, it was a
fantastic way to kick off the new season.
For full results from Black Mountain in all classes or for more
information, please go to www.rockmaple.com. On behalf of president
Tara Saxton and the entire RMR staff, Happy Holidays to one and all.
RMR's next event is set for Jan. 3-4, 2009, at the Franklin County
Fairgrounds in Malone, New York.