NJ Motocross History…2007

JANUARY

With the supercross season in full swing New Jersey rider Jason Lawrence has shown that 2007 could be his year. The Yamaha of Troy sponsored rider has shown the speed that won him multiple amateur championships. For the month of January, Jason has shown consistent finishes and sites in second in the Lites West Coast Points standings.

January 6
Angel Stadium – Anaheim- 3rd place
January 13
Chase Field – Phoenix- 8th place
January 20
Angel Stadium – Anaheim- 2nd place
January 27
AT&T Park – San Francisco- 5th place

February

02/17/07: NJ native Jason Lawrence again proved that this is his year by once again finishing 2nd. This time was the San Diego sx.

02/15/07: Getting ready for Indy. The largest industry trade show in America and perhaps the world is this weekend. Stay tuned for photos of new products and famous faces next week.

02/12/07: NJ native Yamaha of Troy rider Jason Lawrence has shown that this is his season by finishing on the podium in this months first 2 races. He finished 3rd at Anaheim 3 on the third of February and 2nd in Houston on the 10th. He now sits in second place in the series points behind Ryan Villopoto. Jason was also feature in this mornings Monday Morning conversation on RacerX illustrated’s website. Click HERE for the link.

Results from the BooKoo US Open of Arenacross. NJ Riders.
125/250 Novice
9th #139 EDDIE MCKERNAN – SUZ
WOOLWICH TWP, NJ
125/250 Schoolboy 12-15
2nd #461 FRANK LETTIERI – SUZ
BRICK, NJ
6th #139 EDDIE MCKERNAN – SUZ
WOOLWICH TWP, NJ
250/450 Intermediate
6th #4 CHRIS TIERNEY – HON
MANAHAWKIN, NJ
250/450 Novice
2nd #320 JEFF MESLER – HON
MANAHAWKIN, NJ
50cc 4-6 Stock
3rd #99 JOSEPH MANCICI – COB
COLTS NECK, NJ
50cc 7-8 Stock
8th #118 CORY CARSTEN – KTM
BAYVILLE, NJ
50cc Open 4-8
10th #118 CORY CARSTEN – KTM
BAYVILLE, NJ
85cc 12-15
1st #461 FRANK LETTIERI – SUZ
BRICK, NJ
8th #35 JOEY PETERS – KAW
ASBURY, NJ
85cc Super Mini 7-15
2nd #461 FRANK LETTIERI – SUZ
BRICK, NJ
9th #35 JOEY PETERS – KAW
ASBURY, NJ
Amateur Pitbike
4th #518 SCOTT KALNAS – KAW
GIBBSTOWN, NJ
Open Over 25
1st #92 BARRY CARSTEN – SUZ
BAYVILLE, NJ
Open Over 30
1st #92 BARRY CARSTEN – SUZ
BAYVILLE, NJ
Youth Pitbike
2nd #461 FRANK LETTIERI – SUZ
BRICK, NJ

March 30: Check out this feature on Rocket Exhaust from Transworld MX. The company’s owner Don Leib is a former NJ resident.

MARCH 27: Photos and wallpapers from Raceway Park on 3/25/07 can be found HERE

Cycle News Online story from Raceway Park Opening Day HERE

March 21: MSR Signs Nick Desiderio
MSR is pleased to announce the signing of American Suzuki’s Nick Desiderio. Desiderio, who has also recently signed with MXSponsor’s rider management division, following fellow amateur standout Phil Nicoletti and a list of many top privateers. “I am very excited to be wearing the new MSR gear”. “ I have been training very hard this winter at Millsaps Training Facility and the winter series in Florida, I cant wait to show the new gear off at the upcoming amateur nationals..” Sais Nick.

Desiderio, who had a very strong year at the amateur nationals last year, including four top 5 moto finishes at Loretta Lynns, should be a front runner in many classes.
MSR’s amateur support manager Randy Valade adds, “ We are very happy and excited to have Nick on board with MSR”. “ We have had our eye on him for quite some time, he has a great work ethic and an awesome personality to represent MSR 100%”

For more info on MSR please visit www.msrmx.com or join the team at MXSponsor.com

March 17: The NJ motocross community lost one of it’s own this morning as Rich Zupko Sr of Dunellen passed away after having a heart attack. Mr. Zupko was the former owner of Powerline Motocross park in New Egypt NJ. Services for Mr. Zupko are as follows:

Viewing will be Tuesday, March 20th
2pm – 4pm
7 pm – 9pm.
Sheenan Funeral Home
233 Dunellen Ave.
Dunellen, NJ 08812
(732) 968 – 4227

Flowers can be sent to the funeral home or donations can be made to The American Heart Association

March 17: AMA supermoto national event to be held at Raceway Park.

The following is from the AMA…

AMA Racing announced today that four supermoto venues have been added to the upcoming race season schedule, bringing to a total of ten rounds that will make up the 2007 AMA Supermoto Championship Series.

Beginning with the new season opener on May 19 at St. Louis’ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, an event in which AMA Racing’s Supercross Series partner Live Nation will promote, the AMA Supermoto Championship will also feature new events at Raceway Park (Englishtown, N.J.) and MotoTown USA (New England), along with the series’ return to Denver, Colo.

“From top to bottom this is for sure the most solid AMA Supermoto Championship schedule we’ve put together in the five-year history of the series,” said Joel Grover, director of supermoto for AMA Racing. “St. Louis is a very motorsports-friendly region, the east coast will get its first AMA Supermoto round in New Jersey, the strong New England motocross and road race contingent will be excited about the Connecticut round, and we’re very pleased to be returning to Denver for another double header– located in the heart of action sports central Colorado.”

Here’s a quick breakdown on the new events for the 2007 AMA Supermoto Championship schedule:

• The St. Louis opener at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (May 19) will include a first-ever Friday night concert to kick off the weekend race event, which includes pro racing on Saturday and amateur racing on Sunday.

• Raceway Park (Englishtown, N.J.), home of the popular “Kawasaki Race of Champions” motocross event and only 30 minutes from Manhattan, will bring AMA championship supermoto to its established facility for the first time. The combination motorcycle/auto complex, already boasting an established amateur supermoto race scene, is sure to be one of the highest-attended events of the season.

• New England’s MotoTown USA (Hartford, Conn.) is another state-of-the-art facility that includes an interesting hitch: For the first time ever AMA Supermoto will race a portion of the event indoors, cutting through the 120,000 square foot building’s motocross track floor.

• Denver, Colo., returns to the AMA Supermoto Championship Series with a double header scheduled for July 14 and 15. The downtown race will be part of the Suzuki CycleFest this year and will offer impressive motorcycle displays and even exciting street demo rides for the bold race fan.

Note: Previously announced events in Columbus, Ohio, Syracuse, N.Y., and Monterey, Calif., have been removed from the schedule, and the Seattle event has been moved up a week.

With the four new rounds the 2007 AMA Supermoto Championship schedule is as follows:

5/19 – St. Louis, Mo. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

6/3 – Englishtown, N.J. Raceway Park

6/23 – Salt Lake City, Utah Miller Motorsports Park

7/8 – Detroit, Mich. Waterford Hills Road Race Course

7/14-15 – Denver, Colo. Downtown (Doubleheader)

8/18 – Hartford, Conn. MotoTown USA

9/1 – Nashville, Tenn. Music City Motorplex

9/15 – Seattle, Wash. Pacific Grand Prix

11/11 – Long Beach, Calif. Queen Mary

March 15: Check out the newest issue of Transworld MX for an interview with Jason Lawrence including a test on his bike as well. He is also on the cover.

March 13: Raceway Park Opening day photos are up at www’lukaitisphoto.com

March 11: 13th annual Parts Unlimited Spring Classic, Lake Whitney TX. Nick Desiderio, 85cc 12-13 Mod 6-3 for 5th overall and 12-13 stock 9-DNF for 34th overall. Frank Lettieri 125 12-15 stock 15-13 for 19th overall, 85-150f supermini 12-15 10-15 for 16th overall and schoolboy 14-16 12-25 for 27th overall.

March 7: Want to see more NJ action? Check out Matt Wozney’s new video Moto Xposure

March 5: Barry Carsten was featured in the Monday morning kickstart at www.transworldmx.com see the photo HERE and HERE

March 5: Check out Matt Wozney’s latest video. This one is of Henry Rojas and was taken this past weekend at Raceway Park’s practice track. Click HERE for the video

April 25: Cycle News online stories from the Loretta Lynn’s Qualifier at Raceway Park as well as Atco from 4/7 are posted at www.CycleNews.com . Atco Story by Mike Pierson Raceway Park Story by Scott Lukaitis Also check out www.lukaitisphoto.com for the latest photos from Raceway Park’s Northeast Classic event.

April 17: You want photos….we have photos. Check out photos from this past weekend’s race at Raceway Park HERE and photos from Atco on Saturday night HERE The Raceway Park photos are by Lukaitis Photo and the Atco photos are by MP Pics. Also check out this great video from the weekends event at AerialMX.com

April 11: The Cycle News story from Raceway Park’s March 25th race is posted HERE. Check out the latest issue of Raceway News HERE

Matt Wozney of HG Films is running daily update videos from The World Mini Grand Prix in Las Vegas Check them out HERE

April 4: Special thanks to Andy @ Mx Sports for his help in compiling some Loretta Lynn’s data. Look back at the various years and you’ll see every rider from New Jersey who ever competed at the Amateur Nationals at Loretta Lynn’s. Take a trip down memory lane and see how many names you recognize.

May 28: Jason Lawrence interview on amamotocross.com HERE

Results from Mt Morris national.

MX Lites: Jason Lawrence 3-6 for 5th overall

MX Class: Barry Carsten 22-17 for 19th overall

Adam Blessing 33-33 for 34th overall

Photos from this weekend race at Raceway Park are posted at Lukaitis Photo.

Click here for pit bike racing

Click here for Sunday’s regular race day.

May 24: NJ’s own Jason Lawrence was featured on the Transworld MX Thursday Theater. Check out the video here : http://www.transworldmotocross.com/mx/slideshow/videos/0,27654,1371259_1625321,00.html

May 23: After Saturday’s incidents here is a film put together by RacerX Films going over the whole thing.

http://www.racerxfilms.com/jlawapology/

National Trials champion Geoff Aaron is coming to Raceway Park to put on demos during the AMA National Supermoto race being held June 2nd and 3rd. 3 shows on Saturday and 3 shows on Sunday. The demo is being held at the AMA Supermoto National at Raceway Park
Check out this video for a peak.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=82VuV-I4fOs
Other Hangtown News: Pt Pleasant NJ’s Todd Stavac made the long trip out west for the opening national of the year. Unfortunately Todd didn’t make the final cut for Sunday’s pro National motos.

May 21: The AMA National series kicked off this past weekend with some drama surrounding NJ’s own Jason Lawrence and his rival Ryan Villopoto. Here is the press release regarding the actions that took place on Saturday afternoon in California.

May 20, 2007

AMA Racing news

AMA Racing announced today that Jason Lawrence and Ryan Villopoto have been penalized at the Honda Hangtown Motocross Classic from Sacramento, Calif., the opening round of the 2007 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF.

According to AMA Racing SX/MX Director Steve Whitelock, for actions detrimental to the sport, Lawrence has been fined $7,500 and placed on probation for one year beginning May 18, 2007. Additionally, as part of the penalty, Lawrence loses his earned gate pick for both motos of Sunday’s Motocross Lites event and will now pick 40th out of the 40-rider field.

Villopoto has been fined $2,500.

The penalties stem from a series of instances that occurred during Saturday’s two practice sessions which culminated in a scuffle between the two riders late in session two.

According to Whitelock the severity of the penalties is relative to each riders’ actions. “Jason Lawrence and Ryan Villopoto both share in the blame for what happened today,” said Whitelock. “However, the penalty is harsher for Lawrence because he was the instigator and has demonstrated a pattern of questionable behavior.” Whitelock confirmed that Lawrence had received a verbal warning regarding his actions after the first practice session.

The final decision on the penalties was reached Saturday evening after meeting with both riders and their teams, reviewing photos and considering the reports of AMA race officials.

Yamaha of Troy rider Jason Lawrence was forced to have the 40th pick on the gate for each moto due to Saturday’s events but proved the heart on speed he has by coming through the pack to take 5th in each moto, good enough for 6th overall. He was the only NJ rider in attendance.

5/19/07 Atco: Mike Pierson’s atco story from Cycle News online can be found here

Be sure to check for the August issue of RacerX illustrated with Jason Lawrence on the cover. Inside is an interview with the New Jersey native

The photographer for the cover was yet another New Jersey native. Chris Tedesco shot the photo of Lawrence.

June 14: Check out Matt Wozney’s latest video. HERE This one is of Frank Lettieri

Results from Southwick:

Southwick Mass June 9-10, 2007
Lites
Jason Lawrence 5-4 4th overall
Also trying to qualify for the Fast 40 in the Motocross class at Southwick were Onorino Fascelli and Chris Prenderville. Both missed making the cut.
Southwick photo gallery by Scott Lukaitis can be found HERE

Results from Budd’s Creek
June 16-17, 2007
Budd’s Creek
Motocross class
Adam Blessing 35-30 for 34th overall
Onorino Fascell and Todd Stavac missedthe fast 40

Lites
Jason Lawrence 3-3 for 3rd overall

Looking for photos from Budd’s Creek?

Check out Chris Tedesco’s gallery HERE

Ponca City 2007 results

NMA

PONCA CITY, OK. GRAND NATIONALS

/2007

250 4-Stroke Non-Pro

Finish Number Brand Cancel Name City,State Moto 1 Moto 2

14 461 Suz Frank Lettieri Brick, NJ 8 10

85 Stk 12-13

Finish Number Brand Cancel Name City,State Moto 1 Moto 2

9 57 Suz Nick Desiderio Washington, NJ 4 11

17 35 Kaw Joey Peters Asbury, NJ 5 18

250 Stk Nov

Finish Number Brand Cancel Name City,State Moto 1 Moto 2

1 461 Suz Frank Lettieri Brick, NJ 1 1

125/250 Sclboy Thru 16 NonPro

Finish Number Brand Cancel Name City,State Moto 1 Moto 2

15 461 Suz Frank Lettieri Brick, NJ 6 15

85 Open Mod 9-16

Finish Number Brand Cancel Name City,State Moto 1 Moto 2 s

9 57 Suz Nick Desiderio Washington, NJ 8 7

11 35 Kaw Joey Peters Asbury, NJ 4 14

250 Mod Nov

Finish Number Brand Cancel Name City,State Moto 1 Moto 2

1 461 Suz Frank Lettieri Brick, NJ 1 1

85 Mod 12-13

Finish Number Brand Cancel Name City,State Moto 1 Moto 2

14 57 Suz Nick Desiderio Washington, NJ 7 14

18 35 Kaw Joey Peters Asbury, NJ 7 18

Below is a list of riders who have made the final cut to race for a National Championship this August in Tennessee. Good Luck to all

01. MX Lites A