2015 Mini O’s Photo Report – Saturday
By Billy Rainford
Another year of the Thor Winter Olympics has come and gone. I wish more Canadian riders would take the opportunity to head down to this great week-long event to gain experience and see what it’s like to race at the highest amateur level. Yes, it’s expensive, and yes it’s a long way away from EVERY Canadian city, but you really can’t put a price tag on the lessons learned and the memories shared with you family at these things. Trust me, win or lose, every family that went to this race together will still talk about it in 30 years.
We had a pretty solid showing this year–we even won a few races! Here’s a look at what happened on Championship Saturday on the motocross track just west of Gainesville, Florida.
Thanks to:
These little beauties here are what everyone was after this week and they were all handed out Saturday.
They took the time to groom the track often enough to keep the kickers to a minimum. Check out that perfect soil!
We got very lucky with the weather this year. It started off cool and worked its way to the upper 20’s by mid-week.
#19 Justin Cooper is the real deal. He has the speed to compete at the top level of the A classes. He won the College (16-24) overall (1-1) and took the final 450 Pro Sport moto win.
There’s some serious speed leaning against that fence.
That’s #667 Tyler Kirby chasing down #21 Carter Stuart. Tyler finished 20th in 51 (4-8) Ltd. while Carter took 30th in 4-6.
Carter Stuart and his dad drove all the way from Regina, SK. I think he said it was almost 40 hours!
Tyler Kirby in the corner I made sure I got a shot of everyone.
That’s Tyler’s dad with his older brother Johnny Kirby in staging.
He finished 27th in 65 (7-11).
Ben Mistelbacher heading to the line with his dad and sister.
Ben’s best moto was an 11th in the first 51 (7-8) Ltd. moto. He made all his final motos.
#199 Ryder Difrancesco never finished worse than 2nd in any 65cc class he raced.
#101 Matthew Cemovic and his dad get set for a Saturday final.
This was the first time he’s made all his finals. His best was 25th in Mini Sr. (12-15).
#494 Thomas Rendall about to hit the track Saturday.
He made it into the final 85 (9-11) moto and finished 28th overall.
#604 Max Miller and #936 Ty Masterpool had some great battles.
#110 Emma Saarela gets some last-minute advice.
Those are 2 extremely fast Girls (12-16) riders she’s lined up beside! Emma finished 15th overall.
Dylan Wright encourages #16 Krista Casselman before her final race.
She finished 28th in Women (14+).
He’s pointed at a lot of future Pro champions over the years!
Nice move, Newb!
#553 Nick Denniston getting ready for a C class moto.
Denniston and #64 Mitch Goheen blast off right beside each other.
Nick finished 14th overall in 450C.
Mitch would be the first to tell you he dropped anchor in his motos. He’s pretty fresh off an injury and is now training at GPF to make sure it doesn’t happen again. He finished 27th and 28th in his C class races.
#424 Austin Watling eyeing up some gate options.
After a successful couple days of SX (he won 250C), Austin couldn’t get the starts he needed in MX. His best finish was 5th overall in 250C Ltd.
Greg Mistelbacher prepping his gate.
He finished 30th in Senior 45+.
Mitch helping #46 Marco Cannella Saturday.
Marco had the speed to win the Schoolboy class but needed better starts to get out with the leaders early.
He had to work his way past some very fast riders and wound up 7th in Schoolboy 1 Ltd.
Things don’t always go the way you want them too. This is moto.
#44 Nolan Heppner in his 2016 FXR gear. He took 4th in 450B Ltd.
#71 Challen Tennant went 1-1 in 450 B.
#35 Joey Crown finished just behind him in 2nd on his 250.
The best show of the week? Definitely, #70 John Grewe vs. #31 Barry Carsten.
Connor from Florida MX put in more miles than anyone on the track! This is how he got EVerywhere.
Nick Jones rolls Mitch Goheen’s bike to the line.
#486 Chase Sexton grabs the early lead.
#214 Austin Forkner used his scrubbing skills to stay low and make the pass here.
He would just launch himself off the finish line jump sideways every lap.
OK, that’s it for the Canadian riders who were on the track in the final motos. I missed Estrella Cemovic. Sorry about that. See you at the races…
