2016 Mini O’s | Photo Report | Monday
By Billy Rainford
We were off to the races today at the 45th Annual Thor Winter Olympics – The Mini O’s. It’s a couple days of Supercross to get the week going. There are quite a few Canadians down here racing but not all of them had motos today. We’ll do our best to cover all of them with at least a few photos. Here’s a look at some of the action from Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Florida.
You can follow along with the action at http://wintero.escoremx.com/liveresults.asp
Big changes at Gatorback Cycle Park for 2016. Including this cool sign. There’s a completely new track where the trees used to be, they tweaked the SX track, and the MX track has all kinds of new things.
But some things never change. Haha
It’s been a little cool here lately and the nights have actually hit freezing! Nice year to bring a tent. Actually, it will be in the 80’s by mid-week. There’s no rain in the forecast so water is key. That dust is off the track.
The SX track held up nicely, although there looked to be quite a number of ambulance calls. Par for the Supercross course, I guess.
“The Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria…” These guys are just missing the Pinta.
There are a good number of fast Canadians here this year, including #46 Marco Cannella.
Mini dads at these big amateur events are a sub-culture in themselves.
If he doesn’t know where the first turn is by now…
The announcers are hoping this guy isn’t up at the front…
I missed the first couple motos but got there in time to see #25 Tristan Dares get 18th in heat 1 of 85 (9-11).
Matthew Leblanc won his heat. There were 3 of them so Dares will have to hit an LCQ.
I liked the aggressive style of young Marcello Leodorico.
#22 Preston Masciangelo on his Suzuki got 8th in heat 3.
#101 Matthew Cemovic took 16th in heat 1 of Supermini 1.
My money is on #122 Carson Mumford to take the Supermini 1 class. He won his heat and looked solid.
There is a lot of time for the nerves to creep in.
So just sit back and relax. The races will happen.
That’s #184 Tanner Ward eying up an opening on the inside.
I don’t know anything about #135 Marcus Phelps, but he flies!
Tanner’s first race was red flagged on lap 2. He got a better start in the redo and finished 8th.
#46 Marco Cannella was in the second Schoolboy 2 heat and got out to a top 10 start, but #82 Garrett Marchbanks was just too much for everyone.
Marco picked off a couple riders and was up with the group. He also took 8th.
#30 Jordan Jarvis passed her way into the lead and took the Girls (12-16) moto.
#90 Landrey Hazen was at the TransCan this year. She finished 5th in Girls (9-11).
This could have been worse in the +35 class as Barry Carsten had nowhere to go.
He got up and tried to go again and then over-jumped HUUUGE and went over a fence. He made a good call to walk it off.
#37 Sean Cantrell led from wire to wire, but #402 Brandon Hartranft was on him.
450 A could go either way.
#71 Challen Tennant had troubles so watch for him the rest of the week in the top classes. He’s scored with a DNF in 450 A.
Brandon getting his new FXR gear dirty!
As the sun started to dip into the tree line, the question was just how far they’d make it into the schedule before shutting it down for the day.
#238 Haiden Deegan was running some extremely fast lap times out there in 65 (7-11). He won his heat going away and should be tough to beat.
85 (12-13) Ltd heads out into the low sun. #428 Nathanael Thrasher took the win.
#352 Jalek Swoll took his Schoolboy 1 heat.
#55 Austin Black came in from Oregon and was hauling tail in his Schoolboy 1 heat for the win.
And that was it for Day 1 at the 2016 Thor Winter Olympics. We’re back at it as soon as the sun climbs over the horizon tomorrow morning.
Thanks to:
