Q&A With Kawasaki's NEATV-MX
Champion Joe Haavisto
2008 & 2009 New England ATV
Series Open Pro & Pro-Am Champion
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| Kawasaki's
Joe Haavisto would take a 2nd overall at
the final NEATV round, after already securing
the Open Pro 2009 Championship title |
Irvine, CA (11/17/2009) -Kawasaki’s
Joe Haavisto had a target on his back after winning
both the Pro and Pro-Am championships in 2008 in
the New England ATV series. He returned in 2009
and proved he was worthy of the titles by earning
back to back championships in both classes. With
a few weeks to unwind, Haavisto talks about his
final race of the season, the championships, and
what he’s doing to keep busy in the off-season.
Q: Does it feel more rewarding to back
up the championships that you earned last year?
Joe Haavisto:
Every year the New England riders get better and
better, and as the sport continues to grow, the
series becomes more challenging. There were quite
a few strong riders that were new to the series
this year. This made for some tough competition
in the 2009 season that I didn’t necessarily
have in 2008. So it definitely feels more rewarding
to back up the championships.
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In
the Open Pro moto's at Jolly Roger Motosports
Track, Joe ran the #1 plates on his Kawasaki
KFX 450R |
Joe
would focus trying to gain enough points
in the first Pro-Am moto at the finak round
to secure both titles |
Q: What was your strategy going into
the last few rounds?
Joe Haavisto:
Going into the last few rounds I had a comfortable
points lead. With the competition getting tougher
throughout the season, the end of the year proved
to have stiffer competition and it made the races
more challenging. Still, my strategy at the last
few rounds was like every other round. I wanted
to go out and win.
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After
winning both the Open Pro & Pro-Am classes
in 2008 & 2009, those #1 plates were
well deserved! |
Joe
would pose with his 2009 NEATV Open Pro
awards at the final round of the series
held on October 11, 2009 |
Q: Talk about the final race at Jolly
Roger MX in Lempster, N.H.
Joe Haavisto:
Well I consider Jolly Roger my home track since
I live less than an hour away. A lot of family
and friends came out to support me. I had already
wrapped up the Pro championship two weeks before
and just needed to finish a moto in the Pro-Am
class to clinch that championship.
In the Pro class, I didn’t get a great
start in the first moto and finished fifth, but
got a good jump in the second moto and was able
to take the moto win and finish second overall.
The Pro Am first moto started like the Pro and
I wasn’t able to do much passing with the
track conditions. I finished fourth. In the second
moto, I was third going around the first turn
and eventually made it to second for second overall.
Q: What are your plans for next year?
Joe Haavisto:
I am not exactly sure about next
year, but I am hoping that Kawasaki will continue
their support of the growing NEATV series. My
goal is to have a very similar program to this
year and defend my Pro and Pro-Am championships
riding a Kawasaki KFX®450R in 2010.
Q: What have you been doing in the off-season?
Joe Haavisto:
I am in the process of purchasing my first
house. I made sure that it had a big garage. I
also am playing on an old-timer’s hockey
team with a lot of family and friends. The final
fun and exciting plans we have for spring is expecting
our second child in March. The doctors tell us
it’s a girl.
Congratulations to the whole Haavisto
family!
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