| Matt
Bartosek Celebration Race
5th Annual Event - September 30, 2007
Maple Shade MX - Sugar Grove, PA
By: Shane Hartman
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| Matt
Bartosek Celebration
5th Annual - Links |
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Matt
Bartosek (1983 - 2003) |
Suger Grove, PA - The Fifth annual
Matt Bartosek Memorial Race attracted over 260 racers
from all over the country to honor the life of fallen
up and coming pro rider, Matt Bartosek. The race
returns to the Mapleshade Raceway, located in North
Western Pennsylvania. First time visitors to the
facility first noticed the vast amount of elevation
changes. Although various corners would test technical
skills, the tracks true test would be in the form
of speed and carrying momentum via long straight
aways and low flying tabletops. For returning racers,
the first noticeable difference from last year would
be the direction of travel.
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A Saturday practice allowed everyone to dial
in their machines for the track. Following a great
work out on the track, Debi Bartosek and crew
offered a free cookout for everyone at the track.
Steaks, chicken, and other great homemade food
were eaten as everyone interacted beneath the
pavilion. The group interaction continued into
the night while a camp fire illuminated the scenery.
Sunday’s racing would fall nothing short
of the great racing scene in the national series.
A $5,000 expert quad purse attracted pro riders
from many different states as well as some of
the fastest up and coming riders. With 26 riders
signed up for the expert class, two qualifying
classes were formed to slim the field to 20.
When the first moto gate dropped, Jason Dunkelberger,
who has been recovering from an early season crash
all year long, grabbed the holeshot. Marc Winchester
has been proving himself all year long in the
A class on the WPSA Tour and would once again
show his natural talent as he pushed Dunk hard.
After making the pass, he would form a comfortable
lead before taking the checkered flag. While the
qualifying motos were only for gate position,
eyebrows were raised in anticipation when many
lesser known riders found themselves in the top
qualifying positions. Mark Kendall piloted his
Baldwin Kawasaki to a moto two win and a second
gate pick behind Winchester.
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Lost
Creek Cycle's Jason Dunkelberger Grabs the
Holeshot both Motos |
After a brief silence, a stampede of 20 expert
quad riders charged the first corner as the gate
fell to the ground in the final moto. Dunk would
claim the holeshot once again, but not without
pressure. As they funneled through the first turn,
Mitch Reynolds, aboard a borrowed Honda 450r,
applied the pressure. The Kawasaki Duo, Upperman
and Kandell sat just a few positions back from
Dunk, but wasted no time climbing to the front.
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| #87
Marc Winchester claimed the first Moto win,
but crash in the Main kept him off the Podium |
#21
Mark Kendall secured the Main event win
over #84 Thomas Brown as they battled to
the checkered flag |
Just a few turns later, the ground would do a
meet and greet with first moto winner, Marc Winchester,
as he would get tangled and turned over from another
rider. Just a lap into the race, and battles already
ensued throughout the pack. Dunk would hold onto
the lead as they finished lap one, but a charging
Upperman was hot on his tail. When Upperman attempted
a pass, the two riders would connect dropping
them off pace and out of contention. Reynolds
would take command of the lead, however would
be short lived when Kendall would slip by. Kendall
would go on to take the win with Thomas Brown
making the pass for second. Reynolds held onto
the final podium position. Cale Downen went to
work on the class making a charge from a mid pack
start to finish fourth while Joe Bruening rounded
out the top five.
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