The featured class of the show, the MX1 category, started the evening off with two qualifying heat races. In the first heat, American rider Nick Wey led his Kawasaki first to the finish line ahead of fellow countryman and 2009 Supermotocross winner Jason Thomas (Suzuki) and Josh Demuth on a BMW. Simon Homans of Sherbrooke, Quebec also qualified his Honda for the main event finale finishing ninth. Matt Goerke (Yamaha) of Florida won the second qualifying heat ahead of 16-year-old Florida sensation Justin Starling (Honda) and New York rider Philip Nicoletti (KTM). Tim Tremblay from Lac Saint-Jean, QC finished fourth to move on to the evening finale.
The Endurocross class followed suit with American KTM rider Mike Brown quickest to negotiate the tough course to finish ahead of Kornel Nemeth (KTM) of Hungary and Bartosz Oblucki (Husqvarna) of Poland. Quebec rider Guy Giroux brought is Husqvarna home in fourth place.
The last chance MX1 qualifying heat race enabled Quebec rider Kaven Benoît (KTM) to shine as he led from the start to win with a seven-second lead. Marc-Antoine Généreux finished fourth. He also qualified his Kawasaki for the evening grand finale.
Following the MX1 last chance race, the ATV Quads took to the track for their two qualifying races with the first one going to Pennsylvania Can-Am rider John Natalie, while the second heat race was won by Quebec rider Jasmin Plante who crossed the finish line ahead of his long-time rival Richard Pelchat of Lévis, Québec. Later that night in the ATV feature race, Natalie prevailed ahead of Pelchat and American Cody Miller. First out of the blocks, Plante fell of his ride in the first corner of the race, but continued at the rear of the field. Bobby Desjardins (KTM) of Ferme-Neuve, QC finished fourth.
The first evening grand finale, a 12-lap race, opposed the 25 Canadian MX2 riders who had qualified earlier in the afternoon, and it was Kaven Benoît of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, QC who outclassed the field to win by a five-second margin over of Ontario rider Tyler Medaglia (Yamaha). Tim Tremblay, who ran second for a while, brought his Kawasaki home in third place.
At nine p.m., the Freestylers put on their circus act as the crowd cheered on their acrobatics. Charlie Pagès of France delighted the fans and won the 2010 contest ahead of local favorite Ben Milot of Yamachiche. Fans were also treated to the Double Back Flips performed by American Scott Murray.
The spectacular endurocross finale crowned 38-year old American veteran Mike Brown who continued his domination on the rest of the field. The Midwest rider crossed the finish line with a lead of 17 seconds ahead of Nemeth and Oblucki. Best Quebec rider in EX was Guy Giroux who finished 10th.
The highlight of the 33rd running of the Supermotocross Monster Energy featured the MX1 class, and the crowd enjoyed a three-way fight for first place between American riders: last year's winner Jason Thomas, Nick Wey, who won in 2004, and Josh Demuth who led several before falling back to sixth place at the finish. Wey eventually held off the late race assaults of Teddy Maier, who charged to the forefront from his sixth place at the beginning of the race, to win his second career Montreal Supermotocross. Troy Adams of Florida went by Thomas on the last lap of the race to finish third. Best Quebec rider in the evening finale was Kaven Benoît (winner in MX2) who came in a distant 19th in MX1.
Information:
Normand Prieur
450 492-6963
nprieur@videotron.ca
You can get all the Supermotocross results at www.mylaps.com