UNADILLA; NEW BERLIN, NY — Lambeau Field, Wrigley Stadium, Madison Square Garden, Augusta National. All are iconic venues for their respective sports. For ours there may be no more recognizable name than Unadilla. This storied facility in central New York has been host to countless epic battles on two wheels and four since just after the Earth cooled. Its rolling, flowing, “natural” yet spectacular layout is a favorite of competitors and spectators alike.
This hallowed ground in mid-July with Holeshot, QuadCross MX and Turf Tamer tires at the eighth round of the 2012 ATV MX National Championship Series. Many of these athletes can be applauded for scoring numerous podium finishes. Because in the words of Vince Lombardi, “If it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?”
Samuel Rowe would have made coach proud with his winning 1-1 moto scores and the overall victory in the Schoolboy Jr. (13-15) class. This Janssen Motorsports-powered Root River Racing rider was also second in the Schoolboy Sr. (14-17) division. With these performances he comfortably holds the championship points lead in both classes with two events to go in the season.
A nod goes to Maci Devenport too, as this young charger captured the Girls (12-15) class with a 2-1 day to close to within just three points of the leader in this field. She also looked to have another winning ride in the works in 90 Production (8-15), but second moto issues dropped her from another podium here. She still leads handily in the standings, however.
Root River Racing’s Haedyn Mickelson hiked up the podium three times at Unadilla. He nailed third-place finishes in Schoolboy Sr. (14-17) and Super-Mini (13-15), and went one better with second overall in Schoolboy Jr. (13-15). This Minnesota native ranks top-three in all three title fights.
Racing for Janssen Motorsports/Roberts Racing Outlaws, Cody Janssen chalked up a 4-3 moto count for fourth overall in the volatile Pro Am Unlimited class. He maintains that same position in the point standings.
Consistency was the name of the game for Mike Barnhart, as he soldiered to a 4-4 third overall effort in Open A and backed it up with a pair of deuces and second overall in Veteran 30+. In the standings this Root River team member holds fourth in both classes.
Chloe Buerster bolstered her tough co-ed reputation by placing third in all four of her motos. That added up to third overall in both the Women’s and 4-Stroke B classes. This Janssen Motorsports/Roberts Racing Outlaws rider is now second in points in the former, and fifth against a lot of guys in the latter.
After enjoying his first Pro Am Production podium appearance of the year with a third overall at the previous event, Kyle Fix did himself one better with a 2-2 moto tally at Unadilla and second overall in this highly competitive class.
As Lombardi would say, “It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever — the one who recognizes the challenges and does something about it.”
The ten-round series is rapidly closing in on its conclusion, with the penultimate event going off July 28-29 at RedBud in Buchanan, Michigan.
Photos by ATVRiders.com