Kit Palmer | November 25, 2015
Today is the day that champions were crowned. Heat races are in the books; we had a chance to see the riders hit the track and lock down their gate picks. When the gate drops, it’s anyone’s championship for the taking today in the supercross portion of the Florida Winter Olympics, aka Mini O’s, at Gatorback Cycle Park.
First race of the day, Wednesday, November 25, was the 250 A class. When the gate dropped it was Dakota Alix with the holeshot, followed by Chase Sexton and Austin Forkner. Forkner made quick work of both riders to take the lead early. While it looked as if Forkner would check out, Sexton had different plans and closed the gap on the number 214 Kawasaki. Sexton made several runs at Forkner but wasn’t able to make a move. When the checkers flew, it was Forkner claiming the first championship of the week. Sexton would finish second and Alix would round out the podium.
The 85 (9-11) class came down to the last turn. Nicholas Romano got out front and looked to have control of the race. Gavin Towers was sitting in second while Matthew Leblanc was buried deep in the pack. Lap after lap, Leblanc made passes working his way forward, but time was running out. After he made the move into second, he put his head down and charged after the Kawasaki rider out front. Last lap, two turns from the finish, Leblanc made the pass on Romano and would take the hard-fought victory. Impressive ride.
One of the biggest surprises of day came in the Girls (12-16) moto. Hannah Hodges grabbed the holeshot. Lap two, Hodges would go down and drop back to the fourth position. Jordan Jarvis would inherit the lead; Valentina Galaz and Jazzmyn Canfield would be left battling for the number two spot. A couple laps later Hodges set her sights on the leader after she made the move past Canfield and Galaz. Once she caught Jarvis, the two would battle for a lap before the lines would come together, leaving Hodges on the ground for the second time. Jarvis would grab the Supercross Championship. Galaz would come across second and Canfield would fight off Hodges for final spot on the podium.
The 65 (7-9) and 65 (7-9) Limited motos both saw battles between Ryder Difrancesco and Nicholas Romano. In the limited class, Romano would get the best of Difrancesco. Haiden Deegan would run a solid third. In the next meeting of the (7-9) class, Romano would be pressured by Ryder D. After a few laps of battling, Romano would go down, handing the lead to Difrancesco, who would go own to win to championship. Romano would regroup for second.
The 250 B moto was unreal. Garrett Marchbanks put the number-82 Kawasaki out front, but he was followed closely by the Orange Brigade KTM ride of Challen Tennant and Kawasaki rider Jayce Pennington. Despite all the efforts of by Tennant, Marchbanks was able to keep his cool and hold on to the lead. Behind Pennington, there was a four-rider battle between Jordan Bailey, Jake Masterpool, Zane Merrett, and Enzo Lopes. The top three would stay the same to the finish; Marchbanks would grab a well-earned championship.
Supermini 2 had a good battle for the win. Logan Boye grabbed the holeshot. Max Miller, Chase Fasnacht, Jarrett Frye, and a handful of others followed him across the line. Boye would fight off multiple attempts from different riders to hold on to the lead. Late in the moto, it was the number-34 KTM that made several moves and the big one on Boye to take the lead. Frye would take the win; Boye and Fasnacht would fill out the podium.
Last race of the day, the 51 (4-8) Limited class, was the race of the day! Rounding the first turn, it was Owen Covell out front. Haiden Deegan and Daxton Bennick were on a mission to get by Covell. From turn one to the last turn, the three riders were three wide. Covell seemed to have an answer each time a rider tried to make a move. Bennick made runs at Deegan; Deegan would show a wheel on Covell. Deegan would make a move over the finish line on the white flag. Covell would try to get Deegan back, but also had to protect the line from Bennick. At the finish, Deegan would lay claim to a hard fought championship, Covell would end up second and Bennick would get third.
My vote for rider of the day—Matthew Leblanc. Leblanc won all four of his championships, some in dominating fashion, and some were hard earned. All were well deserved.
By Ricky Renner
Supercross Champions:
Austin Forkner – 250 A / 450 A / 250 Pro Sport
Challen Tennant – 250 B Limited / Schoolboy 2 (13-16)
Perry Warren – 250 C Limited
Kylie Fasnacht – Women 14+
Matthew Leblanc – 85 (9-11) Limited / 65 (10-11) Limited / 85 (9-11) / 65 (10-11)
John Grewe – Senior 45+ / Vet 35+
Pierce Brown – Supermini 1 (12-15)
Daxton Bennick – 51 (7-8) Limited
Drew Adams – 51 (4-6) Limited
Jordan Jarvis – Girls (12-16)
Katie Benson – Girls (9-11)
Nathanael Thrasher – 85 (12-13) Limited
Ricky Renner – Junior 25+
Logan Stokes – Schoolboy 1 (12-16)
Nicholas Romano – 65 (7-9) Limited
Nolan Heppner – 450 B Limited
Ty Masterpool – Mini Sr. (12-15) Limited
Locky Kennedy – 450 C Limited / 450 C
Ryder Difrancesco – 65 (7-9)
Garrett Marchbanks – 250 B / 450 B
Austin Watling – 250 C
Bradley Taft – 450 Pro Sport
Jerrett Frye – Supermini 2 (13-16)
Max Miller – Mini Sr. (12-15)
Marcus Phelps – Schoolboy 1 Limited
Hardy Munoz – 85 (12-13)
Justin Cooper – College (16-24)
Haiden Deegan – 51 (4-8) Limited