WILDWOOD, NJ

Twice a year, the vast expanse of sand that is the Wildwood Beach becomes a challenging motocross track. More than 10 years ago, someone got the great idea that motocross racing should take place on a beach normally reserved for summer tourists. This race takes place in late spring and early fall and is held between two piers of amusement rides right on the famous sands of Wildwood, New Jersey. Just steps from the amusement games and rides on the 1.8-mile-long boardwalk, racers fly by on this temporary race course. With one moto in each class held on each day, the unique schedule allows the riders plenty of time to enjoy the vacation atmosphere.

The first 250 A moto saw Kawasaki-mounted Jesse Festenstine grab the holeshot and lead the first lap. When Festenstine went wide and off the track in a corner, both KPS-backed Dakota Kessler (49, above) and Ocean County Powersports-sponsored Ronnie Stewart got by. Meanwhile, Thor-backed Suzuki jockey Frankie Lettieri was on the move, getting by Festenstine and setting off after the lead duo. Stewart got by Kessler for the lead, but the two-stroke-mounted Kessler showed his years of sandpit-riding experience by keeping Stewart in sight. Then, on the last lap, Stewart bobbled two corners from the checkered flag, giving Kessler the lead - and the win. Stewart settled for second. Adam Blessing came through the pack for third.

In the second moto, Stewart grabbed the holeshot, with Festenstine and Kessler in tow. Stewart led for much of the moto, but Kessler found a fast outside line around the Suzuki rider and made the pass with a lap to go. Stewart kept Kessler in sight but couldn't close on him and had to settle for second. Festenstine put his good start to use and finished the moto in third.

Kessler (1-1) won overall, followed by Stewart (2-2) and Festenstine (4-3).

After winning the first moto on Saturday, Adam Blessing (547, above) put his Honda in front of the pack at the start of the second Open A moto. After a second-place finish in moto one, Stewart was stopped in the first turn with a stalled motorcycle. Once he finally got it going, the Suzuki rider was nearly a half-track down. Blessing continued to lead, but Lettieri and Kessler were in hot pursuit of Blessing. By the halfway point, both Kessler and Lettieri had gotten by Blessing, with Kessler taking the lead and eventually the moto win. Kessler's second-moto victory, coupled with his first-moto fourth, netted him second overall, behind Blessing's 1-3 moto scores. Lettieri, in his first Expert-class event, went 3-2 for third overall.

For more information on the Thunder In The Sand events, got to www.thundermotorsports.com.

Results

50 (4-6) OIL-INJ: 1. Hunter Schanel (Yam); 2. Evan Knoll (KTM); 3. Mackenzie Urban (Yam).

50 (4-6) STK: 1. Cole Devary (Yam); 2. David Acker (KTM); 3. Ethan Bossuyt (Suz).

50 (7-8) OIL-INJ: 1. Christopher Feeley (KTM); 2. Mitchell McKee (KTM); 3. Kyle Suydam (Suz); 4. Chase Eckey (Xtr).

50 (7-8) STK: 1. Tyler Myers (KTM).

65 (7-9): 1. Trent Masterson (Kaw); 2. Tyler Myers (KTM); 3. Tommy Urban (Kaw); 4. Kyle Suydam (Suz); 5. Christopher Feeley (KTM).

65 (10-11): 1. Sean Knoll (KTM); 2. Noah Faccone (KTM); 3. Zachary Bassista (Suz); 4. Christopher Ford (KTM); 5. Cole Pisarek (KTM).

85 (9-11): 1. Zachary Bassista (Suz); 2. Jake Impens (Kaw); 3. Christopher Ford (KTM); 4. Daniel Suydam (Kaw); 5. Austin Buehler (Hon).

85 (12-15): 1. Chris Gordon (Suz); 2. Donzi Dambrosa (Suz); 3. Justin Bradley (Yam); 4. Levi Catlett (Hon); 5. Rian Lamanteer (Kaw).

JR MINI (9-13) (NO B/W): 1. Jake Impens (Kaw); 2. Donzi Dambrosa (Suz); 3. Chris Gordon (Suz); 4. Tanner Barnhardt (KTM); 5. Sean Dolan (Suz).

S/MINI (12-16): 1. Dylan Allen (Hon); 2. Anthony La Fountain (Kaw); 3. Chris Gordon (Suz); 4. Justin Bradley (Yam); 5. Christian Sanchez (Suz).

125 B: 1. Michael Borges (Hon); 2. Joseph Krementz (Kaw).

125 C: 1. Greg Giles (Suz); 2. Zachary Amato (Suz); 3. Corey Wademan (KTM); 4. Alex Palovcak (Suz); 5. Travis Price (Kaw).

250 A: 1. Dakota Kessler (Hon); 2. Ronnie Stewart (Suz); 3. Jesse Festenstine (Kaw); 4. Adam Blessing (Hon); 5. Eric McKay (Hon).

250 B: 1. Charles Sherby (Yam); 2. Tyler Killeen (Suz); 3. Max Callan (Hon); 4. J. Grisham (Hon); 5. Alex Stavola (Kaw).

250 C D-1: 1. Devon Grisham (Yam); 2. Tyler Greenaway (Hon); 3. Steven Eggert (Yam); 4. Ethan Clymer (Hon); 5. Robert Martinelli (Hon).

250 C D-2: 1. Eric Osmundsen (Kaw); 2. Matt Mantz (Kaw); 3. Dylan Allen (Hon); 4. Jarek Gomola (Yam); 5. Nicholas Quiles (Yam).

250 C D-3: 1. Timothy Vogel (Suz); 2. Kevin Quigley (Yam); 3. Burley Crowley (Suz); 4. Frank Viviani (Kaw); 5. Sam Hansen (Kaw).

450 A: 1. Adam Blessing (Hon); 2. Dakota Kessler (Hon); 3. Frank Lettieri (Suz); 4. Ronnie Stewart (Suz); 5. Christian Topping (Hon).

450 B: 1. Charles Sherby (Yam); 2. Bruce Cahall (Hon); 3. Tom Rennie (Yam); 4. Stephen Morelli (Hon); 5. Joseph Gleason (Hon).

450 C D-1: 1. Donald Cashin (Yam); 2. Matt Mantz (Kaw); 3. Evan Bossuyt (Suz); 4. Andrew Perseponko (KTM); 5. Graig Heffentrager (Yam).

450 C D-2: 1. Tom Greenhoe (Yam); 2. Timothy Vogel (Suz); 3. Brice Lloyd (Hon); 4. Kevin Quigley (Yam); 5. Carmen Simonetti (Kaw).

WMN (12+): 1. Sherry Schmidt (Suz); 2. Courtney Sudol (Hon); 3. Caitlyn Sparks (Hon); 4. Megan Dolan (Suz); 5. Candice Symington (Yam).

WMN OPEN: 1. Breelynn Griffith (Hon); 2. Danielle Beckman (Hon); 3. Kristen Vincent (Yam); 4. Jennifer Notarianni (Suz); 5. Madison Alessi (Xtr).

SCHBY 1 (12-16): 1. Cole Gonnella (Yam); 2. Mike Detwiler (Yam); 3. Daniel Sudol (Hon); 4. Anthony La Fountain (Kaw); 5. Rocco Oppedisano (Hon).

SCHBY 2 (14-16): 1. Max Callan (Hon); 2. Joshua Watson (Kaw); 3. Evan Stanley (Kaw); 4. Dashauyn Staten (Hon); 5. Daniel Sudol (Hon).

CLGBY (16-24) D-1: 1. Teddy Paul (Kaw); 2. Devon Grisham (Yam); 3. Eric Osmundsen (Kaw); 4. Tom Rennie (Yam); 5. Burley Crowley (Suz).

CLGBY (16-24) D-2: 1. Tyler Killeen (Suz); 2. J. Grisham (Hon); 3. Stephen Morelli (Hon); 4. Matthew Grant (Yam); 5. Bruce Cahall (Hon).

25+ A: 1. Christian Topping (Hon); 2. Ryan Patterson (KTM); 3. Christopher Chomko (Kaw); 4. Tristan Huey (Hon); 5. Steve Weldon (Hon).

25+ B: 1. Rob Novak (Hon); 2. Austin Barone (Yam); 3. William Smith (Kaw); 4. Lou Blanchino (Suz); 5. Mark Wesnofske (Kaw).

30+ A: 1. Christopher Chomko (Kaw); 2. Glenn Scherer (Hon); 3. Steve Weldon (Hon); 4. John Thomas (Hon); 5. Henry Krabe Jr. (Hon).

30+ B: 1. Michael Maschitta (Kaw); 2. Mark Wesnofske (Kaw); 3. William Smith (Kaw); 4. Robert Stravinsky (Hon); 5. Rob Novak (Hon).

30+ C: 1. Jason Hogue (Kaw); 2. Steven Lewis (Hon); 3. Mike Cassel (Suz); 4. Luiz Peregrino (Suz); 5. Chris Masterson (Kaw).

40+: 1. Michael Maschitta (Kaw); 2. Glenn Scherer (Hon); 3. Chris Suydam (Hon); 4. Bill Ford (Kaw); 5. Richard Tamburo (Hon).