2021 Race of Champions Results

Cycle News Staff | October 6, 2021

The 45th annual Race of Champions sponsored by Kawasaki ran its course at the Old Bridge Townships, Raceway Park, in Englishtown, New Jersey, October 1-3. This AMA featured event is one of the longest continually running amateur motocross events in the United States.

Photos by Scott Lukaitis

The Best Whip contest was held on Friday night over the track’s famous staircase to keep everyone entertained. Andrew Maroney won the best whip, and Nitro Circus star Banksy Hover did the first backflip over this iconic track obstacle. Kawasaki star Axell Hodges was hanging out all day Saturday, signing autographs and taking photos with all of his fans.

Team Green Technician Doug Douchette was on hand to support the Kawasaki racers, and four local dealers gave away six motorcycles on Sunday afternoon, including a KLX110, to a lucky spectator.

More than 1100 racers from 16 states descended on the Northeast for three days of motocross racing. Great weather and fantastic track conditions made for some great battles all weekend. There were two full days of racing on Friday and Saturday for youth and amateurs, as well as vet classes. The big winners during the amateur portion included Bryce Shelly, Gavin Towers, John Grewe, Carter Grey and Jonathan Getz, each with multiple class overall victories.

Sunday’s racing was for the Pro Expert classes (250cc and Open) and intermission races for amateur and mini bike riders. Pennsylvania’s Bobby Piazza took the first Open A moto with New Jersey’s Bryton Carroll in second, followed by Maryland’s Jacob Runkles and Cody Groves in third and fourth.

Proving the depth of the field, the second moto saw Groves with the win, Runkles in second, Jeremy Smith in third, Piazza in fourth and Carroll in fifth. Groves stood at the top of the podium with 4-1 scores, followed by Runkles (3-2) and Piazza (1-4). New Jersey’s Ricci Randanella rounded out the top five.

In 250 A racing, it was the popular Groves winning moto one. Maryland’s Gage Stine was second, with Runkles in third while Pennsylvania’s Chase Yentzer and Randanella rounded out the top five.

Gage Stine at 2021 Race of Champions — **Gage Stine took top honors in the 250A class at the Race of Champions at Englishtown.**

Moto two was all Stine as he was out front early and went on for the victory and overall win with 2-1 moto scores. Yentzer held off the charging Groves for second in the moto and third overall.

Groves’ third-place finish in moto two and his first-moto win gave him the second step on the podium.

Cody Groves at 2021 Race of Champions — **Cody Groves was the Open A-class winner.**

The 2021 Ironman Classic sponsored by Fun Center Powersports went to Kawasaki Team Green’s Gavin Towers. A brand new KX250 was the grand prize for Towers.

In the other special intermission races, New Jersey’s Colton Schmidt won the Fast Fifties moto, and Florida’s Jonathan Getz won the 65cc Kessler Cup sponsored by Montgomeryville Cycle Center.

The 85cc Top Gun Mini Cycle Shootout sponsored by Mount Holly Motorsports went to New Jersey’s Canyon Richards, and Bryce Shelly took the 125cc All-Stars moto.