Christmas Classic Day Two: a Gift for Many,
a Grinch for Some
The final day of the 2009 NBL Christmas Classic brought some serious heat to an otherwise cold Louisville day. With 191 motos on the docket, the first and second rounds were done by about 1:30. And while most of the same suspects were doing their “TCB” dance on day three of this Presidents Cup/Christmas Classic weekend, there were just fewer of them today. The day looked to be vanilla all the way, til the mains brought the mix-ins.
And the first main of the day was a fitting opener for the off-the-hook racing that would follow. Above, you’ll see Tommy Opincar, Domingos Lammoglia and Tim Dinger closer than a Siamese mariachi band in turn one while Jason Carnes hits the clear track on the inside. Seconds after the shutter snapped, Opincar was clear and Domingos was on the ground with Joey Albright (who is eclipsed by the trio in the shot, but is right off Dinger’s right shoulder) coming to an abrupt stop via Domingos’ neck. Uggggleee. All in all everyone was OK, save for the dashed hopes of a main not finished. Final results went Carnes, Opincar and Brian Strieby, making his return to the podium (sort of*) after a long dry spell.
Elite is always a boost to the blood pressure, and today was no exception. Barry Nobles had Lane 1, and eyes on some pocket money for his upcoming trip to Oz. First turn action had Nobles in the lead with Day one winner, Javi Columbo close in. The pro section would, again, swallow up a trio looking to tangle for what Barry was leaving behind him, as Latvian Arturs Matisons, DKer Josh Smith and Matt Kelty all thundered to the ground. Final order at the stripe was Nobles, Columbo and Josh Meyers, making his second Elite podium in as many outings since turning up yesterday.
Amanda Geving was the only gal in the house to jump the decidedly-slower pro section in a moto (didn’t matter, as she was handily in the lead but it was a major league crowd-pleaser). The big question was “would she, or wouldn’t she?” in the main. Well Jamie Lilly was welded to her chainstay out of the first turn so, by decision time, it had to be “Left.” Jamie caught and overtook Amanda, then it was a battle again down the third straight, with Jamie by a bike or two. Amanda’s final move, in the last turn, could have been goop or glory. Unfortunately, for her, this time it was goop…and she ended up dusting off as Jamie dusted on to the finish for the win. Madison Pitts for second and Carley Young from PA escaped the dust up in turn three to take the third spot.
Super-Ex brought the same three from day one to the podium, but in a slightly different order. Today, it was CJ McGuire who got out and got down for the wire to wire win. Tyler Faoro grabbed second check and Logan Collins brought home right-step honors (well, right-step to the camera).
Some notable wrecks wreaked havoc on the Am class mains, most notably 14x. Maliek Byndloss was in command of the pack as he was throughout the weekend (having never lost a moto or main, in all three days). Hernon Santillon from Assassins For Hire was trying to make it a diamond-perfect-minus-one, but got de-rhythmed in the section and went down HARD just prior to entering turn three. Moments later, Tyler Whitfield found the soft stuff at the top of the turn and went down as well, but was up and back in the clips real quick like. Hernon was another story. Down for at least 10 mins, and carried off on a backboard, we have not heard word of his condition as of this writing. Hopefully, he’ll be back at it real soon.
Look for more coverage here on BMXNEWS.COM, after this wagon train pulls out and heads North. Til then, check out the Day Two Photo Gallery.
