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Doug Henry making Southwick look easy.
Photo courtesy www.tomofarrell.com
There has been an awful lot of motocross racing history made on the sandy soil of Southwick’s MX338 and some legendary riders have emerged to carve out their own place in MX history. What was supposed to be the second part of the Winchester Speedpark and NEMX membership challenge series has come to be called the MX version of the “Perfect Storm” and resulted in the largest racer turnout ever in the long history of the track. Race cancellations for 2 other large New England race organizations, NESC and NEMA, coupled with outstanding weather to bring a total of 1,007 riders.
The combined crews of WSP and NEMX did a bang up job, keeping an army of riders rolling on and off the start gate as well as scoring what must have seemed like a million bikes.
There is nothing that completes a trip to “The Wick” like watching local hero Doug Henry rail through the deep sand, impossibly low and smooth. Now maybe it was the weather or maybe it was a scouting trip for the upcoming national race where Troy Lee Designs backed Henry usually makes an appearance to steal a holeshot or 2. One thing is for sure when the 30+ Expert riders lined up there was a very familiar #19 YZ250 rolling up next to them. Everyone including this writer thought that a Henry holeshot was a forgone conclusion but apparently no one told Todd Richotte. The Suzuki rider shot to the front of the pack in Moto 1 and it wasn’t until well into lap 2 before Henry was able to get around going into the “gravity cavity” section near the finish line. Moto 2 was a more of the same with Richotte taking the lead for most of the shortened moto and Henry working his YZ250 smoothly through the sandy lines to take the lead with half a lap to go.
Being that New England has long been a hotbed for MX racing it should come as no surprise that the local Womens racing action features some great competition. As it turns out the top 2 riders for the day came to the track in the same rig and not just because they are Team Suzuki/ Bettencourts/ Pro-Action/ Thor teammates, they are also sisters. 15 year old Angela Crowley and 13 year old Katelyn spent the day at the front of the pack in the Womens class splitting the holeshots and even trading off first place finishes. Angela took the holeshot in moto1 but it was Katelyn passing her to win. In moto 2 the sisters Crowley switched off and Katelyn got off the famous Southwick starting pad quicker but Angela passed her on lap 2 for the moto win and first place overall.
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