What's up everybody? Here's our 2011 race schedule. Keep checking back here for more news and updates from us as the season is not far away!
Jun 11-12 NYSWRA 1 - Flat Rock Spring Classic Lowville, NY
Jun 25-26 Camoplast Eastern Watercross Tour - Hamilton Hamilton, NY
Jul 9-10 NYSWRA 2 - Flat Rock Smoke On The Water Lowville, NY
Jul 15-17 International Watercross Championships/East-West Challenge Grantsburg, WI
Aug 13-14 NYSWRA 3 - Flat Rock New York Championships Lowville, NY
Aug 27-28 Camoplast Eastern Watercross Tour - Norwood Lake Norwood, NY
Sept 3-4 NYSWRA 4 - Flat Rock September Splash Lowville, NY
Sept 17-18 Camoplast Eastern Watercross Tour - Walton Walton, NY
Oct 7-9 Camoplast Eastern Watercross Tour - Eastern Championships Epping, NH
April 20, 2011
October 28, 2010
2010 EWA Semi-Pro 600 Champion
Team Highside's Matt Schebaum #99 is the 2010 Eastern Watercross Series
Semi-Pro 600 Oval Champion!
 |
| Accepting the Semi-Pro 600 Oval Championship trophy at the 2010 EWA Awards Banquet. Matt also finished 3rd overall in the Semi-Pro 800 Ovals. He will be going Pro for 2011! |
Race Report - Epping
Heading into the final round of the 2010 Eastern Watercross Series at Epping, NH #99 Matt Schebaum was in the midst of a 3-4 rider battle atop the Semi-Pro season points standings. Strong finishes were going to be needed at the biggest race of the season to follow his points boost a few weeks prior at Norwood.
The weather in October in Epping, New Hampshire, about 25 minutes inland from the shores of the North Atlantic; is unpredictable. In years past, rain and cold became distractions from the racing, but this year's forecast called for sunshine and decent temperatures, allowing everyone to focus on the task at hand.
Epping is a unique track. Located right in the middle of all the action that takes place during the huge 3-day snowmobile event which includes grass drags, Rave-X freestyle shows, tons of vendors and displays from all 4 manufacturers; the course is a hybrid of pin-to-pin short track racing broken up in turn one with a 2-stage corner around a flat island. The grass bank around 2/3 of the pond makes for great stadium style spectating.
Saturday
This race typically draws the largest number of racer entries of the season in almost every class and throughout the day Saturday during the 3-round qualifying session, Matt Schebaum took numerous wins qualifying 3rd in the 600 Semi-Pro Oval class. Out of lane 3 in the 5-man Final, he took the lead on lap 3 and ran away to his 3rd consecutive Semi-Pro 600 Final win of the season. In the Semi-Pro 800 class, Matt qualified just outside the Top 5 and didn't make the final.
Sunday
Qualifying in both the Semi Pro 600 & 800 classes went well for #99 on Sunday as he qualified 2nd and 4th for Lane 2 in the 600 Final and Lane 4 in the 8's. Spray from the sled on the inside of Matt got the best of his Ski Doo in the first turn of the 600 Final and he was forced to watch the rest of the race from the water. He would eventually be awarded 5th out of 6 as another rider was DQ'd for riding on and back off the island later in the race.
Shortly after he and his sled were retrieved and dried out as quick as possible, Matt was back on the line in the Semi Pro 800 Final. From what seemed to be a mechanical issue stemming from going down minutes earlier, an engine bog put Matt down in almost the same place as the race earlier. Again Matt took a 5th as he made it farther then another rider who wiped out off the start.
The weather in October in Epping, New Hampshire, about 25 minutes inland from the shores of the North Atlantic; is unpredictable. In years past, rain and cold became distractions from the racing, but this year's forecast called for sunshine and decent temperatures, allowing everyone to focus on the task at hand.
Epping is a unique track. Located right in the middle of all the action that takes place during the huge 3-day snowmobile event which includes grass drags, Rave-X freestyle shows, tons of vendors and displays from all 4 manufacturers; the course is a hybrid of pin-to-pin short track racing broken up in turn one with a 2-stage corner around a flat island. The grass bank around 2/3 of the pond makes for great stadium style spectating.
Saturday
This race typically draws the largest number of racer entries of the season in almost every class and throughout the day Saturday during the 3-round qualifying session, Matt Schebaum took numerous wins qualifying 3rd in the 600 Semi-Pro Oval class. Out of lane 3 in the 5-man Final, he took the lead on lap 3 and ran away to his 3rd consecutive Semi-Pro 600 Final win of the season. In the Semi-Pro 800 class, Matt qualified just outside the Top 5 and didn't make the final.
 |
| 600 Semi Pro Ovals - #99 Matt Schebaum - 1st |
Sunday
Qualifying in both the Semi Pro 600 & 800 classes went well for #99 on Sunday as he qualified 2nd and 4th for Lane 2 in the 600 Final and Lane 4 in the 8's. Spray from the sled on the inside of Matt got the best of his Ski Doo in the first turn of the 600 Final and he was forced to watch the rest of the race from the water. He would eventually be awarded 5th out of 6 as another rider was DQ'd for riding on and back off the island later in the race.
Shortly after he and his sled were retrieved and dried out as quick as possible, Matt was back on the line in the Semi Pro 800 Final. From what seemed to be a mechanical issue stemming from going down minutes earlier, an engine bog put Matt down in almost the same place as the race earlier. Again Matt took a 5th as he made it farther then another rider who wiped out off the start.
 |
| 600 Semi-Pro Ovals - #99 Matt Schebaum - 5th |
 |
| 800 Semi-Pro Ovals - #99 Matt Schebaum - 5th |
Also, the Camoplast East/West Challenge was held Sunday in Epping where Eastern Pro racer Kevin Hunter #28 went 2-1 in the two race (1 left, 1 right) challenge to take the win on his Ski Doo XP.
Photos Nicole Boyce
September 26, 2010
Race Report - EWA Round 2 Norwood 9/11-9/12
With the NYSWA season over for 2010, the focus for the rest of the watercross season is on the final two rounds of the Camoplast Eastern Watercross Tour at Norwood, NY and the championships in Epping, NH.
It was all the way back in June when we had Round 1 on the Eastern Tour at Six Flags Darien Lake and now here in September we roll into Norwood; a venue famous for its short course, choppy waves, and enthusiastic fans.
The racing format on the EWA is different than Flat Rock's NYSWA program. At Norwood, each class has 3 independent heat rounds where riders generally get a look at each lane and each rider at least once and points are given based on your finish in each heat; 1 for 1st, 2 for 2nd and so on. The top qualifiers in each class, the riders with the lowest scores, are in the final.
Back at Darien Lake, Team Highside's Semi-Pro rider Matt Schebaum #99 finished 2nd in the 600's and 7th in the 800's overall. With only Norwood and Epping left for 2010, there is little room for error as far as the season's points races go...
Saturday at the track the conditions were perfect with clear skies, mild temperatures, and calm winds. The good weather brought out the fans and after a moment of silence to remember 9/11, the weather wasn't the only perfection on the day the fans got to witness.
Matt Schebaum #99 won his first heat race in both classes. And then won his second heat race in both classes. And then he won the third heat race in both of his classes. Team Highside's Semi-Pro #99 rider made it through the entire program, in the 600 and 800 oval classes, untouched, going 1-1-1 in both of them for the best possible qualifying score you can get heading into the finals. One other rider in the Semi-Pro 600 Oval class besides Matt did the same. In the event of that sort of tie, lane pick is determined by where each rider falls on a random computer generated class roster. Matt was below the other rider so was given Lane 2 for the Semi-Pro 600 Final. He was the lone #1 qualifier in the Semi-Pro 800 Oval class therefore lining up in Lane 1, the inside, for that final.
At the start of the Semi-Pro 600 Final, Schebaum #99 and the rider in Lane 1 were side by side off the line. After the first corner, Matt found himself in a close 2nd place, following the leader, Andy Ferrucci #2, for three laps. Around lap 4, Ferrucci #2 went wide for his one required equalizer lap giving up the lead to Matt. Now out front, Matt Schebaum #99 tried to pull away as much as possible to gain enough time to take his wide lap on the last lap and still have some distance on Ferrucci #2 who was still behind him in 2nd place. When it came down to the checkers, Matt went wide around the last turn equalizer lap as Ferrucci set up on the inside course buoy.
Team Highside's Semi-Pro rider Matt Schebaum won his first ever Final of his career. Building up enough of a lead after taking it on lap 4 to cross the checkers about 5-6 sleds lengths in front of the 2nd place finisher.
"I kinda knew I had it by the last lap or two" said Matt later on. "I was coming around the far course buoy setting up for my equalizer in the next turn and saw that I had a decent lead on Andy and that without any mistakes on my last turn I would have him. This is something I have been working so hard for since I started racing in 2007. Some other newer riders in Semi-Pro have had their first final win come quicker but I feel I've worked for it, my whole season seemed like it was leading up to this. It's paying off now and this couldn't be a better time."
Tradition on the EWA circuit calls for the winner of the Final to take a victory lap with the checkered flag in their life vest. But since Matt was also in the very next race, the 800 Oval Final, he had to skip the celebration and go get ready.
"I remember thinking to myself...Man, I win my first final and because I have to go cool down and fuel up for the next race I can't even do my checkered flag lap. But that just means I have to win this one too and I can do two victory laps after..."
He did just that. Holeshotting out of Lane 1 in the Semi-Pro 800 Oval Final and leading the entire race to round out a perfect day. 1-1-1 in both classes during qualifying and going 1-1 in both of the Finals. As one other rider said, he was "untouchable".
The weather on Sunday was calling for rain showers and wind which means one thing at Norwood: waves. Starting Sunday's renewed program, Matt took another two 1sts in heat round 1 of the 600 & 800 classes. A 2nd and 2nd respectively in the second heats. And another pair of 1sts in the 3rd heat round. While it was not the perfect qualifying day he enjoyed on Saturday, it was still good enough for Lane 2 in the Semi-Pro 600 Oval Final and Lane 3 in the 800 Final.
The days order called the 800 Final to the line first. With two riders on the inside off the start, Matt made his way from 3rd to take a 2nd place finish behind Dustin Quinn #419. After another quick cool down and fuel up, he was on the line in Lane 2 for the Semi-Pro 600 Oval Final. With a good number of holeshots already in the books during the last two days of qualifying, this was the race he could use another one. The same rider was on the inside as in the 600 final the day before, but this time Schebaum #99 rocketed off the line and took the inside line after the Lane buoys and took the lead in the first turn. He would lead the race from there on out and finish the day 2-1; 2nd in the 800 Final, another 1st in the 600 Final, and 1-1-2-1 on the weekend.
With such a successful weekend, Matt is in solid position in both the Semi-Pro 600 & 800 EWA season points heading into the Eastern Championships at Epping, NH October 8-10 and will be once again alongside Pro rider Luke Janiszewski #14 under the Team Highside tent. One of the largest snowmobile events in the country, the New Hampshire Grassdrags & Watercross is considered the "HayDays of the East", marks the final watercross race of 2010, and this year is the host of the Camoplast East/West Challenge, an annual meeting of the best riders from the IWA and EWA watercross circuits.
It was all the way back in June when we had Round 1 on the Eastern Tour at Six Flags Darien Lake and now here in September we roll into Norwood; a venue famous for its short course, choppy waves, and enthusiastic fans.
The racing format on the EWA is different than Flat Rock's NYSWA program. At Norwood, each class has 3 independent heat rounds where riders generally get a look at each lane and each rider at least once and points are given based on your finish in each heat; 1 for 1st, 2 for 2nd and so on. The top qualifiers in each class, the riders with the lowest scores, are in the final.
Back at Darien Lake, Team Highside's Semi-Pro rider Matt Schebaum #99 finished 2nd in the 600's and 7th in the 800's overall. With only Norwood and Epping left for 2010, there is little room for error as far as the season's points races go...
Saturday at the track the conditions were perfect with clear skies, mild temperatures, and calm winds. The good weather brought out the fans and after a moment of silence to remember 9/11, the weather wasn't the only perfection on the day the fans got to witness.
 |
| Photo by Nicole Boyce |
At the start of the Semi-Pro 600 Final, Schebaum #99 and the rider in Lane 1 were side by side off the line. After the first corner, Matt found himself in a close 2nd place, following the leader, Andy Ferrucci #2, for three laps. Around lap 4, Ferrucci #2 went wide for his one required equalizer lap giving up the lead to Matt. Now out front, Matt Schebaum #99 tried to pull away as much as possible to gain enough time to take his wide lap on the last lap and still have some distance on Ferrucci #2 who was still behind him in 2nd place. When it came down to the checkers, Matt went wide around the last turn equalizer lap as Ferrucci set up on the inside course buoy.
Team Highside's Semi-Pro rider Matt Schebaum won his first ever Final of his career. Building up enough of a lead after taking it on lap 4 to cross the checkers about 5-6 sleds lengths in front of the 2nd place finisher.
"I kinda knew I had it by the last lap or two" said Matt later on. "I was coming around the far course buoy setting up for my equalizer in the next turn and saw that I had a decent lead on Andy and that without any mistakes on my last turn I would have him. This is something I have been working so hard for since I started racing in 2007. Some other newer riders in Semi-Pro have had their first final win come quicker but I feel I've worked for it, my whole season seemed like it was leading up to this. It's paying off now and this couldn't be a better time."
Tradition on the EWA circuit calls for the winner of the Final to take a victory lap with the checkered flag in their life vest. But since Matt was also in the very next race, the 800 Oval Final, he had to skip the celebration and go get ready.
"I remember thinking to myself...Man, I win my first final and because I have to go cool down and fuel up for the next race I can't even do my checkered flag lap. But that just means I have to win this one too and I can do two victory laps after..."
He did just that. Holeshotting out of Lane 1 in the Semi-Pro 800 Oval Final and leading the entire race to round out a perfect day. 1-1-1 in both classes during qualifying and going 1-1 in both of the Finals. As one other rider said, he was "untouchable".
 |
| Matt Schebaum #99 on his victory lap after winning both the Semi-Pro 600 & 800 Finals on Saturday at Norwood. Photo by Nicole Boyce |
The weather on Sunday was calling for rain showers and wind which means one thing at Norwood: waves. Starting Sunday's renewed program, Matt took another two 1sts in heat round 1 of the 600 & 800 classes. A 2nd and 2nd respectively in the second heats. And another pair of 1sts in the 3rd heat round. While it was not the perfect qualifying day he enjoyed on Saturday, it was still good enough for Lane 2 in the Semi-Pro 600 Oval Final and Lane 3 in the 800 Final.
The days order called the 800 Final to the line first. With two riders on the inside off the start, Matt made his way from 3rd to take a 2nd place finish behind Dustin Quinn #419. After another quick cool down and fuel up, he was on the line in Lane 2 for the Semi-Pro 600 Oval Final. With a good number of holeshots already in the books during the last two days of qualifying, this was the race he could use another one. The same rider was on the inside as in the 600 final the day before, but this time Schebaum #99 rocketed off the line and took the inside line after the Lane buoys and took the lead in the first turn. He would lead the race from there on out and finish the day 2-1; 2nd in the 800 Final, another 1st in the 600 Final, and 1-1-2-1 on the weekend.
 |
| Although the weather wasn't, Matt's performance despite the waves on Sunday was almost perfect yet again, going 1-2 overall on the day. |
With such a successful weekend, Matt is in solid position in both the Semi-Pro 600 & 800 EWA season points heading into the Eastern Championships at Epping, NH October 8-10 and will be once again alongside Pro rider Luke Janiszewski #14 under the Team Highside tent. One of the largest snowmobile events in the country, the New Hampshire Grassdrags & Watercross is considered the "HayDays of the East", marks the final watercross race of 2010, and this year is the host of the Camoplast East/West Challenge, an annual meeting of the best riders from the IWA and EWA watercross circuits.
September 8, 2010
Race Report - Flat Rock Final Round Sept 4-5
The inaugural "September Splash" marked the 3rd and final round of the NYSWA season at the Flat Rock Inn and after it was all said and done, the 2010 NYSWA season points standings would be finalized.
Looking for more success in the morning drag classes, Team Highside's Luke Janiszewski #14 started off the weekend with a 2nd in the 700 Semi-Pro Drag Final, but by the midday intermission realized he had blown a base gasket in his motor and needed to pull out of the afternoon Pro Ovals so it could come apart and be fixed.
Semi-Pro #99 Matt Schebaum was looking to concentrate on racing how he knew he could without any of the bad luck/mechanical issues that wavered his results the last time they were at Flat Rock. Matt moved quickly into both the 600 & 700 Semi Pro Oval semifinals with two 1st place heat finishes. Things kept falling into place as a win in the 700 semifinal put Schebaum into his first final in 3 events at Flat Rock. He went on to take 2nd in the 6-lap Semi-Pro 700 Oval Final to tie for his best finish so far in 2010.
Team Highside started Sunday morning off with the drag program once again, and with what Janiszewski #14 thought was a fixed motor, made the 600 & 700 Semi-Pro Drag Finals. He would go on to take 4th in both of them, good results nonetheless, but would once again question his equipment finishing outside the Top 3.
On the other hand, Matt Schebaum #99 had full confidence in his machine and raced his way into both the 600 & 700 Semi-Pro Oval Finals, going 1-2 in his heats and 1-2 in the semifinals (2nd or better moves on). With the outside lane in the 600 Semi-Pro Oval Final, Matt followed another rider to the inside of him around the wide equalizer buoys on the first lap. Caught up in the strong spray of water off the other sleds track, Matt couldn't make a pass and settled into 4th where he would finish 5 laps later. After the race Matt said...
"I followed Jesse around the island and then the equalizer and caught the spray off his track. It was so strong because we were both wide open that it went in my helmet and behind my goggles, filling them up like a fish bowl. I couldn't see for the rest of the race. I thought about tossing them on the next lap but I just rode it out blind for 4th..."
That's not the last Matt would see of spray off opponents' tracks. In the 700 Semi-Pro Oval Final, he was 2nd from the inside as all four sleds went into the first turn side by side and the water roost from the inside rider was too much for his sled to overcome, bogging it down and sinking it for a default 4th place finish.
Overall, it was Semi-Pro Matt Schebaum's best weekend at Flat Rock in 2010, making 3 of 4 possible finals for a 2-4-4.
Here are the full results and a link to a newspaper article on the event...
Saturday 9/4/10
Semi Pro 600 Drags
Mark Miller
Brad Crocker
Logan Hosley
Ron Cooper
Semi Pro 700 Drags
Adam McLean
Luke Janiszewski
Claude Labonte
Brian Komosinski
Semi Pro 600 Ovals
Dustin Quinn
Cathy Rinker
Mark Miller
Jesse Hunter
Semi Po 700 Ovals
Eric Gauthier
Matt Schebaum
Justin Devoe
Danny Mussot
Sunday 9/5/10
Semi Pro 600 Drags
Logan Hosley
Mark Miller
Brad Crocker
Luke Janiszewski
Semi Pro 700 Drags
Adam McLean
Claude Labonte
Logan Hosley
Luke Janiszewski
Semi Pro 600 Ovals
Steven Day
Jesse Hunter
Danny Mussot
Matt Schebaum
Semi Pro 700 Ovals
Mark Miller
Danny Mussot
Claude Labonte
Matt Schebaum
Team Highside is heading to Norwood, NY this weekend September 11-12 for Round 2 of the Camoplast Eastern Watercross Tour and will finish out the 2010 season at the Eastern Watercross Championships at the NH Grassdrags & Watercross in Epping, NH October 8-10. Matt Schebaum #99 is currently 2nd (600cc) and 7th (800cc) in Semi-Pro Oval EWA season standings heading into the last 2 races.
Looking for more success in the morning drag classes, Team Highside's Luke Janiszewski #14 started off the weekend with a 2nd in the 700 Semi-Pro Drag Final, but by the midday intermission realized he had blown a base gasket in his motor and needed to pull out of the afternoon Pro Ovals so it could come apart and be fixed.
Semi-Pro #99 Matt Schebaum was looking to concentrate on racing how he knew he could without any of the bad luck/mechanical issues that wavered his results the last time they were at Flat Rock. Matt moved quickly into both the 600 & 700 Semi Pro Oval semifinals with two 1st place heat finishes. Things kept falling into place as a win in the 700 semifinal put Schebaum into his first final in 3 events at Flat Rock. He went on to take 2nd in the 6-lap Semi-Pro 700 Oval Final to tie for his best finish so far in 2010.
Team Highside started Sunday morning off with the drag program once again, and with what Janiszewski #14 thought was a fixed motor, made the 600 & 700 Semi-Pro Drag Finals. He would go on to take 4th in both of them, good results nonetheless, but would once again question his equipment finishing outside the Top 3.
On the other hand, Matt Schebaum #99 had full confidence in his machine and raced his way into both the 600 & 700 Semi-Pro Oval Finals, going 1-2 in his heats and 1-2 in the semifinals (2nd or better moves on). With the outside lane in the 600 Semi-Pro Oval Final, Matt followed another rider to the inside of him around the wide equalizer buoys on the first lap. Caught up in the strong spray of water off the other sleds track, Matt couldn't make a pass and settled into 4th where he would finish 5 laps later. After the race Matt said...
"I followed Jesse around the island and then the equalizer and caught the spray off his track. It was so strong because we were both wide open that it went in my helmet and behind my goggles, filling them up like a fish bowl. I couldn't see for the rest of the race. I thought about tossing them on the next lap but I just rode it out blind for 4th..."
That's not the last Matt would see of spray off opponents' tracks. In the 700 Semi-Pro Oval Final, he was 2nd from the inside as all four sleds went into the first turn side by side and the water roost from the inside rider was too much for his sled to overcome, bogging it down and sinking it for a default 4th place finish.
Overall, it was Semi-Pro Matt Schebaum's best weekend at Flat Rock in 2010, making 3 of 4 possible finals for a 2-4-4.
Here are the full results and a link to a newspaper article on the event...
Saturday 9/4/10
Semi Pro 600 Drags
Mark Miller
Brad Crocker
Logan Hosley
Ron Cooper
Semi Pro 700 Drags
Adam McLean
Luke Janiszewski
Claude Labonte
Brian Komosinski
Semi Pro 600 Ovals
Dustin Quinn
Cathy Rinker
Mark Miller
Jesse Hunter
Semi Po 700 Ovals
Eric Gauthier
Matt Schebaum
Justin Devoe
Danny Mussot
Sunday 9/5/10
Semi Pro 600 Drags
Logan Hosley
Mark Miller
Brad Crocker
Luke Janiszewski
Semi Pro 700 Drags
Adam McLean
Claude Labonte
Logan Hosley
Luke Janiszewski
Semi Pro 600 Ovals
Steven Day
Jesse Hunter
Danny Mussot
Matt Schebaum
Semi Pro 700 Ovals
Mark Miller
Danny Mussot
Claude Labonte
Matt Schebaum
Team Highside is heading to Norwood, NY this weekend September 11-12 for Round 2 of the Camoplast Eastern Watercross Tour and will finish out the 2010 season at the Eastern Watercross Championships at the NH Grassdrags & Watercross in Epping, NH October 8-10. Matt Schebaum #99 is currently 2nd (600cc) and 7th (800cc) in Semi-Pro Oval EWA season standings heading into the last 2 races.
September 1, 2010
Final NYSWA Round this weekend at Flat Rock
This Sat. and Sun. Sept 4-5 marks the 3rd and final round for the 2010 NYSWA season at the Flat Rock Inn outside Lowville,NY. Come see Semi-Pro Matt Schebaum #99 and Pro Luke Janiszewski #14 compete amongst some of the best riders in the country as each an every round this season at Flat Rock has seen a great rider turnout which has made for great racing.
Team Highside will continue their 2010 watercross season at Rnd 2 of the Camoplast/EWA Eastern Watercross Tour the following weekend Sept 11-12 at the Norwood Lake Regatta in Norwood, NY and Rnd 3 at the Eastern Championships in Epping, NH October 8-10.
August 25, 2010
Flat Rock Race Report - Aug 14-15
We were back at Flat Rock August 14th & 15th for the 2nd Round of the 2010 NYSWA season.
Saturday's race program set the record for most racer entries ever at a NYSWA/Flat Rock watercross event. The Pro class saw a number of riders returning from semi-retirement and/or hiatus while the ever-growing and increasingly competitive Semi-Pro class contained the usual contenders and new riders alike.
For Team Highside, Luke Janiszewski #14 was hoping to extend his luck from July in the 600 and 700 Pro Oval classes in the midst of added heat this weekend. Barely his first full season running Pro, Luke has consistently run just outside the Top 5, many times making finals through LCQ wins. With the largest Pro class ever at Flat Rock this weekend, he was a few positions shy of that. Even with holeshots like clockwork, unlucky outside lane picks in such a tight class were too much to overcome, placing 3rd and 4th in his heat races and failing to make the finals.
Even though Luke didn't make any Pro Oval finals on Saturday, it was impossible not to notice his holeshots. For Sunday, he entered the 600 and 700 Drags, taking a 1st in the 600 final and 2nd in the 700 final.
In Semi-Pro, Matt Schebaum #99 came away last month looking for more speed on the longer course at Flat Rock. He seemed to have found it with some clutching and gearing changes in practice. He enjoyed the new speed through the first Semi-Pro heat race by taking the win, but then the string of bad luck started...
Somewhere between the last lap of the first heat race and the start of the Semi-Pro 700 heat, a bolt in his primary clutch had backed out, mis-aligning the belt. With little time to fix the problem (riders get 2 mins from when they're called to the line) he started the race and actually led until it finally gave loose, causing him to go down. The problem was fixed by Sunday morning and with another successful practice, Schebaum #99 was looking to start fresh and find better luck in that day's program.
Moving into the Semi-Final rounds of both the Semi-Pro 600 & 700 with heat race wins, things were going well. In the 600 Semi-Pro semifinal, Matt had the inside lane pick, took the holeshot and led for 3 laps, holding off Steven Day #139 and Jesse Hunter #78. Coming around to begin what Matt thought was the 3rd of 4 laps, the flag person had the white flag out. Confused that his strategy of leaving the equalizer lap until the very last turn was foiled, he was forced to unnecessarily give the lead up and go wide a lap early. The flag person had made a mistake counting laps and displayed the white flag a lap early. After the race Matt said:
"I usually count laps to myself and rarely go by the flag person unless its a yellow or red or something because I know they have made mistakes in the past counting laps. This time I lost count to myself because I was too busy concentrating on holding off (Steven) Day and Jesse (Hunter) because they were right on me. The hesitation after seeing the white flag caused me to bobble for a second and you can't do that with fast guys like that behind me..."
Also, on two separate occasions, Matt's sled quit on him while he was way out front. It is rare to have a machine quit out front with clear water. Usually other riders' spray, waves, etc are main factors in sinking a sled; so when one quits out front, just dies like someone pulled the key, it usually means a serious electrical issue or the motor is toast. When Matt's Fly Racing Amsoil Team Industries Ski Doo was out front twice and shut down, he was expecting a major mechanical issue; not the simple, yet just as frustrating culprit.
At the end of the day; after confusion caused by the flag person and two mysterious engine shutdowns while out front, Matt was drying out his sled on the stand in the pits and noticed the engine cutting in and out, much like it did on the water. With a few wiggles of the tether switch assembly, he realized his tether key rattling loose causing the motor to cut in and out. Both frustrated and relieved, Matt said...
"I can't believe it was my tether key! The main assembly that attached to the dashboard console on my sled came loose a little bit and the key wasn't pushing the post down quite far enough. And apparently if I hit a wave just right or whatever out there it would pop up and I would go down. I'm happy that the problem wasn't something more serious though, like electrical or blowing my top end or something... I guess that's racing. I pumped for the next race now knowing that it was just dumb bad luck this weekend. I know I can win now"
Saturday's race program set the record for most racer entries ever at a NYSWA/Flat Rock watercross event. The Pro class saw a number of riders returning from semi-retirement and/or hiatus while the ever-growing and increasingly competitive Semi-Pro class contained the usual contenders and new riders alike.
For Team Highside, Luke Janiszewski #14 was hoping to extend his luck from July in the 600 and 700 Pro Oval classes in the midst of added heat this weekend. Barely his first full season running Pro, Luke has consistently run just outside the Top 5, many times making finals through LCQ wins. With the largest Pro class ever at Flat Rock this weekend, he was a few positions shy of that. Even with holeshots like clockwork, unlucky outside lane picks in such a tight class were too much to overcome, placing 3rd and 4th in his heat races and failing to make the finals.
Even though Luke didn't make any Pro Oval finals on Saturday, it was impossible not to notice his holeshots. For Sunday, he entered the 600 and 700 Drags, taking a 1st in the 600 final and 2nd in the 700 final.
 |
| Can you say Holeshot? Races like this gave Luke confidence to enter Drag classes for Sunday. He placed 1st and 2nd in the Drag finals. |
In Semi-Pro, Matt Schebaum #99 came away last month looking for more speed on the longer course at Flat Rock. He seemed to have found it with some clutching and gearing changes in practice. He enjoyed the new speed through the first Semi-Pro heat race by taking the win, but then the string of bad luck started...
Somewhere between the last lap of the first heat race and the start of the Semi-Pro 700 heat, a bolt in his primary clutch had backed out, mis-aligning the belt. With little time to fix the problem (riders get 2 mins from when they're called to the line) he started the race and actually led until it finally gave loose, causing him to go down. The problem was fixed by Sunday morning and with another successful practice, Schebaum #99 was looking to start fresh and find better luck in that day's program.
Moving into the Semi-Final rounds of both the Semi-Pro 600 & 700 with heat race wins, things were going well. In the 600 Semi-Pro semifinal, Matt had the inside lane pick, took the holeshot and led for 3 laps, holding off Steven Day #139 and Jesse Hunter #78. Coming around to begin what Matt thought was the 3rd of 4 laps, the flag person had the white flag out. Confused that his strategy of leaving the equalizer lap until the very last turn was foiled, he was forced to unnecessarily give the lead up and go wide a lap early. The flag person had made a mistake counting laps and displayed the white flag a lap early. After the race Matt said:
"I usually count laps to myself and rarely go by the flag person unless its a yellow or red or something because I know they have made mistakes in the past counting laps. This time I lost count to myself because I was too busy concentrating on holding off (Steven) Day and Jesse (Hunter) because they were right on me. The hesitation after seeing the white flag caused me to bobble for a second and you can't do that with fast guys like that behind me..."
 |
| Matt Schebaum #99 battling Steven Day #139 around the first corner island. |
Also, on two separate occasions, Matt's sled quit on him while he was way out front. It is rare to have a machine quit out front with clear water. Usually other riders' spray, waves, etc are main factors in sinking a sled; so when one quits out front, just dies like someone pulled the key, it usually means a serious electrical issue or the motor is toast. When Matt's Fly Racing Amsoil Team Industries Ski Doo was out front twice and shut down, he was expecting a major mechanical issue; not the simple, yet just as frustrating culprit.
At the end of the day; after confusion caused by the flag person and two mysterious engine shutdowns while out front, Matt was drying out his sled on the stand in the pits and noticed the engine cutting in and out, much like it did on the water. With a few wiggles of the tether switch assembly, he realized his tether key rattling loose causing the motor to cut in and out. Both frustrated and relieved, Matt said...
"I can't believe it was my tether key! The main assembly that attached to the dashboard console on my sled came loose a little bit and the key wasn't pushing the post down quite far enough. And apparently if I hit a wave just right or whatever out there it would pop up and I would go down. I'm happy that the problem wasn't something more serious though, like electrical or blowing my top end or something... I guess that's racing. I pumped for the next race now knowing that it was just dumb bad luck this weekend. I know I can win now"
Team Highside would like to thank our sponsors: Fly Racing, Amsoil, Team Industries, Scott Goggles, and MotoOption Clothing. We will be back at Flat Rock Labor Day weekend Sept. 3-4 for the 3rd and final round of the NYSWA season and in Norwood, NY the following week, Sept 11-12 for Round 2 of the Camoplast/EWA Eastern Watercross Tour. Our season concludes October 8-10 at the Eastern Championships in Epping, NH, part of the largest combined snowmobile event in the East.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)