Freestyle Motocross

Friday - 7:30PM -
SUB-ZERO OUTSIDE, RED-HOT INSIDE

2.16.2007, PORTLAND, ME

Even with wind chills reaching -20 degrees the Cumberland County Civic Center was packed to the gills with rabid Freestyle fans and they were treated to an awesome show. Things started off well with Justin Stoltzfus and Jerry Jackson putting in solid runs. Unfortunately they were followed by a scary crash as Jason Hamric came up short on a jump and had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance. At press time we didn’t have a report on his condition but everyone here in Portland had him in their thoughts. Mike Vaters had the unenviable task of following the long pause but showed poise in his qualifying run. Joe Robertson was next and after being up for 24 hours straight he was able to lock down the fourth position in the final. Gary “G-Rob” Robertson and James Skyles took the 2 nd and 3 rd spots respectively. Darrin Connet back flipped his way into the top qualifying position. After intermission 14 year old Cody Ives wowed the crowd along side Mark Faulk in the Globe of Death. Gary Robertson and Darin Connet continued their domination by going huge during the team FMX competition to claim top honors. James Skyles kicked off the final with a respectable score of 88.7. However Gary Robertson went all out and threw down a run that tallied 91.5. Jerry Jackson tried to wrest the Ogio Hot Seat from G-Rob but came up short with an 89.0. Our last rider had his work cut out for him as he blasted out of the tunnel, but Darin Connet was pumped and left nothing to chance with a pair of back flips, one of which was a one footer. Connet topped Robertson by just two tenths of a point to take the IFMA FMX on Friday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Big props need to be sent out to the Team Effex BMX riders, Matt Still, Andre Postel and Hector “TerraMoto” for a great show announced by Mike “The Weasel” Still.
David Knisley

Saturday 7:30PM -
SELLOUT CROWD ROCKS PORTLAND

2.17.2007, Portland, ME

A standing room only crowd packed the Cumberland County Civic Center for Saturday’s Freestyle showdown. The folks from Maine were loud and rowdy as the riders got on the gas. Jerry Jackson got things started with a quality run that was good enough for him to advance to the final. Justin Stoltzfus followed him but was unable to dial it up and get thru to the main event. The next three riders all scored in the 87 range as Mike Vaters, Joe Robertson and James Skyles went 87.0, 87.8 and 87.9 respectively. Unfortunately only Skyles would advance as Garry Robertson and Darin Connet both went huge and got into the 90’s. Three teams battled it out in our team FMX competition with Garry Robertson and Darin Connet narrowly edging the teams of Jackson/Vaters and Robertson/Skyles. The final was absolutely off the hook as James Skyles set the bar high with an 88.0. However, “Skills that Kills” Skyles time in the Ogio Hot Seat was short lived as Jerry Jackson hung a 90.0 on the board. Next up was the wily veteran Garry Robertson and “G-Rob” didn’t disappoint as he was able to score a 90.5 to unseat Jackson. The last rider to enter the arena floor was Darin Connet. Darin put together a good run, but it was his back flipping that put him over the top and he earned the win with a 91.0. Cody Ives and Mark Faulk again put on a thrilling show in the Globe of Death with the assistance of Cody’s mom Tonya. The boys from Team Efex BMX did a great job entertaining the crowd with Hector “Terramoto” and Andre Postel ripping off a couple of back flips of their own to close out the show. The night ended with a rousing encore as every seat stayed full to the very end of the show and Portland showed their appreciation for the great effort of the riders.
David Knisley