Maatta Racing News

Racer News 3/9/2009 The Maatta Race team finished racing the 2009 Winter Thunder Challenge Snocross series March 7th in the rain. Racing started earlier then normal due to the inclement weather predicted to move in for the afternoon. WTC’s track was smaller, softer and all around wet surrounded by mud and woodchips. As the Team gathered together Mitch called the to inform us that due to the rain and still not feeling up to par he would not be racing and saving himself for the Grand Finale in Lake Geneva. In his final comments with the wit of a seasoned racer his words of wisdom were “don’t get wet”. At 9:30 Staging was looking for sleds. The stage was soggy and muddy however the day produced some of the most intense racing crew chief Rich Maatta would see to date. Daniel Sutton #891 Daniel provided the Maatta Racing Team with some heart pounding races on the final day of the 2009 WTC season. A big round of applause for Daniel and his first heat win on his new Ski-Doo 550 Fan. Coming from a hard season of racing with other riders that have more experience on the larger more powerful sleds from the previous year Daniel pulls off a first place finish. Daniel placed 3rd in heat 1, 1st in heat 2 and 6th in the Final of Jr. Novice. In Jr 10-13 Daniel placed 3rd in heat 1, 5th in heat 2 and 5th in the Final. Some of the best racing of the day was in the Jr. Novice finals. Daniel kept the team on edge during all his races and continues to grow with the team. RJ McNelly #445 RJ was not to be out done in some of the most contested racing of the season. RJ put the hammer down and to his pit crews surprise received a DQ in round 1 for 14 mph in a 12 mph class. Not going any further let’s just say his pit will not make that mistake again. RJ placed 7th in heat 2 and 5th in the Final. We have to say that RJ raced his heart out in the rain. The entire Maatta race team would like to give another big round of applause to RJ as we know its not easy being 5 years old, racing in the rain and trying to keep up with the Big Guys in the trailer. #501 James Doucet James found out quickly that the rain will cause some of the worst visibility he would experience this season. James Placed 3rd in heat 1, 5th in heat 2 and 6th in heat 3 with a 7th in the final. James found that Duct tape works just as well on rain gear as it does on his sled keeping it together. James renamed the team for the day “Team Duct Tape”. #449 Trudy Maatta Last but definitely not least Trudy raced in the inclement weather to hold onto her season points with a season championship in site. Trudy raced the final WTC races of the season with the mind set not to make any mistakes that would cost her a finish due to the championship points chase being so close. Trudy finished up the season with a 4th in heat 1, 4th in heat 2 and a 6th in the final giving her enough points to secure the First Place Women’s Season Championship title and trophy! Come see Maatta Racing fly for the last race of the 2009 season during the Nielsen’s Grand Finale ISOC National at the Grand Geneva in Lake Geneva WI March 20-22. Maatta Racing continues to race with the support of all of our sponsors. Please check out Maattaracing.com for a complete list of sponsors and up to date news. Thanks again to everyone that has contributed to the success of our team! Racer News 3/3/2009 Night racing at its finest. Winter Thunder Challenge had its third and final night race on February 28 for the 2009 season. The turnout for racers and spectators was great for the weather that had been in the previous week. The Maatta Racing Team had its own issues for the weekend as its racers were scattered throughout the state of Illinois. Team members who did not race the night race missed out on some of the clubs activities as well as some of the strangest trailers due to the Venetian night trailer decorating contest. The team has vowed to enter the contest next year. #448 Mitch Maatta was the only Sport rider to race all heats this weekend. Saturday Night Mitch place 5th in round 1, 5th in round 2, 6th... Having some hard competition in the final and his sled not hooking up for the hole shot Mitch had to work his way through the pack from the 12th position to finish 6th. Sunday Sport Super Stock B Mitch placed 4th in round 1, 3rd in round 2 and 2nd in round 3. As the final lined up 12 of the best Sport class lined up the green flag raised and they were off. This final would prove to be some of the best competition of the day. Hanging on to his Polaris Mitch finished 6th in the final. #501 James Doucet did not race Sat night due to a previous commitment. Sunday taking to the track on his Ski-doo James placed 4th in round 1, 4th in round 2, 5th in round 3 and Finished 8th in the Final. #449 Trudy Maatta having missed the first heat of Sport Women due to a Training for Lake Villa Rescue but was quick to ready herself for round 2 placing 4th, Round 3 placing 3rd and 5th in the final. #445 RJ McNelly raced his heart out in all of his heats placing 2nd in all three heats. In the last laps of the final RJ bobbled taking his hand off the throttle causing him to lose out on his position. RJ finished 8th in the final. RJ was a little upset at his Final run for the day after placing 2nd in the previous heats. #891 Daniel Sutton had the weekend off due to a Field Trip with his 7th grade class. Daniels class had scheduled a trip to Springfield Illinois long before racing started and Joining Maatta Racing. It was still up in the air weather he would go to Springfield or Race at WTC. After thinking long and hard about going on the trip or race, Daniel finally decided to go to Springfield with his class. The Whole team missed Daniel during the weekend but school does come first to all riders in the Maatta Racing Trailer. Racer News 2-24-09 Mitch Maatta #448 Mitch Maatta was unable to race due to being sick. Mitch was missed by all in the Maatta Racing Trailer. James Doucet #501 James Doucet pounded the track with his Ski-Doo 600RS. Having come from weeks of dialing the sled in to mechanical breakdowns James pulled through in Round 1- 4th, Round 2- 4th, Round 3 5th. In the end James would have to Place 4th or better in a Last Chance Qualifier to move to the final. As the LCQ took place the Power of the #501 sled took James to 3rd place advancing him to the final. James took his spot in the back with 3 other riders from the LCQ. As the green flag raised James and 11 other riders took off. After the snow dust settled James found Himself middle of the pack. Chasing the leaders any miscalculation could cost finishing the race. As the final lap came James got tied up in slower traffic on the inside costing him valuable time that was unable to be made up. James finished 9th in the final and came home safe to race another day. Trudy Maatta #449 Trudy Maatta pulled the hole shot in all her races but gave up the lead in the technical sections having trouble with the icy corners. Attempting to gain 3rd position in the final lap Trudy lost her line coming hot into one of the final corners sliding to prevent hitting other riders she abruptly turned her skis and was ejected off the sled. Trudy found herself in 5th in the final. Daniel Sutton #891 Daniel Sutton hit the track for the first weekend of racing for the Maatta Racing team. Racing the JR. Novice class Daniel Finishes 4th in the final during one of the day’s most exciting races. Having been mid-pack during heat races Daniel turned up the heat of his own finishing with only seconds between him and the 3rd place. Daniel kept reeling in the #572 of Nick Lorenz but unable to catch him in the final lap. Daniel in his JR. class Finished 5th again chasing the elusive #572 only seconds away. RJ McNelly #445 RJ McNelly kept his Ski-Doo Mini Z Leading the pack. Placing 1st in all 3 heats and placing 3rd in his Final. The Box Stock class racing at WTC is one of the most contested and tightest racing in the Club. Maatta Racing continues to race with the support of all our wonderful sponsors. Please check out Maattaracing.com for a complete list of sponsors. Thanks again to everyone that has contributed to our team to make it successful. News 2-19-2009 Maatta Racing would like to welcome Daniel Sutton #891 to the team for 2009 as their new JR Racer. Dan Brings with him a ton of 120 race experience and a passion for Snocross racing. Dan has raced his way through the ranks of the 120 classes and has recently made the move into the JR 10-13 & JR fan classes. We would also like to welcome Stacy and Dave Nellesson to the team. Stacy is a great mechanic and Dave brings lots of support and more first aid and medical experience to the team. Maatta Racing gives Dan, Stacy and Dave a warm welcome as they will be joining the Maatta trailer this coming weekend. Check back soon for more news and find out what's going on at Maatta Racing!	McNelly Services