Story & Photos by: Jim Edgar

The 6th Annual Vortex National Vet Motocross Championship returned again to the beautiful Motocross of Marion County. Legendary Florida Promoter Lou Whitney of ProSports USA, and the Blackburn Family of MX of Marion County treated the riders to a great weekend of family fun and racing. The weekend kicked off with riders and families arriving on Friday with an open practice all day Saturday and the renowned Pig Roast sponsored by Seminole PowerSports that evening and racing all day Sunday. With a new track layout that offered a little for everyone whether you are an “old School” MXer or the technical type rider this track has you covered.

+40 Pro class was a great race to watch as these veteran showed you do not have to be young to tackle the technical track at MX of Marion County. The competition was the toughest in years with long time Florida Rider Brad Kadau moving up to the +40 class this year with new comers John Grewe from Cedar Springs, MI and the family tandem of Max and Leo Candidus from Weston, MA made for one of the best +40 Pro races in the history of the National Vet race program. When the gate hit the dirt it was Brad Kadau (Yam) with the holeshot followed closely by John Grewe (Kaw), Barry McCarty (Kaw), Max Candidus (Yam), James Nagy (Suz), Tom Turner (KTM) and Craig Cooler (Hon). The stage was set as Kadau and Grewe fought tooth and nail for the lead position leaving the field in tow. Grewe finally made a move on Kadau for the lead and the two stayed close putting over 40 seconds on the field. The rest of the field was left to battle for the final spot on the podium. The Candidus brothers were a force to be reckoned with as they fought each other for 3rd with McCarty keeping the two honest. When the checkered flag came out to was Grewe with the win followed closely by Kadau. Max Candidus took 3rd over Leo Candidus with McCarty taking 5th for the moto.

The second moto was a carbon copy of the first with Grewe and Kadau battling for the lead and the Candidus Family fighting over 3rd. When the moto ended it was Grewe with the win followed by Kadau, M. Candidus, L. Candidus and Nagy to round out the top 5.

3 time +30 Pro winner Tony Lorusso (Suz) from Rocky Hill, CT made the trip to Florida to defend the +30 Pro Class title. When the gate dropped it was veteran Floridian Vince DeVane (Kaw) with the holeshot followed by Gregory Pamart (Suz) of Richland, PA, Lorusso, John Grewe (Kaw) Cedar Springs, MI, Brad Kadau (Yam) Treasure Island, FL, Tim Hodes (Hon) Land O’Lakes, FL and Rob Stilwell (Hon) Auburn, NY. With Lorusso in 3rd this set the stage for a battle between, Pamart, Grewe and Devane. Lorusso made short work of the field showing why he is still a contender in the National Outdoor Motocross Series. With Lorusso out front that left riders battling for the runner-up position. DeVane looked to have 2nd in the bag however, Pamart and Grewe were there waiting for a mistake. As the 3 riders battled every lap at the checkers it was Larusso with a good lead over Grewe, Pamart, Devane and Kadau.

Moto 2 lined up with everyone gunning to dethrone Lorusso. The holeshot winner was Devane with Pamart, Grewe, Larusso, Alan Assaf (Kaw) Jacksonville, FL and Kadau following. Lorusso on the opening lap pinned it down the tree line and passed Grewe, then he set his sights on Pamart and made the pass for 2nd. With the battle behind him Devane put his head down and opened up a gap between himself and Lorusso. Devane kept Lorusso at bay then Lorusso made the pass and tried to get away from Devane. As the laps came to a close Lorusso was out front with Davane in striking distance but, at the moto’s end it was Lorusso, Devane, Parmart, Grewe and Hodes.

The day was kicked off with the biggest class of the day the +45 amateur class. When the gated dropped it was Clay Davis (KTM) with the holeshot followed closely by Ed Garlin (Hon), Richard Rohn (Kaw), Jim Badgett (Kaw) , John Rhymer (Kaw), Gary Emerson (Yam), Bill Russell (Kaw), Wilson Lewis (Hon) and Jeff Beerbower (Hon). Garlin made quick work of Davis and took the lead on the opening lap sliding up into 2nd was Emerson with Tim Fisher (Yam), Lewis and Rhymer in tow. With Garlin opening up a sizeable lead the runner up position was left open for battle between Emerson and Fisher. On the final lap it was still Emerson, Fisher and Beerbower battling for the runner up spot. On the closing lap with the battle still going on Emerson was taken by Fisher, Beerbower, and Rhymer. At the checkered flag it was Garlin with a sizeable lead over the rest of the field.
Moto two Garlin took the point and never looked back. Emerson went down while in 2nd letting Beerbower get by along with Lewis and Davis. There was a dogfight for the runner up position and when the moto was over it was Garlin, Lewis, Routh, Beerbower and Davis.

The +30 amateur was a bar banger with Greg Rager (Yam) grabbing the point over James Rolland (Yam), Alex Gombar (Hon), Robert Pope (Hon), Brig Currie (Yam), Luke Edwards (Hon) and Billy Burns (Hon). This was a great battle with Rager doing everything he could to keep the competition behind him. Pope had worked his way around Rolland and Gombar and was pressuring Rager. Pope was all over Rager but, went down and gave Rager some breathing room. As the moto came to an end it was Currie and Rolland all over Rager however, when the moto ended it was Rager with the win with Currie and Rolland standing on the podium.

With moto one in the books there was sure to be a battle royale for moto two. When the gate dropped it was Currie, Rolland and Edwards in the lead pack. Moto one winner Rager was stuck in the pack trying to make quick work of the riders in front of him. However, Rager could only muster a 5th in the final moto. With moto one winner not in the lead pack the overall was up for grabs. The battle for the lead was a knock down drag out as Rolland, Currie and Edwards battle over the lead. As the three battle on the final lap it was Edwards squeezing out the win over Currie and Rolland.

Veteran Multi class winners where Gary Peak (Yam) from Marshall, IL and Brig Currie (Yam) from Bolton, MA.