The FIM Mini Cup Championship came to a thrilling climax on Friday afternoon at New Jersey Motorsports Park with Historic GP’s Mahdi Salem taking victory in both of the Ohvale 160 classes to take the title over Stadler America’s Nathan Gouker by just a single point.
Salem topped Gouker by .113 of a second in race one and by .192 of a second in race two to take the title. Salem’s victories were his third and fourth of the season and it put him ahead of Gouker and his five-win season. American Racing’s Connor Raymond was third in both races and third in the title chase.
Meanwhile, in the 190 class, American Racing’s Joshua Raymond, and Alpha Omega’s Ryder Davis split wins in the two close races, but it was Davis who came away with the title by 45 points over Raymond after his eight-win season. Jacobsen Motorcycle Training/Bettencourt Racing’s Nathan Bettencourt finished third in both races and third in the championship.
In the Mission Mini Cup By Motul Stock classes, it was Apex Racing’s Chase Jazikoff and Beastmode Racing’s Christian Berlowitz splitting wins in Stock 50. In the Stock 110 races, it was Xtreme Autoglass Pro’s Jacob Davis and Varnes Racing’s Cole Varnes atop the results and Nathan Bettencourt rode his Jacobsen Motorcycle Training/Bettencourt Racing’s Honda to a sweep of the two Stock 150 races.
Saturday afternoon’s Mission Mini Cup By Motul action at NJMP was wet and it was a new winner in the Ohvale 160 class with WrenchRite Racing’s Joel Laub taking the win in race one over Giga Racing’s Alessandro Giganti and Madd Will Racing’s Kruz Maddison.
Ryder Davis was up to his old tricks in the Ohvale 190 class with a victory over American Racing’s Joshua Raymond and Jacobsen Motorcycle Training/Bettencourt Racing’s Nathan Bettencourt.
In race two for the Ohvale 160s, American Racing’s Connor Raymond topped Maddison and Laub while Davis again scored the win over Raymond in the Ohvale 190 division.
Gouker and his 11 wins on the season was crowned as the Ohvale 160 Champion with Davis and his 11 wins earned the Ohvale 190 title.
The Stock classes also battled on a wet racetrack on Saturday with Cory Texter Racing/Roof Systems’ Cruise Texter winning the first of two Stock 50 races. Xtreme Autoglass Pros’ Jacob Davis scored the win in Stock 110, and Bettencourt emerged victorious in Stock 125.
Texter did the double with a second win in Stock 50 with Laub riding his Kawasaki to victory in Stock 110. Bettencourt did what he’s done all season long in the Stock 125 class with another runaway victory. Texter, Ryan Clark Racing’s Ryan Clark and Bettencourt all earned class championship for the 2023 season.
