Knock on Greenwood: Rider Wins Third-Career Loudon Classic
Native of Dunbarton, N.H., goes wire-to-wire in 91st annual Middleweight Grand Prix at NHMS
LOUDON, N.H. – With Christian Cronin hot on his wheels for the first 17 laps, last year’s Loudon Classic runner-up, Scott Greenwood, made sure he wouldn’t be second on the podium for a consecutive year. The Dunbarton, N.H., native pulled away over the last three laps, eventually taking the checkers by more than seven seconds in America’s longest running motorcycle race.
“It means a lot to me,” said Greenwood, who also won the Loudon Classic Middleweight Grand Prix in 2003 and 2010. “I worked hard to try to put together a package that would be there for all 20 laps. I wish I was in a little better shape halfway through it, but I held on and maintained pretty well and was able to come out with a victory.”
Cronin finished second, but not without a fight for first place as the Loudon N.H., native stood strong with Greenwood for much of the race.
“After the halfway mark I started getting really bad arm fatigue, there were points where I stopped using the break and couldn’t stop to motorcycle and my time dropped,” said Cronin, who placed a step up from last year’s race when he took third.
“I could hear (Cronin’s) bike a couple of times. … I started inching away and he wanted to keep me working so he kept the gap at zero,” said Greenwood.
Eric Wood (Ashburnham, Mass.), who won in 2012 and came in fourth place in last year’s race, took third.
Walter French Jr. won the Amateur Classic saying, “After I got out of the service I was looking for something to do to keep that adrenaline and I found a good group of brothers here.”
Marcelo Lautert and Christopher Fifield trailed closely behind and claimed second and third place, respectively.
91st Loudon Classic Results
1. Scott Greenwood, Dunbarton, N.H.
2. Christian Cronin, Loudon, N.H.
3. Eric Wood, Ashburnham, Mass.
4. Tyler Sweeney, Lynn, Mass.
5. Joel Allen, Barrington, N.H.
6. Tabor Rossi, Plymouth, Mass.
7. Riley Rodgers, Hollis, N.H.
8. Jason Carter, Raymond, N.H.
9. Kristofer Knopf, Boston, Mass.
10. Houk Nichols, Oxford, Conn.
Other day two winners include:
Sidecar (Modern)……………….Peter Essaff and Nick Bailey
Sidecar (Vintage)……………….Doug Donelan and Bob Bove
Formula 50 Lights………………Shawn McCormick
Amateur Formula 50 Lights……John Donald
HW Supersport………………….Joel Allen
Amateur HW Supersport……….Marcelo Lautert
Novice Rookie 1…………………Ronald Slack
Novice Rookie 2…………………Paul Ho-Sue
Shawn Buffington took the win in the Moat Mountain Road Course Series Legends race. Buffington edged Mike Alton and Taylor Martin.
Day three of racing begins on Sunday at 11:45 a.m. with the Legends Cars Moat Mountain Road Course Series. The 12:45 Legislature’s Parade Lap will commence at 12:45 p.m., followed by the first motorcycle race at 1 o’clock.
The 91st annual Loudon Classic motorcycle weekend concludes Sunday. Tickets are available at the main gate. For more information on this or any of the other major events at the Magic Mile call (603) 783-4931 or visitwww.nhms.com.
Great seats are still available for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Camping World RV Sales 301 on Sunday, July 13. To purchase tickets please call the NHMS ticket hotline at (603)783-4931 or visit www.nhms.com.