2023 Race of Champions by Kawasaki Results

| October 4, 2023

Old Bridge Township’s Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ, hosted the fall classic Race of Champions, sponsored by Kawasaki, for the 47th consecutive season, September 29-October 1.

Jeremy Smith at 2023 Race of Champions by Kawasaki — **Jeremy Smith (309) went 2-1 for the overall win in the 250 A class at the Race of Champions sponsored by Kawasaki.**

Story and Photos by Scott Lukaitis

Remnants from Tropical Storm Ophelia rained out racing on Friday and hung around Saturday, turning the three-moto amateur portion of the race into a two-moto format. But the sun shined brightly on Sunday, and the feature portion of the weekend delivered the classic racing everyone came to see.

Nearly 1000 racers from 13 states competed over the weekend. The big winners during the amateur portion included Dakota Kessler, Jaden Palmer, Barry Carsten, Nathan Tucker, Luke Roche and Tanner Dorman, each with multiple class overall wins.

Bryce Shelly was the weekend’s star A-class racer, winning three out of four motos on his way to the Open class win and second overall in the 250 class. Had it not been for a fall in the second 250 moto that broke his clutch lever, Shelly might have gone four for four.

The overall in the Open A class was easy to calculate. A 1-1 gave Shelly the number-one trophy. Second overall was Ricci Randanella with 3-4 motos, and Bobby Piazza claimed the final step on the podium with a 6-2.

In the 250 A class, Shelly again won but two-stroke-mounted Jeremy Smith kept him honest the whole way. Bryton Carroll came through the pack to join Shelly and Smith on the first-moto podium.

In race two, Shelly and Smith were again battling for the lead when Shelly went down while out in front, damaging his clutch lever. From there, Smith cruised to the moto win and overall victory.

Bryce Shelly at 2023 Race of Champions by Kawasaki — **Bryce Shelly (434) won three out of four motos on Sunday, taking the overall in the Open A class and second in the 250 A class.**

Logan Leitzel inherited second place and held Shelly off for second in the moto and third overall.

Shelly’s 1-3 netted him second overall. Shelly will make his Supercross debut next year.

In between the featured Pro motos on Sunday were several special motos. The 2023 Ironman Classic, sponsored by Fun Center Powersports, went to Seth Kready after a last-lap pass for the win.

In the other special intermission races, Luke Roche won the 65cc Kessler Cup, sponsored by Montgomeryville Cycle Center. The 85cc Top Gun Mini Cycle Shootout, sponsored by Crossroad Powersports, went to Michael Gurda, the Fast Fifties moto was won by Andre William, and Jaden Palmer took the 125cc All-Stars moto.

Kawasaki and the local participating Kawasaki dealers have been the event’s title sponsor since 1982, and their support of this event has never wavered. Local Kawasaki dealers showed their support, and Fun Center Powersports, Montgomeryville Cycle Center, Toms River Marine & Motorsports and Crossroad Powersports participated in various motorcycle giveaways on Sunday.