Shane Narbonne Wins Second Straight Loudon Classic
Shane Narbonne Wins Second Straight Loudon Classic
LOUDON, N.H. – For the fifth time since 2009, Shane Narbonne sped away from the field to win the 93rd annual Loudon Classic. Narbonne, a native of Tyngsboro, Mass., grabbed the lead midway through the first lap of the 20-lap Middleweight Grand Prix feature race and never looked back, becoming the first back-to-back champion since Jeff Wood in 2007 and 2008.
“It means a lot to me to win this race, especially with the field that we have – there’s so much talent out there, you have to get off to a good start,” said Narbonne, who also won the Loudon Classic in 2015, 2013, 2011 and 2009. “I just put my head down in the beginning and tried to get as big a lead as I could.”
A pair of Granite Staters, Scott Greenwood (Dunbarton, N.H.), a three-time Loudon Classic winner, and Christian Cronin (Loudon, N.H.) finished second and third, respectively.
“It was just such a good race by Shane. I had a good start, but he got by me and I just couldn’t make it up,” said Greenwood, who finished 5.418 seconds behind Narbonne. “Anytime you win this it’s special, but to win it twice in a row is something really special. My hat goes off to Shane today.”
The third-place finish for Cronin was the fifth podium finish in his last six starts in America’s longest running motorcycle race.
“It’s obviously always my goal to finish on the podium and last year really left a sour taste in my mouth when I didn’t get a top-three,” Cronin said. “I got off to the start that I needed to, but by the time I worked myself up into third it was just too hard to catch the leaders with everyone running similar lap times. But I’ll take third all day long.”
93rd Loudon Classic results
1. Shane Narbonne, Tyngsboro, Mass.
2. Scott Greenwood, Dunbarton, N.H.
3. Christian Cronin, Loudon, N.H.
4. Tyler Sweeney, Lynn, Mass.
5. Cory Hildebrand, Milford, N.H.
6. Joel Allen, Barrington, N.H.
7. Cole Hall, Strafford, N.H.
8. Kip Peterson, Attleboro, Mass.
9. Timothy Barber, Dartmouth, Mass.
10. Norman Pomerleau, Hudson, N.H.
Tony Cerqueira won the Loudon Classic Amateur Middleweight Grand Prix, while Lincoln Gottier and Vicente Frontinan earned respective second- and third-place podium finishes.
The 93nd 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 visit www.nhms.com.
Great seats are still available for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 on Sunday, July 17. To purchase tickets please call the NHMS ticket hotline at (603)783-4931 or visit www.nhms.com.
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