The opportunities to race in his home state have been dwindling, so Ryan Scripture isn’t happy about missing out on cranking the throttle in his own back yard the weekend.

The snocross and motocross veteran will have to sit out Rock Maple Racing’s annual stop at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds this weekend due to an injured ankle. This being the snocross circuit’s only stop in Maine, he was hoping to recover in time to race in front of family, friends and fans an hour away from his Carmel home. But at this point in his recovery, the 28-year-old home builder can’t do much more than walk.

“I wanted to race this weekend, but it’s just not happening,” he said. “The ankle’s not strong enough.”

Scripture was enjoying one of his finest seasons racing for a new sponsor, Team Bouchard out of Derry, N.H., until he over-jumped a triple jump a month ago and rolled over in Schaghticoke, NY, tearing ligaments. He still hopes to make the season’s final two races at the end of the month.

“I have tons of friends and family that look forward to going this weekend, and I could go and hang around the back of the pack, but I’m racing to win,” said Scripture, who earned third and fifth place finishes in what was his best showing last season at Skowhegan. “It’s just very frustrating.”

There will still be a strong Pine Tree State presence this weekend. Auburn’s Cody Wallingford and Justin Jordan of Kingfield lead a contingent of Maine veterans that also includes Hilary Hewitt, Jacoby Johnson, Dustin Fogg and Jordan Taylor.

Many of RMR’s top Pro and Semi-Pro riders will also be vying for spots on the podium in central Maine. Jason Boron and Danny Poirier are coming off victories in Ossipee, N.H., last week. Poirier split last year’s division finals with Matt Boron in what was a highlight of their battle for the 2006 points championship.

Skowhegan marks the start of the stretch drive for the circuit’s four-month long season.

“It’s crunch time for points. Everybody starts to stress a little bit,” said Tim Gallagher, a team manager with Wallingford Racing, a division of Wallingford Equipment in Auburn that built engines for the No. 1 Pro and Semi-Pro teams in RMR.

“This is the time of year where if you don’t take care of your sled, the little things start to break down,” he added. “Right now is where maintenance on your sled comes in hand.”

This weekend’s event also features top racers in the Sport, Women’s and Junior divisions. Race organizers expected to have a full contingent of competitors ready to go Saturday morning, as many of them were hitching up their trailers and heading for Skowhegan on Thursday to avoid the big snow storm expected to slam the area today.

Skowhegan is a points-paying event for all RMR Central series teams, while the East series is running two separate, one-day events.

Spectator gates open at 8 a.m. both days, with the green flag dropping at 9 a.m. Saturday’s slate consists of qualifying races for all divisions, while Sunday’s card features Last Chance Qualifiers in the morning and finals for all classes in the afternoon.

Admission is $12 per day for adults, with weekend passes available for $20 and pit passes for an additional $10. Children under the age of five enter free with a paying adult.


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