Three Quesnel motocross racer’s attended the BCNE in Prince George last weekend to race on a arena-size track for the first time.
Kourtney Lloyd from Cycle North hosted the first arena cross event during the fall fair.
This gave rider’s of all ages and skill levels something new that is quite common down south, but for the northerners it was a new experience.
Motocross tracks are primarily outdoors, made up of all different types of terrain depending on your geographic location.
Weather conditions are another factor motocross racers deal with from extreme heat to snow and rain.
Motocross tracks are several km’s long through whoops, rhythm sections, corners and jumps and for an average rider, it can take several minutes to complete a lap.
Arena Cross is a track built indoors with dirt being hauled in.
It is the same style of track that consists of a rhythm section, whoops, corners and large jumps but condensed to a very confined area, forcing racers to change their style of riding.
Even though Prince George held the event outside, it was made to the size of arena cross.
Pro racer, Ross Johnson from the U.S. came to Prince George a week prior to the event to train with the motocross racers.
From watching Johnson race on T.V. in Las Vegas in Supercross events to meeting him in person and getting training was an experience that Jackson Nickolet and Colton Shepherd valued very much.
When asked what they thought of training with a pro on such a small track; they both answered “It was so much fun and worth every minute of it.”
Racing went Friday and Saturday evening with spectator’s filling the bleacher’s for this first time event.
The crowds were fascinated by the racers as young as five-year-old Blaise Swaan from Quesnel racing in the 50cc class who loves being on his dirt bike competing against other racers his age.
For Jackson Nickolet and Colton Shepherd, it was a fast race with laps consisting of 25 seconds per lap.
As a spectator it was thrilling every moment they were on the track as you can see the entire track from your seat.
The two intermediate racers from Quesnel also raced in the Pro Class with Ross Johnson and Brock Hoyer from Williams Lake to have fun competing at a pro level.
It’s a fun race and the riders hope to see more northern arena cross in the future.
Aug.16 – 17, the BCMA racer’s will be back on the road racing in Williams Lake, followed by Chetwynd and Prince George.
Quesnel is getting ready to host their final sanctioned event on Sept. 6 – 7.
–Submitted by Gerri Shepherd
