Port Alberni, British Columbia
Hot times at Cherry Creek track
An update on Port Alberni’s motocross races of May 30th and 31st.
Racing hard: Andrew Belin heading for the finish line on Sunday. —Photo courtesy Ed Masters
Great track conditions made for some fantastic motocross racing May 30th and 31st at the Cherry Creek track in Port Alberni. Club members over there should be proud of themselves for the great weekend as they hosted rounds eight and nine of the CMRC Vancouver Island Spring Series. There was even an appearance made by the Marten Mars water bomber on Saturday. That is one very impressive plane that flew overhead. Now if it had made a drop on the crowd it sure would have had a cooling effect on the hot day—a very small drop as it does hold a huge volume of water.
There was great action in the Ladies class both days. Saturday it was Camille Baker who roared out to an early lead right from the drop of the gates. She was being chased down by Port Alberni rider Amy Aspell who was getting all she could handle from another local rider, Paige Hansen. It was Baker who took the checkered flag for the morning while Aspell placed second and Hansen third.
In the afternoon it was Hansen who twisted the throttle hard, roared off the start line and threw the hole shot first. Baker was giving all she could but in the end it was Hansen who crossed the finish line first for the moto. Aspell finished third.
Baker took the overall win for the day as she out-pointed Hansen who placed second overall. Aspell took home third place overall.
On Sunday in the Ladies class it was a battle to see who would get first on the home track as the three top-place riders for the day were all from Port Alberni. Hansen and Aspell, as well as Kayla Peffers, went all out to see who would take home track advantage to keep first overall for the day. Right from the drop of the gate in both motos it was a battle between Hansen and Aspell for the whole race. Each rider was not giving much chance for the other to get by. They even swapped places a few times in one corner and by the next tabletop the other would pass. But in the end it was Hansen who would claim victory and Aspell would settle for second place while Peffers would take third place.
Tyler Cox of Port Alberni took full advantage of his home track on Saturday in the Youth class as he finished the day in top place. He was followed across the finish line by Tyler Petersen of Qualicum Beach. Third place overall went home with Sean Poire of Saanichton.
On Sunday Campbell River rider Andrew Belin was on hand to thrill the crowd. He did that with some high-flying tail whips over the finish line as he took home first place overall while Eric Wickman of Courtenay took home second place overall. Third overall went to Saanichton rider Ross Sherman.
Wickman was also riding in the GP Pro class on the weekend. He was leading the race when he took a spill on Saturday and was unable to finish the race. The overall win for the day went to Lake Cowichan rider Kurt Nelson. Second place overall went to Courtenay rider Brayden Olsen. Sherman took home third place.
Wickman showed up for the Sunday races all prepared for the day. He was up against some great riders. He had his throttle opened up but it was not enough in the morning moto as Belin had his sights on first place. Belin took the morning moto win as Wickman had to settle for second place. Third place for the moto went to Sherman.
In the afternoon moto Belin roared out to an early lead right from the drop of the gates. He was riding high on the burms and sending large rooster tails of dirt. Wickman was sitting back waiting for an opening that came as Belin went off the track and had to remount his bike. That left Wickman time to build a sizeable lead. Belin had to fight his way back if he were to finish in the top three. Belin did just that—with one lap remaining he took third place while Sherman took second and first went to Wickman.
With first in the afternoon for Wickman it was enough to give him the overall win for the day while Belin returned home with second place. Sherman went home with third overall.
Blain Morrow of Black Creek had a good race on Sunday as he returned home with a third-place finish overall for the day. Second place went home with Bryce Currie of Victoria while top place went to Westholme with Cody Sutherland.
There was some great race action in the 50cc 7-8 class on the weekend as well. Duncan rider Wyatt Youland had a great ride in the morning moto on Saturday. He finished in first place for the moto while Saltspring Island rider Brandon Johnson finished second. Third place also went to a Saltspring Island rider, David Bradley. Youland was leading the afternoon moto until—with just a few laps left—he had mechanical problems with his bike and had to leave the race. That left the win open for the taking for Johnson. Bradley finished in second while Shawnigan Lake rider Colby Egeland took third. Johnson finished the day in first overall while Bradley took second and Egeland third.
Johnson and Egeland were out there doing their best to out-ride the other on Sunday but in the end it was Johnson who took home first overall for the day while Egeland had to settle for second. Courtenay rider Autumn Gould had a good day and was rewarded with third place overall for the day.
Campbell River rider Jesse White had a good weekend over in Port Alberni. On Saturday White placed first overall in the MX2 GP class. Second overall stayed right in Port Alberni with Tyler Komjati while Nanaimo rider Sheldon Whitcomb placed third.
A little bad luck for White in his morning moto on Sunday saw him finish in fourth place for that moto. In the afternoon moto he was fully prepared to do what it takes to make the podium for the day. He went out there and had a handful of throttle and never let off at all during the race right from start to finish. He placed first in the moto while Whitcomb placed second. Port Alberni rider Jason Samson placed third. Whitcomb finished the day in first overall while White returned with second overall; Samson placed third.
White was also riding in the MX2 Beginner class this weekend. He was hit with some bad luck in this class as well. He had his rear wheel slide out in the first moto on Saturday and was unable to compete the rest of the day. First overall for the day went to Parksville rider Ryan Low while Peffers took home second place. Third place overall went to Komjati.
White was all ready for Sunday racing in the MX2 Beginner class. He returned home with a third place finish overall while Samson took second place. First place overall went to Justin Hesketh of Nanaimo. In the Plus 40 class it was a tight battle for the top three finishes for the weekend. Duncan rider Ron Hyde took home first overall for both while second was split between Port Alberni rider Paul Hansen and Nanaimo rider Tracy Morlock. On Saturday Morlock took second while Hansen went home in third. Sunday it was Hansen out-riding Morlock to take second while Morlock took third.
Two riders who were noticeably absent from racing this weekend were Pro rider Colton McLean of Courtenay and Saltspring Island rider Cameron Bradley of the 50cc 4-6 class. McLean is off competing in the CMRC Pro Nationals that start June 7th in Kamloops. Best of luck to you, Colton. Bradley was injured while practising for the races and will not be able to compete again till the Fall Series that starts in September. Best of luck to you, Cameron—hope you are up and riding real soon.
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