Embracing the elements

The Tri Port motocross club hosted a great show of talent from Port McNeil racers

Port McNeil racers

Tear up the track: Port McNeil racers aren't afraid to face all kinds of weather — Photo courtesy of Ed Masters

Even Mother Nature could not stop the motocross racers from doing what they love most. That is roaring around a laid out gravel pit with lots of areas to get big air on. The rain, snow, hail, wind and even a few glimpses of sun were present this past weekend in Port McNeil, as the Tri Port Motocross club hosted rounds one and two of the CMRC Vancouver Island Spring Series on April 3 and 4. Mother Nature tried her best but when you have been waiting six months for motocross racing to begin again, nothing will stop you. Mark Ellis and his crew of volunteers deserve a huge pat on the back for all the effort and time that they put in as the weekend was awesome, except for the bone chilling wind that was present on Easter Sunday. Stu Abernathy of Port Hardy did an awesome job preparing the track for the riders. He put in a lot of time grooming it to perfection for all the riders that showed up. But the Easter Bunny didn’t mind the weather as he hid lots of Easter eggs for the kids to find. As well as lots of riders on hand there were even a few spectators that made the long journey up Island to watch the sport of motocross. There were a few tourists from as far away as Japan, Germany and France who stopped by to watch. I spent a few moments talking to them and they said they had never heard or seen the sport. They said they were very impressed with it and could not believe how the riders could fly through the air. They also said they will be watching for it throughout their journey as they are touring the Island. They will be returning home with some great photos of the action. h3. Ladies first There was great racing action in the ladies class as Amy Aspell of Port Alberni and Lindsey McLean of Campbell River were going at it. Aspell rode two great motos on Saturday as McLean was waiting for that chance to pass that never came. Aspell returned home with first overall while McLean took second. Chelsea Masters of Campbell River and Tamara Hills of Nanaimo were going wheel-to-wheel on Saturday. Hills was being pressured by Masters. Hills hit a rut and went down allowing for Masters to get by and cruise to third place in the morning. In the afternoon both riders were giving it all they had. Hills made it to the finish line just ahead of Masters for third in the afternoon to take home third overall for the day while Masters settled for fourth place. On Sunday in the ladies class Aspell and McLean picked up where they left off the day before. Aspell roared out to an early lead and was pulling away from the pack of riders. She got caught up in a rut and stalled the big four stroke. McLean, not too far back, was able to pass for the lead and crossed the finish line in first place. Aspell did get fired up and came back to finish third behind Hills. McLean finished the day in top place while Aspell took home second and Hills third for the day. h3. Young and feisty There was some high speed race action in the youth class. Coleton McLean of Courtenay was just roaring around the track. He was spending more time in the air it seemed than on the ground. Not far behind was Nanoose Bay rider Nick Syrotuck who was in hot pursuit of McLean. Ross Sherman of Saanichton was also close behind. This turned in to a four-person race for the finish line as Cory Cardinal of Crofton was giving these riders a run for the finish line as he was just waiting for a chance a pass that never came. When the checkered flag came out it was McLean that took home the win for the day while both Syrotuck and Sherman were tied in the points. It was Sherman that took second for both days and Syrotuck third. Cardinal finished both days in forth place overall. Syrotuck, Sherman and Lack Cowichan rider Kurt Nelson were out on the track doing what they do best—twisting the throttle hard and trying to out-ride each other in the pro class. Through in McLean and you have a real race out on the track. McLean took home top place on Saturday while Sherman took second place home. Syrotuck placed third. Sunday they were all back at it again. It was full throttle racing at its best. All four were railing the burms high and flying high once again. Each wanting to finish the day in first overall. Each waiting for an opening to pass the other. McLean did not finish the second moto so that gave the over all for the day to Sherman while Syrotuck took second and Nelson when home in third overall. h3. Moving up a class Not only was Cardinal out there with some of the Pro riders during the Youth class but he was tearing up the track in the MX2 Intermediate class. Cardinal just moved up to the class and made a huge impact in his first race of the season on Saturday finishing second to Conner Barnes of Shawnigan Lake. Third place went to Victoria rider Daniel Vanderbasch who also just moved up to the class. These three were again tearing the track up on Sunday along with Peter Swanwick of Victoria. This time Cardinal was on a mission to place first over all. Mission accomplished as he took the checkered flag first in both motos to take home top place over all. Vanderbasch and Swanwick were locked in a battle for second place over all for the day but Swanwick just edged out Vanderbasch who had to settle for third. Barnes finished in fourth over all.

Masters’ Motocross Corner key contacts

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