Chilliwack Arenacross Report by Brent Worrall

The Future West Moto Canadian Arenacross series is now in the history books. Right from gate drop at RD-1 in Armstrong B.C. until the end this series delivered. It far exceeded any expectations or best case scenarios I had as I prepared to set the wheels of the Canadian Moto Show bus in motion to broadcast ‘Live’ from each round. Venues were full, people were stoked and I got thumbs up, handshakes, and hugs from my moto brothers and sisters with every turn I made. I also had the privilege to share my duties at the final two weekends with Erin Bates and Pulp MX’s Steve Matthes who I co-broadcasted the final weekend’s main events with. Big thanks to them both.

The final weekend would play out under much warmer conditions on a layout that gave riders very little to complain about it. It was game on for the championships at the top level with four riders still having a realistic shot at wearing a Future West Crown come Saturday evening. Friday night’s first Pro main victor would be none other than points leader in the Lites class, Leading Edge Kawasaki’s Teddy Maier whose number 5X dart would hit the first bulls eye in the form of his top step performance. Two points adrift of the title at gate drop in the Lites class was Team PR-MX.ca Goldentyre rider Jake Anstett who would end up finishing 3rd in the title chase after results of a 2nd on Friday and a 7th on Saturday with a re-fractured ankle. Cycle North Honda, Atlas Brace, Troy Lee Design’s, 2-Under’s Ross Johnson would lock down second for the series on the benefit of his 3rd place finishes on Friday and Saturday evening in front of a packed ‘Barn That Beats Built’.

Teddy Maier and Ross Johnson had quite a battle throughout the 2014 AX series. In the end each rider took home a championship. Photo by James Lissimore

Race fans were treated to some great intermission entertainment with some serious freestyle action thrown down by Kris Garwasiuk and Kyle Demello. I am not sure how high the roof in Chilliwack’s Heritage Park is but I know these two professionals now do as they were up close and personal. It was beyond impressive to see these guys put on a great show with the smell of freshly burnt race fuel thickly a mist. The other racing order of business that is a side show in itself, the Valley Moto Sport Kawasaki Dash for Cash would go to RMR, Ryno Power Nutrition Supplement, No Limit Diamond Drillings Ricky Dietrich on Friday night in what was an on-track battle royal. Dietrich, however, would be injured in the Pro Lites main in turn one and not see action the rest of the weekend. Saturday’s Dash would go to Cycle North, Pulp MX, Viking Bait rider Adam ‘The Seven Deuce Deuce’ Enticknapp who beat out Greg Crater for the win in a battle which saw the widest bike win. Ryan “The Peoples Favourite” Lockhart would take the overall Dash ‘Conch’ home to his mantle until next season as a result of his three launch-for-loonies victories in the series.

In the Pro Open class entering the weekend’s competition, the Cycle North Honda of Johnson, wearing the big #2, was 5 points ahead of Teddy Maier and would increase that lead on Friday night with a victory. The win, ahead of his teammate, Yamaha mounted Cycle North 2-Under rider Shawn Maffenbeier, would see Ross’ lead increase to 14 points heading into the final evening. Teddy would be the unfortunate recipient of some terrible racing luck Friday night, having set back after set back scoring him a 5th leaving him with only an outside shot at the title on the final evening. Washington State rider Colin Jurin had his best showing of the series and was rewarded with two 3rd place finishes in the big bike class as a result of some great riding and hard charging. Saturday evening’s big bike battle would go to Swift Current’s Shawn Maffenbeier who would look good on the front end getting a hard earned, yet well-deserved first victory of the series. Nice work Shawn! Ross Johnson would cruise on to the series championship in the 450 class with the collection of 22 points for his second win on Saturday evening. Teddy Maier would finish 7th in the moto and take second for the championship. He would be tallied in the number two spot for the series points chase 2 points ahead of Maffenbeier.

Future West and every one of their team members is to be commended for providing a great, entertaining product for its riders and fans, young and young at heart. I cannot wait to see what unfolds next season as the momentum has not only grown from season to season but did so throughout each of this fall’s eight rounds. Congratulations to Cycle North and Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki for their titles as well as every single person that made this series possible. You are all winners.

The 2014 Future West Canadian Arenacross Championships brought smiles to a lot of faces.