Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
By Brent Worrall
Photos by James Lissimore
After this past weekend’s action in Chilliwack, we have hit the 3/4 pole and are headed into the homestretch for this fall’s edition of the Future West Moto Canadian Arenacross Series. This series has been on point and the regime at Future West has had this series running like the cleanest piece of factory equipment that most MXers would just die to throw a leg over. Yes it was cold, but it affected nothing on or off the track except maybe the lineup at the hot chocolate vendor. As gate drop drew near for Friday evening’s card you could sense a common energy and anticipation as to whether or not this would be the weekend that we would see any separation in the top groupings of the Pro classes. The conch of consistency that has thus far eluded most would find its way to the Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki of Teddy Maier as he battled hard all weekend and took home two wins, a second and a third for his efforts. He has a narrow 2 point advantage atop the Lites class over PR-MX.ca Goldentyre rider Jake Anstett, who got the job done in gate-to-wire fashion on his 250 two-stroke KTM in Friday night’s Lites main. Jake’s race was flawless, and no one more than Teddy Maier himself will tell you this as he had Jake’s rear fender in his grill for 15 solid laps. This was the best battle the series has seen so far, in my opinion. Cycle North Honda’s Ross Johnson was a solid third ahead of his teammate, Yamaha mounted Shawn Maffenbeier.
The Open class on Friday night belonged to Teddy Maier as he managed to shake loose up front and looked very good throwing down what looked to be a statement race, at least for the time being. Ross Johnson would take second on his Honda with Shawn Maffenebeier third. In an entertaining Valley Moto Sport Kawasaki Dash for Cash, Johnson would square off against Ryan Lockhart’s Maple Ridge Motorsports Kawasaki. The match, at least for the time being, would end in a dead heat draw; more on that in a minute. Yes, a draw, which you may have heard by now ended up coming down to a game of Rock Paper Scissors which Ross won on the third attempt. It was deemed after video replay that Lockhart did win by a whisker and would put an extra overall Dash for Cash win in his pocket as we headed to Saturday evening.
On Saturday the temperature got turned down to a frigid -10 degrees by gate drop, and like the night before it affected little in the way of positive energy or pre-race excitement. At gate drop it was Leading Edge’s Teddy Maier earning himself another date with the top step of the box in the Lites class, followed by Cycle North’s Ross Johnson. Third would go to the PR-MX.ca two-stroke of Jake Anstett, who did have to hold off the charging RMR Suspensions/ No Limit Diamond Drilling/ Yamaha of Brock Hoyer. In the big bike class the man who seemed to have the consistency ship somewhat righted, Teddy Maier left the first turn in a distant 8th position. As Arenacross racing and circuits go, this one was Fast, yes with a capital F, and like most Arenacross circuits not easy to overcome that type of early race adversity. The race was led by No Limit Diamond Drillings/ RMR Suspensions/ Ryno Power Nutrition Supplements rider Ricky Dietrich who led for most of the moto. Dietrich was caught and would finish second to Honda pilot Ross Johnson of Tenino, Washington for the hard fought, well-earned victory. Maier would charge from 8th and grab the last podium spot in what was the hardest charge to overcome the most ground yet in this series, on a track where that was the exception to the rule.
The evening was highlighted by another epic Dash for Cash battle between Lockhart and Johnson, which would, for this edition, leave no doubt to the fact that Ryan was the victor. Ryan now has three wins to lead the overall of this must watch discipline of the series with only one weekend remaining. The points chase in the Lites class heading into this weekend’s finale at Heritage Park, sees Teddy Maier leading Jake Anstett by 2 points and Ross Johnson 4 behind Jake. In the Open class, Johnson has a five point bulge on Teddy Maier who has nine on the Cycle North bike of Adam Enticknap.
The Canadian Moto Show will be back on the ‘Air’ Live this Friday night, and I can tell you these guys mean business. If things weren’t real before, they are now! Let’s Go Racing!
See you in Chilliwack friends, gate drops at 7:00 pm (PST) Friday and Saturday evening.
