Honda Canada Racing Presents The Canadian AX Report- Calgary

They say that the final round of every series should be the one that puts a big exclamation mark on everything. As the 2016 Canadian National AX Tour Series made its way to Calgary for the grand finale, all eyes were on Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha rider Chris Blose. The Arizona native had been the rider to beat since the series began back in Sarnia, and if it wasn’t for some early series resistance from GDR Honda rider Colton Facciotti, Blose probably would’ve had this series wrapped up prior to Round 5 in Calgary.

One of the things that is great about this sport in Canada is that at every big pro event, amateur riders are allowed to compete on the exact same track. At all five rounds of the 2016 AX Tour, amateur riders have all day Saturday to race and get used to the sport we call arenacross. While a few amateurs are quite familiar with how to ride AX, many are brand new to the sport. Racing on Saturdays gives them an opportunity to race in front of their friends and families on a very cool AX track. The folks at the AX Tour even go so far as giving the top finishers from Saturday’s races the opportunity to compete as part of the pro program in the evening. Just imagine how cool it must feel for some of these kids to be racing at night, under the lights and if front of the large crowd. In Calgary, amateur riders from as far away as Ontario competed in search of AX glory. And while some were successful and some weren’t, all of them left the Agrium in Calgary as better, more complete riders.

In the pro classes, we saw a perfect example of what a rider needed to do to win a championship. After a dominating weekend at Round 3 in Penticton, Chris Blose came into Calgary as the points leader. Knowing that smooth and consistent riding would get the job done, Blose did what he had to do. Other than a hard crash on Friday evening, Blose remained in control, and when all was said and done, he secured his team’s very first AX Championship.

Behind Blose was a great battle as Jess Pettis and Keylan Meston eventually took main event wins in Calgary. For Pettis, this series has really put him on the map as one of this country’s top young riders. After a great summer on the national circuit, Pettis used that momentum and his love of AX to really turn some heads. As far as Keylan Meston is concerned, we are positive that the Alberta rider will never forget his weekend in Calgary as he took home his first AX win in front of his hometown fans. It was a fantastic weekend of racing and a great way to finish up what had been an exciting series of AX. With solid turnouts of riders in all classes and great support from companies like Rockstar Energy, the second annual Canadian National AX Tour appears to be here for the long haul. Our next Honda Canada Racing AX report will come to you from beautiful Chilliwack, BC for rounds two and three of the Future West AX Championships. See you there.

Results from Friday, November 4, 2016

AX Pro

1. Chris Blose (Yam)

2. Noah McConahy (Husq)

3. Logan Karnow (Hon)

4. Keylan Meston (Yam)

5. Jess Pettis (Yam)

6. Karl Normand (KTM)

7. Davey Fraser (Hon)

8. Brock Leitner (Kaw)

9. Chris Howell (Husq)

10. Skyler Archer (Kaw)

 

AX Lites

1. Noah McConahy (Husq)

2. Chris Blose (Yam)

3. Jess Pettis (Yam)

4. Chris Howell (Husq)

5. Brock Leitner (Kaw)

6. Davey Fraser (Hon)

7. Keylan Meston (Yam)

8. Logan Karnow (Hon)

9. Carson McQueen (Kaw)

10. Codie Rouse (KTM)

Clash for Cash

1. Jess Pettis (Yam)

2. Noah McConahy (Husq)

3. Logan Karnow (Hon)

4. Keylan Meston (Yam)

5. Chris Howell (Husq)

6. Karl Normand (KTM)

7. Davey Fraser (Hon)

8. Brock Leitner (Kaw)

9.  Codie Rouse (KTM)

10. Chris Blose (YAM) DNF

Results from Saturday, November 5, 2016 

AX Pro

1. Keylan Meston (Yam)

2. Chris Blose (Yam)

3. Karl Normand (KTM)

4. Davey Fraser (Hon)

5. Brock Leitner (Kaw)

6. Jess Pettis (Yam)

7. Noah McConahy (Husq)

8. Chris Howell (Husq)

9. Logan Karnow (Hon)

10. Skyler Archer (Kaw)

AX Lites

1. Jess Pettis (Yam)

2. Noah McConahy (Husq)

3. Keylan Meston (Yam)

4. Chris Blose (Yam)

5. Brock Leitner (Kaw)

6. Chris Howell (Husq)

7. Davey Fraser (Hon)

8. Logan Karnow (Hon)

9. Terea Gerber (KTM)

10. Boston Calder (Hon)

Clash for Cash

1. Jess Pettis (Yam)

2. Chris Blose (Yam)

3. Keylan Meston (Yam)

4. Karl Normand (KTM)

5. Brock Leitner (Kaw)

6. Davey Fraser (Hon)

7. Logan Karnow (Hon)

8. Terea Gerber (KTM)

9.  Chris Howell (Husq)

10. Noah McConahy (Husq)

Series Final Points (Clash for Cash determines 2017 competition numbers.) 

1. Chris Blose (Yam)  100 pts

2. Brock Leitner (Kaw)            75

3. Logan Karnow (Hon)   70

4. Jess Pettis (Yam)    68

5. Karl Normand (KTM)