Good day race fans, Brent Worrall here checking in with a race report on the excitement that went down this past weekend at Rounds 4 & 5 of the Future West Moto Arenacross series in Chilliwack, B.C. Even though this amazing and very fun to be a part of series has seen the midway mark come and go, it always seems that once we reach the iconic red barns of Heritage Park, this series takes on a life of its own. I will be the first to admit that by this time of year, after chasing my passion continent wide for months on end, the thought of more road miles is not a top step priority. However, my love of Moto and the great people involved with this series saw me land up in Chilliwack Friday afternoon on schedule with a renewed excitement. After all, there were quite a few ‘new’ reasons for excitement to be one of the many racers and race fans we saw make the trek to the ‘Barn Beat’s Built’ this past weekend.
Before we get into my opinion, what was some of the fastest, high flying and intense racing action this series has ever seen, here are some points to be noted. First off, the track layout and conditions were incredible thanks to Kyle Beaton and his ‘real job boss’ Norm Svensson of PCE Construction. Beats did a masterful job of piecing together a layout that challenged the best and was as safe as could be for all. The start was a full on drag strip into a long and slick sweeping left hander. Before a rider even had a chance to look up after exiting turn one, they had to focus on the daunting ’Whoop Section,’ then negotiate a double that saw you launch at a precarious angle. When I asked Kyle a week before the build went in what, in his opinion, the main difference would be with him in charge, his response was simple, ‘The Whoops.’ Great work Beats, the Whoops were incredibly deep and held together nicely! Contrary to what I thought would likely be the undoing of many, the whoops did not claim many! Getting back to the start, I would like to add, this is one of the first Arenacross races where unless you found yourself seeded in the second row, there was not really a bad gate pick.
Okay, now to the action, and trust me there was plenty! When the gate dropped Friday night I had the best seat in the house as I broadcasted ‘Live’ from my Canadian Moto Show platform. Situated right at the end of turn one, while getting roosted often, my early morning road weary thoughts were now the furthest thing from my mind. Friday night, it was none other than Prince George, B.C. MX101 Yamaha rider Jess Pettis who won the Pro Lites main event over JMC Husqvarna rider Noah McConahy. Noah led early but a small mistake in a technical left hander resulted in nose heavy high side that cost him the lead. Pettis soldiered on to victory, and by doing so catapulted himself ahead of RTR Performance rider Shawn Maffenbeier to lead points the standings. On Friday night, Pettis, who now has put the goodness of Ryno Power Sports Supplements in his corner, took home the Valley Moto Sport Dash For Cash.
Noah McConahy, who is ranked number 59 in the AMA for 2017, showed everyone in the Pro Open class on Friday night how he earned such credentials. Noah was able to minimize any type of traction-related miscues that many other riders struggled with. Pettis, who had been money on the starts up to this point in the series. had to play a tougher hand in that department in Friday’s Open main event. He did manage to ride solid and maintain a healthy advantage in the points lead with a 3rd place finish. The rider who finished second who has been quietly going about his business very impressively was RTR Performance’s Shawn Maffenbeier. ‘Maff,’ who missed this series last year, has been buttery smooth indoors and got great starts in Chilliwack! The Pro open on Friday night capped off a great evening of racing, which saw over 300 entries and a huge Friday night crowd.
Upon entering the grounds Saturday I was anxious to ask Kyle Beaton if he had made any track changes from the previous night. I was also keen to talk to a few of the riders and get their firsthand take on some of what I saw and how they would adjust for night two. First off, there were no track changes for Saturday night, and now that I think about it, I do not think I heard one complaint about the track. Again, nice work Kyle Beaton, Brian Harkin, head referee Dan Coombs and every other ‘Future West Foot Soldier’ (there are many). Now to my meandering and dialogue with some of this series’ movers and shakers on what played out Friday night. When I asked Noah McConahy about his misfortune, which he came oh so close to saving, he cited his set up. He did not downplay the trickiness of that section but admitted having his accustomed supercross fork set-up would have prevented it. Noah’s teammate, Chris Howell, who is also a top ranked AMA rider #87, has fought some tough luck as well this series. In fact, I will step out on a limb here and say, even though his best result was a third Saturday night in the Lites class, Chris Howell was the fastest looking rider on the track this weekend. I will also add that Chris’s misfortune seems to be creating a bit of an artery edge in his riding. He will be a force to be reckoned with this weekend, that is a promise.
Jess Pettis has been one of the riders to beat so far in the 2016 Future West AX Series. Photo by James Lissimore
If you are wondering how we could be through a big portion of a Future West Chilliwack Arenacross report and you have not heard me mention Ross Johnson, let me explain. Ross, who is now a 5-time champion of this series, has been competing at each round with the same heart of a champion demeanour we have grown accustomed to. But things are a little bit different this year for the rider who has given his fans, family and main supporter Cycle North’s Kourtney Lloyd much to be proud of. Ross has not ridden a motorcycle at all this year up until this series. He has taken on a working class role with brothers in business and is raising a family at his home in Tenino, Washington. It is always great to talk to Ross at these events and get his take on things as I have really come to admire how genuine he is. As a member of the media community I have developed an ability to sense whether a rider’s response is a ‘because he knows he has to or should’ or if he really wants to share with you what he is going through and working on. In Ross’s case I want to elaborate a little bit as he has always gone over and above to give back. One could argue that his abilities on a dirt bike have made him a five-time champion. I, however, beg to differ as what I have experienced personally, and see in him on and off the race track, point to more qualities than the average race fan will ever see or know. At this point it is not looking like Ross will be a repeat winner of this series again in 2016. Does that matter to Ross? You bet it does! Even though he has not had the seat time, he is riding himself into race shape and looked very sharp winning Saturday night’s Dash For Cash and pocketing $920. With his wife Jade and son Lincoln trackside I am willing to bet Ross Johnson has his best weekend of the series still ahead of him.
Ross Johnson will be trying to end the series on a high note this weekend at the final round in Chilliwack. Photo by James Lissimore
Saturday night’s track was a little bit slicker in spots as rain was in the air outside of Heritage Park. The racing action saw Noah McConahy win the Lites Class over Jess Pettis and Shawn Maffenbeier who was third. In the Pro Open, Shawn Maffenbeier would throw down what I will call his best Arenacross performance of his career. Maffenbeier seemed to be in a league of his own and pulled away very early from the Yamaha of Pettis. I certainly was impressed but let’s keep this real by reminding ourselves that Shawn finished second this year in the MX2 class at the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals. Nice work Shawn, you earned that one! I would also like to add that Jess Pettis, who is leading this class, appeared that he was riding with his eyes set on the prize of the title. No one was leaving Chilliwack this Saturday night with a title in either class, that will happen this upcoming weekend.
Friends and race fans, we had a jam packed Heritage Park both nights this past weekend as well as 650 entries. The narrow vortex of opportunity for riders to stack up their chips towards the 2016 totals as well as line their pockets with some Future West
Gold is closing quickly. Race fans, if you are anywhere in the Western World you will not want to miss out on the final two rounds this weekend at Chilliwack’s Heritage Park. It is only $20 for an adult ticket and is the best twenty bucks you will spend. Many of these riders will line up at A1 next season, and some will just simply continue to be the heart and soul and the backbone of our industry. That in reference to the best family fun sport in the world. I will be there both nights broadcasting ‘Live’ at 7:00 pm pacific from www.canadianmotoshow.com.
Join us and Let’s Go Racing – Brent ‘Airmail’ Worrall
Shawn Maffenbeier had a great weekend in Chilliwack and found himself on the top step of the podium. Photo by James Lissimore
Here is a quick look at all the results from the top level main events this past weekend:
Friday
Pro Lites
1. Jess Pettis
2. Noah McConahy
3. Shawn Maffenbeier
4. Chris Howell
5. Colin Jurin
Pro Open
1. Noah McConahy
2. Shawn Maffenbeier
3. Jess Pettis
4. Ross Johnson
5. Colin Jurin
Saturday
Pro Lites
1. Noah McConahy
2. Jess Pettis
3. Shawn Maffenbeier
4. Ross Johnson
5. Keylan Meston
Pro Open
1. Shawn Maffenbeier
2. Jess Pettis
3. Chris Howell
4. Noah McConahy
5. Ross Johnson