Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
By Brent Worrall
Photos by James Lissimore and Brent Worrall
This is where it all begins this weekend.
The Future West Canadian Arenacross Series kicks off Friday night in Armstrong B.C.
Wow! It is hard to believe it is that time again as I sit here pecking away at my keyboard with the sun setting in the background on what has been a phenomenal fall in the Okanagan. Yes, being a proud member of the Future West Moto team I can say we are officially locked and loaded for another great series of high flying bar banging action. This series will put an exclamation mark on what has been one of the best years in recent history for Canadian Motocross, which has progressed on so many levels. I, like many of you, was at or watched the Monster Energy Cup this past weekend and relived a bit of those glory days and cheered for all as I was worth as a proud Canadian for our youngsters who did us all so proud. Yes, Christopher Fortier, Preston Masciangelo, Tanner Ward and Casey Keast, you did us all so very proud and gave us all just cause to show our true flag waving colours while flexing every ounce of our Moto pride. The future of our sport is very bright and because of the likes of you, many will be inspired by your performances to commit to becoming the best by lining up with the best.
All of these youngsters have already in their formative years logged numerous laps on Arenacross circuits like the one we will be lined up at in Armstrong B.C. here Friday night to kick off what has quickly become the ‘Winter Classic’ of Canadian Motocross. Our team has been voraciously attacking the community and outlying areas teaming up with local media and Chambers of Commerce in an effort to attract new faces to the newest venue of our series. I have been pleasantly surprised by not only the interest shown, but also that of the open arms I have been welcomed within the small Post Card picture perfect town of roughly 5,500. I truly believe our efforts to get out of our comfort zone and try something a little different in attracting new blood on the race track, as well as the banners that give us the means to continue, will pay itself forward. I also believe that if you want a good seat in the 3500 seat, intimate venue, get there early or purchase a ticket right here http://www.ticketweb.ca/snl/Search.action?query=arenacross
Future West is back at again for 2014 and they’re hoping for another successful AX series.
For the first time, this series will see us step outside the box and the building a little! What? That’s right, it may not be Sam Boyd Stadium but this town of Armstrong B.C. and its Agriplex is the home of the Interior Provincial Exhibition and the grounds are primed and ready for our new ideas. Our start will take place outside of the building in the southwest corner adjacent and only a stone’s throw from the grounds well-manicured camping facilities. As if we needed any more variables to add to the already high energy action for all our anxiously awaiting fans and riders that Arenacross competition provides it is our goal at Future West to create the best experience possible for fans and riders. In our opinion, a little added ambience, mystique, excitement and hype for those inside watching on the overhead monitors won’t hurt our cause a bit. One of the hurdles for most Arenacross venues is the amount of floor footprint used by the space needed for start line, gate etc. This new approach will elevate that burden and give our riders and fans the most bang for their buck and without the banging it wouldn’t be Arenacross, would it?
The series will provide an outlet for fans and riders of all ages to experience this great discipline of the sport no matter what their ability on a motorcycle. The very popular Future West Moto race day schools will be back by popular demand and hosted by former Arenacross Champs Kyle Beaton and Ryan Lockhart. I cannot think of one individual who did not benefit from last year’s schools. As last year’s series announcer, I must say I felt like a proud relative to all those whose skills progressed from beginning to end of last year’s edition. There are also opportunities for riders who are not yet ready to commit to lining up on race day to experience the tracks at each venue through our track rentals, which can be found by e-mailing offroadj@telus.net. Many of the fine details can be found by combing the ‘everything you need to know’ document at the Arenacross.ca website or on the Canadian Arenacross Facebook Page as well as @CanadianAX on twitter.
Fan favourite and Canadian legend Ryan Lockhart is ready to go this weekend. The Dash For Cash king is looking to take home some wins in 2014.
The many Pros that will be lining up from far and wide all in quest of the Future West Champagne Glory and Gold is nothing short of a who’s who of the sport’s most technical discipline. Much attention and hype has been given to who we might see and what will happen when the gate drops in a few short hours in Armstrong. I honestly believe that no matter who wins, the fans and riders are the real winners as the best way to get to the top of this sport is to keep that Moto Mojo and compete level up and running through as many of the calendar months as physically or financially possible. When you look back on the accomplishments of series veterans and forefathers like Darcy Lange, Colton Facciotti, Dusty Klatt, Kyle Beaton, Ryan Lockhart, Brock Hoyer, Jeremy Medaglia, Ross Johnson and many more, who can argue the value. This is affordable entertaining racing for fans and riders alike and it does not end at RD-1; the series resumes at the familiar Cloverdale Agriplex the weekend after Halloween and moves forward to the 300,000 square ft. footprint layout of Chillwack’s Heritage Park on Dec 5th and 6th where champions will be crowned.
Cycle North Honda rider Ross Johnson is definitely one of the title favourites heading into the 2014 series.
All the Canadian media moguls have this event on their calendars and like us at Motocross Performance Magazine will be doing the best to bring you every ounce of the excitement. Tune into this site for full post-race reports by myself and follow @mxpmagazine on Twitter as they will be tweeting away as well. I myself will be broadcasting every round live from my Canadian Moto Show platform and will encourage you all to tune in for not only the racing but the many on-scene rider interviews of all levels and ages! Show starts this Friday night at 7:30 pacific tune in here http://www.canadianmotoshow.com
Let’s Go Racing
Brent Worrall
