Arenacross as Brent ‘Air Mail’ Worrall saw it.
Under extremely frigid but beautiful clear blue skies I set out early Friday morning from Vernon, B.C. to make my trek down to Chilliwack to do the job I have been hired to do by Future West brass. Yes, being on the business end of the mic allows me to pontificate and prognosticate all the action of this great Canadian Kawasaki Arenacross Series to my heart’s content. With the first two rounds in the books I was met with a seemingly more settled group of riders and family members whose smiles, greetings, candor and support keep me pumped about having moto flow through my veins.The Future West staff and all their employees and entertainers were strategically positioned throughout the four main buildings to give every single person, from a knee high to a senior, something they would be able to identify with on their entertainment radar.
As I meandered through the pits I put on the hat of ‘The BC Moto Show with Brent Worrall Host’ and went on a reconnaissance mission of sorts passing out newly made-up BC Moto Show decals. Making connections with riders big and small to get a feel for what we were only a short couple hours away from, round 3 of The Future West Canadian Kawasaki Arenacross Series. The general consensus was no big surprise; a good start would be a huge key in having a successful weekend. Most I talked to were happy to have the first two rounds out of the way and any of the first round indoor jitters behind them. The only jitters that remained were valid as it was chilly to say the least.
I was very impressed with the grace and genuine appreciation for all who I was able to convince to run the Moto Show decals on their bikes. The Cycle North boys, Jeremy Medaglia and Ross Johnson, put the Moto Show decals on their bright red Cycle North Honda steel horses with big smiles on their faces. Many of the youngsters and oldsters who have been following the new movement out west were more than happy to follow suit. For anyone I missed I do apologize and will catch up with you when the series continues January 17th in Cloverdale.
As I got a few last minute words from Ryan Lockhart and a group photo with Kevin Lepp and Gauldy that I proudly tweeted out, I knew it was time to head over to take up my post on the big stage in the main barn. Pro Practice was about to line up and I wanted to get a firsthand look at the on-track action and see who would be able to sack up, hook up and air out the 96 foot triple. Yes, it was impressive to say the least to see the likes of Lockhart, Johnson & Howell, to name a few, air that bad boy out. We all know that the fans that pay their money love to see it as a part of the whole package that encompasses arenacross racing. The 450s were the only ones able to hook up enough tractable horsepower out of the left handed 180 that led to it. A 16 year-old Leading Edge Kawasaki rider unfortunately suffered two leg fractures on this section Thursday afternoon. With practice in the books we inched ever closer to opening ceremonies!
Chris Pomeroy made his way over to my quarters and we got to chat face to face for the first time since my 2011 crash at the Walton Trans Can. As Palms hadn’t been out west to compete in this event in quite a few years, I was pretty pumped for him. His flight landed at 9:30 A.M. Pacific. Given the time difference and how late his gate would drop in the B.C. Legends Class, I assured him that adrenaline would be his best friend. Come race time the gate dropped and as I suspected Palms did not disappoint. He got a great jump on the borrowed Maple Ridge Motorsports Kawasaki of Ryan Lockhart’s and checked out on the solid field. Twenty-four hours later it was Ground Hog Day for Palms on a slightly altered circuit with the end result being verbatim. Nice work Chris. I look forward to our chat on this week’s B.C. Moto Show!
Back to the business at hand, the Canadian Kawasaki Pro and other amateur races gave all who filled the Heritage Park bleachers and beer gardens lots of on-track entertainment to applaud. There were a few new faces to this season’s action, one of which was Spokane, Washington’s Brad Nauditt. Brad also collected 4th overall in the 2013 CMRC MX2 Nationals this past summer. Brad has been south riding at GPF and Justin Thompson’s AX Tour where he has had some great results. The very personable Nauditt showed up as ready and fast as he has ever looked to me and did not disappoint. He took the first Pro Lites Main on the weekend with an exclamation mark and followed it up with a 3rd in the Pro Open main.
Brent Worrall is doing an awesome job on the mic so far in the 2014 Kawasaki Canadian Arenacross Series. Here he interviews the faster man of the weekend, Brad Nauditt.
Jeremy Medaglia on the Cycle North Honda, who had the Arenacross Championship points lead, would finish fourth in the Pro Lites Main and take the win in the nightcap Pro Open. Cycle North’s other hired gun, Washington native Ross Johnson, would complete the opening night of the weekend with a solid 3rd in the Pro Lite’s main and 2nd in the Pro Open. Spectra Power Sports RMR Suspensions Brock Hoyer would have a solid night with a 2nd in the Lites and 4th in the Pro Open. Ryan Lockhart finished 5th in the Pro Open but not disappoint the members of ‘The One Lap Wonder Fan Club’ as he would take home $600 in the ‘Dash for Cash’. Unfortunately, the Dash for Cash would take defending Arenacross Champion Spencer Knowles out of action from the series as he swapped out after re-entering the track in the dash. Get well soon Spencer!
At the conclusion of Friday’s action, it was determined that there was not a lot of places to pass on the track and some of the riders encouraged Future West to look at a few changes that were proposed by some of the Pros. Jamie Hellam and his crew have 20 plus years of experience and they made some changes that appealed to the riders, which reflected in the product on the track on Saturday Night.
The Pro Lites main went to Nauditt again but he fought like a true warrior and veteran for the victory. Nauditt was one of few riders that were able to make up about a half to a full second a lap on the inside of a greasy grandstand left hander. He licked, sealed, stamped and delivered a move on his countryman Johnson on this very turn, which allowed him to win going away ever so slightly on Johnson. Brock Hoyer would finish on the Cycle North Honda’s rear fender in 3rd.
Saturday’s Dash for Cash for a $1,000 came down to a battle between the Cycle North Honda and the Maple Ridge Motorsports Kawasaki of ‘The One Lap Wonder’ Lockhart! Johnson got a good jump and that jump, which had been Lockhart’s trump card in these races, but Lockhart couldn’t find it when he needed it. He still managed to get inside of Johnson and almost made a pass but Ross would defend nicely and take the win. He did not make his way over to my stage to collect his cash until I threatened to buy a round for the hundreds above me in the beer garden with the contents of the envelope.
To the final Pro race we went with the points at the top of the Championship standings tight between Johnson, Medaglia & Hoyer. Chris Howell & Lockhart led the race early but in the end would have to settle for 4th and 5th respectively as they were passed by Hoyer, Nauditt and Johnson. On their way to doing so, these three riders provided those in their seats and on their feet in the beer garden a lot to cheer about. Brock Hoyer threw down the hardest as he charged from a 5th place start to the top step of the podium on a track that making a pass stick was not an easy thing to do. Nauditt also charged hard past Johnson but did not have enough for Hoyer in the end. He successfully completed a great weekend of racing with his second place finish in the Pro Open. Of note, Cycle North Honda’s Jeremy Medaglia had a problem in the back barn on a left-handed sweeper that would see him tagged with a DNF.
The series now gets a break for the Holidays until January 17th in the Cloverdale venue. I hope you all have a great Holiday and look forward to seeing you at the races.