SAND DEL LEE REPORT
June 22-23 2013
It was a “win-win” situation for many riders at Sand Del Lee this past weekend
By MotoMom
Under heavy clouds, a curtain of mist and occasional light showers, as well as humidity one could practically cut through with a knife, the spirit of motocross racing was alive and well at the Sand Del Lee Motocross Park this past weekend. Eastern Ontario racers showed up in full force to participate in races being hosted by MX101. The humour and animated commentary of announcer Mike Maunders helped create a warm and sunny atmosphere at the track. He really has a way of making the racing exciting and making the racers, sponsors and promoter feel extra special.
While the weather was sometimes questionable, the track was not. Kevin Tyler and the MX101 Crew did a great job grooming the sandy jumps and turns that challenge all riders who line up to race. While conditions were described as “good” on Saturday, riders were particularly pumped to ride on Sunday when the track was considered to be in mint condition.
Among the die-hard fans were a number of injured riders, some of which could definitely empathize with Canadian pro rider Colton Facciotti. Cameron Pytel and Sébastien Racine were missed on the track in the mini classes as they watched the motos from the comfort of a golf cart due to broken legs. To these and the other injured riders, we wish you a speedy recovery.
As for the healthy riders, the weekend proved to be a win-win for quite a few racers who were able to boast 1-1 finishes in their classes on both days. Those who went undefeated were:
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Jacob Kolman in the 50 Pee Wee (7-8) class
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Thomas Rendall in the 65 Pee Wee (7-9) class
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Connor Arsenault in the 85 (12-16) and the Super Mini classes
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Allie Argue in the Ladies class
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Rick Argue in the Vet Master class
Others such as Callum Schrader (50 Pee Wee 4-6), Bjorn Viney (85 7-11), Brandon Gourlay (Schoolboy), Tyler Duffy (Youth and MX2 Intermediate), Mike Matthews (+25), Anthony Spadaccini (MX3 Junior), Dylan Wright (MX2 Intermediate and Pro-Am), Rick Argue (+40) as well as RJ Woods and Charles Beland (Vet Junior) managed to achieve 1-1 finishes on either Saturday or Sunday.
Most of the races which saw 15 or more riders line up at the gates made for nail-biting hole shots and a few pile ups. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries. It was great to see so many young amateur riders swapping the lead and obtaining podium finishes in the Beginner and Junior classes.
But it was the arrival of Canadian pros Kyle Keast (#37) and Liam O’Farrell (#27) on Sunday that really got the fans excited. With some of Eastern Ontario’s fastest intermediate riders facing the challenge of keeping pace with the pros, it proved to be a win-win for everyone! It was great training for the racers gearing up for the upcoming eastern rounds of the Canadian pro motocross circuit and it was very entertaining racing for those who gathered in the bleachers and the fences to watch the battles ensue.
While Kyle Keast won the Youth class and Liam O’Farrell the Pro-Am class, Dylan Wright finished a respectable second in both classes. But it was #539 who impressed fans the most as he proved he might have what it takes to go pro next year. While Keast and O’Farrell raced on their 450 bikes, 15 year old Wright held his own on his Yamaha 250 two-stroke achieving lap times that were only fractions of a second off that of the pros. He even managed to set some of the fastest lap times in some of the motos. Now that was something to get excited about … and that’s exactly what the crowd did! There were waving towels and arms, ear-splitting cheers and applause, as well as people jumping to their feet as racers crashed during the race or got the checkered flag as they crossed the finish line. As announcer Mike Maunders put it so well, there were “checkers and wreckers” in just about every moto, and the Youth and Pro-Am classes were no exception.
For Sand Del Lee, this was the last race before MX101 hosts the Ontario Provincial Ontario-Quebec Challenge and the Monster Engergy Pro National races one month from now, on July 20th and 21st. Until then, MX101 will doing some significant track maintenance and will be offering rider education summer camps and racer development camps for those who want to learn to ride or hone their motocross skills before the big competitions that lay ahead.
