What a way to start off the 2011 motocross season on Vancouver Island.
Campbell River Motocross Association hosted rounds one and two of the Vancouver Island Spring Series on April 23-24. The conditions for the races on the Easter weekend were great. Warm skies that resembled summer-like conditions for Saturday and fall-like conditions for Sunday made for some fantastic racing. There was a good turnout on both days of riders and spectators, and local racers did well on both days. It was great to see that there were new riders joining the sport as well to see some of the old racers from years gone by getting back into it.
The Campbell River track was in perfect condition thanks in part to Darcy McKenna who sent countless hours making sure it was as safe as possible for all age class of riders. Along with the work McKenna put in there was a huge list of volunteers that put in a lot of hours sprucing up the facilities to make it race-ready. Other than a few bumps and bruises along with some hurt pride there were no major injuries.
It was a great weekend for local 50cc 4-6 class rider Ryder Roth of Campbell River. Roth was up against some serious riders as there were some Lower Mainland riders were determined to take home at least one first place overall for the weekend. But Roth had a plan of his own – keep it right here in his hometown.
Roth finished the day off on Saturday with first place overall. Sunday he had to ride hard in the afternoon after placing second overall in his morning moto. He had a strong start in the afternoon and rode a flawless moto to cross the finish line ahead of Charles Charlton of the Lower Mainland. Charlton took home second place overall for both days while Cole Wasmuth took home third overall.
Some great riding took place in the Ladies class as some gritty competitors showed up for the event. Camille Baker of Nanaimo rode in not only the Ladies class but two other classes on Saturday. She rode really well in the Ladies class and took home first overall for both days.
Campbell River was well represented in the Ladies class, Lindsey McLean and Chelsea Masters were both twisting the throttle hard. McLean was in the lead over Baker for a short while during the Sunday morning moto but lost the lead during the second lap, leaving her to finish the moto in second place. McLean finished the weekend in second place overall on both days.
Masters was out there roaring around the track in the new 2011 Scott gear she had recently won in a Canada-wide essay contest that was promoted by Scott and MXP magazine. Masters roared across the finish line in third place in each of her motos to take home third place overall for the weekend.
Baker finished the day in 14th overall in the MX2 Intermediate class and 11th overall in the Youth class. On Sunday Baker finished in 11th overall.
Campbell River rider Corby McCartney made his return to motocross felt on Saturday after a few years away from it. McCartney raced the MX1 Intermediate class and roared to an early lead and never looked back. He took home first overall for the day while Campbell River rider Brendon Fear took home second place overall.
On Sunday it was Brandon Cyr and Fear battling it out for first overall. When the checker flag came out Cyr was the overall winner while Fear finished second.
McCartney was also roaring around the track in the Vet Master class on Saturday. He was up against some highly experienced riders but held his own, not letting off the throttle at all while roaring into and out of the corners to ensure he made a podium finish.
Campbell River rider Darcy McKenna was also riding the class and held off McCartney to take home first overall while McCartney finished second. Port Alberni rider Paul Hansen was third overall.
On Sunday McKenna was once again the rider to chase down. McKenna was not going to let that happen as took an early lead in both motos and never looked back. Bryan Whitcomb took home second place while Hansen finished third.
Bryce Adams of Powell River also returned to the sport after a short absence. Adams was entered in the MX2 Intermediate class and rode fantastic on Saturday to take home first over all for the day. Crofton's Cory Cardinal was also in town and returned home with second place overall while Connor Barnes of Shawnigan Lake finished third.
On Sunday, Lower Mainland rider Dylan Delaplace had his throttle in the full open position to help him stay ahead of Cardinal so he could hold on to first place overall, That left second overall to Cardinal while Victoria rider Ryan Lalonde finished third.
On Saturday in the Youth class, Nick Syrotuck of Nanoose Bay took home the overall win for the day. Cardinal was second overall and Barnes finished third.
Adams also rode in the Youth class on Sunday and finished third overall while Cardinal took second and Syrotuck placed third.
What a weekend the riders from Saltspring Island had. They made the trek to Campbell River well worth their while. One class they did very well in was the 85cc 7-11 class on both days. Harrison Bradley took first overall while Wyatt Scheres took second. Saltspring rider Austin Archer made it a clean sweep for the Island by finishing third.
On Sunday Bradley took home first place once again while Scheres took second again. Brandon Johnson also from Saltspring Island made it a clean sweep once again for the Island riders by placing third. Archer finished fourth overall.
In the 65cc class Saltspring Island riders took home top place overall on both days. On Saturday Johnson was just tearing up the track and had a huge lead over Tanner Meyland of Shawinigan Lake who finished second. Andrew Bradbrooke of Victoria had a great day of racing and went home with third place.
On Sunday David Bradley of Saltspring Island was first overall while Meyland went home with second place and Bradbrooke finished third once again.
The next motocross racing on Vancouver Island takes place April 30 and May 1 at the Wastelands track in Nanaimo.