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2009 / 2010 World
Championship ICE Racing ATV Race Report
::Continued::
The grid in Ontario looked pretty professional,
mainly consisting of modern 2-stroke and 4-stroke
sport machines, with a few rounded fenders hearkened
back to the 1980´s. With the reduced traction
of their barely studded tires, modern quads didn´t
seem to have a huge advantage though.
The start would have looked like slow motion
if not for the ice furiously flying from everyone´s
rear tires. Turn one immediately let fans know
that the pros make it look much easier than it
is. The leader didn´t get the clutch in
fast enough before getting on the brakes, stalling
the engine and stacking up the rest of the field
behind him.
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| Eight
racers advance to the Main event with 4
quads per row |
One rider managed to avoid the traffic jam, and
got almost an entire lap lead before the pack
got free. However, the rider was leaning the wrong
way in the turns, picking the inside-front wheel
up and going very wide on the entrance to each
corner. It was too horrific to look away from,
as the field flung itself around the turns like
a snow-blower tumbling down a hill. Two riders
seemed to have it figured out though, and came
within a few lengths of snatching the lead, but
the checkered flag came out too soon. The riders
obviously had a great time. With such little quad
prep or prior experience required, it´s
hard to come up with any reason not to enter the
amateur class. With the amateurs done it was time
to bring out the pros.
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| ICE
Racing isn't just a man sport because 3
Time World ICE Racing Champion, #62 Mandy
Brodil, proved that ICE racing isn't just
a man sport, and she makes her return for
2009/2010 after missing several years of
racing |
One of the unique attractions of this series is
the Saddleman Challenge. If a rider chooses to give
up their grid spot to start last, and manages to
win, a cash prize goes to the rider, on top of any
purse. Riders are given the opportunity based on
their starting position, but tonight it seemed no
one wanted to give up their grid spot. LeLanne wasn´t
about to give up his first pole position, and it
seemed none of the top guys were willing to do the
same. That left the front row LeLeanne, Bergquist,
Thomas, and Chuck Calvert. Racer Kelly Wilkinson
had little to lose, gridded second from the inside
of the back row. He would put on the yellow Saddleman
vest and give it a go.
The six-lap, eight-quad main event would see
LeLanne get the Holeshot. Unfortunately, a turn
one pile up would red flag the race and bring
out a restart. The course at Ontario is very tight,
and with the entire six laps completed in just
over one minute, there is little room for mistakes.
Bergquist knew this and grabbed the Holeshot on
the restart.
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| #1
Daniel Bergquist claimed yet another win
to extend his points lead and move cloaser
to a fourth championship |
Zack Thomas wasn´t about to make things easy,
and hounded Bergquist for several laps. Saddleman
Challenger Kelly Wilkison had an amazing race, riding
like a man possessed. With a so-so start there didn´t
seem to be much hope, but several stunning moves
around the outside put him into fourth place by
the halfway point. At that point Wilkinson just
couldn´t find a way around eventual third
place finisher Dustin Moser, and settled for fourth.
Up front Bergquist was getting away, but Thomas
was still close enough to capitalize if Bergquist
were to go wide. Unfortunately for him, Bergquist
was mistake free and took the victory. The tight
confines and short races are a recipe for aggressive
riding, and that is exactly what fans were given
by the Outlaw Quads.
The series begins moving east with their first
2010 event, at the Budweiser Events Center in
Loveland, Colorado Saturday, January 9. For the
full schedule, results, and more, check out www.icespeedway.com.
www.icespeedway.com
158 Gardner Lacy Rd. #104
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 234 - 2777
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