If you weren't there to witness the pro class finale Friday night at the BCNE motocross at Exhibition Park, too bad, you missed a thriller.
The stands were packed and spectators were treated to a 10-lap main event that featured six lead changes, with two American riders duking it out with Brock Hoyer of Williams Lake for a $1,500 payoff.
Hoyer got the hole shot and the early lead but by Lap 7 had dropped down to third, right on the exhaust pipes of Scott Champion of Temecula, Calif., and Ross Johnson of Tenino, Wash. Hoyer was contemplating making a move on the leaders when he stalled his bike and Champion beat a path to the winner's circle to claim his second main event in as many days.
Champion races a 250cc Cycle North Honda, which is lighter and faster around the corners than the 450s Johnson and Hoyer ride and used that to his advantage, making several passes on the inside by cutting sharper around the bends.
"This is my second time in Canada and I enjoy it up here," said Champion. "Riding with those two guys, they've been pro for quite a bit as well and they know how to race and keep it clean and keep it fun. My bike is quicker in some spots and so much easier to turn but I really have to rev it in some spots where they don't have to."
Johnson took second in the main and a $1,000 prize, as well as Friday's $1,500 winner-take-all dash for cash, while Hoyer claimed the $850 third-place prize. Ted Dillman of Prince George was shut out of the money, finishing fourth both days.
"I tagged Ross's back end as I was making a pass on Scott and it stalled out on me," said Hoyer.
Hoyer was a close second in the dash for cash Friday after he won a $1,000 purse in Thursday's dash. The 28-year-old rider and wife Jenni are new parents of a 10-month-old son, Deakin, and Hoyer is sticking close to home this summer after a busy year riding the B.C. Interior and Future West circuits. Hoyer is gearing up for the six-stop Western Canadian arenacross circuit starting in October and is also carving out a groove for himself as a sponsored Yamaha snowbike racer.
He's one of the top riders in the country on snow, racing on a bike converted with a Timbersled kit which puts it on one ski driven by a paddle track, similar to that used on snowmobiles.
'It's been progressively getting more notice in the last two years and it's turned into a full-time thing in the wintertime," said Hoyer, a self-employed heavy-duty mechanic.
"It's hard to cross-train because we get five feet of snow and this is perfect cross-training for dirt biking. It's a sport that's building and I see it in X-Games. We can piggyback off snowcross guys, the track's already there and it's cool to be part of something that new. I'm pretty close to making a living on it but I'd never want to fully rely on it just because you hit the ground (and get hurt) and you're out and you're not making money."
Dillman, 26, a full-time electrician who started racing motocross at age 12, loved the atmosphere of racing in his hometown in front of family and friends right next to the BCNE midway and knew he was bit overmatched entering the pro class against guys who make their livings racing.
Dillman dumped his bike Thursday going over a slick rain-soaked double jump a little too hot and had to a do a high-speed sideways bailout, but emerged unscathed. He also rides bulls for fun and says both are equally hard on the body.
"I've only ridden bulls a handful of times, my dad (Ted) did it 20 years ago," he said. "It's the same idea, you jump on a dirt bike, you know you're going to get hurt. You jump on a bull, you're going to get hurt. Already, you're taking the risk and eventually everybody does."
Close to 40 riders in eight classes entered the two-day event. Most of them will gather next weekend at Blackwater Motocross Park for B.C. Motocross Association races Saturday and Sunday.
