There's no getting around it, motocross is an expensive sport.
Good quality dirt bikes that can stand up to the torture of racing are not cheap, and most riders and their families can use all the sponsorship help they get.
Fortunately for 16 riders on the B.C. Motocross Association circuit, Cycle North, a Prince George business that's been around for 22 years, sees value in helping them foot the bills. Based on the results this season spring and fall series events in the Interior region, those riders are doing their part in returning the favour to their sponsor.
Cycle North, the city's Kawasaki and Honda motorcycle dealership, currently ranks first in Canada in the Team Green standings, a national ranking based on the accumulated points sponsored Kawasaki riders earn in their races.
"We help them out with their parts, their accessories, their [riding] gear," said Kourtney Lloyd, motocross team manager of Cycle North. "We have the biggest team in B.C., the No. 1 team in Canada for Kawasaki. It's a pretty big accomplishment for us."
The Team Green promotion is new program from Kawasaki Canada and Lloyd is awaiting what perks will be coming from the national organization. Although the results were still not official, there's no doubt Cycle North will win the competition.
"We have double the points of the second-place guys so I've been told [from Kawasaki] we're going to take it," said Lloyd. " The kids have worked their butts off."
The Kawasaki team includes Prince George riders Hayden Wolff, Calvin Joseph, Cole Bernier, Landon Nelson, and Jesse Pettis; Rob Hawrys of Vanderhoof; Evan Pinto of Kitimat; Dustin and Kyle Kwinski of Terrace; Zebediah and Wyatt Fellows of Whistler; and John-Henry Ramsey of Merritt.
Nelson is the leading rider in an individual competition to win a new Kawasaki MX-250 bike, with 831 points, 19 ahead of Wolff, who ranks second nationally with 812.
Honda rider Sara King competed for Cycle North at the CMRC nationals in Raymond, Alta. Cycle North also sponsors Honda owners Connor Scott and Jake Picton of Prince George and Warren Constantine of Fort St. James.
Lloyd has followed the riders to every race for the past two seasons and brings with her a trailer stocked with parts.
Two years ago, Cycle North owner Randy Lloyd, Kourtney's father, built a new 12,000 square-foot store located off Highway 16 West at Gauthier Road, and business is booming.
"Since we moved there our sales have doubled," said Kourtney Lloyd. "We had a record August, the best August dad has ever had in 22 years."
