Racers kicked up huge clouds of dust, made a good racket, and showed their motocross skills, just outside of Estevan last weekend.
The Trackside MX Park was abuzz and host to a portion of the Southeast Corner Racing Circuit, this past Saturday. Racers from five years old to their mid-fifties, from all over the southeast part of Saskatchewan, geared up and tore up the turf on their off-road bikes, racing for a robust crowd.
The event featured 120 entrants from Estevan, Weyburn, Oxbow, Carlyle, Regina and some from North Dakota, and had participants navigating around tight corners and steep jumps, testing their skills.
“They run between four to six laps, with an average of 15 minutes a race,” said Randy Franke, founder of the circuit and vice-president of Trackside MX Park, who added that there was a great deal of enthusiasm from participants of all ages.
“Everyone gets a little nervous when they hit those jumps. I’ve raced for 33 years, and I still get a little nervous at times,” said Franke. “The majority of people out there have raced on the tracks before, and this circuit is meant to get young and inexperienced people used to motocross.”
The event consisted of a preliminary heat race round to allow the racers to warm up and get used to the topography of the track, followed by an intermission during which the track was watered and prepped. The main event followed, which was a scored race.
“The preliminary gives people track time, and gives them their gate pick. That determines where they start in the main race,” said Franke. “If you get a good start, that’s half the race right there.”
Franke said that the performance of the riders on Saturday, in the preliminary heat race, was outstanding.
“We always have people at so many different levels,” said Franke. “It’s difficult to say who’s best at what, because they race in different classes, they switch classes and we get different riders from all over, every year.”
