2007 National Indoor series

amra · #1 02-01-2007

AMRA hosts Unique

National Winter RoadRacing Event

2 CITIES, 6 DAYS, 18 RACES, 108 HEATS = ONE NATIONAL CMA TITLE

108 times over six days the green flag was dropped by premier Race Director Dave Rudd as competitors from across Canada joined forces to create the most unique Indoor Feature Race Event and vie for the newest CMA National Title with two full weekends of intense Competition, Camaraderie and Sportsmanship.

How do you have the most fun possible when it’s -20 outside with 2ft of snow on the ground? Well if you are the AMRA, you prep a dozen 125cc four strokes to factory specs, and mount them with the same street tires front and rear. Then you convince the Canadian Motorcycle Shows that using 60,000 square ft to have an INDOOR ROAD RACE TRACK at the Calgary and Edmonton shows is a great idea. Now, with a track and bikes, all you need are racers. What if the Factory Stars working for the manufacturers at the shows agreed to race against the best mini road racers in Canada? Yes, they say? Well, why not put something on the line and make it a National Championship? Game on!

This is exactly what played out in Calgary and Edmonton during the Motorcycle Shows over two weekends in January. Participants included 16 past and current National Champions. Factory pilots Steve Crevier from Yamaha, Darren James from Buell, Jordan Szoke and Brett McCormick from Kawasaki as well as multi-time Canadian Superbike and 600 champ Don Munroe battled it out with current and rising mini road race stars J.R MacRae, Matt Bagshaw, Jay Fox, John Lenz, Royce McLean, Geoffrey Gerbrandt, and Cody Matechuk. Pro moto-crossers such as Cale Barr and Kyle Cole joined the action as well, just to name a few of the 42 riders vying for the coveted title of 2007 National Indoor Mini Roadracing Champ.

The track surface was cement floor, with multiple lefts and rights as well as short straights. Speeds of 50 to 60 kilometres per hour in the tight confines made for extremely exiting racing for the packed stands of 600+ fans that took in the action. Between ten and twelve racers were randomly seeded into 4 heats that would see the top two advance to a final, with third and fourth placers earning spots in the last chance qualifier. Over the weekend, racers would gain points from eight main events. Their points would seed them into one final race per weekend, with the two finals determining the championship. The top 10 in points were placed into the final, with the rest of the riders fighting for the 11th and last position by way of "winner advances" heat races.

Racing was a combination of road racing, dirt track, motocross and ice racing, putting a premium on the ability to find some drive on the slippery surface. Slide it in, slide it around, stand it up and drive hard seemed to be the skill-set needed to succeed. Easier said than done! While the heat races had numerous winners, with every brand being well represented, the main events were dominated by a couple of the sports young guns.
Cody Matechuk and Brett McCormick won the lion’s share of main events, putting them on the front row for the two championship races in Calgary and Edmonton. McCormick had pole in Calgary for the final event, but the green flag saw Matechuk pull the holeshot. That was the last that anyone saw of him, as Matechuk pulled out a couple-second lead and held it throughout for the win. McCormick kept his championship hopes alive by scoring a solid second. Steve Crevier followed in third with Jordan Szoke close behind in fourth. Darren James rounded out the top five.

Edmonton again saw McCormick on pole in the Main Event, but again Matechuk stole the holeshot. Steve Crevier squeezed McCormick out in turn two, and Matechuk immediately started pulling a gap. Not wanting to let Matechuk get away, McCormick passed Crevier on lap 3 and went to work. Although Matechuk had the field covered in Calgary, with the championship on the line, McCormick definitely had something for him in Edmonton. After closing the gap by lap 8, 15-year-old McCormick started putting the pressure on 12-year-old Matechuk, showing him a wheel and trying to get by in a couple of spots. The pressure worked and Matechuk made a small mistake coming on to the back straight. McCormick pounced making an inside pass. To ensure their would be no retaliation, McCormick eked out a 2-second gap and held it to the finish for the Edmonton win and the Championship victory. Kale Barr followed in third with Jordan Szoke in fourth, cross-country star Matt Montandon in fifth and Fox Family Star Matt Bagshaw in sixth.

All weekend long, capacity crowds were treated to some of the best racing to be seen anywhere. The camaraderie and fun was evident on the participant’s faces. Friendships were reinforced, as well as new ones made. These are the trademarks of the AMRA and Canadian mini road racing in general. What does your family do for fun?!

The racers may always be in the spotlight, but it is only with a team effort that the show could be this successful. Special thanks to the mechanics - Jeff, Ryan, Jimmy, Devin and Ron - who were truly put to the test, race officials - Dave, Robert and Scott - and volunteers - Siggi, Tim, Darrel, Don, Stephanie, Erin, Mitchell, Grant, Steve and many others. Of course, deep gratitude goes out to Stu & Iris McColl for continuing to be the voice of the AMRA, and Berna and Jay Fox of Fox Family Road Racing for gluing all the pieces in place. What an incredible team!

Special thanks to Buell, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha for supplying the machines for the phenomenal racers to commandeer around these unique AMRA and Canadian Motorcycle Show tracks. (long time sponsors of AMRA) AME Motorsport Magazine and Blackfoot Motosports of Calgary, Force Products, Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Canadian Motorcycle Association, Redbull, Cycle Works of Edmonton, Second Gear Club, Rockstar, Parks Foundation Calgary and Stratotech Park of Edmonton; without their support, the AMRA would be unable to continue to bring the expertise it does to these events.

What does your Family do for fun?
For more information on Mini Road racing, AMRA events, news and developments, contact www.amra.ca.
Credits: Grant McCormick-Speed Daddy Extraordinaire and Berna Bagshaw-Fox Family RoadRacing, Editing: ? John Lenz- School teacher by day and SMRA President (and superhero mini roadracer the rest of the time