A Few Photos from Arenacross Practice Thursday
By Billy Rainford
When I heard that the Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki riders, #100 Jacob Hayes and #101 Chris Blose, were over at the MX Schools facility in Brigden shaking down their bikes in preparation for rounds 1 and 2 of the Monster Energy Canadian National Arenacross Tour Presented by Royal Distributing, I made the hour drive over from London.
Here are a few photos from the day.
The town of Brigden, Ontario, sits about an hour west of London on the outskirts of Sarnia, and it’s where the Thompson clan is from.
Graeme Brough getting the suspension sorted out with Jacob and Chris.
After a summer away from moto, it’s good to be back spinning the T’s again.
Unfortunately, Chris Blose’s Thor gear didn’t make the flight but he had to get some testing and practice done…and I had to shoot some photos!
This duo should prove very difficult to beat in this series.
Jacob getting used to the arenacross whoop section.
The track isn’t in the most picturesque location so I find myself using this old wind mill a lot when I’m at the MX Schools facility.
Graeme is meticulous in his work.
Feeding the numbers into the computing device.
It’s even nice all by itself.
No matter how good the tires are, this track lays a beating on them.
Jacob and signage.
Blose ended up borrowing some #100 Hayes gear. I shot as many photos from the front as I could.
Chris beside the #1 wall.
Jacob is from North Carolina but calls California home lately.
I figured one of these shots would work…
Jacob and the #1’s.
When you see the rider intros tomorrow night, this is how they looked before the ‘look up.’
One of Cole Thompson’s many championship bikes up in the barn.
Styling it out over the ‘Windmill Triple.’
Jacob putting in one more session for the day.
Luc ‘Frenchie’ Caouette keeping a close eye (and ear) on the Kawasakis.
Feedback time.
We’ll see how their homework went when they line up tomorrow night in London.
Jason Hughes expects 1’s and 2’s from these guys.
I was trying for Jason’s new profile pic.
Jacob isn’t afraid to get in there and help when needed.
Blose and signage.
I wouldn’t bet against another 1 on this door when this is all over.
Then, I headed back to London and checked out the progress at the Agriplex. Justin was busy building the track.
He still had a lot of work to do when I left.
Waiting for Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha rider Bobby Kiniry. Bobby will ride a 250 in both classes.
Royal Distributing Fox Racing KTM Canada’s Steph LeBlanc will only have Cole Thompson to worry about for the series. Kaven Benoit has decided not to compete.
We still don’t really have a finalized entry list but Press Day has been moved to Pro practice Friday, so I guess well know then.
Don’t forget to check back for the live link so you can watch all the action as it happens.