Photo Report: Women’s West Nationals Round 1
By Billy Rainford
This week’s reports are brought to you by RTR Performance in Kamloops, BC. Check ’em out!
Round 1 of the Schrader’s Women’s West MX Nationals took place at Whispering Pines MX Park in Kamloops, BC over the weekend. With defending champion, Hailey Larson, not returning the top spot on the podium was up for grabs. The three-round series heads to the Wastelands in Nanaimo, BC this Saturday and riders will have to dig deep if they hope to latch on to the rear fender of Schrader’s TLD Yamaha rider, #2 Kennedy Lutz. Kennedy was pretty dominant in Kamloops. Here’s a look at the racing from a warm and sunny day in the BC Interior where 31 women racers went bar to bar.
Denaye Arnett, Camille Bunko, Kristi Moore, and Sierra Roth did a great job again this year getting the west series going.
It went very smoothly and all the women looked to have had a great day…although you’d never know it from the concerned look on Denaye’s face here. It’s OK, Denaye, it went great.
Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha riders #14 Shawn Maffenbeier (shown here…sort of) and #7 Bobby Kiniry won the vote to be asked to turn the cards.
There’s probably not a whole lot Bobby wouldn’t do if you asked him nicely!
Sometimes just knowing your dad is there really helps calm things down.
When the gate dropped for the first moto, #3 Sara King and #2 Kennedy Lutz got this close as #6 Danyluk Racing’s Brittany Danyluk lurked in the background.
#334 is Camille Bunko who was working double duty as co-organizer and racer. She came out of retirement to finish in 7th place (8-8).
#241 Lisa Matechuk smiled her way to 28th (25-28) and said she had a blast.
I’m sure there’s a good reason #7 Troy Lee Designs rider Dominique Daffe is breaking cardinal rule #1 here. After having her bike stolen last week, it was great to see she made it to the races. 6th with 7-6 motos.
#73 Kate Lees passing the mechanics’ area on her way to 15th (13-14) with #470 Charity Bachman hot on her rear wheel who took 16th (11-18).
#99 Annie Bisson was up and down the results sheet and took 13th with 17-9 motos.
#6 Brittany Danyluk was solid in 4th place (4-4).
Kennedy blasts the chalk line as #5 Jamie Munro did what she could to keep #138 Kirsten Tse in check. They probably had the best 2-moto battle of the day!
Racing was tight all the way through the field as #641 Jackie Schott, #93 Jamie Routley, and #30 Courtney Stelter show here.
Um, OK, dad! LOL
The field heads through turn 1 in the second moto.
#631 Rachel Springman and #3 Sara King will, no doubt, battle the next two rounds for 2nd overall but we’ll have to see this week in Nanaimo.
#10 Danika White always has the trickest-looking bike and set-up. Her 9-15 motos gave her 12th.
#498 Madi Watt rounded out the top 10 with 16-7 motos.
Watch for the battle between Munro and Tse to race on in Nanaimo this week.
It was fun to watch until Tse had troubles in the 2nd and dropped way back.
#30 Courtney Stelter finished 8th (10-10).
MX2 Pro rider #24 Kyle Swanson cheering on his gf, Brittany Danyluk.
#3 Sara King will look to re-double her efforts and try to even up the series by taking a win at The Wastelands.
Nobody was going to deny #2 Kennedy Lutz this win. She was pretty dominant and also won the Junior class Saturday.
We’ll have to get Kennedy to work on her exciting finish line crosses for next time. 1-1 for Kennedy in Kamloops.
Summer Knowles (left) is out of action after wrist surgery. Here she is with Cycle North’s Kourtney Lloyd and Rachel Springman at the end of the day.
We all got a kick out of watching poor Brittany Danyluk try to read these tiny sponsors from the stage.
Round 1 podium: Kennedy Lutz, Sara King, Rachel Springman, Brittany Danyluk, and Jamie Munro.
Jamie got the hard charger award for making the most passes.
A happy Kennedy on stage addressing the crowd. There’s never a dull moment and Kennedy kept the ball rolling when she described how she felt in the first moto. What was it again, Kennedy?
Brittany on stage.
The champagne spray.
The girls give Kennedy a little extra attention…
…and almost knock her through the back of the stage.
A little more to Sara for good measure. See you next week in Nanaimo.
Results:
1. 2 Kennedy Lutz YAM 1-1
2. 3 Sara King HON 2-2
3. 631 Rachel Springman YAM 3-3
4. 6 Brittany Danyluk SUZ 4-4
5. 5 Jamie Munro KTM 6-5
6. 7 Dominique Daffe YAM 7-6
7. 334 Camille Bunko SUZ 8-8
8. 30 Courtney Stelter YAM 10-10
9. 138 Kirstin Tse YAM 5-17
10. 498 Madi Watt SUZ 16-7
11. 250 Megan Arnemann HON 12-11
12. 10 Danika White KTM 9-15
13. 99 Annie Bisson KTM 17-9
14. 89 Katy Hopkins KAW 14-12
15. 73 Kate Lees KAW 13-14
16. 470 Charity Bachman HON 11-18
17. 93 Jamie Routley HON 21-13
18. 44 Nicole Gaudern KAW 19-16
19. 39 Daniell Pettis KAW 15-20
20. 216 Amiee Carter HON 18-24
21. 641 Jackie Schott KAW 26-19
22. 204 Aleesa Davenport YAM 20-25
23. 96 Carly Hill YAM 29-21
24. 727 Maia Kerr KAW 22-22
25. 37 Zoey Shamley KAW 23-23
26. 151 Dominique Ashley Price YAM 24-26
27. 141 Jacey McQueen KAW 31-27
28. 241 Lisa Matechuk YAM 25-28
29. 144 Cara Dadswell HON 28-29
30. 812 Jessie Jenkins SUZ 27-30
31. 189 Megan Klain HON 30-31
