Rough Start for 3-Time Champ, Ross Johnson, at Future West Arenacross Round 1

By Billy Rainford

Washington State Arenacross specialist, #1 Ross Johnson, went into the first round of competition in the 2016 Future West Arenacross Championship as the defending and 3-time champion for the Cycle North team. However, Cycle North’s Kourtney Lloyd described it as a “rough night” for the squad, as teammate #21 Davey Fraser also got off to a slow start.

Davey’s night came to an end when he got “taken out by another rider” in the Pro/Am Lites, added Lloyd. Since he hit his head, it was decided he sit out the rest of the night in order to be sharp and ready for round 2 Saturday night. He is IN for tonight.

#21 Davey Fraser will be back in action tonight at Round 2 | Lissimore photo supplied by Cycle North

In the Pro/Am Lites main, Ross was hit by another rider and careened into #8 Keylan Meston. They both went down together and Meston’s bike ended up on top of Ross, ripping his new Shift pants and hurting his hand after pulling the grip right off his bike. Ross was a DNF in the first main of the night.

In the Pro Open main, after #23 Ryleley Gallup crashed with #222 Chris Howell, Ross had a choice to make and decided to fly off the track to avoid the downed riders. He got back on the track but could only muster a 5th place in the final Pro moto of the night.