Women’s West Final Round Race Report
By Billy Rainford
This week’s racing coverage is sponsored by BlackFoot Direct. Be sure to give them a look.
The 3-round Schrader’s Women’s West Nationals came to an end today from Wild Rose MX Park in Calgary, AB. Heading into the last 2 motos, #2 Kennedy Lutz held a 6-pont lead over #3 Sara King. Unfortunately, a mid-week fall has injured Kennedy’s knee forcing her to miss this final round. Sitting behind King in 3rd was #631 Rachel Springman.
KTM Canada’s Claudie Lapointe checking out the Women’s West action. – Bigwave photo
The day started out sunny but the temperature was only around the 12-15-degree mark. The overnight rain had the track in perfect condition and the crew had made a few changes to the track that saw riders staying in sight of the spectators a little longer.
Moto 1
When the gate dropped for the first moto, it was #3 King out front early with #6 Brittany Danyluk looking for a way around on the first lap. Danyluk would, in fact, get around King after the International Jump but King came right back to regain the lead. Behind them was #50 Shelby Turner who has been away from moto for the past couple years as she takes a shot at the Endurocross and X-Games scene. Trailing her was another off-road specialist, Lexi Pechout.
#3W Sara King grabs the first moto holeshot and after a short battle with #6 Brittany Danyluk took the win. – Bigwave photo
At the end of the first lap, the order was: King, Danyluk, Turner (right on her back wheel), then a gap back to Pechout, #8 Bailee Pozdnekoff, #7 Dominique Daffé, #11 Tamala Whiteside, Springman and #30 Courtney Stelter. Well back in around 15th was series #5 points holder, #5 Jamie Munro.
King and Danyluk went at it for the first lap of moto1. – Bigwave photo
#5 Jamie Munro had an off day that would cost her 5th position in the standings. – Bigwave photo
By the second lap, the top 3 were already into lappers and it would make things interesting on the leaders as they weaved their way through, as blue flags were waved around the track by Daryl Murphy and co-organizer Denaye Arnett. Behind the top 3, Pechout, Pozdnekoff and Springman were having a great fight.
#631 Rachel Springman said she spun during both starts and had to fight her way up through the field. Here she is with #151 Lexi Pechout. – Bigwave photo
By lap 6, King had established a bit of a gap on Turner who, in turn, had a bit or space over Danyluk. Behind her there was a large gap back to Springman who had passed the other two ladies and was trying to gain ground on the top 3. Munro had moved her way up to 9th at this point.
Unfortunately, #204 Aleesa Davenport fell and suffered a displaced collarbone on her left side. It wasn’t broken, but it was floating in a position it wasn’t supposed to be in.
#7 Dominique Daffé fighting with #8 Bailee Pzdnekoff. – Bigwave photo
At the flag, King took the checkers well ahead of Turner, Danyluk, Springman, Pechout, Daffé, Pozdnekoff, Stelter and Munro.
Moto 2
Shelby Turner got out to the early lead when the gate dropped on the final moto of the western series. She quickly established a bit of a lead and at the end of the first lap it was Turner, Danyluk and King (who were wheel to wheel), Pechout, Pozdnekoff, Daffé, Stelter, Springman, #250 Megan Arnemann, #99 Annie Bisson, Munro, #470 Charity Bachman, #334 Camille Bunko, and #10 Danika White.
#50 SHelby Turner took a break from Endurocross to mix it up with the moto crowd. She finished with 2-2 motos. – Bigwave photo
By the 3rd lap, King had closed right up on Turner and the two riders went at it tooth and nail for a few laps until King was able to build a gap on the KTM rider. Danyluk now rode alone in 3rd with a gap back to the Springman/Pechout battle. They had built a gap to Daffé, Pozdnekoff, Stelter, and Munro.
Turner with Danyluk chasing. – Bigwave photo
The hail and rain started at the 1/2 point of the moto and riders now had to decide whether or not to struggle with smeared goggles or take them off. Turner was trying to chase King out front but was forced to remove her goggles and was clearly paying the price. She would later say she couldn’t really see without them, but it was even worse with them.
Danyluk was not impressed with her final lap tangle with lapped riders. – Bigwave photo
Turner still held a good lead over Danyluk, who now had her hands full with Springman as the two put on the battle of the moto. The battle would rage until the two were on their final lap and in traffic when Danyluk would fall and hand the position to Springman.
The rain returned just in time for the prize table ceremony. – Bigwave photo
Another one of the better battles on the track was between Watt and White who fought over 11th and 12th. There were little pockets of fights all around the track in both motos.
#498 Madi Watt went down hard and still managed 11-11 motos for 9th and the ‘Most Improved Rider’ award. – Bigwave photo
In the end, the 2 motos were won by Sara King who showed she was the fastest rider over the 3 rounds, with Kennedy Lutz missing from the final round. But, like the old saying goes, “You have to be there to win!”
Sara King took both moto wins and the Women’s West Championship. – Bigwave photo
Of course, the rain ended as soon as the checkered flag waved and we were all soaked to the bone. The sun came out and stayed out until the draw table started at 3:30. It was almost as if Mother Nature was against women’s moto!
Results:
1. 2 Sara King HON 1-1
2. 50 Shelby Turner KTM 2-2
3. 631 Rachel Springman YAM 4-3
4. 6 Brittany Danyluk SUZ 3-4
5. 151 Lexi Pechout 5-5
6. 7 Dominique Daffé YAM 6-6
7. 30 Courtney Stelter HON 8-7
8. 8 Bailee Pozdnekoff SUZ 7-8
9. 498 Madi Watt YAM 11-11
10. 10 Danika White KTM 10-12
11. 73 Kate Lees KAW 13-10
12. 5 Jamie Munro KTM 9-15
13. 250 Megan Arnemann HON 14-13
14. 44 Nicole Gaudern KAW 15-14
15. 99 Annie Bisson KTM 22-9
16. 11 Tamala Whiteside YAM 12-36
17. 96 Carly Hill YAM 16-18
18. 334 Camille Bunko SUZ 20-16
19. 138 Kirsten Tse YAM 19-17
20. 93 Jamie Routley HON 18-20
21. 470 Charity Bachman HON 17-27
22. 89 Katy Hopkins KAW 21-19
23. 641 Jackie Schott KAW 24-21
24. 144 Cara Dadswell HON 29-22
25. 122 Bobby Jo Campagna YAM 27-23
26. 51 Melissa Harten HON 28-24
27. 216 Amiee Carter HON 23-25
28. 147 Chelan Merwin HON 26-26
29. 874 Tori Laperriere KAW 34-28
30. 39 Daniell Pettis KAW 25-29
31. 241 Lisa Matechuk YAM 32-30
32. 115 Hailey Alexander KAW 39-31
33. 452 Alex Lee KTM 35-32
34. 222 Margot Kirkwood KTM 37-33
35. 65 Nicolette Miller KTM 38-34
36. 18 Carlene Johnson KAW 36-35
37. 189 Megan Klain HON DNF-37
38. 957 Jamie Cyr YAM 30-DNF
39. 204 Aleesa Davenport YAM 31-DNF
40. 153 Tyler Gallup HSK 33-DNF
Sara King took the win and the overall in the standings. – Bigwave photo
Final Standings:
1. 3 Sara King HON 141
2. 631 Rachel Springman YAM 118
3. 6 Brittany Danyluk SUZ 110
4. 2 Kennedy Lutz YAM 97
5. 7 Dominique Daffé YAM 89
6. 5 Jamie Munro KTM 81
7. 498 Madi Watt YAM 67
8. 334 Camille Bunko SUZ 58
9. 73 Kate Lees KAW 57
10. 10 Danika White KTM 50
11. 250 Megan Arnemann HON 50
12. 30 Courtney Stelter HON 49
13. 99 Annie Bisson KTM 48
14. 50 Shelby Turner KTM 44
15. 470 Charity Bachman HON 37
16. 151 Lexi Pechout 32
17. 44 Nicole Gaudern KAW 29
18. 8 Bailee Pozdnekoff SUZ 27
19. 138 Kirsten Tse YAM 26
20. 96 Carly Hill YAM 24
Women’s West Final Standings: King, Springman, Danyluk, Lutz (not shown), and Daffé. – Bigwave photo
