What a week! Burlin, Bubba and Supercamp had over over 80 riders training for 3 days in preparation of the Harbour City Nationals. Wednesday we had our annual Race For Life with 21 motos and several past bmx’ers coming out and racing in support of the BC Children’s Hospital. Friday’s National pre-race saw 41 motos roll out as campers and vehicles continued to arrive for the Saturday and Sunday Harbour City National race weekend. Many old faces and friends were reunited over the week and many new friendships were made.
Nanaimo’s very own ”A Pro” Steven Creighton came out in Saturday’s Pro Class Qualifiers by winning all three motos, much to the delight of the home crowd. In the main, Steven controlled the race through to midway in the rhythym section, where he had California A Pro rider Thomas Vellejo closing in. As both riders exited the last turn for the finish line it became a drag race down to the wire. With the 1000 plus spectators on their feet, Steven’s quest for the A Pro Main Event Win was not to be….. as Thomas Vellejo got it at the line. A great main event for the A Pro action. Vellejo also won Sunday’s A Pro main. Steven didn’t race Sunday as he is off to South Africa for the 2010 UCI World Championships in Pietermaritzburg that will be held from July 29 - August 1, Good luck Steven. For full race results for the weekend go to Harbour City Nationals race results.
Both Nationals had 84 motos with well over 400 riders competing each day. Special events included the Radio Controlled 1/8 scale electric and nitro powered cars race. Capable of reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h these little power machines were rippin up the track and flying over the doubles and triples to the crowd’s delight. Thanks to Mike Mercer, Tanya and the RC gang for putting on a great show. Our first ever National Run Bike Race (bikes without pedals) was a huge success with the main event winner going to 3yr. old Brody Thorogood, Jackson Goldstone was 2nd , Tyson Cuesta was 3rd, Tana Botchar was 4th and Chantelle Strobiki finished 5th. We also had our Pit Bike races (16 inch wheels) with the 10 under class winner Tyson Tufts and the 11 and over winner - Trevor Davidson (3rd consecutive year). Time trial winners were 9 yr old Connor Martin with a time of 44.32 in the 10 and under and 13 yr old Baily Mchale Boulter with a time of 40.17 in the 11 and over class. The A Pro Main Event was clocked at 32.22 sec.
After the special events on Saturday, the Braeden Marshal band rocked the house while everyone enjoyed Nanaimo’s famous Salmon BBQ. It was a great weekend of racing and an event that the club can be very proud of. Thanks to the many many people that worked so hard before, during and after the event to help make the Harbour City Nationals a huge success. And a Big thank you to all the out of town riders that travelled to the island to help make our weekend so special. Hope you all enjoyed Nanaimo’s hospitality and will visit again. See you in Prince George…….
