Chantelle Bykerk had her work cut out for her this year to maintain her #1 plate, with former Champions Shelby Turner (2010) and Victoria Hett (2009) returning to the Women's Class. Byrkerk held them off, however, and became the first back to back women's champion.
Stephen Foord continues to charge hard on his Gas Gas. Foord finished first at the Vet EnduroX event at Sacramento and finished fourth in the CECs with a second at Round 3 and a third at Round 4.
Moose, aka CGRT's Shane Cuthbertson, came out of semi retirement to put the power to the ground on his big TE300. He and teammate Ben Rego ruled the roost in Alberta, with Rego taking a pair of wins and Shane taking home two second place finishes.
Jason Schrage returned to Lethbridge Honda this year after a year with Machine Racing out of Ontario. The one time national Champion was looking to improve on his third overall last year, and managed to do so by one position. Schrage finished second behind Prochnau at every round, for a second over all.
When the logs are this big, you know you're at a real enduro. Riders were treated to the 2009 event side, commonly agreed to be the best Alberta enduro ever as far as terrain and tests go.
When IMX spoke to Cole Dobovich this winter, just after his 18th birthday, we asked him what his goals were for his rookie season in Pro. He said top 20 overall and top ten in E2; he fell one position shy of his overall goal finishing 21, but succeeded in his second goal. After four rounds Dobovich finished 6th in E2, narrowly missing the top 5 mark by a margin of 3 points.
Shelby Turner was unable to defend her 2010 championship title last year due to a horrific crash early in the season. Happy, healthy and ready to ride, Turner wicked it up early, winning the season opener. It looked as though things were going to be looking good for the young girl to trade her 50s for a set of shiney #1s, but Tuner was unable to stay in front of Bykerk. With one win and three seconds, Shelby Turner finished second overall.
Ty McKenna is one of a pair of new KTM riders racing out of the Feeding Performance rig this year. Along with KTM teammate Jack Sawaktsy, McKenna made a splash in the E1 class, finsihing fifth over all, with a third place finish at Round 3.
The Man Himself; big, bad Bobby Prochnau. With his third national title on the line, Prochnau didn't pull any punches, sweeping every single podium in the Pro and E2 classes. Don't be too surprised if the BC native continues making a splash downsouth as well; Prochnau narrowly missed out on transfering to the main event at the X Games EnduroX this summer and is a consistant finisher in the regular series.
Racing is serious business for these Orange Ladies. On the top spot we see two time national champion Chantelle Bykerk, with Shelby Turner, the only person (male or female) to win a Western Motocross and Enduro title in the same year, and Lexi Pechout, youngest moto competitor at the X-Games EVER! Well, you know what they say, girls just wanna have fun!
Tyler Murray took his second straight E1 title this year, and finished sixth overall. He faced tough competition by means of experienced riders like Guy Giroux and Jack Sawatzky and fast rookies like Ty McKenna and Philippe Chaine.
This ride puts some serious English on it to keep the bike on course going up hill in the aptly named "Extreme" Test.
This. This is the guy. This is the guy who, along with a small army of volunteers, has brought you four national enduros in Alberta. Clint Riviere is one hell of a guy, and has the stories to prove it. If you ever get the chance, I suggest buying this man a drink and letting him tell you about his experience at the Six Days. Did I mention he's also the proud father of the youngest person to ever compete at a national enduro? Clint's boys, Ben and Tyler, are working their way through the ranks, following in Dad's tire tracks the entire way.
