Round 7 Ryde FX Pro Snowcross Event

Kitchener, ON

With the warm weather and early spring the biggest obstacle to overcome for
the Kitchener race at the Chicopee ski hill was making sure all racers and
potential spectators knew that YES, the race was on!  The weather Saturday
didn't disappoint, as the beautiful CSRA prepared track was waiting under
sunny skies.  Saturdays weather drew out a huge spectator crowd in
Kitchener, just down the road from Royal Distributing's headquarters.

In Saturday's Pro Stock motos the Royal Distributing Rockstar SkiDoo XP's
were adapting well to the warm weather, as the Pros dashed up the big ski
hill and raced their way down each lap.  Royal Distributing guest rider
Steve Taylor was more than happy with his sleds as he finished the
qualifying moto's with a first and a second.  Pro Lee Butler won his first
moto, and ended up fifth in his second moto.  Lee put to rest any doubts
about his leg which he injured in Sarnia.  The time off was just what Lee
needed to get his leg back in shape.   In Saturdays Pro Stock final, Steve
Taylor and Lee both were battling at the front of the pack, when in separate
incidents, both had dismounts which required them to fight back to the
front.  Lee fought back to finish third while Steve settled for fourth.
Both riders knew they were faster than they finished and put their
frustration directly into the Pro Open coming up to end the day.  Steve won
his Open moto to finish off Saturday while Lee came up with a hard fought
third place.

For Team Royal's Dylan Hall, the ski hill at Chicopee is essentially his
home race, as he grew up and resides in close by Ayr, ON.  Dylan has had a
very solid rookie campaign and attacked the hill on this weekend.  Saturday
was almost perfect for Dylan, as he put his Factory Recreation prepared Open
Mod on top for most of the day.  Dylan won both his motos and fought to a
second place finish in the final before his hometown fans.  Dylan had a near
perfect points day as he took home 77 of a possible 80 points, his closest
rival tallying 74.

Sunday, the weather looked threatening and the snow was dwindling, but the
crew had kept the track in top shape overnight and everything was ready to
race, rain or shine.   Dylan Hall gave the fans more of the same on Sunday
as he completed his qualifying motos with a first and a second.  The second
place coming with some drama as he cart wheeled the sled just past the
finish line. Dylan came away with only his pride hurt and some bent a-arms.
The Hall Transport crew bolted up some parts and the sled was ready for the
final.  In the final, Dylan did exactly what all his supporters came out to
see him do, as he handily won the second last race of the day, as the skies
began to open.

In Sunday's Pro Open motos, Lee and Steve stayed on the podium and put on
some good battles with Mike Island and Iain Hayden's Yamaha.  Steve came
away with a third and a first in his motos as Butler nailed a first and a
second.   The last race of the weekend was sure to be exciting as the pros
lined up under increasingly heavier rain.  Off the line it was the big
Yamaha of Hayden followed by Taylor's Royal Rockstar Skidoo.  Butler got
pinched in the pack off the line and had to battle from midpack.  It wasn't
long before the bright yellow Royal sleds were moving towards the front, as
Taylor powered by Hayden to take the lead.  Butler had moved into third and
was chasing down the two leaders.  As a race fan, you couldn't help but
anticipate the battle between three great riders.  Just then, Butlers sled
had a small electrical part shake loose and it slowed to a stop near the top
of the hill.  As Lee dejectedly walked back to the trailer, Taylor kept his
lead and came away with the checkered flag.

Stay tuned as its all on the line this weekend, April 10th and 11th!   The
Dayco National Championships are ON this weekend, the ski hill at Horseshoe
Valley Resort has lots of snow stockpiled and the CSRA crew will be building
a world class track.   Visit www.snowcross.com for event details.  Lee
Butler puts his points lead in Pro Stock National on the line and enters the
weekend tied for the Pro Open National points lead.  Lee and the entire
Royal team with be working hard to bring both titles back to the trailer
this year, as defending champions.  It's been a long season and it all comes
down to one weekend.  Come out and support world class Snowcross racing in
Canada!

Special thanks to Ski Doo, Rockstar Energy Drink, FXR, Kimpex, Ipone Oil,
Studboy Traction, HMK Boots, Hercules Distributing/Fox Racing Shox, Oakley
Eyewear, Jaws Performance, JR Hall Transport, C and A Pro Skis, OGIO and
Manitoulin Motorsports.  Jackie Legge Photos