Two Maple Ridge teens became champions in indoor motocross over the weekend.
The Future West Canadian Arenacross championship is a two-month long series that raced through tracks in Armstrong, Cloverdale and wrapped up in Chilliwack last week.
Jaiden Scott,13, won the Open Junior B class, and Liam Bowden, 14, took the beginner class.
Scott won the Rock Star Energy nationals in Kamloops earlier this year, so his accomplishments are starting to stack up. Having had such success as a Junior B racer, he will jump to Junior A next year. From there, only wins in the intermediate class stand between him and turning pro.
He made the jump from a 100 to a 250 c.c. bike this year, which is like going from a carousel horse to a thoroughbred. He’s loving his Kawasaki 250 F, and the advantage it gives him in the critical holeshot – right off the starting line. Scott finished the prestigious series with two first-place finishes, one third and enough other high finishes to score him the most points in the series.
Bowden has been riding dirt bikes since he was six years old, but this was his first year competing. Racing against adults, he surprised himself with his consistent high finishes.
“He has never raced before, and just went out there and kicked butt,” said Jaiden.
Jaiden also was still in kindergarten when he got his first pocket bike. Now he’s a sponsored racer, and Holeshot Motorsports racing gives him parts, gear and graphics.
He credits his father with giving him a passion for the sport.
“He taught me how to jump, and how to stick landings,” he said. “We would practice at the track every Tuesday, and go racing on weekends.”
Scott’s dad Kevin started racing last year, and was the top beginner in the series. They have created a course on the back of their property on 256th Street to practice on.
Kevin said the sport is great for riders old and young, and can be as social as it is competitive.
“It’s a real family-oriented sport.”