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The Rockstar Energy Triple Crown series arrived in Calgary, Alberta for round 2 of the AX Tour Championship. Riders and teams were anxiously awaiting the dry and sifted rodeo dirt of the Western Agrium Centre that always creates a great racing track. The track for this weekend’s race had a technical rhythm section followed by a deep set of whoops that were separating riders who were able to put in the proper off-season AX training.
With the NHL playoffs game night heating up in the arena located directly next to the Arenacross race, the atmosphere and city were buzzing. As lifelong hockey fan, Dylan Wright wanted to support the city’s team and came out for opening ceremonies wearing a Calgary Flames jersey.
During the MX2 qualifications, GDR/Honda Canada/Fox Racing’s Wright grabbed the holeshot in his heat race and went on to lead every lap on route to his second heat race win of the season. Fox Racing support rider Brad Nauditt also grabbed the holeshot in his heat race and put in a good battle for the win but would have to settle for the 2nd place spot.
In Arenacross, the tight confines of the area make the starts the most crucial element to the race. As the gate dropped for the first dry Main Event of the season, Brad Nauditt got the Royal Distributing holeshot award and lead for the opening six laps of the race before being passed by a lurking Dylan Wright. Wright went on to lead the remaining laps of the race on the way to his first victory of the season. Nauditt had his hands full for the next seven laps before being overtaken with two laps remaining and he finished the race in 3rd place.
Leaving Calgary with his first victory of the season, the MX2 series points lead and the MX2 Triple Crown points lead, Dylan and the GDR/Honda Canada/Fox Racing team will now have all eyes on them as they carry the red plate into Round 3.
AX Tour Round 2 Race Results:
1st – Dylan Wright
2nd – Marco Cannella
3rd – Brad Nauditt
4th – Jyire Mitchel
5th – Luke Renzland
AX Tour MX2 Series Standings:
1st – Dylan Wright – 51 pts
2nd – Marco Cannella – 50 pts
3rd – Luke Renzland – 48 pts
4th – Brad Nauditt – 45 pts
5th – Tyler Medaglia – 45 pts
Round 3 of the AX Tour will be in Sarnia, Ontario at the Progressive Auto Center. For more info on the Rockstar Energy Triple Crown series, visit; http://www.rockstartriplecrown.com
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Photos by: @freeridenewzealand
The off-season training put in by the Fox MTB team paid off big at the kickoff to the 2019 season - Crankworx Rotorua. Threatening skies held off most of the week and the dirt was prime for racing and ripping all week long. With 2 wins and 10 podiums across the 7 different disciplines the Fox athletes made Rotorua feel like a second home for Fox fans in attendance!
For the second year in a row, Brett Rheeder started his season off with a bang. Adding multiple new tricks to his program, he rode a nearly flawless run to capture the top step of the podium in the annual Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza.
Anthony Messere was riding on the limit all week and put together a great run to place 6th in the Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza. His top six finish means he's punched his ticket into the next round at Crankworx Innsbruck!
Finn Iles put in a blistering run in the warmest conditions of the week in the men’s Crankworx Rotorua Downhill. He rode clean and in control and his performance left him just 0.09 seconds off the top step of the podium. It was a great performance, but being so close left him a little frustrated - something he will use as motivation for next month's Maribor!
It was a disappointing start to the year for current UCI DH World Champ Loic Bruni as a flat in the top section of the course derailed his chances in Friday's Crankworx DH race. He looked good in training and was ready to compete in his first test of the 2019 season. Always a fan favorite, Loic lightened a bad moment as he asked a spectator for his pump and tried to bring the tire back to life. "I just wanted to finish," said Loic moments after the race. This has motivated him even more for the first UCI DH race in Maribor.
Tahnée Seagrave battled through multiple injuries throughout the week to put together a great set of results. She rode multiple disciplines and ended up with three third-place finishes - Dual Slalom, Downhill, and Pump Track. Truly an all-around talent, Tahnée is also a crowd favorite who made the Rotorua fans feel special all week long!
Speaking of fan favorites, local boy Keegan Wright was the hardest working athlete in Rotorua. Competing in nearly every pro men’s division race, he finished the event with a silver medal in both Pump Track and EWS as well as taking the top step in the Crankworx Dual Slalom. His amazing overall performance finds him in second place overall for the King of Crankworx points!
Bas van Steenbergen was another all-around performer in Rotorua. He finished second behind teammate Keegan Wright in the Dual Slalom and was the only Fox athlete to podium in the Rotorua Air DH. These points have him in the running for the overall King of Crankworx title.
Look for Fox MTB athletes at the start of the UCI DH World Cup season in the historic Maribor, Slovenia and then at the second stop of the Crankworx series in Innsbruck, Austria.
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