Kirkland Lake CSRA National Race Report

Courtesy Mark Fries

The Royal Distributing / Factory Recreation Pro Xtreme Team unloaded in Kirkland Lake with high hopes of extending their points lead in the various classes after a good round of productive testing. Things started out well on Friday night, as the three day national event raced under the lights. #202 Semi-Pro Joey Sagan was flying and was able to run at the front of the pack all night on both his Open Mod sled and on the 440 REV. Pro Rider #93 Iain Hayden started out front and stayed there in both the Pro Stock 440 class, and Pro Open Mod class.

On Saturday, it was more of the same for both riders, as Iain swept his 440 heats, and Joey had firsts and seconds. In Pro Open, technical gremlins began to bite the Royal team, as Iain had motor issues in both his heats on Saturday, resulting in DNF's. Team Royal Super Tuner Wayne Legge and Jason Smith worked late into the night to replace the motor and get things ready for Sundays competition.

Iain went out Sunday with something to prove, and swept the day in convincing style with huge leads in both Pro Stock and Pro Open. Iain is 12 for 12 in CSRA-only finals and has still not lost a CSRA-only final this year. Not to be outdone in the technical bad luck department, Joey Sagan had leads in both the Semi Pro Stock and Semi Pro Open finals evaporate into DNF's with race ending technical problems. Joey was super-fast and running up front in both finals when the bad luck hit.

The team has a couple weeks off to regroup and will be stronger than ever when the series starts up again on March 25th in Kitchener, at the Chicopee Ski Hill. Thanks for all the help from Factory Recreation, Ski-Doo, FXR clothing, Kimpex, CKX, Ipone Lubricants, HMK boots, Studboy Traction, Spy eyewear, and TekVest.