The Royal Distributing Canadian Cross Country Championship (CXCC) wrapped up with two consecutive weekends of racing. The 28th Annual Monkey Wrench Cross Country was held near Lytton B.C., on June 30, 2013, in 30 degree weather. Kitimat, B.C.’s Ben Rego stayed consistent on his A&E Racing Husaberg TE 300 to finish fourth overall pro.
Ryan Linderman of Hillcrest Mines, Alberta, continues to advance and ride steady in his first year as a pro as he rode in the top five after a great start and finished a respectable ninth overall in a pack of seasoned pros. Corner Grass Racing Team (CGRT) veteran Shane Cuthbertson battled his way forward into fourth until a stump hidden in the tall grass smashed his A&E Racing TE300 pipe into the carb. The carb damage caused a lean condition, eventually causing engine failure. Vernon, B.C.’s Victoria Hett rode great on her Valley Motosport TE 250 to finish fifth in Intermediate, maintaining her lead in the CXCC.
The fourth and final round was held north of Coleman, Alberta, in the flood-ravaged Old Man River area. Shale Shaker organizers had to re-evaluate their plans, as road washouts prevented them from entering into the race area, giving them three days to mark the course. It must be noted that a great job was done by the Crowsnest Enduro Club with such limited time. Ben Rego claimed third place pro in the CXCC Championship as he finished third overall in the gruelling 100-kilometre event. Shane Cuthbertson nailed a fifth place pro after continued struggles with his TE300 left him making the switch to a Husaberg FE 501 minutes before the start of the event. With a valiant effort, Cuthbertson pushed hard with mismatched suspension and a bike many would claim too heavy and powerful for the toughest race of the season, to claim fouth overall in the CXCC Pro Championship. Proving himself once again as a solid up-and-coming pro, Linderman rode his heart out for a seventh place finish at the Shale Shaker and a sixth place position in the final CXCC pro standings. Victoria Hett rode a strong and steady race to nail her Intermediate CXCC Championship.
“We are pleased with the season so far,” said Lee Fryberger, CGRT team manager. “Ben (Rego), a man who has two jobs (and) travels 14 hours one way to the nearest race, has finished on the podium again in a national championship—next to two national champions. It’s clear that Ben has a tremendous amount of natural talent and desire. Ryan (Linderman) has exceeded any of our expectation with his tenacity and results. Of course, Victoria (Hett) has proven herself as a tough competitor with her International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) medals and running the long courses in the intermediate class has rewarded her greatly. Shane (Cuthbertson), as always, never disappoints, and is always there to keep the top guys honest.”
Follow Victoria Hett, Shane Cuthbertson, Ben Rego and Lee Fryberger on Twitter and on Facebook.
Comments