Racer X Canada - motocross and supercross news and features from around Canada

Gopher Dunes Spring Classic Photo Report
APRIL 15, 2008

Photos by Dan Stenning. Danny Brault, and Billy Rainford

The 2008 Southwestern Ontario racing season kicked off in the whooped out dunes of Gopher Dunes in Courtland, Ontario last Sunday. The morning started off with cool temps, high winds, and snow falling, but by noon, the sun came out for a pleasant day of racing.

Rider turnout was lower than normal for the opener, but I think it made for a relaxing day for riders, track workers, and the Schuster family. It also kept the track from getting too rough for the first race of the year.

Steve Matthes was harping on me for posting a photo report full of sweater-wearing riders, which is odd of him because he too experienced racing in the Canadian Spring. I concur that sweatshirts aren't the most stylish, but it's still racing!

Machine Racing Honda's Kyle Keast got the jump on the local competition at Gopher Dunes. The infamous Burke vs. Keast battle never happened, unfortunately. Burke's CRF450 broke down on Friday and he couldn't get it repaired in time. That made things relatively easy for Keast, as he really had no challengers on this day. Keast swept the GP Pro and Youth classes.

photo: Brault

Does anyone love racing motocross more than Bill Van Vugt Sr. (83) and Embert Berkers (724)? I don't believe so. I see these two every single Sunday. These two warriors have been at longer than 98 percent of us. Berkers finished third overall in Plus 40 behind Ken Gimour and Karl Asta, while his buddy Billy suffered mechanical problems in the first moto, putting an end to his day.

photo: Brault

Derek Hamm (94) and Kyle Stephens (573) had a great battle going in the first GP Pro moto. Hamm beat Stephens in the first moto, but the Edge Performance Kawasaki rider's 4-2 earned him second overall, with Hamm going 3-3 for third. It's the first time Hamm and Stephens raced 450's, we believe. Also, Stephens is now pro after two seasons as an intermediate - and he's still 15 years old!

photo: Brault

Ignition Racing's Johnny Silegren had a quiet but consistent day, finishing sixth overall in GP Pro and fourth in Youth. Silegren's rode a few times this winter at the Val-Des-Monts indoor track, but this was only his second time riding outdoors. He didn't even have his new national number 83 on!

photo: Brault

Dylan Kaelin is moving along quickly. The 2007 Walton TransCan Gaerne Bronze Boot winner had a great ride in the first GP Pro moto for second (way, way) behind Keast. He should be a contender in the provincials this summer.

photo: Stenning

Kawasaki rider Steve Shore kicked butt, sweeping both 125 Intermediate motos! He's gotta be confident heading into the season. Check out that Simpson racing gear too.

photo: Stenning

MX101’s Shawn Robinson was looking strong until he waved one of his arms and disappeared.

photo: Rainford

Jolene Van Vugt was riding well in the sand, but so were some other women. Van Vugt probably wasn't happy finishing sixth in the first moto, but she came back to win the second moto.

photo: Stenning

Considering it's the first race of the year, it wasn't too crazy to see these things happen.

photo: Stenning

The berms were big enough to swallow a mini. Nathan Bless knocked himself out but as a few people were running for the medics and to direct traffic, he was up, gone, and racing his way up to second. Wow! Be sure to check that helmet for damage.

photo: Rainford