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First off I want to apologize for such a short column last week… there were some “technical” difficulties. I also started a new job a few weeks ago that has me working 12 hour days (and its physical labour), so I have been sleeping any spare time I have (and not working on DMX, which I should be doing). I am beyond exhausted; however I do enjoy my day job. I am back with horses, which is what I know best (Canadian women’s motocross is what I know second best!).

Sand del Lee is this weekend. The finale. The show down. The end of the national women’s season. Already? I super stoked about this round. I love the track and it’s not too far from home.

Without KTM Canada’s Jacqueline Ross in the mix, Heidi Cooke (Cernics Kawasaki) has been dominating; winning all motos. She’s obviously leading the series and she’s 57 points ahead of second place Jocelyn Killough. Let’s just say that Heidi’s already won the championship. I hope that she still races Sand del Lee. Maybe Sarah Whitmore will show up?

2009 Women’s National Standings
(after four rounds)

1. #2 Heidi Cooke – 200 pts
2. #4 Jocelyn Killough - 143
3. #10 Denaye Giroux - 138
4. #159 Sara LaLiberte - 126
5. #59 Karly Pozdenkoff - 117
6. #34 Camille Baker - 105
7. #8 Sylvie Levasseur - 103
8. #6 Amber Giroux - 97
9. #94 Kate McKerroll - 75
10. #818 Cindy Trudel – 70

Riverglade (round 4)

1. Heidi Cooke
2. Denaye Giroux
3. Kate McKerroll
4. Sara LaLiberte
5. Sylvie Levasseur
6. Camille Baker
7. Alexandra Josey
8. Karly Pozdenkoff
9. Amber Giroux
10. Cindy Trudel
11. Jocelyn Killough

Quoteable:

(Since I didn’t get this in last column, here it is a few weeks late. Sorry)

Rockstar Suzuki OTSFF’s Jocelyn Killough on round 3 (Gopher Dunes):

“[Gopher Dunes] didn`t go as planned for me. I felt pretty good first moto and had a good gap between myself and third place, but then second moto the track was crazy rough and I just was not riding like I did in the first moto. Kate McKerroll was riding really good in the second moto and we were battling pretty hard back and forth. With just a few laps to go I started getting tired and hit a bad braking bump in the front sweeper and crashed pretty hard. I was a little sore and slow to get back on the bike and going again but I managed to save some points and finish sixth still. I was pretty disappointed with my weekend especially since it was my home track but that`s racing. I guess and on the bright side, I don`t think Denaye and Sara gained many points on me today for the series. I still have a comfortable lead over them going into the last two rounds.”

Note: Jocelyn finished Gopher – 4^th (2-6)

Schrader’s Yamaha’s Denaye Giroux:

“Moto 1... I fell in the first turn. I went from dead last to fourth. That was probably the best race I have ever done. I didn't get tired and wasn't losing seconds on my lap times. I wish that race would have been longer (laughs). As for moto 2, I got an ok start. I was in fourth for most of the moto unti Joc fell, then moved up to third, fell over in a corner about two laps to go, so Karly caught up to me pretty quick but luckily no one got by me when I was down. That track was brutal by that second moto! I am just happy that I finished the race. I think all the girls should be proud for even being out there! Overall, I finished second, so of course I am pretty pumped about that; and that will definitely help me out in the points.”

Cindy Trudel (Kawasaki Canada/JAC Motosport/Kimpex/Bell/Torco):

 “Gopher Dunes is the roughness race that I’ve done. In Québec, the ladies race on the first or second heat after track maintenance... so we always race on a beautiful track. It's very hard for me and Sara (Laliberte) to have good results this weekend. But you know, I’m just proud of myself for finishing, after my come back this year. I finished 13-11 (for 11^th overall). “

Casondra Greene:

“Gopher was ok for me, I finished 14th with a 14-12, but felt I rode ok. The motos were rough and very long!  The second moto was over 29 minutes! Gopher was going to be the deciding point for me; I told myself going in if I was in the top 15 in the series after Gopher I would go East if not I wouldn't as I'm broke and really can't afford to. I'm now sitting 15th and am trying to find some way to make the east happen.”

Note: Casondra made it to Riverglade and rode her IMX/MPI Yamaha 14-15 for 15^th overall.

New Way Motorsports Kawasaki’s Karly Podznekoff:

“Gopher went well for me. I didn’t have the best starts but was able to make my way up through the pack. I’m pretty happy with my fifth and fourth finishes! The track was super rough but it made for a great weekend of racing!”

Note: Karly was 6^th overall at Gopher Dunes

Ami Houde

Here’s a late note from Canada’s wildest moto-girl, Ami Houde, who raced Millville amateurs last month. She lined up against two WMA pros, including 35-year-old Taressa Rau. Ami had an interesting ride, as she usually does, showcasing her fluorescent pink cast…

“I raced with my broken arm and a cast, did decent first moto, holeshot, but couldn’t go fast in the whoops, because of my arm. I finished fourth. Then second moto, I hit a Lucas Oil post and dislocated my shoulder, lacerated my arm, hip pointer and concussion. But the weekend was fun. I hung out with some old friends, Jimmy Albertson, who just happened to be travelling with Ryan Lockhart. Me and Martin Davalos, who is also gimped out with a re-broken leg, just sat in the sand whoop section and watched some awesome racing both high on Vicodin! Oh well, no luck for me this year! And to top things off I found out I have Pneumonia! So I have to take the rest of the summer off and relax. I’m working on a ride in the USA for next year…pretty exciting! But that bout wraps it up!”

Ami plans on road tripping to Walton TransCan as a spectator. She’s looking forward to racing WMA next year, where she said “the girls ride different; better style, [they] jump everything…”

Ami riding with cast

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