Photo Report | AX Tour | Bowling Green, KY Round 1
By Billy Rainford
After driving through a bit of a snowstorm on the way through Ohio, I finally made it to the University town of Bowling Green, Kentucky, just in time to catch the first round of the Ride 365 AX Tour Presented by FXR. I really wasn’t sure who was going to be competing this year and had no idea which, if any, Canadians would be there. Bowling Green sits almost exACtly half way between my hometown of London, Ontario, and Gainesville, Florida, so it was a perfect race to hit on the way down to the 45th Annual Thor Winter Olympics.
Here’s a quick look at some of the action from the LD Brown AG Expo Center on the Western Kentucky University grounds.
Sam Gaynor (left) and his dad, Jeff, were the only Canadians racing at this round. They actually had to head straight back for a hockey tournament Sunday night! Sam is also a goalie.
There was a good group of young amateur racers ready for action.
It was great to see a bunch of familiar faces, even if they weren’t all that thrilled to see mine. Dan Beaton is the Head Referee for all the AX Tour action.
Barrie, Ontario’s Taylor Ciampichini is another member of the crew.
Lining the entranceway to the track to catch a glimpse of the Pro riders getting ready for action.
What did we do to kill time before races back in the day? Did we bring an abacus to the track?
It’s important to get used to how the gate drops at each track.
#314 Alex Ray gets his intro.
#200 Michael McDade.
#540 Andy Daggett.
#6 Cody Williams.
AX Tour announcer, Keith Finch, will also be racing the Mini O’s this year.
Daggett ended up 12th in the Clash for Cash finale. He was 8th in both the other mains.
#221 Jake McKinney was 11th. His best main was a 6th in Pro Open.
Samuel Redman fans getting ready to high 5 a low 5.
This guy was pumped to win his first big bike race in the Beginner class.
The Zambonis put on a great show as they smoothed out the track. Can I say that?
Mini dads were in full effect.
Billings was the class of the field.
The youngest class gets ready to go.
These guys again.
Everyone got a high five.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen these in North America. Jeff, anyone wear these? He’ll know…
Pro riders getting ready to pick their gates.
Cody Williams getting set.
They smashed into my camera EVERY time they rode by. Didn’t miss me once!
A heat race blasting off.
Nobody could touch her in the Women’s or Vet class.
Zachary Bishop-Burnett (can we short-form this to ZB2?) gives McDade the old look-over.
#28 Sam Gaynor raced Schoolboy and won the Novice class.
He was having some fun over the finish line catapult.
High five, sam.
Here’s how the Pro mains went.
ZB2 got out to a great start and finished 2nd in the Pro Open main. He was 9th in the Clash.
#101 Dylan Rouse took 8th in the Clash. His best was 6th in the Lites main.
#97 Dillon Cloyed took 7th. He grabbed 4th in the Lites main.
#401 Samuel Redman easily had the biggest fan base. He took 6th in the Clash and 8th in Open.
#6 Cody Williams rounded out the top 5.
#314 Alex Ray had a solid night with a 4th in the Clash and a 3rd in the Open main.
#44 Ben Nelko and #9 Daniel Herrlein went back and forth a couple times for the lead in the Lites main.
Herrlein uses the downed rider to full advantage here.
Nelko finished 3rd in the Clash, 2nd in Lites and 5th in Open.
#200 Michael McDade was runner up in the Clash.
He was 4th in Open and 3rd in Lites.
This was the view everyone got of #9 Daniel Herrlein all night.
He was undefeated in all three mains.
Getting out front early is always the name of the game in Arenacross.
Clash for Cash Podium: Daniel Herrlein, Michael McDade, Ben Nelko.
Heading into the whoops.
There’s always some carnage in AX.
Young #425 ripping his 65.
Trevor Tate gets it a little wrong heading into the whoops. He was 9th in the Lites main.
Tate comin’ at cha.
McDade with the right wrist twisted.
Hey, Cody, high five…or 30!
Round 2 takes place December 3rd in Batesville, MS. Team Redman says, See you at the races…
