Royal Distributing - Factory Recreation Rockstar Energy Race Report: Round 5 CSRA Royal Distributing Cup National Snowcross Event

Royal Distributing-Factory Recreation Rockstar Energy Race Report
Round 5 CSRA Royal Distributing Cup National Snowcross Event (Feb. 13-14, 2010)

Innisfil, ON - This race was circled on the calendar in the Royal trailer all season, with team sponsors Royal Distributing sponsoring and hosting the race.   The entire Royal Distributing Rockstar Energy team was completely stoked at performing in front of fans and sponsors alike. 

Lee Butler had taken home the Royal Cup the previous year and anything less from the Rockstar riders would have been a disappointment.   The team had a strong start to the weekend and ran well in the Pro Stock qualifiers, but failed to chalk up a checkered flag.  During the break in the action before the night program, Wayne and the Factory Recreation crew went over the sleds in an effort to extract every ounce of performance for the Pro Stock Final. 

Joey Sagan, #202 was still nursing an injury suffered in the previous race in Owen Sound. He rode through pain to recover from a poor start and made some timely passes and move up into 4th place.  A heartbroken Sagan stopped 50 yards from the finish line due to a fuel pump problem.  Sometimes racing luck is with you and sometimes it isn’t.  Up front, Lee Butler battled for the first few laps and then began to check out on the field as he took a commanding lead to the checkers in the long 20 lap final. 

As part of the crowd-pleasing Saturday night show, the Pros lined up the Pro Open sleds to treat the crowd to the first of three Pro Open motos, the balance to be run on Sunday.  Racing luck bit the Royal team again, as a mechanical malfunction foiled competitor Dave Joanis on lap 2 and forced Royal’s Joey Sagan to take evasive action in mid-air.

As the field rolled through, Joey was in the racing line and was clipped, effectively ending his season with a broken leg as he was taken to hospital.  The entire Royal Rockstar Factory Recreation team wishes Joey a speedy recovery and we know he will come back with a vengeance next year.  As the saying goes, the show must go on, and throughout the rest of the Pro Open motos and final Lee Butler battled with Iain Hayden for top spot. Lee persevered and brought home the Royal Cup once again this year, sweeping the Pro Stock and Open Finals on the weekend.  Lee now shares the overall points lead and looks forward to trying to bring home his second consecutive title. 

“We worked so hard for this race, and it was very important to me to take home the Royal Cup for the guys!  It’s a bittersweet victory, my thoughts are with Joey and how he’s doing, so this one’s for him!”

Semi Pro rookie Dylan Hall continued his strong season of learning the Semi-Pro ranks while showing more of his blistering speed.  Dylan finished up the weekend with some podium finishes in his motos and a 5th place in the Semi-Pro stock final.

Special thanks to Ski Doo, Rockstar Energy Drink, FXR, Kimpex, Ipone Oil, Studboy Traction, HMK Boots, Hercules Distributing/Fox Racing Shox, Oakley Eyewear, Jaws Performance, JR Hall Transport, C and A Pro Skis, OGIO and Manitoulin Motorsports. Photos by Gary Debock
       
From Mark Fries // mfries@royaldistributing.com