Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/779724
IN THE WIND P28 WINTER X GAMES FEATURES SNOW BIKECROSS C ontinuing its legacy of pioneering new competi- tions, X Games invited a new discipline to its Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado: Snow BikeCross. Through the cooperation of Timbersled, a field of ath- letes aboard converted motocross bikes took to a snow motocross track on Buttermilk Mountain in the first-ever Winter X Snow BikeCross event. The unique event drew out a number of athletes from different disciplines, of course including off-road and motocross riders such as Colton Haaker, Ronnie Faisst, Alfredo Gomez and Jimmy Jarrett. The inaugural Winter X gold went to Canadian Aren- across and Supercross rider Brock Hoyer. The British Colombia native first began riding snow bikes as a way to train year-round, but is quickly emerging as the man to beat in the emerging sport. Silver went to AMA EnduroCross Champion Colton Haaker. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider took time from his busy schedule defending his FIM Super- Enduro World Championship to try out a snow bike, and with only a few days under his belt, he managed to nab an X Games medal. It marked Haaker's first Winter X, though he has competed in Summer X Games many times in Enduro X Racing—a segment he wishes ESPN would bring back to the games. "So many years I was incredibly prepared to take home a medal at X Games," Haaker commented. "And so many times I f'd it up. This X Games I rode a snow bike seven total days [before competing] and matched my best medal finish from the EnduroCross X Games. I hope X Games brings back the Enduro X this summer so I can get a redo." Cody Matechuk, another Canadian out of British Columbia, rounded out the podium, taking the bronze medal. Factory Husqvarna rider Alfredo Gomez fin- ished sixth with Ronnie Faisst finishing just outside the top-10 in 11th place. American riders Axell Hodges and Jimmy Jarrett rounded out the 15-rider field, respec- tively. CN RPM RACING ANNOUNCES 2017 RACE TEAM T he FMF/RPM/KTM Racing Team Maxxis announced its off-road race team for the 2017 season. The team is proud to welcome back its returning cham- pions Eric Yorba, Ty Tremaine, Dante Oliveira and Jesse Ansley along with newly added GNCC racer, Chris Bach. "Our team is stronger than ever this year, and I believe each of our returning champions will be vital leaders on our team," says Team Owner, Mike Hurlbert. Yorba returns for 2017 in the Big 6 and WORCS Pro divisions. Tremaine will stake his claim in the GNCC XC2 division as well as the EnduroCross Pro class. Jesse Ansley will compete in the 250 A division in GNCC. Oliveira is set to join the RPM Racing Team for the next three years. He will race the WORCS Pro2 and AMA Big 6 WCGP events in 2017. New to the team, Bach will make a run in the XC1 championship. Also featured on the 2017 roster for the FMF/RPM/KTM team are Rachel Gutish, Mike Witkowski and Travis Coy. CN Canada's Brock Hoyer topped the first-ever Snow BikeCross event at Winter X Games. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ESPN IMAGES Chris Bach joins the FMF/RPM/ KTM squad as the team prepares to take on the 2017 GNCC season. PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID LANDO