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Flat track racing gaining traction in the Battlefords

Sep 11, 2016 | 12:00 PM

Due to more exposure, the popularity of dirt bike racing is booming in the west.

The 2nd Annual Flat Track Racing in the Battlefords was held on the North Battleford Exhibition Grounds Saturday, Sept. 10.

Kevin Jones, Canadian Legion of Riders president and event co-host, said they’d hoped to see 500 to 600 people in the stands.

“It looks like we definitely hit that,” he said. “We were easily up 50 per cent from last year.”

dirt bike racing is hugely popular in Ontario with over 100 riders and racers running every week in the province. With luck, he said racing will become just as popular in Saskatchewan.  

The race also had an increase in riders. Fifty riders were on the track this year, compared to 26 last year.

Jones said he was pleased with the turn out but wants to do more next year, adding a swap meet in the morning to hopefully draw an additional 100 to 150 people.

It’s all part of the rising popularity of dirt bike, which Jones said is incredibly popular in the east. With luck, he said racing will become just as popular in Saskatchewan.

“We had a school in June with Flat Track Canada and they are trying to get a western Canadian series like they have out east,” he said.

Currently the North Battleford Exhibition Grounds is the only race facility in Saskatchewan and Alberta, though new tracks will go up in Maidstone, Edam and Alberta.

The Canadian Legion of Riders split all the money made with The Battlefords Ag Society. Their half will go towards equipment for next year and any extra will go towards veteran charities.

 

Greg Higgins is battlefordsNOW’s city municipal affairs and health reporter. He can be reached at ghiggins@jpbg.ca or tweet him @realgreghiggins.