WECBook
WECBook
WECBook
2010
Suzanne Howie
W ell, another one is in the
books; the 2010 edition of World
Enduro Canada/Royal Distributing’s
Canadian Enduro Championship,
presented by Parts Canada is over. Boy
was it an amazing ride!
Bigger and better than last year,
once again, I was lucky enough to be
along for the ride again.
It started at Machine Racing, in
Sharon, Ontario, where the Captain,
aka Yamaha/Machine Racing’s Brian
“Wojo” Wojnarowski, and I set out on
our 50 hour journey from Ontario to
Blairmore, Alberta.
Between Blairmore and Pentic-
ton, BC, I accompanied another group
of Ontarians, Lockhart’s Suzuki rider
Chris Van Hove and Machine Honda
rider Bryan “Swampy” Marshall.
Parry Sound is the “local” round,
a mere two and a half hours from
home, it was an easy solo ride up
Thursday evening.
For Labelle, Quebec, I was re-
united with travel buddy Swampy. We
must be cursed. Last year, while travel-
ling to Labelle, we got lost and almost
ended up on the Oka Ferry (except
it was midnight, and the ferry was
closed). This time, on the way home,
we were stuck in an extra three hours
worth of traffic!
These photos were gained from
the eight rounds of the series, and
there are pictures that span the Pro
and Amateur classes.
I hope you enjoy these photos
as much as I do.
Blairmore
Lovely Ladies:
Left to Right: Victoria Hett, Jillian Bolso, Karla Brandt, Almeda Rive
and Suzanne Pelletier, with seven month old baby Jacob.
Rounds 1 & 2
Marty -The Party- Halmazna:
Marty “the Party” Halmazna rode the big Husqvarna E3 bike in Alber-
ta and BC. And whether he was busting a move in the pits (left) or busting
out some smooth moves on the track (right) he rocked the TLD gear, unique
to the Husqvarna Team.
Adam “-Cheeseburger- Millson:
The 2009 CEC Eastern Amateur A Class Champion, Millson moved up to the big time, joining Ya-
maha/Machine Racing’s Brian Wojnarowski in the big rig. Blue 22 had a pretty good rookie season, fin-
ishing 11th overall.
Seeing
Ryan -Thunder-
Graffunder
The name “Graffunder”
has been getting a lot of press
lately, and while cousin Cory
might be partially to credit,
brothers Ryan and Nick are
doing their bit on the home
front. While Cory is out ex-
ploring the Carpathian Moun-
tains and battling in the bar
to bar action of the AMA En-
durocross series, these two
brothers have been ripping it
up at home.
Double
Nick Graffunder
-the Lumberjack
Older brother Nick puts the
power to the ground in the E1
class, while Ryan represents the
family name in the E2 class, tak-
ing home the Inside Motorcycles
Top Junior award in 2009. Com-
ing into 2010 he had his eyes set
on the prize for the second year
in a row. After a phenominal run
in Alberta, he was well posi-
tioned to claim that prize.
Shane Watts - the Man from Oz:
Last year, fast Aussie Jake Stapleton tore up the E2 class aboard a Ya-
maha/Machine Racing ride, this year Shane Watts ripped it up in Alberta
aboard his kangaroo KTM.
Factory Phil - Philippe Chaine
Philippe Chaine came all the way from Quebec to compete in the E1
class, with his eyes set on the Championship. He wasn’t alone. Chris Van
Hove, Ryan Durkee, Jared Thomas and Nick Graffunder were also chasing
that dream.
Eric Demoulin
Adam Millson
Brian
Wojnarowski
Jack Sawatzky
Legends in the Making...
Ryan Durkee (left) and Ryan Graffunder (right) both came into the
series with the intention of putting their names on the podium, as well
as earning the title of Top Pro Junior, and the $500 prize put up by Inside
Motorcycle magazine.
Jack Sawatzky - Little Bike; Big Fight
Alberta is known for being home to big bikes. The E3 riders are the big boys on campus, with the
E1 class populated mostly by eastern riders who made the trek. Jack Sawatzky is one of few E1 riders to
ride out of the Prairie Rose province.
Geoff Nelson - King of E3
Geoff Nelson, former ISDE competitor, is no stranger to the big bikes. In 2009 the
British Columbia native raced E3 and came second to then teammate Jason Schrage. In
2010, Schrage signed with Honda and moved to the E2 class. Nelson swept the west-
ern E3 podiums, but was unable to push Schrage off the top spot at home.
Mark Cahill - Vet Pro Champ
Mark Cahill was the only defending Pro Class champion racing in the western
rounds. Jason Schrage, who won E3 in 2009, had moved to E2, Patrick Beaule, the E1
champion, could not make the trip out, and Bobby Prochnau, reigning #1 plate holder
and E2 champion was out with an injury. Cahill, a former trials champion, rode to his
first truly national championship last year. He was also known for saying “We’re Pros
too!” when the often over looked Vet Pro class was just that, over looked.
Ben Rego Jason Shane
Schrage Watts
Trevor Lawrence
Wideman: Sean Wiesner: Stephen Able: Hacking:
the Voice the Face the Brains The Name
Fighting Fire with Fire
Jason Schrage is a man of two personalities. By day he’s the hero of
many, a fire fighter for the city of Lethbridge, in Alberta. On the weekends
he’s Honda’s top ranked off road rider, looking to trade that #8 in for a #1.
Take
Julian Cerny comes off the
log jump a little low in the
nose. As always, though,
Cerny scores points for
style. Elbows out, head up,
looking where he wants to
go.
Two
Ben Rego lands heavy on
his front wheel too, but
Rego is able to power his
way out of a crash.
Swelling in the Ranks
Team Yamaha/Machine Racing might have lost Vet Pro rider Craig
Kennedy for the eastern rounds, but it gained an E1 rider (for Parry
Sound), an A rider and a B rider.
Left to Right: Brain Wojnarowski (E2), Adam Millson (E2), Ryan Gauld (E1),
Mark Koens (B) and Patrick Gesualdi (A).
Mechanical Wings
The Honda motorcycle’s logo might be a wing, but Jason Schrage
stood by the fact that his red rocket did not like to fly. “People say these
Hondas, they like to fly,” the points leader said after the Western rounds.
“But not mine!”
In Parry Sound, it looks like his little red tractor found its wings and
finally took flight, easily clearing the log double in the Extreme Test, to the
shock and awe of the audience, including Schrage’s wife, Rochelle. “I can’t
believe he did it!”
We all knew you could, Jason!
Hail to the King!
Clint Riviere was dubbed “King of the Rednecks” in BC, when he led
the “Redneck Minute.” In Alberta the term “redneck” is used as a compli-
ment. A redneck is a hard working man/woman, who works hard for
their money, plays harder and would give you their very last dollar if you
needed it. Clint certainly embodies these traits. The King finished first on
Saturday and second on Sunday in Parry Sound.
Fueling Dreams: Feeding Performance
Marc Coffin and his FP Husqvarna team, comprised of Ryan and Nick
Graffunder, Guy Giroux and Marty Halmazna upped the ante at the nation-
als this year. FP/Husqvarna, along with the Yamaha/Machine operation, had
a professional set up and a large presence at all four venues. Coffin hopes to
set an example for the rest of the manufacturers.
Kevin Cockayne
Last year there were three #7 bikes racing at Parry Sound, and they were all KTMs. Bobby
Prochnau, Scott Bowes and Kevin Cockayne all wore the white #7 on their red plates. This year, Coc-
kayne was the only one who of the three who made it back to Parry Sound, and he was no longer
wearing the #7. Instead he wore the #11.
Lee Fryberger
Lee Fryberger is a member of the Corner Grass Race Team, multiple ISDE competitor, and for the
last few years has been team manager for the Canadian Trophy team. To say he’s an experineced rider
is a bit of an understatement. Fry normally finds himself on the opposite side of racing, organzing the
famous Corner Grass race in Compeer, Alberta, as well as the 2010 Blairmore CEC round and the very
first Canadian extreme hard enduro, Xtinction, near Patricia, Alberta.
History in the Making?
Jason Schrage (left) and John Nelson (right) shake hands. Nelson
helped set up support for the Honda rider when he came east, including
bringing a spare bike for the racer should he need parts. Nelson is known
for offering tremendous support for the off road riding community. His gen-
erosity didn’t stop at Schrage, he also brought an extra YZ450f for BC brute
Ben Rego.
Will Schrage be running Machine Racing and LGS stickers for 2011?
Only time will tell.
Moto Media Madness!
For Parry Sound the editors of Canada’s two
motocross publications, Jeff Morgan of Inside Mo-
toX and Off Road magazing, and Ryan Gauld of MXP
magazine, put their money where their mouths are
and saddled up.
Morgan (left) competed in the B class, finishing
8th on day one and 6th on day two. Gauld (bottom
right) competed in the E1 class, part of the expand-
ed Yamaha/Machine team, but was unable to finish due to mechanical
problems (top right). Gauld smashed the chain guide clean off the swing
arm and sent it into the case during lap one, day one, and was out for the
count.
The Best Laid Plans
Jason Schrage hoped to repeat Bobby Prochnau’s perfect season, but Guy Giroux put an end to
that pursuit in Parry Sound. After a less than stellar performance out west, Giroux came home, trained
hard and upped his game, jumping on hte Husqvarna 300 for the final four rounds. It appeared to be
the ticket, as G-Rox rocked the Pro class day one in Parry Sound, taking home the top spot in E3 and
finishing first over all, effectively ending Schrage’s run at a perfect season.
Julian Cerny
The Original Hurtin’ Albertan, Julian Cerny is a one of the few who can make the transition from
off road to moto and back. Cerny competed in the Wild Rose MX round of the CMRC nationals and fin-
ished 12th overall in MX1; he finished 5th in E2, and 8th overall, in the CECs.
Top Finishers Rnd #5
1 - Guy Giroux, HSQ
2 - Brian Wojnarowski, YAM
3 - Jason Schrage, HON
4 - Geoff Nelson, KTM
5 - Chris Van Hove, SUZ
3rd: Kroeker
E2:
1st: Schrage
2nd:
Wojnarowski
3rd:
Cuthbertson
E1:
1st: Thomas
2nd: Van Hove
3rd: Chaine
5th Gear Media
Suzanne Howie
2010