Quantz clinches two titles

By John Hopkins

Calgary's Greg Quantz locked up a pair of CMA National Ice Racing championships at the final round of the series in Lac la Biche, AB on March 1.

The Yamaha rider completed a perfect season in Expert 600 by claiming the win over Bryan Watt and Ryan Middleton, while in Expert 250 he broke a tie for the top spot with Watt by securing his second win of the season in the finale. Yamaha's Watt and Kawasaki rider Middleton again filled out an all-Calgary podium in the 250 class.

Watt finished second in Expert 600 points with 36 to the 45 of Quantz, while Monty Brown of Airdrie, AB took third on 28 points after a fourth place finish in Lac la Biche aboard his Husaberg.

In Expert 250 Watt wound up just three points behind Quantz, 42-39, while Sean Potter of Aldersyde, AB placed third in the final standings with 22 points. The Yamaha rider took fifth in the season finale.

Yamaha's Mitch Hlushak is the Intermediate 600 champion thanks to a sweep of all three rounds. The Spruce Grove, AB rider ended the season with a perfect 45 points to the 34 of Husaberg racer Mitchell Brown and the 30 of Yvo Schmucki, who rode KTM equipment.

Brown did take the Intermediate 250 title, the Airdrie, AB racer scoring his second win of the year in Lac la Biche. Hlushak was second in points and Schmucki third.

Riley Stoermoen of Water Valley, AB took both the Novice 600 and Novice 250 titles with five of a possible six wins. He rode his Yamaha to victory in the 600 finale and then took a KTM to first place in the final 250 round.

Trent Hlushak of Red Deer (Yamaha) was perfect in the Youth 85cc class, Innisfail, AB's Laurie Anne Benko (Husaberg) did the same in Women's, and Monty Brown of Airdrie, AB (Husaberg) was unbeaten in Veteran.

In the ATV classes, Mitch Hlushak rode a KTM to the win in the final round of the Expert Over division but the title went to Brian Drofyshyn of Ardrossan, AB, who placed second in the race on his Yamaha.

A seventh place finish was enough to give Honda's Sheldon Chick of Erskine, AB the Novice Under title by just a single point. Chad Adams of Sylvan Lake, AB rode a Kawasaki to the race victory.

Alex and Rita Baumann of Thorsby, AB won the Sidecar Traditional title on their Honda thanks to a runner-up finish at Lac la Biche behind the rig of Rocky Mountain House, AB racers Wilfred Kukowski and David Rentsch.

In Sidecar Modified Matt and Scott Coonfer of Chestermere, AB completed an unbeaten season on their Honda with the win and class title.