RollinHusky
Husqvarna
AA Class
This last Sunday, the stage was set for the 2pm start of the FMSQ association's 6th leg of their enduro race series. This time the event was held at St-Alphonse de Granby, in the province of Quebec. After a Saturday filled with quad racing, and a Sunday morning that featured 4 different timed starts, it was time for the afternoon racers to line up. The rain, right on cue, started at the end of the prior races and stopped only minutes before the line-up.
After running some events way out west in British Columbia, the Husqvarna Team of Guy Giroux, Philippe Chainé and Samuel Rousseau was back. With some good podium runs under their belt, they were ready to hit the track. The course that laid out before them SEEMED a fairly easy one. A loop that would include lots of speed and not too many obstacles. It wasn't. Sure, no mountains, hillclimbs or mud bogs, but the rocks and roots were there and in full force.
Of course, I was there too! On my 2011 TC449, with full motocross suspension. I can keep my own on some pretty knarly mountain bike trails, but I wasn't ready for this. Starting on the last line in the Junior 4 stroke class, I primed the pump a few seconds before the start, and when I got to the first corner, I was on my own. First holeshot on a dirt bike. Getting into the bush, I had a good 40 feet on 2nd place. That only lasted a few minutes.
Up ahead, the pros were battling. After lap 1, old man Giroux was in third, Rousseau 6th, and Chainé 7th. The 801 of Giroux would climb to 1st at the end of the second lap, and Chainé climbed his way to 4th. Rousseau slipped to 7th, but only for a little while.
Me, I kept my lead until confusion took control at the big tire section, and the lead was lost. I wasn't happy, but keep on truckin'. A few minutes later (and after catching someone from another class cut the track in a major way) I was in a very technical part of the trail. That's when the abuse started. Bent header pipe, bent thumb, bruised thigh and banged up knee. Needless to say, I finished the first lap in 13th!
The Experts kept a coming. Nearing the fueling area, they started getting into the lap traffic. Engines reving, screaming at the top of their lungs, they made their was through the lappers. One poor sucker who was laying out across the trail (me) saw his bike get run over by the #23 of Chainé! He was on a tear for sure, saving his best lap times for the last 2 laps, finishing only 32 seconds from the winner.
Final results for the Husky team, Phil Chainé 3rd, Guy Giroux 4th and Samuel Rousseau 5th, the last rider to complete 11 laps. It was a very slippery ride that found almost every rider on track down at least once during the race. Even the class winner took a little nap at one point in the race.
As for me, I took some spills for the riders that didn't get a chance to. With the header pipe bent, my 449 was having a hard time breathing and was overheating, shutting off every few minutes or so. Finally, I had to call it quits sometime during my 4th lap, but not after securing the 14th position, second last!
Another top runner for the weekend was Ladies Expert class rider Véronique Chainé. Aboard her Husky she pulled a good holeshot and ran most of the race in 1st. A bad last lap left her with the second spot on the podium. She is currently also 2nd in points overall for the season.
Next race for the FMSQ will be in Victoriaville on August 11-12th. Not sure if this old man will take part in the races, but the Expert Husky riders are sure to put on another charge for a win!View attachment 18125View attachment 18126View attachment 18127View attachment 18128View attachment 18129View attachment 18130View attachment 18131View attachment 18132
