The Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association (YCCMA) hosted its first and only event of the season Saturday and Sunday. The race, called the AREA 55 Harescramble 2020, was named in honour of Travis Adams, who died in a July 5 Alaska Highway collision south of Whitehorse.

The track the YCCMA uses, on Robert Service Way, is now named AREA 55.

Because of COVID-19, the YCCMA could not hold their usual slate of events throughout the summer. Hand sanitizer and masks were made available to people during the weekend-long event.

All motorcyclists competed in endurance racing through a long trail. Depending on their class, riders would be on the track for one to three hours, C classes ran 20-minute races.

“Enduro Racing is a fun and very physically demanding sport which relies on technical skill with the motorcycle,” wrote race organizer Mike Beaman.

“The tracks are designed to level the field by challenging the riders with obstacles of varying difficulty depending on class so that the rider with the most skill wins, not the fastest bike. The racing mixed many disciplines including Trails, MX & Enduro-X.”

The winner of the race was determined by who completed the most laps in the allotted time.

Beaman said it was a great turnout, with 67 riders registered over the two days ranging in age from 4-77.

Rhys Verville won the Junior C race followed by Tallon Williams and Löic Revel. Max Labelle, Carter Coates, and Royce Thomas podiumed in the Intermediate C division. Sophie Hadley won the Intermediate C Girls race. Runner ups were Leona Adams and Leah Muir.

The Ladies B title was earned by Antje Beaman, with Melanie Mihoc and Breanna Muir placing second and third respectively.

Tom Drew was the Sportsman B winner followed by Philip Kavanagh. Jason Adams, Sawyer Adams, and Austin Larkin podiumed in 125 Sportsman B division.

The Intermediate A class was won by Kevin Smit. Dewan Houde and Neil Ryckman also placed. Ryder Brulotte won the Intermediate B race beating out Colby Hadley and Soren Kristensen.

Julien Revel earned top spot in the Expert A class. Sam Schirmer came second and Teo Blakie third. Joey Chretien earned the Expert B crown. Terje Kristensen and Cole Beaman were second and third.

To end the weekend’s festivities, Beaman said the YCCMA introduced the Clown class, a fun race where parents of the C riders took to the mini bikes and raced around the kids track for 11 laps.

Beaman wrote it proved to be very entertaining.