Blais Racing Services/ Fasst CO.Race Reports

Press Release

FEB 26th, 2013

Contact: Chris Blais

Blais Racing Services
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USRA Rhino Rally 2013
St. George, Utah
Feb 23, 2013

By:  Skyler Howes

Friday was a little hectic. I hadn't ridden at all since my big crash in Ridgecrest,
Round 2 of the NHHA series, and my wrist was still a little sore.  I decided to
take my flossy Blais Racing Services KTM out for a spin to see how everything was
holding up. My wrist felt fine while riding but I started to notice my clutch slipping.
Thanks to Jason Goimarac at Rocky Mountain, I was able to throw some new plates
in and have my bike ready to race at about midnight before the race.

I got to the race site early on Saturday morning and headed over to walk the sketchy,
rocky, G-outy bomb run.  I found a solid line to the far left but so did about thirty
other people so I had to weasel my way in and hopefully get the jump. The trusty
KTM fired as the banner dropped and gave me the jump I needed to take the lead.
I was able to pull the holeshot and check out for a few miles.  At around mile
6, I caught up to my good buddy Travis Turner who was the hare.  I pinned down
a wash, looked over and gave him a thumbs up.  I pinned it through the washes and
the rocky trails all the way to a section they call Black Rock.  Pounding through
the rocks, I felt like I was able to keep a solid pace. However, I took a glance
back in a corner and saw Brady Elton starting to close in. We hopped into a super
tight wash which was still a little wet and that allowed Brady to close the gap
even more. I could hear him get right up to my rear wheel. Then, coming around another
corner, I couldn't hear anyone behind me anymore. As we got out of the wash and
back onto high ground, I glanced back again and nobody was there.  Come to find
out, Brady had taken a really bad digger on a square edge just behind me.

The next few miles were high speed roads. I came to the alternate pit, gassed myself
and was on my way again. With clear air, no one in sight, and a great running bike,
I checked out and was having a ton of fun!  I dropped down into Dutchman's wash
and rode almost mistake free the whole way down it.  Coming through a rocky section,
my front tire rolled over a rock and had my leg caught between my bike and a rock.
I worked my leg out, started up and continued on with that being my only mistake
of the race! My pit was amazing being only five seconds long.  I was out quick
and back on my way.

The second loop had almost fifteen miles of common course that I was not aware of.
I got extremely nervous around the 5-mile mark where no one was out on course anymore
and it seemed as if I took a wrong turn and ended up back on loop one. Coming to
Check 1, I saw the sign for loop 2 turn off and that took a huge load off of my
shoulders.  I really relaxed at that point and just settled into a fun trail ride
pace.  I remember hearing someone say that at the last checkpoint, I had almost
a 12-minute lead. The last couple miles were just some whoops and I just chilled
and rode it into the finish for the 1st Place Overall win with around a 5-minute
lead!

So stoked on the finish, since I won my very first race on my 50cc at the Rhino
Rally when I was just 5 years old.  I have always wanted to have my name on a plaque
on the big traveling trophy. I now have my name on that trophy along with Danny
Hamel, David Pearson, Russ Pearson, TJ Hannifin and of course my hero, 6-time winner
in a row, Rob Phillips, just to name a few.

I am so grateful for everyone's support through the years, most of all my parents.
They have sacrificed so much for me to be where I am at today and I could have never
done it without their love and support.  Thank you to Blais Racing Services for
providing me with a dream machine that runs strong, Bundy Inc for the amazing pits
and support, Fasst Company/Flexx Handlebars for keeping me relaxed with no fatigue
and RAD Mfg for getting me hooked up with durable sick looking wheels on such short
notice!

On Board: Skyler Howes USRA Rhino Rally 2013

Sponsors: Blais Racing Services, Fasst Company, KTM, Torco Oil, ESR suspension,
Race Tech, RAD Mfg, Alpinestars, Kenda, Pro Moto Billet, Fastway, FMF , Rekluse,
HBD Motografx, Regina, TLD, BRP, Bullet Proof, DirtTricks, Eline, IMS, No Toil,
Acerbis, Muscle Milk, Xbrand Goggles, A'ME Grips, TMFG Designs

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Checkers MC Hare & Hound

Lucerne Valley, CA

Feb 24, 2013

By:  Ben Meza, 200B

My race day started with an early drive out with my dad to North Anderson Dry Lake,
Johnson Valley OHV for the District 37 Checkers MC Hare and Hound.  We got out to
the staging area around 7:00am and I got myself signed up.

I geared up and did a little test ride on my bike to make sure everything was ok.
I got an alright jump off the line but was pinched off by Ryan Smith and Ryan Kudla.
After the chicane at the end of the start, I hopped out of the dust and caught
my way up to 5th place.  I settled in right behind Cordis Brooks and glanced back
to see Michael Allen right behind me.  Michael Allen was racing his 125cc for this
race so I knew I had to get away from him.  I made a quick pass on Cordis and hopped
in behind Ryan Smith.  I chased Ryan the whole first loop but couldn't make a pass.
I came into the pits after a long first loop and got a quick pit from my club, HBMC.
I came out of the pits right behind Ryan and made a quick pass on him that finally
stuck.

This race was a bit different as the club let you choose the order of loops you
wanted to do.  So after making the pass, I decided to go out on the more technical
third loop next.  The loop was really fun!  Unfortunately, halfway through, I put
a hole in my FMF exhaust and instantly lost a lot if power.  I kept my Blais Racing
Services KTM pinned and managed to get myself out of the loop without too much trouble.
I came into the pits after loop 3 (my second loop) and stopped to see what was
up with my pipe.  My club did the best they could to make it work and I headed out
on my last loop, loop 2.

I charged hard through the loop passing riders left and right.  I managed to speed
through the final loop and get to the finish line, physically in 4th Place Overall
behind Ryan Smith and 1st Place in my class, right in front of Michael Allen.  This
was my best finish to date!

The fresh Blais Racing top end and serviced ESR Race Tech Suspension were key players
in my success, as well as the fast pit provided by HBMC.  Thanks to everyone who
believes and supports in me, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the 2013 season!

By:  Brendan Crow, 250A

I had a good jump off the line, but quickly fell into some dust and fell back a
few positions.  Starting on the front row was a slight advantage, and being able
to choose your loops was an added strategic piece of the puzzle.  Most of the guys
in front of me chose loop 1 or 3, so I opted to take loop 2 the first time around
and had clear air most of the way (my loop strategy being 2-3-1).

My hands were freezing from the start, and with the chilly wind all day they never
really warmed up all the way.  If it wasn't for my Flexx bars, I don't know if I
could have held on the entire time.  It took me most of loop 2 and about half of
loop 3 to finally settle into a good pace.

I rode most of the entire race by myself, which was a strange feeling after having
much dust in the other races I have done so far.  I'm not positive on how I finished,
but I feel that I am getting better every race. I am also super impressed with my
teammate, Ben Meza, for getting a Top 5 Overall!  He was riding great and good to
see him doing really well.

My main goals for this year are to improve every race, and with the support of everyone
and all my sponsors I feel that I am keeping with that goal so far.  Thanks to Blais
Racing Services, Fasst Company, NoToil, FMF, Dirt Tricks, Race Tech, IMS, BRP, Acerbis,
Alpinestars, Fastway, TLD, Samco, Rekluse, Xbrand, HBD Motographics.

Thanks to all our team sponsors for 2013:  Fasst Company, KTM, ESR Suspension, Race
Tech, Alpinestars, Kenda, Pro Moto Billet, Fastway, FMF, Rekluse, HBD MotoGrafx,
Regina, TLD, BRP, Bullet Proof Designs, DirtTricks, Eline, IMS, No Toil, Muscle
Milk, and Acerbis.

Be sure to check us out on Facebook
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Blais Racing Services offers engine rebuilding and online parts for all your Motorcycle,
ATV, & UTV needs.  Owned and operated by Chris Blais, former Factory KTM Dakar Rally
Racer. We specialize in KTM/ Honda, but can work on anything. I do all of the engine
work myself.   www.BlaisRacingServices.com

Be sure to visit our website and check out all our cool products.  FMF Exhausts,
Shorai Batteries, Samco Radiator Hoses, JD Tuners, JD 2-stroke Carburetors, Golan
10 micron Fuel Filters and much more!