Intro:

Rev your engines, folks, because the Holeshot Hooligans descended upon Stettler, and we left our mark on that track like graffiti artists on a blank canvas! With the sun shining and the smell of freshly prepped dirt in the air, it was the perfect recipe for a motocross feast. Hold on tight as we take you through the epic battles, near-crashes, and some good ol' Hooligan camaraderie that made Round 7/8 of the AOTMX Championship one for the books!

Friday Pre-race and Track Walk:

The Stettler Dirt Riders Association (SDRA) set the stage for a weekend of motocross mayhem, and boy, did they deliver! Despite the distant haze from forest fires, the weather was a motocrosser's dream. The track was a masterpiece—long straights, technical turns, and the gnarly rhythm sections we love to conquer. Kudos to the SDRA crew, led by Lee and his trusty sidekick (or should we say, solo superhero?), for their hard work in preparing a gem of a track. They even installed a sprinkler system to keep that dirt tacky and ready for some serious rooster tails!

Stettler Dirt Riders Association (SDRA) deserves a standing ovation for whipping that track into shape! Grass trimmed like a proper motocross haircut, parking for our rad RV's, and the weather—Oh, man, the weather was fantastic! Sure, we had a distant haze from forest fires, but that didn't stop us from ripping it up!

As the sun shone bright and the wind did its wind thing, we hit the track to do a little pre-race walk. The SDRA crew, led by Lee and his crew of 1 (yeah, talk about Motocross superheroes!), had prepared a playground of long straights, technical turns, and wicked rhythm sections. The soil was tacky like a sticky motocross bun; mulch, clay, and sand combined to create a grip that was better than any high-five you've ever received. And can we take a moment to appreciate those two colossal table tops? 90 feet and 130 feet, baby! You could send it to the moon and back!

Saturday Showdown and a Stormy Night:

With the Hooligans suited up and ready to race, the gate dropped, and we charged into battle like warriors of old. Rick avoided a Beach collision but found himself in Joey's rut only when Joey was stalling. Dunny saved bike washing for after the races, and Jimmy, well, he finally freaking jumped a rhythm section—proof that miracles do happen!

Meanwhile, Joey fought tooth and nail, determined to keep the championship fire burning bright. Jesse, oh Jesse, the daredevil, wheelieing up jump faces and tossing massive air like it's nothing. But hey, we gotta give props to Braeden, the wheelie queen in training. On Sunday's gate drop, she decided to share the love by gifting the rider next to her a bike sandwich! 

Sunday rolled in with a stormy twist, testing our mettle like a motocross showdown from the heavens. But we laughed in the face of rain and conquered the track like true legends. The dirt soaked up the rain like a sponge, giving us even more grip to tear up the track with wild abandon.

The Showdown of Legends:

Now, let's talk about the battle royale that shook Stettler to its core—the duel between Ryan Dunlop and John Bestilny in the 30+ intermediate class! These two legends of speed and grit had us on the edge of our seats, pulling off jumps and turns that'd make Travis Pastrana wink in approval.

And don't even get me started on the 40+ Intermediate showdown between Jesse and Darren Strasdin! These two warriors clashed like Titans, racing for the crown of the track. Jesse was a few jumps away from victory when fate had a twisted surprise in store. His chain snapped, leaving him stranded like a motocross castaway. But fear not, Jesse's bike emerged unscathed, and he will be back like a true Hooligan hero.

And let's give a shoutout to the Junior Hooligans, Paxton O, Zade, and Paxton K battling like mini motocross warriors. These little rippers are inspiring the heck out of us old folks!

Hooligans Unite, Hooligans Help:

When the going gets tough, the Hooligans get going! During one intense gate drop, Braeden, with her newfound wheelie skills, gave a little love tap to a fellow racer, sending both of them tumbling and pinning Braeden under her bike. But this is the Hooligan spirit we know and love. Jimmy and Jesse rushed to their aid, proving that we're all in this together. It's the camaraderie and sportsmanship that sets the Hooligans apart from the pack!

Special Thanks:

A massive shoutout to Lee and his rockstar track crew at SDRA for hosting an epic race weekend. The Hooligans want to give a nod to AOTMX and all the volunteers within the club who made this event possible. Hooligans supporting each other and lending a hand to the Junior racers while their dads were flagging—our bond runs deep! And to the young lady at Petro Canada who survived Roux and her crew—thank you for putting up with their antics!

Conclusion:

AOTMX Round 7/8 in Stettler was a whirlwind of motocross awesomeness that'll go down in the annals of history. The Hooligans showed up, showed off, and showed the world what we're made of—pure motocross passion! Don't forget to check out our Instagram for some epic highlights.

Now, as we gear up for Round 9/10 in Calgary on July 29th and 30th, let's remember that legends are not born; they're made on the dirt, one jump, one turn, and one wheelie at a time. Keep it real, keep it gnarly, and let's keep making motocross history together, Hooligans! 

AJ Catanzaro's riding school The Moto academy, is in town on Friday July 28th, and some Hooligans will be there to soak up the knowledge. I think spots are still available (double check), so sign up and get ready to ride like a legend! 

See you in Calgary, where we'll unleash even more mayhem and shred that track like the legends we are!

HH