By Kert Broza, 9/28/10

The 2010 off-road race season is almost done. For Kitimat B.C.’s Ben Rego, it’s been a good one. Solidifying his spot amongst the top ten fastest riders in the nation, Ben proved to himself and his growing number of fans that his combination of skill, determination and balls-out riding style is fast tracking him to the top of a very tall heap.

Rego leaps up a cliff at Xtinction for Kert Broza’s camera. Photo by Dan Paris

Since he’s so new to the elite level of competition, it’s worth it to look at this season from the start of last season. In ‘09 he figured he’d come out and see what he’s got against the country’s best, with only a few northern B.C. races under his belt. In the first race of the 2009 Western CEC series Ben placed 20th in E2, and 45th overall. Hey, not so bad for a rookie! I guess that kind of placing is right where you would think a very fast local should be. Then the very next day he bumps up his speed and nets a 14th in E2, and 21st overall. Hmmm, lucky ride?  Apparently not.  A week later, in the next wave of the series, he placed 5th in his class and 7th overall! Great finish to his first (half) season of big competition!

Play riding with Rego has just one rule: Anything is possible! Photo by Dan Paris

With a new set of wheels under him, in the form of a 2010 YZ450F, 2010 turned out to be a blockbuster year for the humble B.C. kid, finishing in the top 10 overall in every race but one, where he was 12th, and earning himself the “Giant Killer” nickname for being small town ‘nobody’ taking out Canada-wide Pros. Drawn to this extremely high level of competition, Ben also hit up the “Xtinction” Extreme enduro in Alberta, snagging another 7th place overall in the toughest race in Canadian history.

It may have taken a while for Rego find his groove when it came to sandy Eastern condtions, but once he had it figured out he flew! Photo by Dan Paris

In Parry Sound and Labelle, where he admittedly was having big troubles with the unfamiliar terrain, he blasted past most everyone to nab 3rd in his class and a smokin’ 5th overall in Labelle on day one!The heads were turning his way now, and just being quiet won’t keep the attention away when you’re so naturally gifted.

Ben’s modesty, riding skill and enthusiasm have already captured the attention of motorcycle-industry big shots. Photo by Alexandra Franklin

Ben was thrown a sweet Rekluse clutch that he says definitely helps him maintain his composure when the going gets tough, and Enduro Engineering is smoothing the ride with some of their legendary suspension work. Scorpion Racing blinged-out the Why-zedeff with their burly skid plate and radiator braces to cushion the inevitable meetings with mother earth.

On the podium at Labelle! If you drove a clapped-out pickup truck non-stop across the country, then raced on worn-out equipment in unfamiliar terrain and landed and on the box next to factory-supported Pro riders like Jason Schrage and Brian Wojnarowski you’d be stoked too! Photo by Dan Paris

In a telephone interview, Ben was extremely happy with his season as a whole, but tasting that podium has a lasting effect. Realizing that a steady dose of podium requires more than just superhuman riding ability, he said he wants to buy a sled this winter to hammer the giant coastal mountains around Kitimat for some excellent cross training in the off season. As well, he’ll be playing full contact hockey and training all winter, pushing himself to see what’s possible. He mentioned that he’s not just going out to test himself against the best; he’s gunning for the overall now!

The 2010 season is almost over, but Ben is pumped to head back East one more time for the Montreal Endurocross. Since extreme tests were always his favorite part of the CEC races, it will be awesome to see arguably the most exciting rider out there battling head to head in one massive extreme test with all the big dogs!

Rego would like to thank: Dan at Offroadmotorcycles.ca, Scorpion Racing, Rekluse, Enduro Engineering, Ken’s Marine in Terrace, Lapoint Engineering, Mayday Plumbing, Phil’s Mobile, Feds Equipment, Viking Construction, all the people from Kitimat and Kert Broza.