ARVIAT
The 11th annual Bravo Xtreme Challenge cross-country race will he held in Arviat this coming weekend, April 26 and 27.

Jordan St. John (second place), from left, Donny Baker (third place) and Desmond Ukutak (first place) speed toward the finish line in the Men's Division of the 2013 Xtreme Bravo Challenge in Arviat. - photo courtesy Olivia Tagalik

The event will feature Bravo racing in the Men's, Women's and Master's (40 and older) divisions.

The Bravo Racing Club stands alone now in Arviat, since the Arviat Racing Club that oversaw the big machines closed its doors for the final time this past year.

Bravo club president Pierre Ikakhik said the excitement is starting to build a bit in the community as the race draws closer.

He said the racers are testing their Bravos, getting them in peak performance before race day arrives.

"Some people are still waiting for their parts to come in and they can't wait for them to arrive," said Ikakhik.

"We had around 60 racers at our 10th Xtreme Bravo Challenge, and I hope we have at least that many again this year.

"The Bravos are popular because they're not too fast, so the people can see who's coming and really follow the race.

"It's a race, but no one ever said it's a fast race."

Ikakhik said more people might even get into Bravo racing now, with the big machines of the Arviat Racing Club gone, at least for the time being.

He said the Bravo club will do cross-country now, and then move to Bravo drag racing when the weather decides to get a little bit warmer in a month, or so, before trying something completely different a few months down the road.

"This summer, on Canada Day, the club wants to try a water-cross event with the 600 cc machines, but I don't want to be involved with the big machines because they're too dangerous.

"Someone else can handle the water-cross because it's not for me.

"I like the little two-stroke Bravo, which is plenty fast for me.

"But, I am worried, since Yamaha stopped making the Bravo in 2012, parts will slowly become harder and harder to find until one day, no more Bravo."