VALDEZ – “They say it was the gnarliest race ever, pouring down rain the whole day and holes and bombs that were over five feet,” said Israel Hale of the Mayors Cup Race held in Valdez Saturday. “I feel very lucky to have finished the gnarliest Mayors Cup ever”. Hale said he was tempted to scratch while he was riding the 24 mile lap as the course grew more difficult with every one of the six laps he rode. Hale did not win the race, but said he set a new record and had something else under his belt as the first double amputee to ever run the race.

Despite the rainy weather and rough conditions, event organizer Ken Lares said the race drew a lot of racers this year. “It was the largest pro class we have had for years and this was the first year for the junior class”, Lares sad.

The 2019 Pro class was won by Robby Schachle. Tyson Johnson took 2^nd place and Cody Barber finished 3^rd. In the Semi-Pro Class, Sam Durdik finished 1^st, Charles Potter took 2^nd and Blake Elder took 3^rd place. Aidan McDonnell took 1^st place in the Semi-Pro class for Juniors and Keldin Nicoll finished 1^st in the Pro Class for Juniors.