Racing back at Pleasant Valley

PLEASANT VALLEY - For years Mitchell Cooke has been getting asked when his family will be hosting another motocross event at their track in Pleasant Valley.
Now he's finally got an answer.
Sunday, the track will be hosting the opening round of the Canadian Motosport Racing Club's (CMRC) Royal Distributing Fall Series, an Atlantic racing
circuit.
The event is expected to attract 300 to 400 riders from across the region from ages four to 60. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 12. Those under five are free.
Practice kicks off at 8 a.m. with racing starting at 10 a.m.
"It's good to get an event back there," Cooke said recently while taking a break from practice. "The track has just been sitting there not being used."
The circuit, built by Cooke's family, hasn't hosted a race in four years, minus a fun event Cooke organized in 2007.
The only other time the track gets used is on Wednesday nights for recreational riding, traditionally called 'Wednesday Night Motos' by those who ride there.
Cooke's father Robbie hasn't been interested in hosting an event but told Cooke, who races for Freedom Cycle Kawasaki on the CMRC Monster Energy Motocross Nationals circuit, he could take on the responsibility of organizing an event.
"He told me he would do the track if I looked after organizing it," Cooke said.
He jumped at the offer and when he learned a circuit in Fredericton wasn't able to host the series opener due to scheduling issues, Cooke offered up his track.
"Now everyone can come out," he said.
There will be plenty of high- end talent at the event with about 10 to 15 pro riders competing, including Cooke, his sister Heidi, a seven-time national women's champion, Johnny Montes and Davey Fraser.
"There's really good battles all through the pro ranks because it's so tight," Cooke said. "The same with the juniors too."