EVERETT — It takes a lot of work to convert Xfinity Arena from a brawling ice rink to dirt motorcycle track and back within a week.
On Thursday, crews covered the Silvertips’ home ice with insulation and a plastic cap. On top of that they added plywood and whole lot of dirt — 1,200 yards of it.
Saturday, professional riders will compete in one of nine EnduroCross events that will determine this year’s championship. This is the fourth year Everett has been part of the tour, which began in May in Las Vegas.
“This track has the most obstacles this year, which should make this an exciting round. Not so much for the crashes, but the carnage,” said Destry Abbott, a 23-year racing veteran who was testing the track Friday.
Track designers built hills and obstacles such as a rock pit, boulder dash and log hop. The one hairpin will act as a bottleneck in the race, to test riders’ agility. Heavy machinery was used to build jumps from giant tires and piles of dirt.
If the dirt looks familiar, that’s because it’s been here before.
“We use the same materials each year,” said Lance Bryson, the event’s marketing director. They are stored at places like gravel pits until they are needed the next year.
Two track designers direct workers in two front-loaders and a front end loader, who carefully manicure the track.
Condensation from the underlying ice is a factor in the race. At the start of the day, it’s a dry track. By the last race, it’s a mud pit.
Then it’s all scooped away, with care, to avoid breaking through the plywood floor.
“It’s a big job, but it’s worth it,” Bryson said.
Practice and qualifying races begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and are open to local racers. Qualifying racers will hit the track at 7:30 p.m.
Andrew Gobin: 425-339-3000, ext. 5461; agobin@heraldnet.com.
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