How is Ryan Lockhart going to do at Gopher Dunes?

It’s a well known fact now that Ryan Lockhart is filling in for injured Machine Racing rider Kyle Keast. It’s a shame what happened to the “Dozer” but that’s racing, as they say. But one’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity. Ryan Lockhart is getting another chance to showcase his skill. John Nelson of Machine Racing has never been for a rider to fill in. “If it isn’t the guy I hired then the bikes stay at the shop,” Nelson has stated many times. Ryan Lockhart and John Nelson have become pretty tight the last few weeks, some could even say best buds.

The Newf John Nelson did not like. “That kid sucks,” he used to say.

Now that’s the funny part cause for most of Lockhart’s career, Nelson hated the east coast kid. I have heard personally from John constantly say between the years 1994 to 2009 that “Newf is a little suck and he should just quit and get a real job.” Now that is just John being John and for now it seems that he has grown up and really taken an interest in what Ryan is doing. He is actually pumped for this weekend, if you could imagine that. For those who know John really well, he made some leaps forward in a positive direction over the course of the last couple years. I guess with age comes a more open personality and not the shop shut-in that he had become for so many years. LOL

The present day Newf that John Nelson loves now. “He doesn’t bug me,” states John.

So how will Ryan Lockhart do this weekend at Gopher Dunes? With the support of Machine Racing, the constant entertainment at the shop from John Nelson, and a pretty open attitude towards his goals for the weekend, it seems like things could go well for the duo that you would never think would get along. I wonder if Nelson will pit board for Newf this weekend with his famous sayings like “Why are we here?”, “Are you serious right now?”‘ “u Suck”, “Just quit,” “I wish I was golfing and I hate golf.” These are the pit signals I used to get from the ever positive and always motivating Mr. Nelson. His way of thinking never quite worked for me, but this new style or attitude he has plus the bond that he and Newf are sharing right now seems to really have a good vibe. Will all this relay into good results for the Newf?

“Look, if you suck, I’m going to tell you. If you did good, I may not compliment you. Tough love. This isn’t Tim Hortons hockey where everybody is a winner. This is Motocross,” famous Nelson quotes

So Just like in 2010 when I rode the Monster Leading Edge Kawasaki bike and Brett Lee started a pool to see who could pick my moto scores, MXP will be doing the same thing this weekend for Ryan Lockhart. You get two picks with a minimum of a two dollar wager. Whoever picks both moto scores correctly will win half the money (sort of like a 50/50 draw). The rest of the money will go to the Injured Riders Fund. If nobody wins, all of the money goes to the fund. Pretty simple right?

This is what John says to Newf winning this weekend, but it’s also what he says on Newf sucking at Gopher. The old man is fully supportning Ryan Lockhart, and it’s very cool to see. People can change eh John? LOL

Hopefully it all goes well for Ryan as he has been taking this gift that’s been handed to him very seriously; Motos, running, only a few beers. So how are you going to pick? Come see me Friday or Saturday. (and sign up, I will have a sheet that looks like the chart below) Let’s have some fun and raise some good money for a good cause.