MX1 Nationals Promise To Be A Volatile Series in 2014

CMRC MEDIA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Stouffville, ON – May 24, 2014)

MX1 Nationals Promise To Be A Volatile Series in 2014

With the eagerly anticipated 2014 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals kicking off next Saturday, May 31 at The Wastelands in Nanaimo, BC, the CMRC pro teams and privateers campaigning the series have been busy making sure all their i’s are dotted and t’s crossed. After a long, cold and snowy winter everyone is looking forward to getting the season underway … for all intents and purposes it’s showtime!

Don’t look for last year’s MX1 National Champion Brett Metcalfe to defend his No.1 plate. The Australian has signed with Kawasaki in the U.S. to contest the AMA 450 Nationals, which means his ride at Leading Edge Kawasaki has been vacated and taken over by the American Josh Hill. Although it has been years since Hill has contested a full AMA Motocross Championship, due to injuries and Supercross-only contracts, Hill is expected to pull out all the stops to keep the MX1 No.1 plate in the Leading Edge Kawasaki camp for another year. Teddy Maier, who cemented the top-5 MX1 Nationals contenders in 2013, returns to Leading Edge for another season. The two-time MX2 champ had his share of bad luck last season and he’ll be out there seeking a reversal of fortune.

While it’s disappointing that Metcalfe will not be around to keep the competition on their toes, there will be no shortage of contenders for the MX1 crown, including his Leading Edge replacement Josh Hill. Among the hopefuls is another newcomer to the series, Mike Alessi. The 26-year-old Florida native has an impressive pedigree, including two runner-up finishes in the AMA 450 Motocross Nationals (2007 – 2012), and is expected to be a frontrunner in the series. Many pundits rank Alessi, who has only raced supercross in Canada and is a neophyte to the outdoor tracks here, as a title favourite.

Alessi will be joined on the U.S. based-team, Moto Concept Racing Suzuki by Vince Friese. The Missouri native comes off a career-high fourth overall in the AMA 250 East Region in 2013 and he’ll want to carry that momentum into his Canadian campaign. Friese will be competing in the MX2 class for the team.

The usual suspects are back for another kick at the MX1 can including Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Bobby Kiniry. The New Yorker, who was one of the few riders to win a national moto last year, has been in the mix for a number of seasons and will be sporting the No.2 plate.  Look for Kiniry to pour on the gas in 2014 as he makes another quest to nail down the elusive No.1 plate.

Joining Kiniry on Rockstar Yamaha’s MX1 squad will be Florida’s Kyle Chisholm. The Clearwater native is no stranger to the Canadian motocross scene. In 2005, his debut year, he snared runner-up in the MX2 East Championship. Chisholm stepped up to the plate to nail down the title the following year, in 2006. Chisholm is coming back to Canada with only one goal, to add an MX1 Championship to his laurels.

Canadian title contenders are spearheaded by multi-time champion Colton Facciotti, riding for GDR Honda this year and Tyler Medaglia, who is back aboard a KTM Canada ride.

Facciotti, who missed most of last season due to injuries, has had his share of health problems the past few years and is looking for a definitive comeback. If the BC native keeps it on two wheels, look for that comeback to be this season. Facciotti will also be hot on the trot to repeat as winner of the opening round. With three wins at the track, Facciotti is currently tied with Jean Sebastien Roy for most victories. He’ll no doubt want to make that a record four.

Two-time MX2 Champion Tyler Medaglia, meanwhile, will be anxious to claim his first MX1 crown this season and trade his current No.3 ranking for a No.1 plate. Medaglia has the talent and speed to upset the MX1 apple cart; it’s just a matter for the Ottawa native to put a consistent season together.

National No.4, Jeremy Medaglia, found himself without a ride until mid-May, when he signed with Leading Edge Kawasaki. It looks like he will be campaigning the MX2 Championship for them, however, instead of MX1.

With the likes of podium contenders like Alessi, Hill, Kiniry, Maier, Facciotti and Tyler Medaglia gracing the tracks, and as yet unknown underdogs out to disrupt the MX1 status quo, the 2014 Rockstar Energy Drink MX1 Motocross Nationals should prove to be as volatile as the MX2 title hunt.

Past MX1 Champions at The Wastelands

2002 – Darcy Lange
2003 – Jean Sebastien Roy
2004 – Jean Sebastien Roy
2005 – Jean Sebastien Roy
2006 – Dusty Klatt
2007 – Simon Homans
2008 – Colton Facciotti
2011 – Colton Facciotti
2012 – Matt Goerke
2013 – Colton Facciotti

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