Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
Future West Moto, teamed up with the BCMA, the Quesnel Motocross Association and Vancouver Island MX, kicked off its inaugural, all inclusive, three round Canadian Kawasaki BC Championship series this past weekend in Quesnel, British Columbia. The weather was smoking hot and the three bodies that banded together to make this much needed event happen did a great job. This series resumes next weekend, August 1st and 2nd, on Vancouver Island in Campbell River BC.
Up this weekend for Future West is the finale of the Canadian Kawasaki South Series at Whispering Pines in Kamloops BC. Practice is on Saturday, racing goes on Sunday. The Future West Moto Canadian Arenacross series is scheduled to kick off in Armstrong, BC on October 2nd and 3rd. Once again, this series promises to deliver and will see a largely increased list of participants and family entertainment at all levels and for all members of the family. Future West Moto is currently seeking sponsorship partners to add to its winning team. To find out more about how to partner with this series, which has quickly become a Canadian Motocross Fall Classic, contact fwmstu@hotmail.com
Once again friends the weekend is upon us and I can honestly say at this point every day feels like Saturday. I am not even sure what that means but it is something I often heard my father say shortly after he retired from a lifelong career as a Tree Faller. With all the current happenings in moto in our country and abroad, this time of year always has me going back down memory lane to some of the glory years I had with this great sport. When I look back on how far we have come technologically, on and off the race track, it is positively overwhelming. It is at times where all the hard work and efforts put in by those sending the messages, signals and transmissions via our media outlets can be taken for granted or at times even unjustly criticized. I will admit that there is still no experience on earth like witnessing the big races firsthand, but the reality is that it is not possible or feasible for everyone. I can remember as far back as the mid to late ‘70s, waiting for the weekly newsprint publication of Cycle News to show up, that got me up to speed on the happenings of all of those I was aspiring to be like. No, it was not the glossy, in depth, colourful Motocross Action Magazine that I packaged up, preserved and treasured each month like it would one day end up in the Smithsonian Institute, but it served its purpose. Luckily I still have almost every one of those issues, and even though they may never find the Smithsonian (as long as I can help it), they have a special place in my heart and studio. Yes, I am very proud to have my picture in a couple of them.
Fast forward to this past weekend where I sat high above the Quesnel, BC race track with a microphone in my hand taking care of business with my colleague John Wren announcing round one of the BC Championship Series. Being a bit of a social media junkie, I quickly fired out an image of the riders gathered at riders meeting under the clear, sunny skies at the onset of the racing day. Good news on a couple of accounts – one, I would be able to ‘Tweet,’ ‘Instagram,’ and Facebook to the BC Motocross site to my heart’s content of the days happenings. Two, I would be able to follow all of the action from Sand Del Lee, the home of that day’s Ottawa National, right? Wrong, moments later I would not see a sniff of cell service or internet feed until I was hiked down out of the tower by three of the biggest on-track thugs I could subpoena. Thanks Stu McQueen, Jim and Willie Watchell, you guys got me up and down one of the sketchiest tower ladders I have been carted up and down to date. I never had any problem with clicking a dirt bike into fifth gear and hitting a blind jump face wide open, but let me tell you, getting hiked in and out of a tower or scissor lift while chair-bound is something I absolutely hate. When I say do your best to stay safe friends and always wear an Atlas neck brace, I mean it. Why do I do it? Simply because I love everything I do for this sport and its goodness, and being able to share my passion on the business end of the microphone helps me maintain a certain level of sanity. Let me emphasize for certain as after the long haul to some events I wonder why I, at times, put myself through what I do. It’s quite simple, I was born into a racing home and this is who I am. Thanks Mom and Dad, every sacrifice and commitment you ever made, and there were many, has long since paid themselves forward.
Kaven Benoit has definitely found his rhythm in the 2015 MX2 series as he once again went 1-1 at Sand Del Lee last weekend. photo by James Lissimore
Upon the conclusion of the race day it would require a seven hour drive home back to Vernon, BC, and I would finally be able to kick back and catch up on the SandDel Lee race action. Yes, it was a bummer to miss it but by the time this national series sees its conclusion I will have made it to half of them, and that makes me pretty happy. The way our highly competitive series has continued to evolve, who wouldn’t be happy? It seems that the script continues to rewrite itself weekly with some added names, coupled with the ongoing fierce battles. It seems like almost every week race fans and media outlets are stating that it was a best yet, or hottest, closest, fiercest battle they had seen to date. Is the series actually getting better? Are the stakes any higher? Yes and No. I believe the bar has been set to an all-time high here in Canada, and even though the goals and stakes are the same, the will and desire to win by its contenders has what has increased the most. I spoke with Royal Distributing KTM’s Kaven Benoit Wednesday night on the Canadian Moto Show and yes, he has every reason to be wearing that smile that has just gotten a little bit bigger than that of his competitors. Kaven, however, being the professional that he is, realizes that tomorrow is still unwritten promise and anything can happen. He is, however, in the driver’s seat and as long as his co-pilot lady luck stays seated, he has a great chance to wrap up his second consecutive MX2 title. So where does that leave the challengers? Yes, there are forty bikes lined up but only two have a realistic shot at challenging for the crown. I have to believe after the misfortune suffered by MX101’s Yamaha rider, Jimmy Decotis, this past weekend, coupled with the stellar effort by GDR Honda Canada’s Jeremy Medaglia, those two will have one thing on their mind only in the remaining eight motos. Win and win only as the opportunities to stack up the chips in the series will diminish and spiral out of reach quickly. Heading into Quebec where the series will get another spiked injection of adrenaline from the home province faithful on another sand based track, who are you picking? The Quebec fans are some of the most knowledgeable and passionate in the country. Yes, they may justifiably cheer a little louder for their own, but they do appreciate and are not shy to show appreciation to those who deserve it. Tony Alessi said openly that Deschambault was one of the best racing experiences he has ever experienced. I myself won two races in that province, one of which was a national title in 1980, and I even won a race at the fabled St. Gabriel de Brandon circuit; memories I will cherish forever. All the best to our MX2 competitors at Deschambault.
The racing we’re getting to witness this summer in the MX1 class is some of the best we’ve ever seen. photo by James Lissimore
The MX1 battle royal took another twist this past weekend at San Del Lee at the Ottawa National. Even though Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha’s Matt Goerke still has the Red Plate and a 17-point cushion over Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki rider, Brett Metcalfe, via his overall win on the weekend, is closing in. The Ottawa National race winner, Metcalfe, and GDR Honda’s Colton Facciotti have served notice in a big way that they are prepared to fight tooth and nail for this title. Colton’s huge Moto 1 score was impressive, and even though he was not happy with how the second moto went down, he is not planning on giving up his number one plate. I also spoke with Colton on this week’s Canadian Moto Show. Even though he is verbally reserved and calm on the exterior, inside he burns a totally different trilogy of physical and mental confidence and determination. I am sure similar words can be versed for Matt Goerke, Brett Metcalfe, Tyler Medaglia and even Cole Thompson. They have all proved they have what it takes to win at the top level, and with the exception of Tyler they have all won in this series so far. Did I just give Tyler Medaglia some more fuel? If so it was not by design, but if it works Tyler, you’re welcome… I think? This series is a beauty race fans, and even though it will wind down quickly, I really believe that most of the drama in the form of the great on-track action is still to be written. The race tracks are changing quickly; Deschambault will mark the last of the true sand rounds. Who has the edge at Riverglade? Speed will be a huge factor there and a holeshot will go a long way. There is now a no swimming sign in the spot where Cole Thompson unceremoniously went for a dip in 2013, and he too will battle hard up front. Will he repeat his hard packed mastery of Nanaimo? Cole was not far off finishing on the box in Ottawa, and I think as this series winds down he will carve into the point totals of the top three in a big way.
Who is going to win this titanic 2015 MX1 challenge? That I cannot tell you. What I can tell you, however, is that this race fan feels like a winner. Do yourselves a favour friends, get out to a round of this great series while you still can. If you’re at the Parts Canada Walton Trans Can Aug 12-16th stop by to see Bill Petro, of the Legends of Canadian Motocross, and I. We have lots of goodies up for grabs to raise money for this iconic project including a signed race worn Kaven Benoit jersey.
Let’s Go Racing friends. Until next ‘Friday Flight, Airmail out………………….
I can’t believe that we’re just a few weeks from the 2015 Parts Canada TransCan. photo by James Lissimore
