Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
Hello everyone and Happy Friday! Or aka TGIF. As usual, this week’s Friday Flight is brought to you by The Big Steel Box. If you need anything as far as shipping or storage, Big Steel Box is the place to call as they’re a proud supporter of this sport in Canada. You can find out everything you need to know by visiting www.bigsteelbox.com. With this column’s usual author Brent Worrall down and out with the flu this week, I’m going to do my best to fill in.
I suppose the first order of business is to talk about the big news that came out this week in Canadian motocross. The news I’m referring to is the moving of the final round of the 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals from Walton Raceway to another track. With Walton Raceway hosting the final round of the series for almost a quarter century, there is a certain sadness that definitely goes along with this news. I for one hate change, especially when things seem like they’re going well. My first feeling is always why change something when it doesn‘t appear to need changing? However, in life and business things are always changing and evolving and when you look at some of other large pro motocross series across the globe, with the exception of the Monster Energy Supercross Series, the final rounds have moved around quite a bit. The final round in any series is always a big deal. This is when the championships are decided and when those champions are crowned. It’s a prestigious day for the series and for the hosting track, and for that reason it should never be taken lightly. As I said, for almost 25 years Walton Raceway has been a gracious host to the final round of the Nationals, and I can’t think of too many people who don’t have a special memory from it.
For the first time in almost a quarter century, fans will get to watch the Rockstar Energy Drink MX National Champions be crowned at a track other than Walton Raceway. Photo by James Lissimore
We’ve seen some great racing at the final round over the years and I feel very fortunate to have been a part of it on a few different levels. In the 1990s I was able to line up and be part of the show on Sunday. I remember the muddy conditions in 1994, I remember my arch nemesis at the time, Marty Burr, doing the unthinkable in 1995 when he won all four pro motos. Although Marty was one of the top riders back then, what he did that day was unexpected, and I’m sure to this day when he thinks back to that hot August day, hopefully it brings a big smile to his face.
In 1996 we welcomed a few new and cool things to the final round of Walton Raceway. For the first time in the history of Canadian outdoor motocross, riders and fans had to share the property with television cameras as the race that year was broadcast on TSN. I was again lucky enough to be on the starting line alongside one of the most talented fields to ever race at Walton. I remember grabbing two of the biggest holeshots of my life that day when I led a few early laps in both 250 motos. Although I wasn’t able to finish the job off, I still have great memories of battling with riders like Nick Wey, Blair Morgan and Jeff ‘Chicken’ Mataisevich. With the television cameras rolling, that was really a day that changed Canadian motocross forever as it was the beginning of what we’re enjoying today.
Over the years the final round of the Pro Nationals has produced some very memorable moments. More than a few were thanks to this guy. Blair Morgan definitely saved some of his best rides for Walton Raceway. Photo by Paul Mason
A year later in 1997, the entire series was broadcasted and we saw Nick Wey take the win on Sunday at Walton. In 1998, the track ran backwards for the first time. Actually, backwards in 1998 ended up being the direction that we ride the track today, but back in 1998 we even rode the Natural Double backwards, which was pretty weird because you couldn’t jump the double, it was more like a single and then a drop off. In 2000, fans watched in disbelief as Marco Dubé won a moto without a seat on his RM250. A year later, Darcy Lange put on a mud riding clinic as only one moto was run that year. In 2008, it was Blair Morgan who rode to an amazing second overall in the MX1 class. Although Blair was no stranger to the podium during his long career, that special day at Walton marked the final race for him as he got injured a few weeks later in practice at the Montreal SX.
Perhaps one of my favourite moments from Walton came in 2011 when the MX3 World Champion Julien Bill flew over from Switzerland to race the TransCan. That year I was part of the Walton Team as I helped put together the event program. Not only was I part of the decision making process, but I got to witness firsthand the passion and hard work that went into this event. From the planning stages in February to the opening of the gates in August, every detail was gone over numerous times until it was put into place. That year will not only be remembered for Julien Bill’s unreal cornering speed, but it was also the year that Mother Nature unleashed her fury and everyone had to take cover on Sunday as a tornado touched down nearby. Oh the memories!
Regardless of what the future holds for Walton Raceway, it will always be known as Canada’s “Motocross Town”. Photo by James Lissimore
I could go on and on with the history of Walton, and maybe one day Brett Lee will hire me to write a book. However, as much as I hate to say it, maybe it’s time for the format of the event to change and new memories built. In reality, the CMRC Nationals don’t need Walton and Walton doesn’t need the CMRC Nationals. The Nationals have nine other rounds to worry about, and Walton Raceway still has the biggest amateur race in the Country to worry about. The 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will still be awesome as riders like Matt Goerke, Brett Metcalfe and Colton Facciotti battle it out, and the Parts Canada TransCan will still be equally as awesome as Canada’s top amateur stars go at it all week for their respective titles. So don’t be mad or don’t feel sorry for either party, the final round of the pro nationals will still be special as it will be run on the Sunday prior to the TransCan, and by the sounds of it, the innovative boys at Walton Raceway are planning a one-off Monster Cup-type event for the Sunday at the TransCan. So while the news that the final round of the Nationals won’t be at Walton Raceway in 2016 may be sad to hear, it may end up being one of the best things to happen to Canadian motocross in some time as it will add one more large event to an already great summer. Yes, as I’ve explained, I almost always hate change, but sometimes change is necessary and it can end up being a good thing. I know the 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be great, and I know the 2016 Parts Canada TransCan will be great. Isn’t that all that matters?
Well, that is it for me and my moonlighting job this week as the author of the Friday Flight. I hope everyone has a great weekend, a safe Halloween and I hope our usual pilot for this flight, Brent Worrall, is feeling better. Please take some cool pictures of your kids’ costumes and share them on our Facebook page (mxpmag) and our Instagram page (@mxpmag)
One of Cole Thompson’s proudest moments was collecting the coveted Walton Sword in 2013. Photo by James Lissimore
