Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
As we head into the final round of the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals, there are a number of things to watch out for. Not only do we still have a point battle in both the MX1 and MX2 classes, but in the past few weeks we’ve also witnessed some very aggressive racing at the front of the MX1 pack. With a point battle that will no doubt come down to the final moto on Sunday, to a few riders that simply don’t like each other anymore, the final round this weekend at RJ Motosport Park may be the most exciting conclusion we’ve seen in some time to this series.
Will Shawn Maffenbeier be able to maintain the points lead on Sunday and captured his very first national title. Photo by James Lissimore
Points of Interest
A week ago, Shawn Maffenbeier was preparing for Round 9 in Deschambault with a comfortable, stress-free 46-point lead in the MX2 class, a seemingly insurmountable lead that every rider and their girlfriend would love to have with four motos to go. Even after one moto on the muddy Deschambault circuit last Sunday, Maffenbeier was still sitting in great shape after his impressive third place finish in Moto 1. However, after the opening few laps of the second MX2 moto, with Maffenbeier’s closet competitor pulling away out front, Maffenbeier and his red plated MX101 FXR Racing Yamaha was nowhere to be found. After getting caught up in a crash with a few other riders, Maffenbeier’s bike was too damaged to continue and he was forced to call it quits. Gone was not only any chance of another podium finish, but also his dreamy 46-point lead over Ryan Surratt. Now, with two stressful motos remaining, Maffenbeier’s lead is just 11 points.
As they head into the final round at RJ’s, on a track that no one in the MX2 class has ridden very much over the years, there are two ways you can look at the situation if you’re Shawn Maffenbeier. On one hand, you have the unforgettable second moto from last weekend where the unthinkable happened and you lost 35 points to Ryan Surratt. This could stay in the front of Maffenbeier’s mind and inhibit his performance this weekend. However, on the other hand, Maffenbeier still has an 11-point lead with two motos to go, and that is much better than being behind 11 points. He also has Jess Pettis as a teammate, who also has the speed to run up front. Pettis could either take off and win both motos on Sunday, thus taking away the extra points that Surratt needs to make up the gap. Pettis could also get between Maffenbeier and Surratt. This would help Maffenbeier secure his first ever MX2 title. There are so many scenarios that could play out on Sunday. My thinking is that while Surratt may go and win both MX2 motos, Maffenbeier will still get the job done and take home his first title. After all of the years that he has put into this sport, no one deserves it more.
The admiration that was felt in the early rounds of the MX1 series by Matt Goerke and Christophe Pourcel are now a thing of the past. On Sunday these two will go toe to toe for the 2017 MX1 Championship. Photo by James Lissimore
The Quasi War
In the MX1 class, we could have a heavyweight battle on our hands for the title as Matt Goerke and Christophe Pourcel don’t seem to like each other very much right now. With just 15 points between them, anything can happen, as we’ve seen so far in 2017. In the closing stages of the final moto last weekend in Quebec, Goerke left just a foot or so of room heading into a tight
left-hand corner. For Pourcel, who had been eating sand off the back tire of Goerke for 25 minutes, he sensed an opportunity to make a pass to make up some much-needed points. In true racer fashion, Pourcel dove to the inside and pushed Goerke out of the berm and took off to a well earned second place finish. Goerke went on to finish in third, but when the two riders met at the podium moments later, Goerke had some choice words for the Frenchman. Was the pass dirty? I don’t think so. It was racing and I would’ve been more surprised if Pourcel didn’t take a run at Goerke. Did Goerke have a right to be mad? Of course he did, every rider in that situation would’ve been off the wall upset. However, if Goerke wants to win this title, he needs to forget about what happened on Sunday and just go out and race this weekend. If Pourcel wins both motos, all Goerke has to do is ride around inside the top four and the 2017 MX1 Championship is his. Surely the two-time Champ can do that! For Pourcel, his job is simple, go out and win and hope for the best, or the worst depending on how you look at it.
Oh yes, this final round is going to be an exciting one. So many storylines in both classes. Actually, this is the way it’s been all summer long, so why stop now. See you on Sunday!
