FXR Racing Presents The Mid-Week Report with Andy White

Now that the Rockstar Triple Crown MX Tour is on a two week break it’s time to enjoy some well deserved time off. I try to get out and ride as much as I can, but with busy travel schedules it’s not that easy. This past weekend FXR had their annual Ride Day. We invite all the national and local riders to a private track just outside the Winnipeg area to come and share in a little riding. The track is groomed and watered, the jumps are set up so the pros can get some good air time. This is a fun time of the season because we get to meet the riders face to face that we support. It’s not a race, it’s just a fun day of riding. There are no trophies for the fastest rider or the rider that puts in the most laps. I think my favourite part of the ride is getting to battle with guys like Mike Brown or Jimmy Decotis. They obviously slow down and take the long way around the corners so we can race with them for a lap or two. I try to get my front wheel in Mike when I can and push him high into the corner. He usually repays me back with center punch or a good old fashioned brake test. That’s what this event is all about, just having fun. We had a record turn out this year with the number of riders was around 85 in total. The office staff are invited out for the afternoon to meet the riders and enjoy a BBQ at the same time. 

It’s always fun hanging out with Mike Brown. Photo by James Lissimore

As I said before the Rockstar Triple Crown MX Tour is now on a two week break as the teams head to the east coast. The next event is back at the San Del Lee MX track located just outside the nation’s capital, Ottawa. Kevin Tyler and Johnny Grant have hosted lots of races over the years and know how to put on a good show. I heard that they have changed the track up a little. I am pretty excited to see the pros race this event because if you’ve been there, you know the track gets pretty rough. FXR Racing plans to launch there new 2019 collection on the Friday night at the track with Mike Brown, Cade Clason and the MX101 team all present to show off the new wears.

Looking at the results so far on the series, I think we all kind of knew who would be leading both class of top three. The 450 class is super tight and it seems like each weekend we have a new riders that lead the race. Kaven Benoit started a little off the pace but he is on the gas now. I feel sorry for the rest of the riders as the series moves east because this is where Kaven usually finds that extra speed. In the Lites class it looks like Pettis is the guy to beat, even with a DNF at the Prince George round Jess is still just a few points out of first place.

Throughout the first four rounds of the Triple Crown Series, Jess Pettis proved to be the fastest rider in the 250 Pro/Am class. Photo by James Lissimore

The Ladies Western series was good too. Kennedy Lutz dominated that series hands down. Her main competition was sitting on the side lines with a broken leg, Shelby Turner was all ready to battle the western championship but unfortunately one week before the Calgary round, Turner went down at a local race. Shelby will be ready for the US EnduroCross series that kicks off in August. The East Ladies MX series looks like Eve Brodeur will be the favourite for 2019.

The MXGP series is tightening up in the 450 class now that Herlings missed the Italian round. Tony Cairoli looked like the championship was slipping away from him and then you hear that your main competition crashed hard while practicing. We don’t like hearing about injuries, but now the race for the championship is back on. Tony has 9 world championships and I bet he would really like to get a tenth so he can tie Everts record. Time will tell.

Congratulations to Kennedy Lutz on her 2018 Women’s West MRC Championship. Photo by James Lissimore

The US AMA series is almost half way over. Tomac is leading the 450 class. Ken and Marvin are not too far back but it looks like Eli has this title locked down as long as he keeps it on two wheels. The lites class looked like it was all Osbornes until he injured himself. It’s all Jeremy Martins now to lose in my view. I am looking forward to attending the Southwick round during the Triple Crown break. I hope local hero Jimmy D can put that JGR Suzuki on the podium for the local fans. 

That’s it for this week’s mid week report. See you at the races  

It was great to see Jimmy Decotis back in Canada last week at the 2018 FXR Ride Day. Photo by James Lissimore