Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
In the process of thinking up stories and then putting them down on paper, it continues to amaze me how a story evolves. For this story, I wanted to write about some of our fast amateur riders in this fine country of ours. Since I can remember we have always been blessed with a fast group of young riders who set their goals then do all they can to meet those goals. In recent years we’ve witnessed riders like Dylan Wright, Tanner Ward, Marco Cannella and Jess Pettis go from top amateur riders to the front of the pack in the pro class. On the outside, these riders have made the transition look almost seamless. However, behind the scene, these kids work incredibly hard and are under a great deal of pressure to perform every weekend.
So, in thinking up the concept of this story, I wanted to talk about the next group of young riders that appear ready to follow in the footsteps of those young pros. When trying to find the next crop of fast amateur riders there is no better place to look than our Amateur National Championships at Walton Raceway. This past summer at the 2018 Walton TransCan, the Supermini class ended up being the class to watch, in my opinion. From the moment of the first gate drop, the Supermini riders were flying, and word quickly spread throughout the paddock that these races were very entertaining to watch. While I stood on the sidelines watching these kids fly around the Walton track, I was quickly reminded of the day back in 1979 when my Dad took me to Walton Raceway to watch one of the local Ontario races. During the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, the 100cc class was also the class to watch. In those days, there were names like Doug Hoover, Jeff Surtherland and Rob Kuenzig who battled every weekend, sometimes even delighting the fans with lap times that were faster than the 125 Pro class. Those races were just as exciting back then as they were this past summer at the Walton TransCan.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Supermini class from Walton this year was the top five finishers were all from different parts of Canada. From Nova Scotia to British Columbia, almost every region was represented as the Top 5 riders battled at the TransCan. All of these riders in this story are fast, talented, and hard working, and that’s just the top five. Behind them were names like Thomas Rendall, Evan Stewart, Luke Tricco and Tanner Scott, all of which put some great motos together that week. With heat, mud and whatever else Walton Raceway could throw at them, all of these riders had to battle through just about every condition imaginable. Will all of these kids make it to the pro class and be the next Jess Pettis? Only time will tell. However, I think we can all agree that the future is very bright for these talented up and comers.
Rather than telling the story of how each moto went for these talented riders, it would much more interesting to let each of the top five Supermini finishers from the 2018 Walton TransCan tell their own story.
Ryder McNabb: First Overall and 2018 Supermini Champion
Walton Moto Scores: 4-1-1
Hometown: Minnedosa, Manitoba
Age: 13
Bike: 2018 KTM85
Moto 1: I got off to a horrible start and I think I was last going into the first turn. From there I just told myself to focus, not panic, and don’t override the track. After the opening lap, I made it up to 14th. I kept charging and taking different lines where no one else was going. After the second lap I had gained about seven positions. I had one goal in mind and that was to get on the box. The track was rough and rutted, just the way I like it. I gained another couple of spots and then one more at the end of the fourth lap. The top 3 guys ahead of me were fast so I knew I had to put my head down and hit my marks. I was clicking off laps, gaining a couple of seconds each lap. I think I even set the fastest lap of the race. When the white flag came out, I could see that I was catching Zach. I was finally getting close enough to him to start thinking about making a move. After the two right-handers, I scrubbed the table top and made the pass for 3rd in the sand corner. Unfortunately, Zach made an aggressive move, almost cleaning me out, and got me back in the next corner leading up to the natural double. I pushed hard to get him back but ended up finishing 4th.
Moto 2: I got a pretty good start and made some quick passes and was sitting 4th after the first lap. On the second lap I got around Hunter Scott and set my sights on the two guys in front of me, Zach and Julien. They were battling hard which gave me the opportunity to get in reach of them. On the 5th lap, Zach made a pass on Julien on the inside and I followed. I got into second and was following Zach, checking out his lines so that if he made a mistake anywhere I would be able to make a move. He was riding good but with one lap to go, I knew I had to make a pass. For most of the lap I stayed patient. At the left-hand corner before the natural double everyone was taking the outside line. I knew if I railed the inside and held it wide open I could clear it, and that is where I made my move. With a few turns left I protected the inside and took the win. It was an amazing feeling!
Moto 3: The skies opened up that day and we all knew we were in for an interesting final moto. It was a mudder so I wanted the first gate on the inside so I would not get pushed way out. I pretty much had the best start of my life! Once the gate dropped my KTM Canada Orange Brigade 85 hooked up and I pulled the holeshot. I was so pumped, had a clear track in front of me and I did not have to battle the mud that was flying up behind me. I knew if I laid it down I could pull out a big lead and that is exactly what I did. After the second lap I had over a minute lead. I was just trying to ride my own race and stay focused. Then I tipped over in the right-hand corner just before the little step up. I got back up with mud everywhere on my hands; it was awful. The next time around I did the same thing, and I think again after that. My lead dropped to 12 seconds. I read my pit board on the last lap and knew if I just kept it on two wheels I could bring it home! I was definitely happy to see the checkers. To win the Supermini class in a mudder like that and on my 85 felt like a big accomplishment.
Zach Ufimzeff: Second Overall
Walton Moto Scores: 3-2-4
Hometown: Lake Country, B.C.
Age: 15
Bike: 2018 KTM Supermini
Moto 1: In the first moto I was able to get a pretty good start. Coming down the first straight stretch I was about 5th. I needed to make some quick passes so I could get out front early. I noticed the four guys ahead of me all went to the inside of the sweeper at the bottom of the hill, so I railed around the outside then again on the outside of the next corner; it felt awesome. By the time I came to the big triple I was in the lead!! I couldn’t believe that just happened. Now that I was in the lead I didn’t have to worry about making any passes, so I just put my head down and charged. I was finding my groove and had a great race going. Then with about three laps to go right before the finish line I made a little bobble and tucked the front end. I got up as quickly as I could, Hunter had passed me, and Julien was passing me as I got going. I tried charging to hold onto second place, but I came into a corner right behind Julien but had no front brake. It made it very hard to charge to the corners, especially the tighter corners on the track, and I ended up falling back from Julien. With Ryder charging hard I did my absolute best to try to hold onto third place and finish on the podium. We were so close at the finish but I held my line and grabbed third in the opening moto.
Moto 2: In the second moto I had another pretty good start. I came out of the first corner about the same spot as the first moto, 5th or 6th. I used the same line in the sweeper at the bottom of the hill, railed around the outside and the next outside, and again made my way to the front. But this time Julien was ahead of me in the lead. For the majority of the race we were battling hard. Coming in and out of corners we were battling as hard as we could, it was so much fun! At the second sweeper after the one at the bottom of the hill, I found a nice inside rut. Julien was going a couple ruts over that led a little bit to the outside. I used that inside rut and closed right up to Julien and I knew I had to get close to him at that part for the next lap. We continued battling it out for the next lap and I was able to get close for that corner. I railed the rut so hard, we were neck and neck coming up to the lip of the triple and jumped side by side. I kept it pinned to the corner, carried my momentum and made the pass while I launched down the hill. Once again, I was in the lead at the Walton National in the Supermini class and I was pumped! I was feeling really good and was having a blast. However, on the final lap right before the pro finish I made a big mistake that cost me. Coming into that turn my tire hit the inside of the rut, which caused it to slide. I was getting no traction and I almost went down. That mistake made me lose a lot of time and allowed Ryder to catch up. Again, with one lap to go, Ryder and I were battling for position. This time he got the better of me and was able to take the moto win. I was frustrated at giving away the moto win, but I was happy with my effort.
Moto 3: Coming into Moto 3, Ryder was just one point ahead of me and Julien. I wanted the win so badly. When we woke up for the final race day, it wasn’t just raining, it was pouring! The last moto was going to be a mudder. I chose the very inside gate, there was some grass on the edge so I was hoping to get a little bit more traction and get the holeshot. That wasn’t the case, because as soon as the gate dropped I just spun, and since I was on the inside and didn’t get the jump I got pinched out in the first corner. I was about mid pack going down the first straight, and it was hectic! I rode well in the opening laps and charged up to fourth in the mud. However, at that point I got water under my roll-offs and I couldn’t see. I ended up having to throw my goggles away so I could see where I was going. Then, I got mud jammed in the shifter and my bike was stuck in third or fourth gear. I don’t know how I did it but I just kept charging. Finally, I got up to third by the end of the moto. I ended up second overall at Walton, my first time ever at that track.
Julien Benek: Third Overall
Walton Moto Scores: 2-3-5
Hometown: Mission, BC
Age: 14
Bike: Yamaha 112
Moto 1: Before the opening Supermini moto I had over-jumped a step-down beside the podium on my 250 two-stroke and bashed my eye open. I was taken to the hospital where they glued my eye lid back together. I was told that I didn’t have a concussion, but I couldn’t ride due to impaired vision. I got back to the track and my Dad that I didn’t have to ride if I didn’t want to, but he wanted me to at least start the moto so I would eligible for the remaining motos if I felt better. I told my Dad that I felt good, so we decided to go for it. I got a good start and was in third until the final few laps. From there I just kept my head down and ended up in second. Considering how I felt going into that moto, I was really happy with my result.
Moto 2: The next morning my eye was swollen shut and I could barely see. I iced my eye right up until it was time to go racing. It helped a little, but it was still pretty swollen as I made my way to the starting line for Moto 2. I ended up getting a great start in Moto 2, and I had the lead for most of the race. Toward the end of the moto I was slowing down and making a lot of mistakes. Ryder McNabb got by me, and then I didn’t shift down enough, then Zach Ufimzeff got me. I was able to keep my position in third to finish the moto strong. This meant that I was sitting tied for second overall as we went to the third and deciding moto.
Moto 3: The final Supermini moto at Walton was an absolute beast. It had rained all night and the track crew was trying their best to scrape off the mud, but there was really no difference. I got off to a pretty bad start and had to take my goggles off right after the start. I spun out in the corner before the natural double and got passed by quite a few people. After that I was going as fast as I could in that mud and was able to work my way up to fifth. I was right behind Zach on the final lap but I just wasn’t able to make the pass. I could barely see where I was going and finished the moto strong. I was able to get third overall. Considering how my week started, I was very happy with my result.
Hunter Vaughan: Fourth overall
Walton Moto Scores: 1-DQ-2
Hometown: Waterville, NS
Age: 15
Bike: KTM Supermini
Moto 1: In my first moto I got off to a pretty decent start and worked my way up to first by the second lap. From there I just tried to stay smooth and not make any mistakes. I ended up taking the win and I was happy to begin my week at the TransCan that way.
Moto 2: This moto was going well until my rear brake overheated and jammed on me. I felt helpless, sitting there watching riders go by. I didn’t know what to do as I didn’t want to just sit there and DNF. Someone from the side of the track gave me a bottle of water to dump on my calibre to cool it down. That is what I did. Even though it worked, it was deemed that I received outside assistance. Unfortunately, I was disqualified from that moto.
Moto 3: Going into the final moto I really wanted win so I could show everyone that I was the fastest rider in the class. With the track being a complete mess with all of the rain that had fallen, I ended up getting a decent start and I was feeling good. I’ve always enjoyed riding in the mud so the conditions in the final moto didn’t bother me. During the first part of the moto, Ryder was way out as he got away early. I think he crashed a few times during the final few laps because I could see him just in front of me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to catch him so I had to settle for second in that moto and fourth overall. It was my first-time racing in Walton and I can’t wait to return next year. In closing, I really want to thank my Dad and my family for all of their support, I wouldn’t be where I am without them.
Josh Bryan: Fifth Overall
Walton Moto Scores: 5-6-8
Hometown: Mulmur, ON
Age: 15
Bike: 2017 Husqvarna Supermini
Moto 1: I was 6th out of the gate on a dry, rough track. I battled another rider for two laps. The rider tried to take me out in the second corner from the finish line but I saw him coming and leaned into him so when he hit me I didn’t fall over. After that corner I pulled away from him and started to gain ground on the fourth place rider, but ran out of time and ended up with a strong 5th place finish. I was happy with my opening moto as it was the best I’ve ever done at Walton. I worked hard all summer so I was happy to be racing with the leaders.
Moto 2: I was 5th off the gate, the track was dry but very rough. On the third lap I tipped over in a corner and dropped back to 7th place. By the fourth lap I dropped one second off my lap time and was gaining ground; I moved up to 6th place. I dropped two more seconds off my lap time on lap six and was feeling great. Then, on the final couple of laps, I made some mistakes that cost me a lot of time. I ended up in sixth that moto, and I went into the final race wanting to get onto the podium.
Moto 3: This, of course, was a mud moto. I had a great start and was running second. Then I fell in the third turn and ended up way back and eating a lot of muddy roost. I fought hard on every lap to end up with an 8th place finish. By the last lap my helmet was so heavy that I could hardly hold my head up, and my bike felt like it was twenty pounds heavier. Overall, I had a lot of fun at Walton, and I definitely learned a lot about myself and my riding. To be racing and battling with the top riders in Canada was a dream come true. Hopefully I’ll be able to return to Walton in 2019 and do it all over again.
