Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
We have now reached the middle of May and right across the country the weather just keeps getting nicer and nicer. We have also reached that time in the week when we sit down with Ryan Lockhart to ask him some more questions about current topics in our sport. As you know, Ryan has been in this industry for over twenty years and during that time he’s been a rider, a mechanic, a riding coach, and most recently the Brand Manager over at Matrix Concepts Canada. Ryan knows a lot about a lot of things and he’s always a great guy to talk to. Here are this week’s 3 Q’s with Ryan Lockhart presented by Matrix Concepts Canada.
MXP: Hey Newf, we’re seeing a few Social Media posts of guys riding in BC. One rider is Julien Benek and in 2021 he will be entering his first full year as a pro. What are your thoughts on Julien and how do you see his 2021 season going?
RL: Julien is going to be one to watch this summer. The best part about Julien is he is a very simple kid. Now I don’t mean that in a bad way, what I mean is that you always know he’s going to give it 110% regardless of the bike, conditions, or whatever is thrown at him. He doesn’t go to Cali to train, he pounds it out in the sandpits of BC and that’s not easy. He’s also very tall so he has had to adapt that to his riding style which makes him look very smooth and effortless on the bike very similar to a guy like Benny Bloss. I do believe he is a better 450 rider and we saw that last year at the TransCan. I expect to see Julian well inside the top ten this summer.
MXP: We’re always debating which track or which race is the most challenging in Canada. Can you talk about what you believe to be the toughest national you’ve ever had to race?
RL: The obvious choice physically is Gopher Dunes hands down but I think the mindset has changed since my day for that round. Back then you’d try to get a decent start, ride at 80%, stay out of trouble and see where you end up at the end of 30 minutes. Things have changed a bit with training these days and the top guys can go full out for the entire moto. Besides Gopher Dunes being tough, I always found tracks like Nanaimo difficult because it was smooth and everyone went fast. It wasn’t so physically challenging, but more mentally challenging. I remember in 2005 in the MX1 class I got 4th overall at the opening round in mission, then I went to Nanaimo the next weekend and was battling all moto with Doug Dehann, Simon Homans, and Craig Decker. I came off of track thinking that I had a great moto and my mechanic told me I got 14th! I was like WTF.
MXP: The 250 class in the Triple Crown Series is going to be pretty solid this year in Canada. Can you give us the names of three riders who you think are going to impress everyone this summer?
RL: The class is going to be deep that’s for sure. I mean with Jess Pettis moving up to the 450 class there will be a lot of guys searching for their first Championship. Darian Sanayei is going to be tough as he does have a little Canadian experience as well as a few decent results in the USA. Also, you have to think that Tanner ward and Marco Canella are going to be really hungry this summer. Then toss in the young riders like Piccolo, Benek, McKie, and Gibbs. My guy McNabb is going to be a podium threat each weekend. Sam Gaynor is dropping down to the 250 class and he will be fast and in great shape. It’s going to be good. However, if I had to pick which riders will battle for the 250 title? I think it will be between Ward, Canella, and Sanayei!
