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It’s always an exciting time when we welcome in a new year as it always provides us with new opportunities as well as a fresh start. Well, here we are in the early part of 2022 and we’re back with some more weekly questions for Ryan Lockhart. As you probably know, Ryan has been in the industry for over two decades and during that time he’s worn many hats. We believe it’s this experience as well as his fun-loving nature that makes his insight so valuable and so entertaining. So as we all guide our way through the first part of 2022 here is this week’s Matrix Concepts Canada 3 Q’s with Ryan Lockhart.
MXP: It looks as though the final three rounds of the Future West AX Championships went well. Can you talk a little about that and also the upcoming Future West MX Schedule?
Yes it felt great to finally get the last rounds in like we had promised our rider. It wasn’t easy with everything that was thrown at us but we did it. We has some great racing, cool tracks and I think everyone had fun. It wasn’t great timing and we never like dragging it into the new year but like I said we finished what we started.
The outdoor schedule was released on Tuesday and the response has been great so far. It’s never easy putting a schedule together as you always try and come up with one that is going to work for everyone. We have a good variety of tracks this season and a pretty even split between the north and the south which should make it attractive for most riders wanting to compete in the full series. BC is a challenge with being such a large province so I know personally that we have to show love to the guys in the north in order for them to show us love in the south. The format will be spread over the two days ( Saturday/ Sunday) because our turnouts have been larger than ever. So in order to give good length practices and motos this is what needs to be put into place to give our riders the best value for their money.
MXP: Last weekend in Anaheim we watched a few different things. A challenging whoop section where a lot of riders crashed. Also, we saw real lackluster performances by Cooper Webb and Ken Roczen. First, do you like when these tracks feature sections as tough as the whoops at A3? Second, what the heck is wrong with Webb and Roczen?
The tracks have been extremely difficult this year which I like, but the whoops have been next level. I like it but from hearing what the riders are saying that they have been pretty inconsistent so I can understand the frustration from the rider’s standpoint. The whoops haven’t been an issue for Craig or Tomac so it will be interesting to see what they all get this weekend. Personally, I think the track will be a bit tamer at most of the east venues with the softer and more challenging dirt. For Kenny, I’m not sure what the heck is going on there but it sure looks like he is just going through the motions and I feel like this is it for him. He has had a tough go and the body has to be hurting, but then again he did win A1. I’m hitting the panic button for Webb as well, he doesn’t look great out there. He doesn’t look comfortable and I think that the new bike probably has something to do with it for sure, but still, he should be better. If he struggles the next two weekends like he has been the championship is over.
MXP: Okay, the 250SX East Series kicks off this weekend in Minneapolis and we have three Canadian riders on the starting line. We were supposed to have four but Jess Pettis is still injured. What are your thoughts on Ward, St-Cyr, and Benek? Three completely different riders all coming in at different points in their career. They’re in tough in this series as it’s stacked with talent. How do you see it playing out Newf?
I’m sure I’m not the only one wishing these guys would of or could of rode West. The East is deep!! Like really deep, but I give these three kids all the credit and respect for giving it a go.
St- Cyr – Has the most SX experience on the big stage and from what I see on Instagram he’s been putting in the work. Whoops have been a struggle for him but it looks like he has gotten better. However, I will predict he will make the night show but will be on the bubble.
Ward – The best rider of the three, but with the recent switch to Kawasaki from Honda is he comfortable yet? I talked to Tanner last week and it sounds like things are going well and he is liking the new bike. He will be in the night show, but we won’t see him making mains for a few rounds. He is a good starter though so he could prove me wrong. I hope he does!
Benek – Tons of speed and heart. Maybe too much heart sometimes which hurts him. He just goes for it. The SX prep has been a challenge with crashes but I love the fact that he keeps trying. I’m going with no night show at Round 1 but we will see him under the lights come Round 2 in Arlington. Just stay healthy Julian and get the experience that is needed.
