Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
Monday Maniac #11
By: Ryan Gauld
What a tough week for athletes in sports around the world. First it was the 26 people that got stranded on a chunk of ice just north of where I live. They were out fishing and a chunk of ice separated and floated nearly two kilometres off shore. Then in our sport the news was released that KTM factory rider Ryan Dungey would be sitting out the Daytona Supercross after a broken collarbone he sustained in practice before St. Louis. He raced in St. Louis to an amazing second place finish but then had to get surgery on the injury. The most shocking of them all this weekend was at a Ski Cross event in Grindelwald, Switzerland. He went off the final jump on an angle and struck the fencing and pillars on the side of the course. Nic Zoricic of Toronto was only 29 years-old. I saw the video of the crash and it was scary; a total accident that just happened. R.I.P. Nic.
Tough year for skiers as they lose another friend. R.I.P Nic Zoricic
Injuries or accidents are becoming more and more apparent in today’s sports. It really is scary for anybody that wants to reach the top level of any type of sporting event. I mean guys just wanted to catch some fish and they nearly drowned and floated away. Ryan Dungey was just practicing and fell in a turn and suffered a minor injury, one that will take him out of the SX title hunt. Nic Zoricic has raced on the World Cup circuit for more than three years and was competing in his 36th event. He placed eighth in the 2011 World Championships at Deer Valley, Utah. So in no way were these first time jitters or an issue with the course. It was totally an accident. I had a few people over for the Daytona SX this weekend to watch and a discussion came up about our sport and why there are so many riders getting hurt. The fact of it all is that each athlete taking the responsibility upon them to get better is stretching the limits further and further. It’s not the bikes, it’s not the tracks; it is the racer themselves putting it all on the line to win. If you’re a person that has never won strived for a goal, you may not know what it’s like to put yourself out there where everything and anything can happen, and will happen. It’s always sad to see when you have to pay that price for glory. When you line up you don’t think that it could ever happen to you. Ninety percent of the time, it doesn’t happen. The 10% it does can be very life changing for those involved. For people looking on the outside in at these sports think we are crazy for what we do, “You’re idiots for doing that!” How many times have you been to the doctor after a big crash and he/she asks you “why do you do this? I have had this happen more than a few times. We always answer the same way, “I love it and there is nothing that can take it away from me.” Well, there are some that would beg to differ with us but that does not mean you have to quit and stop. Nic Zoricic died doing what he loved and I’m betting if he could share his thoughts with us he would say that he went out the way he would have wanted. Sports are tough no matter which one you choose.
Ryan Dungey sat out Daytona with a broken collarbone. Supercross just became a yawner. Bummed!
The one good thing that came from last week on the injury front is Bret Worrall was sent a $27,800.00 hospital bill that, at first, was not going to be paid. Now it looks as if the London Hospital is going to pick up the cost. By no means does this put Brent in the clear as he will endure lots of expenses for the rest of his life for rehabilitation but this sure helps.
http://m.torontosun.com/2012/03/07/paralyzed-man-spared-hefty-air-ambulance-bill
Brent Worrall got some good news this week but the fight is not over.
If you are looking to help Brent, you can right here.
http://brentsrecovery.weebly.com/helping-out.html
After the last few weeks hearing more and more about Brent’s case and talking with Blair Morgan and others that have been injured in the sport, I have come up with an idea for the fall. I have chatted with Motopark owner Iain Hayden. We chatted briefly about having a charity event/race to help raise money for our fallen friends (similar to the Blair Morgan Ride day back in 2008). Hell, I alone gathered over $3000 for SX tickets on March 24th, so I figure it’s time to get an annual event going to help the fallen riders of the sport in Canada. MXP has already stepped up with “MXP leads the way” offering $1500 dollars to three riders to help get them down to the Steel city round of the AMA nationals and whatever we raise over and above that amount will go to injured riders. So why not have one more event this year. Details will follow, but if you have some neat ideas on how to raise some money and have a cool event in the fall, e-mail me gauldy@mxpmag.com and let’s brainstorm together and make a sick event (fall 2012) to support our friends.
The Blair Morgan Ride Day was an idea of Sean Hamblin’s. Not sure why we didn’t keep it going but it’s time to ramp it back up. Look for a similar event this fall in Ontario to help raise money for our fallen moto friends.
I got this e-mail from KTM’s new Marketing man Danny Brault about the 2012 KTM Demo tour dates:
Hope you can attend one or more of our demo ride events. We plan to have JSR at many of them along with race team members depending on their schedule.
Check out this very cool event in BC in May:
DRY-GRAD Freestyle Motocross Show with Reagan Sieg and CnC Crash Co
We are please to confirm that on May 24th, 2012 (12-2pm) CnC Crash Co along with Reagan Sieg Entertainment will be hosting the KELOWNA “DRY-GRAD” Freestyle Motocross Show at George Elliot Secondary School. Canadian FMX Icons Reagan Sieg, Jeff Fehr, & Kris Foster will be performing as well as sharing a message about the dangers of Drinking & Driving. While life is about making choices, it is important that these students understand that the choices that they make now will affect the rest of their lives.
From Snowboarding to Downhill Mountain Biking, EXTREME SPORTS are Mainstream Media. This is what our Kids watch. The youth of today relate to these Athletes and try to emulate them. To have these highly influential Sport Figures communicate a positive and critical message to our High School Students will change and could potentially SAVE lives!
SMARTRISK, a global NON-PROFIT organization, will be sponsoring the event by providing BUS TRANSPORTATION to and from the show for all “High School Students” in the Kelowna School District.
How many kids will attend? Put yourself in “their” shoes….. It’s May, in the Okanagan…. School or an FMX Show, and there are buses to & from the show…..
We have an opportunity to reach out to “ALL” the Kelowna High School Students right before the summer holiday!
Please watch the video below and if you agree with the message, I encourage you to share it!
[youtube id=”9u7NIyyDheE” width=”600″ height=”350″]**ALL PROFITS RAISED AT THE EVENT GO DIRECTLY TO DRY-GRAD EVENTS IN THE DISTRICT**
There are SPONSORSHIP packages available for this event, through Reagan Sieg Entertainment, to help offset the “FIXED COSTS” (Fencing, Insurance, etc..) If you would like to be involved, please send me a quick email and I’ll forward the information to you.
It is absolutely the MOST EXCITING opportunity that we’ve seen and it sends a strong positive message to our Kids and our Community. I’m proud to be involved!
CnC Crash Co
Race Systems
Also a little heads up for the weekend of Toronto SX. TTC Weekend Subway Closure March 24-25 click HERE for PDF
I found the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the 2012 New Zealand Motocross Championships. We have some good friends over there, Mason Phillips and Kieran Leigh. You see Leigh a couple times but no Phillips. Still great to see some cross-the-pond racing
[youtube id=”cr5MQnLYbDg” width=”600″ height=”350″]The New Zealand track really mimics the Canadian ones.
[youtube id=”5sA0OQ25ipA” width=”600″ height=”350″]Looks like Ben Townley is still the man in NZ.
Last but not least, have you had your chance to tune into MXP Podcasts with Marc Travers? His guest list this year is full of VIPs. Click the name below to listen
If you have missed any, just click the HERE to catch up.
That’s it that’s all this week. It’s moto time kids. BRAAAAAPPP!!!!
