MXP: Hey Newf! Let’s begin by talking about the Birmingham SX. Chase Sexton finally got the monkey off his back and held on for the overall win in the 450SX class. What are your thoughts on Sexton’s ride last weekend and can he do it again in Seattle?
RL: Sexton rode great, and looked like a different person out there. The weekend off did him good, and it was good to see him take the win. Of course, Sexton can do it again this weekend, but it will be tough. Regardless of whether it rains or not, the track will be soft, and we all know how good Webb is on these types of tracks.
MXP: With Seattle being a 250SX West Coast race, we’re going to have several Canadian riders on the starting gate. Obviously, Cole Thompson once again has the best chance of qualifying for the main event, but what about the rest of the Canadians, including Tyler Gibbs, who is racing in his first SX of the season?
RL: Yes, it will be a great weekend to be a Canadian SX fan. It would be really cool to see more than just Cole Thompson in the 250SX West main event tomorrow, and I think it’s quite possible. Tyler Gibbs is a good SX rider, and probably the best starter of all the Canadian riders. Also, Gibbs will most likely be in the first qualifying session, so he should have a smooth track and be able to get in a fast qualifying time. I cannot wait to see how our boys do this weekend.
MXP: This has definitely been the season for off-track drama in the USA. Most recently, Haiden Deegan was arrested for stunt driving in Florida. If this were say the NHL and Conor Bedard got arrested, it would be all over the news, his brand would no doubt suffer, and he most likely would face some discipline from his team and possibly the league. For Deegan, it’s almost been the opposite with no mention of it on the Birmingham SX broadcast, and some industry people giving him a pass. Obviously, every one of us has done stupid things when we were teens. But, should Deegan be held to a higher standard than most, or is this just a kid being a kid?
RL: Honestly, I don’t think it’s a big deal, and it falls right into the image that the Deegans are trying to create. I mean, it didn’t take long for the tee-shirts to be made and Social Media to blow up. I’m not a big fan of what Deegan did, but it’s sports entertainment at its best!
