Big Steel Box Presents Friday Flight with Brent Worrall

BigSteelBox has a vast network of stores and yards across Canada to help make moving and storage simple. Our moving service is less stressful than dealing with traditional moving companies and our mobile storage options can meet any residential, construction or commercial need.

BigSteelBox is committed to providing storage on demand. We bring the storage to you, when and where you need it. Contact us today to see how we can meet your moving and storage needs. Find a BigSteelBox location near you here www.bigsteelbox.com.

Once again friends the time has come to launch into another weekend as the conclusion of the TransCan signifies that summer now begins to wind down. It was just a couple of short days ago that my plane landed back home in Vernon, BC after what was a truly spectacular week at Walton Raceway. I had been anticipating this year’s event since the day in January when I mapped out my 2015 race season. The plans were made and like most everyone else who was behind this annual staple event did, I did my best to campaign for what a truly amazing family experience the Trans Can week is. You can always do your best to make the plans and prepare appropriately, but as far as the outcome goes that is something that just has to write itself. I am not sure where this year’s TransCan ranks on your scale of all time experiences with the event but as for myself I am happy it was the best yet.

I know that there are many who will read this who have not been to a TransCan for a number of reasons, and maybe some of what I am about to write will encourage you to take part in next year’s 25th anniversary event. Let me take you through some of what I experienced and observed this year, and why I believe this is the most valuable experience, bar none, in our sport.

One of the first things I noted upon arrival at the Lee family farm was how well the grounds were prepared. I know this may sound like something that some reading would say, “Well, they should be prepared,” but hold on a second. I am not sure exact numbers of acres that makes up this great facility but I did not encounter one square inch of the almost 100 acres that I could not roll through. When I commended Brett Lee on it he said that it felt like that is all that they did was cut grass. There again nice work crew. After the week we just experienced we all know you all did more than cut grass.

This year’s track was subject to minimal change and some sand was added into a few areas. Barry Hetherington did a masterful job of having the surface ready, and I must admit the first couple of days I showed up I thought that it had not been watered enough. I guess that is why you have the job Barry and I don’t. As each race day wore on and multiple lines developed, the deepening ruts would do what they do best and that is separate the pretenders from the contenders. One thing that remained a constant from the morning motos to the last races of each day was that if you wanted to win you needed a good start or had to get to the front sooner rather than later.

On Friday I anxiously hung about the trailer perched on the infield where we were setting up to perform Saturday’s first ever ‘Live’ audio video broadcast on the world wide web of Championship Saturday. From the onset and being asked by the Trans Can crew to host this first ever broadcast in the event’s 24 year history, I was beyond stoked that it was about to happen. Before I went back to the hotel for the evening and surveyed the results as they sat two motos in heading into the final day of action, I took in the final Super Mini race. The class concluded their title chase on Friday afternoon, and let me tell you, what a battle it was. Tanner Ward on the Royal Distributing Fox KTM waged an all out war right down to the wire with his on track foe, Moto Park Yamaha rider Jake Tricco. The two were definitely playing for keeps. After the race I rolled over to the podium to take in all the post race festivities. Tanner Ward, who fended off a late moto charge by Jake Tricco, had prevailed the victor. I can honestly say I do not believe the two racers exchanged even the slightest glance after the moto was over. Not that I believe this is unsportsmanlike in any way, shape or form, but I believe it is more of a demonstration as to how intense and focussed these young riders are and how important these events are to have on their resumes. To win a Trans Can title you must be prepared, focussed and committed to do whatever it takes in the trenches to get the job done, and if you are not, someone else will get the victory. Thanks for what I will call the most entertaining battle of the week boys, your connections have every reason to be proud of both of you. Getting second is nothing to be ashamed of at the Trans Can; anything inside the top 10 in every single class is quite an accomplishment.

When the sun came up on Saturday I was as anxious and excited as I have ever been in my life for a race day to get underway. As my wife and I headed from Listowell to Walton Raceway, even though I did not verbalize I just felt like it was going to be a great day for Canadian Motocross. With all the focus and mental commitment I could gather, I was prepared to be loaded into that infield utility trailer and commence what, by day’s end, would be the very first, 10 full continuous hours of broadcasting the 24th Annual Parts Canada Walton TransCan. The day started with what I will call a moderately nervous Brett Lee at my side. As the gate dropped on the first moto and the world watched some of the best amateur racing in North America play out from five different on track locations, which included the podium, I remember looking over at Brett and saying “Hey buddy, relax, it’s all good.” Brett responded with a smile and said “I know, I just cannot believe this is happening.” Well friends, it did happen and I cannot thank Mark Perrin, Brett Lee and the man who I coined on the air ‘The Sultan Of Walton,’ Chris Lee, enough.

As the day wore on and champions were crowned, we were witness to some amazing racing action and some firsts for this event that continues to evolve and raise the industry bar at the amateur level. Okay, the Pro level too, but let’s continue with giving all that hit three marks on Championship Saturday the praise they have earned. It is not possible to go into all the finite details of how these championships scripted themselves but I assure you the TransCan crew is feverishly working on the archive of this 10 hour event for all of you to enjoy. As far as I understand the archive will be segmented and you can call upon your race or rider’s race by demand and view it in its entirety. How cool is that? You want to be showcased and have your supporters seen worldwide? Might want to head to an ANQ next spring because the smart money is on this deal happening again at the 25th Annual TransCan. Yes, you guessed even bigger and better as that’s just what we racers do, strive for improvement to deliver the best product possible.

One of the first highlights for me on Saturday was watching Jake Tricco, who I mentioned earlier, harness the fuel of finishing second in the Super Mini class on Friday and parlay it into an absolute whooping of the 85cc 12-16 year old field. Nice work Jake, and remember what I said folks, sometimes second place has value beyond point totals or trophies. In the Ladies class, Eve Brodeur went a perfect 3-3 on her Duroy, Motovan KTM and validated why she was the Eastern Canadian Women’s National champ. The Cycle North Honda rider, from my neck of the woods, Sara King, was a solid second and not that happy with her starts all week. Sara, your Cycle North connections and many others are very proud of your great work. As for all the ladies who lined up in both the west and east and made the trek to this year’s Trans Can, thank you for the great entertaining racing. Ryan Lockhart successfully kept his streak of Plus 25 and Vet Master titles alive with a solid week on his Maple Ridge Motorsports Kawasaki. I cannot help but wonder where Ryan would have finished on Sunday. Ryan was also the winner of the KTM Racing Holeshot Award that saw him win a trip for two to this year’s Monster Energy Cup compliments of KTM. Do I detect another cover story deal in the works? Palms and Newf are picking up what I am dropping.

I could literally sit here and write all day about the great action all week and on Championship Saturday; Preston Masciangelo overcoming adversity all week long and getting a well deserved victory, Fiona Koeing winning the 50cc class becoming the first young lady to win an event at the TransCan outside of the ladies class. Nick Denniston (Bronze Boot), Austin Watling, Damon Burbine, Jacob Piccolo, Kyle Biro, Marco Cannella (Yamaha Factory Ride), Joey Crown. I know I am leaving many out but wow, what a talented crop we saw write this year’s TransCan script. It was an amazing honour to sit holed up in that trailer on Saturday and broadcast it all as it unfolded. Many of you sat in and were interviewed by myself, and I would like to thank each and every one of you for the unique, dynamic insight you brought to the country. The day and the broadcast concluded with the final Intermediate moto of the week, and how fitting was it that Joey Crown would get the final checkered flag of this edition. The Metamora, Michigan native, who has many laps as anyone his age on the Walton racetrack, was the superior Intermediate rider all week. Joey’s accomplishments at some of the highest level amateur races in North America are very impressive, and at this year’s TransCan he added to those growing totals. I did not attend the awards ceremony as by days end I was exhausted and wanted to get some rest so I could be trackside for what would write as the final chapter of the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals on Sunday.

With the MX2 title already settled, the battles on the Sunday would be for second in the series, and of course finishing up the season with some momentum and the overall. Kaven Benoit on the Royal Distributing KTM would get the overall victory with 2-2 Moto scores. Jimmy Decotis on the MX101 Yamaha would edge out Jeremy Medaglia’s Gopher Dunes Honda for second in the 2015 title chase. These positions are very important to the riders and their supporters; congratulations to all three of you. The MX2 class on Sunday was highlighted by Michigan’s Joey Crown who was top dog all week throughout the Trans Can. He did the unthinkable by pulling off the Moto 2 victory. Chris Pomeroy put me on the spot on the Live broadcast on Saturday, and I can honestly say hats off to you Palms, you were right on picking Joey Crown for a moto win. How cool is that folks that a rider that has cut his teeth at the amateur level at Walton Raceway lined up for his first Pro National and not only threw down the fastest qualifying time but won Moto 2 and got 2nd overall? Congratulations to Joey Crown and all of his connections.

The MX1 battle came down to the final moto of the season. Colton Facciotti, who won the last three overalls of the season, did race fans a solid by making the chase as interesting as it could possibly be at the finale. After winning Moto 1 in convincing fashion, the Gopher Dunes Honda Canada rider would line up for Moto 2 only 10 points behind Rockstar OTSFF’s Matt Goerke. By now you all know what happened and I am just thankful that I, like the many others who lined the fences, was happy to see it first hand. When those front two top contenders descended down upon corner two in Moto 2, you could cut the tension in the hot humid air with a knife. Watching both riders remount at the back of the bus after their collision and slice their way through the pack was fun to watch. They say that Champions win the titles by minimizing the damage on their worst days. In Walton on Sunday night I put that question to Matt Goerke. He responded with round one and said that he knew he had to get a good result and make a statement that he was okay and was here to challenge for and win the title. Despite being injured and admitting he rode a little out of his comfort zone at round one, it was that day for him.

Congratulations to Matt Goerke Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha on their title, Colton Facctiotti and GDR Honda Canada for second and Brett Metcalfe on the Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki who was third. Walton Raceway and the Parts Canada Trans Can, thanks for the memories as well as your top shelf treatment of my wife Gisela and I. We will hope to see you all at next year’s 25th anniversary celebration.

Until next Friday Flight, Airmail out………………….