As it has been all year long, this week’s Monday Gate Drop is brought to you by the fine hockey loving people at DeCal Works. Even with Christmas just a few days away, it’s never too late to visit www.decalmx.com and order a complete set of custom graphics for your new or used bike. With DeCal Works’ easy to use web site, it only takes a few minutes to design and order your very own personalized kit.
Well folks, here we are, the kids are off school now and we’re now only a few days away from the arrival of Santa Claus. Soon we’ll be celebrating Christmas and then New Year’s Eve will be here, and then we get to welcome in a brand new year. Obviously, during this time of the year we look ahead to what resolutions we might want to make. Sometimes these changes are small and they actually stick. However, more times than not, they only last a short time and within a few months people transition back into their old ways. Old and unhealthy habits are always hard to break, usually because in some way, shape or form, they bring a little joy to our lives. Look at people who might want to lose weight as part of their New Year’s transformation. Losing weight is a very hard thing to do, especially when you get older as it takes time and effort. As we all get older and busier we have less time to devote to things like fitness, and since we’re busy with work and family, we sometimes just can’t find it within ourselves to put forth the effort.
Happy Birthday to Kyle Thompson! As you can see in this photo, sometimes his job is pretty tough at the races. Photo by James Lissimore
One of the many things that this day and age gives us is that it’s never been easier to kick a bad habit out the door. As we all know, changing your lifestyle is never easy, whether it’s losing weight, quitting smoking or just trying to be a better person; people rarely do it all by themselves. It takes a good support group around you to help make it happen. As motivated and as disciplined as you are, there is always going to be that moment when you feel like going back to your old ways. This is when a friend, a trainer, your spouse, or just someone close to you can remind you why you’re changing your ways which can get you back on track. Another cool thing about the times that we live in, and especially with this industry, is the number of trainers and fitness fanatics in which we all have access. It’s never been easier to find that trainer or that life coach who is going to help you be the best person you can be in 2016 and beyond. One of the people that we have in motocross is Kyle Thompson down at the Frankfit Training Centre in Brigden, Ontario. And today just happens to be Kyle’s birthday. So happy birthday to one of the fine individuals in this industry who is helping people improve their lives every day!
Of course, as we look ahead to next year, it’s also natural that we look back to 2015 and the year that was. Here is a question for all you riders out there, young and old. If you sit and think back to all of your races in 2015 and then you break down each race, can you come up with one lap that you feel was your best lap of the year? It could be from any race you did throughout the year. Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones and you have a few laps that were your best! I’m actually very interested in hearing your answers, so please email me at chris@mxpmag.com and tell me where and when your lap of 2015 was and why you considered it your best.
When the gate dropped on the final Vet Master moto at the 2015 Parts Canada TransCan, all I wanted to do was get back on the podium with my old buddy Newf.
Since I brought this up, I will go first. My choice for the best lap of 2015 is an easy one as it was actually only about ¾ of a lap. It was from the final Vet Master moto at the Parts Canada TransCan in August. For those of you who have been to the TransCan and are familiar with the schedule, the third and final Vet Master moto always takes place early on Saturday morning. For us older riders, getting up and getting our minds and bodies in ‘race mode’ is never an easy thing to do. It takes a little coffee, a little courage and a lot of persuasion to not only get to the starting line but also to get in the mindset to go racing and do your best.
Anyway, after two mediocre Vet Master motos, I showed up to the line ready to not only get back to the podium but also to keep leaders Ryan Lockhart and Iain Hayden somewhat in sight for the entire moto. After packing my starting gate a little differently than I had been (I actually put a tiny amount of loose dirt on top of my packed gate so I would get a bit of wheel spin), I spent the entire sight lap trying to visualize myself getting the holeshot and leading at least one lap. While I knew I couldn’t match the speed of Newf and Hayden for the entire moto, I just wanted to lead at least a lap and then hold onto to third to make a visit to the podium.
Flashback to this summer’s Parts Canada TransCan and we all remember what a holeshot machine Ryan Lockhart was. Photo by James Lissimore
When the gate dropped I hooked up perfectly and won the race to the first turn. This was not only my first holeshot of the week, but it also interrupted Newf’s perfect weeklong holeshot streak. After briefly feeling bad for my buddy Newf, I charged into turn two at Walton Raceway and nailed it perfectly. Then came turns 3 and 4 and I hit them as good as I had in 15 years. Next up was the miserable turn 5 over by where the Thompsons always park. I once again got through that corner without a mistake. I felt great and was in full 42-year-old sprint mode! As I hit the step down I thought to myself that if I could just get through the new rollers in decent shape then I should be able to reach my goal of leading at least one full lap. Unfortunately, a few turns later, my 450 had a crank bearing lock up and in an instance I went from glory to over the bars and wondering WTF had just happened. The crash probably looked so nasty that I’m sure Newf and Hayden would’ve stopped to ask if I was okay if they didn’t have a race to win themselves. In the end, I was okay, just a little sore and pissed off!. However, for that ¾ of a lap I felt like it was 1997 all over again. I hit my marks the way I wanted and I was in perfect unison with my Kawasaki. As you get older those moments certainly become few and far between, however for that few 90 seconds I felt like I was 22 all over again. And that is why that was my lap of 2015! I can’t wait to hear yours.
That’s it for me for another week. I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Christmas and I hope that Santa is good to you. I will be back next week for my final DeCal Works sponsored Monday Gate Drop of the year. Until then, Merry Christmas to all and also, a very Happy Birthday to James Stewart who today turns 30! I really can’t believe this! When did James Stewart become 30 years old? The hands of time have to slow down soon, maybe that‘s what I‘ll wish for in 2016. All the best to everyone!!
