Future West Moto Presents Friday Flight With Brent Worrall

This week’s Friday Flight is brought to you by Future West Moto. Future West Moto is a relatively new name in the West that has quickly gathered a large, fun, family oriented following. As many are aware, Future West Productions was owned by the Hellam family for many years. They recently relinquished controlling interest to a new partner, Lesley Reid. The Hellam family did a great job for years of putting in countless hours of promoting and growing the sport as well as establishing an awesome Canadian Arenacross series. The new connections have taken the reins and continue to build momentum on the ball that John Hellam set in motion.

Last Fall at the Canadian Arenacross Series, Future West Moto partners met with the CMRC brass and inked a deal with Mark Stallybrass to race the 2015 outdoor season under the CMRC umbrella. We are now three rounds into our Canadian Kawasaki Future West Moto CMRC South Series and are very happy to report that we have just had the most successful weekend of racing many have seen in a long time. Motocross is a family sport and Future West Moto is doing a great job of providing a product that is accommodating for every level of racer and their families. I have had countless people approach me and say that they truly believe that we did the right thing and that it was very exciting to have the races so well supported. The change to race under Canada’s premier sanctioning body, the Canadian Motorsport Racing Corp., has been for the most part a smooth transition. Future West believes that this union is responsible for attracting the great rider turnouts we have seen this season and they are very much looking forward to reaching new heights.

Once again race fans and Moto enthusiasts, the weekend is upon us and we are now only just 23 days away from gate drop at round one of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals presented by Motovan. I know I have been saying it for a few weeks now but I cannot believe that it is almost go time! I guess this is nothing out of the norm, because every year it creeps upon us in similar fashion. That, however, is where all similarities end. Each year a new season of hopes, dreams and aspirations by riders and their connections who look to have their dedication passion and commitment rewarded. Round one of the series is always the most exciting, in my eyes, as all the hype and preparation culminates throughout the weekend leading up to the first highly anticipated gate drop of the season. If you have not experienced it, the opening round weekend is a one of the coolest weekends in Canadian Motocross; right from move in day on Friday to the clamour and chaos of the first tech inspection of the season Saturday to the evening’s final sunset over the horizon of the battlefield.

Set on the North Thompson River, about 45 minutes north of downtown Kamloops, BC, Whispering Pines Raceway will be a welcome sight to all those fortunate enough to make the trek to round one. I have been very involved with Willie Watchell and his foot soldiers and have witnessed firsthand many positive changes that will benefit this year’s edition. This past weekend’s Future West race was attended by well over 200 hundred riders with 337 entries. Willie stated that he had not seen the numbers of people we saw at the event, on and off the track for a local race, since 1997. The Pro Am field, which I spoke on briefly in the Monday Gate Drop, was a nice sneak preview for us race fans as some riders made their first Canadian appearance of the year.

First before I speak my mind as to what I saw and what I believe will unfold here in a few short weeks, I would like to apologize to Matt Davenport. Matt, who rides a Redline Powercraft Yamaha Motor Canada bike, just last week finished up his exams at the University of Calgary and made the trek to the Pines. When I reported on Monday in Chris’s ‘Gate Drop,’ I had Jared Petruska, who also made the trek from the Calgary area and rode well 5th overall. Well, truth is, the score sheet I had taken home was hot off the press and wrong! Matt actually took fifth overall as he scored 6-7-7 Motos in what was an eventful weekend for him after a busy week of final exams at school. Matt raced one Moto minus a brake, another with a shifter issue, and in the last one ran out of real estate on the start. From my vantage point Matt rode smoothly and seemed to get more comfortable as the day progressed. He seemed to be railing the corners’ multiple ruts with ease. When I spoke with Matt on the phone last night, he was pretty happy with the weekend given the circumstances and what he had to battle through.

I will be heading up to Dawson Creek, BC on May 23rd, the week before the Whispering Pines National weekend, to take in a race there being held by the Peace Motocross Association. Matt Davenport grew up racing that circuit and is hoping to be able to attend at least one of the two days of racing that weekend. Matt is national number 35 this year, and the Fort St. John native will look to build on last year’s point total that ended abruptly at the San De Lee round with an ankle injury.

The top 10 was thick with talent in Kamloops, and even though by most media standards it is now yesterday’s news, I would like to speak on a couple of things I saw as I believe come the 31st their relevance will show. Devils Lake Yamaha rider Dylan Kaelin will improve on his national number 8 this year if he can do what all riders hope for and that is stay healthy. Dylan is not only faster than he has ever been but is leaner than ever and relaxed on the motorcycle. Relaxed is a huge part of the equation to becoming a champion or title contender in this sport. There is a fine line between getting the work done on and off the track and finding a balance where it is still fun. At day’s end I called Dylan out on a little bit of his on-track swagger and he said in his own words, “I was just having some fun out there.” I love hearing that come from a racer as I know by this point in their lives, a lot of sacrifice, commitment and heartache has been endured. Dylan’s connections will not be disappointed in 2015.

Other riders on the track that impressed me included Brad Nauditt on a GA Checkpoint Yamaha 250F. The likeable, easy going Spokane native spent the winter in Southern California training with his GA Checkpoint teammate, Dylan Delaplace, and is on the pipe in a big way. Brad kept Kaelin in his sights most of the day but admitted at day’s end he did not push for all he was worth. I believe that Brad will have the competition’s and race fan’s attention throughout the 2015 campaign as he is poised to make good on his return to Canadian Moto.

Brock Hoyer is one of those riders who I believe, like a Tyler Medaglia, is only getting better with age. Hoyer is a character who always has a smile on his face and just loves to ride a motorcycle. I am not sure exactly how many of the Western rounds we will see the RMR Susupensions Spectra Power Sports FXR Yamaha rider lined up for but I believe he will be in the hunt for top 10s in the 450 class. I was fortunate enough to have Brock in the tower at the intermission break and got his thoughts on the amazing Williams Lake track that will play host to round four of the Canadian Kawasaki CMRC South Series. Brock literally rides that track year round on his dirt bike, but let’s keep in mind, a good portion of that is with his Timbersled set up attached. Brock, along with myself, truly believes that we are not far off the day where our tracks are used year round for this kind of action. The other thing I found very intriguing was how he claims his lap times on the snow version are equivalent to that on two wheels. Amazing technology, and as I said, I believe we are on the verge of an explosion in Snow biking.

Ryan Lockhart, who is headed off to Quebec for some Arenacross action this weekend, rode solid on the weekend and admitted he was not pushing too hard out there going 3-4-5 for fourth overall. Ryan’s Maple Ridge Motorsports Kawasaki will hopefully not reject the number 47 graphic when it is applied as that will be his number for RD-1 of this year’s National Series. Do we need to look at career Canadian Numbers? I don’t know about you but I like the system we have. I believe Ryan will make his presence felt for the first three weekends of this year’s series somewhere inside the top 15. Whatever Ryan’s results are he is a team player and we are fortunate to have his efforts working towards our common goals of making the sport the best it can be.

I have just touched on a few of who I have seen firsthand and I know they barely scratch the surface of the contenders who will be in the mix this season. Across the country riders are slowly making their way home before heading West. I spoke with JSR this week and he is pretty pumped about the upcoming season. Their rider, Kaven Benoit, was lined up at the AMO event at Sand Del Lee. Kaven was Sunday’s winner, and from all accounts looks as good as ever on the Royal Distributing KTM 250 two-stroke. Cole Thompson, who will be the focus of a feature article that I had the pleasure of writing in the upcoming edition of Motocross Performance Magazine, will line up on KTM’s MX1 bike. Cole, by all accounts, is in a good spot and looks to have all the pieces in place to contend for this year’s title. On the note of MX101, they had their own Dylan Wright back in action on home soil this past weekend. He and his new teammate, Jimmy Decotis, will make the trek west representing MX101, Canada’s Motorcycle and FXR, and I assure you that you will not have to look hard to find them as they will make their presence felt very early!

The title sponsor of the series, Rockstar Energy Drink, had a setback last weekend as their MX1 rider, Matt Goerke, broke his collarbone. He has had surgery but does plan to be lined up in Kamloops. The skilled veteran and 2012 series champion will look to get out of the West in contention and excel when the series hits his strong point of the sand. Bobby Kiniry will line up alongside Matt in the MX1 class and bring many things to our series including his unique classy personality. Their MX2 teammate, Shawn Maffenbeier, has been cleared to ride after his shoulder setback and will harness everything in his veteran arsenal to sustain a 2015 title bid.

Derek Schuster, Honda’s front man, sent the images of the team’s photo shoot out this week, and there again I spoke with his MX2 rider, Jeremy Medaglia, on this week’s Canadian Moto show. Jeremy admitted to being happy that it was almost go time and is satisfied with the team’s progress to this point. His teammate, Colton Facciotti, who has just recently returned to action after his setback, will also be ready for the first gate drop of the season. Derek and the team have TLD Designs, Honda Canada, Honda Red Rider Support and the likes of Hitcase to thank for their 2015 involvement.

Just before I flip the switch here to drop the landing gear on this ‘Friday Flight’ and head into the weekend, I would also like to mention that I saw some great images from James Lissimore of Leading Edge Kawasaki riders Brett Metcalfe and Teddy Maier. The two will make up the Monster Energy Kawasaki, Thor, Leading Edge Team’s MX1 entry for 2015, joined by their 250 rider, Cole Martinez. James, thanks for nothing; I can barely sleep as it is now I have more visions of Moto talent afloat at night in place of sheep! All good friends, keep the hype coming. It’s all coming together nicely for 2015 folks. Remember that first round weekend ambience prior to and including gate drop can only be found in one place.

Whispering Pines Kamloops, BC. Put it on your calendar friends, it is going to be a beauty. Whatever you get up to this weekend friends, keep that Moto passion pinned and do your best to stay safe. Until next ‘Friday Flight…

‘Airmail’ out!