Future West Moto Presents Friday Flight With Brent Worrall

This weeks 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. This weekend round five of the Future West Moto Canadian Kawasaki CMRC South series goes Saturday at Whispering Pines in Kamloops B.C. Future West recommends that anyone racing this weekend be at the track and signed up ready for riders meeting at 7:30 AM. The day of racing promises to be very exciting and entertaining for racers and fans of all ages. Saturday will also play host to round one of the CMRC Women’s West Series as well as the first round of the inaugural KTM Canada West Supermini West Nationals.

Well friends this is it, my ‘Friday Flight’ blog officially signifies that we are now officially just a few short hours away from gate drop of round one of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals presented by Motovan. I like most others involved in this series have been busier than a one armed coat hanger putting the final touches on my preparation for all the action. Before I get too deep into that I would like to thank each and every member of the Peace Motocross Association that treated my wife and I like royalty this past weekend in Dawson Creek. I must say about half way through the 14 hour trek North I wondered if those that often question my sanity when it comes to my passion for moto were onto something. I am happy to report that the passion along with the pursuit of making this sport as good as it can possibly be is alive and well in Peace Regional District. I cannot say enough about how overwhelming it was to see so many people so happy to see us upon our arrival and throughout the weekend. The weather was amazing and doing the live announcing of the on track action was awesome. Those of you who complain that your moto’s are not long enough may want to head up north and give this circuit a try. Riders in all classes ran 15+ minute Moto’s and the Pro riders ran much longer. It was a very rewarding experience to see a lot of the riders I have come to know through our Canadian Arenacross Series, as well as Southern outdoor races rip it up on their home turf. Watching my old friend who has had some physical setbacks in recent years Trae Franklin battle with Canadian National number 35 Matt Davenport early in the Moto’s was a real treat. Once again big thanks to each and every one of you for your over and above treatment.

This past week landing back home late Monday on my wife Gisela and I’s anniversary and absolutely physically spent from two full days of racing action in the Peace has not left much time for anything. At this moment there just does not seem to be enough hours in the day to catch up on all the last minute developments leading up to the weekend. I did however, do what I could to touch base with many involved on and off the track. This has become second nature as the host of the Canadian Moto Show and even though we did not air live this week will be back at it next Wednesday night. So as we sit here on Friday anxiously awaiting gate drop of both days of action I would like to touch briefly on a few points of interest.

First off, as I have said pretty much weekly in the last couple of months worth of ‘Flight’s’, the Whispering Pines race track is ready! The grounds have been well manicured and the track this year is in great shape. This will now be the third National on the new layout and it promises to deliver. It is supposed to be around 85 plus degrees on Sunday and I believe it will not take long to find out who is ready to make a statement and who is not. I believe this opening round will be the best one we have seen in a long time, I hope you can make it out. I have been following as many of the media posts that I can and have heard pretty much everything when it comes to prognostication and pontification from all of those who have the appropriate credentials to do so. As far as my picks for round one goes; well to me it does not really matter, I have been in touch with many and know who has done their homework.

As we all know however; that does not always equate into what we expect to see and there is always an opening round surprise or two. I also more times than not find myself cheering for the underdog or a comeback story if you will. Add into that mix those who make the many monumental sacrifices to make that first trip out West on a comeback or for the first time.The top riders that are fortunate to have the kind of rare support where racing has become a career have put in the time and are at full value for it. So as per usual with most pre-race hype and favourites they get the love they have earned and deserve. Who are you picking?

I will never forget the roar last year in Moto 2 of the MX-1 Pro National at the roar I heard in the tower while seated beside my colleague Brian Koster when Colton Facciotti passed Mike Alessi. I would also like to remind Brian that I told him Colton was catching Mike and going to win the Moto. Yes it was bold and almost out of character for me and the look I got from Brian was perplexing to say the least. Thanks Colton you made good on my promise and I know I was not the only race fan that day that was happy to see you shake free from the demons of that circuit that had plagued you.

This year who knows? Time will tell and by now we all know who the main players are going to be. I would like to take a few words and talk about a few of the riders that are not getting that headline mainstream type press I spoke of above. Lets start with comeback stories. No believe it or not Ryan Lockhart is not making a comeback this year. Ryan has been hard at it for a couple years and should be found somewhere 10-15 at the first three rounds on his Maple Ridge Motorsports Kawasaki. I would like to talk about the man that he was helping out in 2012 on a bike with number 4 on it. Kyle Keast; ‘The Dozer’ Yes Kyle is what I classify as nothing short of the pre-season comeback story of the year. Teamed up with Gopher Dunes Honda Red Rider Support program for this season, I have followed Kyle’s progress as a fan closely. Yes I am a fan of Kyle for many reasons, too many in fact to list. I do remember being only feet away from his femur break in 2012 at the Whispering Pines circuit and witnessing the disgust on his face at knowing that his season was over. Over? Motocross is a passion that is never over and to see Kyle with the chance to come back to Kamloops and avenge has this fan smiling. Ironically in the whole deal I believe that the current momentum Ryan Lockhart continues to build on started as a result of Kyle’s misfortune in 2012. Funny how that sometimes works; I guess it is just kind of how we Motocrossers ‘Roll’ making the best out of a bad situation any way we can.

I spoke with Kyle Keast as he was commuting to Kamloops and he was pretty pumped to say the least and sounded anxious to get the series underway. I also got to break it to him on the phone that Ryan did not have him picked in his top 5 selections here at MXP for the MX1 title this season. Before I put the question to Kyle about his upcoming seasons expectations I asked him about preparation and how he was feeling? Kyle had a crash at the first AMO event that tore up his hip area pretty good and admitted even though it set him back, he now has the race bike dialled in and is pumped. He also praised his colleague Colton Facciotti and how much he got out of spending the winter with him down at GPF. Kyle really believes that where he is at with all that he has in his collective arsenal of grit, determination and talent that he’s in the best spot he has ever been in heading into 2015. The answer to my question to him of where he expected to be headed to his bread and butter of the east was the top five. Yes we have a deep field but I myself would not bet a nickel against Kyle Keast getting the job done. This series is a marathon of the good the bad and the ugly and on some days there are only a select few that can put the ugly in its place; Kyle Keast is one of them.

There are also a couple of riders who I have spoken with leading up to Kamloops whom one of which is making his first trek west at 21 years old. Hayden Halstead who was scheduled to saddle up a PR-MX.ca Yamaha 450, had to make a quick change of plans when that deal collapsed at the last minute. I would like to shout some appreciation on Hayden’s behalf to Andy White and FXR as well as Geoff Klassen from GP Moto in Kamloops who has accommodated and helped Hayden out as well. Hayden was more than happy to team up with RTR Duroy KTM Canada rider Michael Dasilva and venture out west for the first time. Michael the seasoned veteran at the young age of 18 years old is West for his third consecutive national series. He too feels that he is in the best spot he has been at series onset thanks to Denis Dube from RTR Performance, Duroy KTM and Mike Nichols from Goldentyre Canada helping his efforts in the west. Michael spent most of the winter at University and admitted not spending the winter on the motorcycle has mad him once again eager and hungry to excel to his loftiest heights. Michael and Hayden have spent the last couple of days ripping up the hills of Kamloops with local boy RTR rider Josh Allen who will saddle up with National number 74 this year. Hayden Halstead will be number 36 and Michael Dasilva national number 26 in your official program this season.

Before we get to gate drop on Sunday for the Pro National opening Moto’s, Saturday’s Future West Moto Canadian Kawasaki CMRC South Series round five promises to be a beauty. Also the Canadian Women’s CMRC West Series kicks off and all the pieces are in place for another great series. I can not wait to see who brings their A game amongst those girls for round one. No matter who wins on the track the fans and the supporters of this series are the real winners as this series too will deliver. Nice work Camille Bunko, Denaye Arnett and Sierra Roth you have done an amazing job.

Finally the newest addition to the National series that will take place on Saturday as the KTM Canada, Ryno Power Sports Supplements Supermini challenge. I have gotten to know almost each and every rider that we will see lined up this weekend and promise you that this series also will deliver. I am expecting to see 40 bikes lined up at each of the three Western rounds to contend for the KTM 85SX up for grabs from KTM, along with the $2,500 accompanying parts budget for the overall winner. Also Ryno Power Sports Supplements will put up prize package’s which are very cool for podium finishers each weekend. I believe this series is a great way to get the future of our sport some much deserved exposure as well as showcase current abundance of up and coming talent in Canada. The list of fast young riders that will set out to make there mark is impressive, some you may already know some you now will. I think it is over and above beyond cool that I can write this blog and instead of listing contenders that everyone knows I can be the first to tell you about how talented young riders like:

Casey Keast
Jake Piccolo
Tyler Gibbs
Ethan Oulette
Joey Parkes
Marcus Deausy
Talon Unger
Max Day
Reed LePine
Zane Lepine
Tanner Merrick
Cooper Martin
Mitchell Bradbury
Julien Benek
Brock Henry
Zach Ufimzeff
Thomas Kaizer
Cole Mercer

And many many others are. Get out to a round if you can I assure you it won’t take you long to realize these kids and many more are the real deal. Kudos to KTM Canada, Ryno Power Sports Supplements and everyone else that made this happen. Lets Go Racing until next ‘Friday Flight‘Airmail’ out