Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
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 and family oriented following. This weekend saw round five of the Future West Moto Canadian Kawasaki CMRC South series go into the books Saturday at Whispering Pines in Kamloops B.C. Saturday’s Future West race along with the newly added KTM Canada Ryno Power Sports Supplements Supermini challenge and the first round of the Pro Women’s West action were a huge success. Saturday’s racing action saw over 380 entries line up which was a much improved number from previous years pre-pro national action. Future West continues to proactively accommodate all levels of racers, their sponsors and family members. Round six of this series goes Saturday and Sunday June 27th & 28th at the very popular Popkum Motor Park. For all the details leading up to what should be another great round of this series please check out www.bcmotocross.ca
Hello friends once again another week has come and gone and I am very happy you are back to gain some more of those ever popular ‘Frequent Flyer’ points. You know what they say without points its? Wait for it, yes it’s pointless. Finally this past weekend in Kamloops B.C. the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Nationals presented by Motovan points chase got underway. I was fortunate enough to be there front and centre for both days of racing action wearing my many hats. To start things off in the namesake of this blogs sponsor Future West Moto, I would like to commend front man Stu McQueen and his foot soldiers along with the Willie Watchell and the GKMA on their solid work. Saturday’s Amateur day racing action coupled with round one of the Pro Women’s National Series in my eyes eclipsed any expectations. It may seem trivial but to pull off an amateur race day before a Pro National with large numbers is not always an easy task and as I said all involved in making it a success are to be commended. I once again had the honour of the in house announcing duties and had not only a great seat but was privileged to interact with many of the days competitors as well as some of the Pro’s that lined up Sunday. It was also above cool to be able to host the awards ceremony on the infield podium at day’s end to all of the classes. Congratulations to all who lined up and made it happen you are all winners in my books.
The newly introduced KTM Canada, Ryno Power Sports Supplements Supermini Challenge was won handily by Kelwona Yamaha’s Casey Keast. Casey bested KTM mounted Riley Brough and Maple Ridge Motorsports Kawasaki rider 12 year old Jacob Piccolo to round out the podium. This series moves on to the Wastelands in Nanaimo for round two but will do so without it’s leader Casey Keast as he is headed to Washougal for a Lorretta Lynn’s qualifier. In this three round series where Keast may re-join the fray in Calgary at the final round the door is now open for 16 Utah native McCoy Brough to continue to battle with the likes of 3-2 Moto finisher 3rd overall Piccolo. Also add into that mix a talented Tyler Gibbs and Joey Parkes among the many others we still have two great rounds of this series left. Once again kudos to KTM Canada and Ryno Power Sports Supplements for giving the future some added exposure and race fans a little something extra to cheer for on Saturdays.
Round one of the Pro Women’s West Series was a also given the spotlight on Saturday as 31 of the best in the West were behind the gate when it dropped for the first of three rounds. Schrader’s Yamaha’s Kennedy Lutz took command early and validated her quest to become one of the best Canadian Women’s Motocrosser this country has ever seen. Kennedy went one, one for the overall win and also this same day took Moto one of the MX-3 Junior class. Cycle North’s Sara King bested Holeshot Motorsports Rachel Springman to round out the podium with Danyluk racing’s Brittany Danyluk edging out local girl Valley Moto Sport/Valley Speed Machine’s Jamie Munro. This series also resumes this weekend in Nanaimo and concludes the following week at Wildrose in Calgary. If you have plans to attend a national this year do yourself a favour and head out to the race track both days, you will not be disappointed since there is plenty of excitement and racing action to be enjoyed both days.
After a 13 hour day at the track on Saturday I was anxious to get back to the hotel and get some much needed rest as the last two weeks with the trek up north has been pretty taxing. Back at the hotel the first person I ran into upon pulling in wearing his bright blue Ride 100% T-Shirt was Brett Metcalfe. Brett as always obliged me with some of his as valuable time and got me up to speed on what went down the previous week at Glen Helen. Getting settled I finally flipped my laptop closed at midnight and was awake and ready for the first pro national season of the year’s gate drop at 3:00 AM. I am not sure what it is but for me the illicit like none other anticipation of round one racing at the top level is one of the best things in life. Getting to the race track and putting on my MXP and Canadian Moto Show hats it was time to get to work.
I was meandering and mingling with as many of the movers and shakers at round one as possible and pretty much everyone else that crossed the path of my wheels. Motocross is great but to me the people make it what it is and I am honoured to have so many friends at the race track. Many of you, riders and fans alike went out of your way to take the time to reacquaint or share any up to the minute information you had and I would like to thank each and every one of you. I would also at this time like to thank Maple Ridge Motorsports Troy Smith and his wife Sandra, no not for their support of my friend Ryan Lockhart’s efforts but for their bringing me and my family such great food. The Maple Ridge gang had a feast at day’s end Saturday that I was unable to attend but fortunately none of the goodness was lost as it was devoured between Pro Moto’s Sunday. Finally I would like to thank Geoff Klassen of GP Moto in Kamloops for one, his support of my friends Hayden Halstead and Michael Dasilva, but also for his providing a scissor lift for my wife and I. Geoff is a gem and I know so many riders and Moto enthusiasts he has helped out, if you’re in the Kamloops area look him up, he is a solid as they come.
Moving out of the public service announcement portion of this Flight into the meat and potatoes of Sunday’s action, yes it is finally game on. Were there any surprises? Were you surprised? I can answer the first one and it is a unanimous yes! Starting with the Lites class MX-101, Canada’s Motorcycle, FXR Racing’s Jimmy Decotis the Rippa’ wow! I can honestly say that even though I know who Jimmy is and have seen him race on a different playing field what happened on Sunday was impressive. He is very fast and obviously very fit and looked like a 45 minute Moto would have comfortably been in his wheelhouse. Jeremy Medaglia looked comfortable and solid on his Gopher Dunes Honda Canada Troy Lee Designs bike and was smiling proudly at day’s end. Jeremy was followed very closely at the end of Moto one by a hard charging Royal Distributing Fox KTM ridden by Kaven Benoit. Kaven fell in Moto 2 in a technical left hander and would have to settle for third. Interestingly enough for the first time I can ever remember the top 6 positions in both Moto’s were the same one thru six. I am sure it has happened before but I can honestly say I do not remember it. Without getting too deep here I would like to say even though they did not hit the podium I believe the likes of Cole Martinez on the Monster Energy Leading Kawasaki, Blake Savage on the Devil’s Lake Yamaha and MX-101’s Dylan Wright will be battling for podiums as soon as this weekend. Let’s face it this class is deep and there are others who will improve as we move along. I know Mike Alessi will be in Calgary does this mean Vince Friese comes too? In answer to that Tony just texted me back and Vince will be in Calgary on a 450.
The MX-1 class belonged to Monster Energy, Thor Kawasaki’s Brett Metcalfe at round one and he looked very good once he got to the front in both Moto’s. There was a little excitement for Metcalfe in Moto one as he went down in turn two right in front of KTM’s Cole Thompson. I spoke with Brett on Wednesday’s Canadian Moto Show and he cited a slick watered patch as the reason he temporarily lost traction in the front end sending him down. Two laps later Brett would throw down his fastest lap time of the Moto and win going away. Early on in the Moto Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha rider Matt Goerke would move into the lead but he do would go down one turn beyond the site of Metcalfe’s spill. Matt would look good and show impressive speed for someone who broke a collarbone less than a month ago. Matt is the 2012 MX 1 Champion and knows how to win and will have a say in this year’s title chase. Parts Canada THOR Husqvarna rider Tyler Medaglia would get the Moto one holeshot and take third overall for the day. Tyler looked great and battled up front hard with Metcalfe and Goerke. Tyler was smiling at day’s end saying that he did tighten up a little but overall was happy with his set up and fitness.
Gopher Dunes Honda, Atlas Brace, Troy Lee Designs Colton Facciotti also had a good day finishing fourth overall. Fourth is not something he is used to and I will say that he very much impressed me with a late charge in Moto one and looked good matching Brett Metcalfe’s pace early in Moto one. Yes there were others and the action was great all over the bombed out battlefield….who wins in Nanaimo?
The final Flight note is going to go to the cool experience I had happen back in my hometown of Vernon. I was combing through Instagram the day before I headed over to Kamloops for the weekends action. I noticed a shot Jimmy Decotis posted and recognized the backdrop. I quickly showed my wife and pointed out that Jimmy was only a few blocks from our home in Vernon B.C. After Sundays racing action I headed over to the MX-101 pits with Kevin Tyler to meet him personally for the first time. One thing lead to another and the next day he and his girlfriend Jamie Routley were kind enough to take time out of their schedule and stop by our house. I was able to get a great podcast interview with Jimmy and get to know a little bit more about him. It was very cool and I cannot thank the two of them enough. The podcast interview is up at canadianmotoshow.com .I will be out of action for Nanaimo as I had surgery on Tuesday on my bladder and my doc told me I had to take it easy and I promised him I would stay off my feet for a couple of days. In all seriousness I have to take care of my health and cannot make Nanaimo this weekend but am looking very much forward to Calgary.
Looking forward to seeing you all there, Lets Go Racing. Until next ‘Friday Flight‘Airmail’ out………………….
