Hello and welcome to the first Monday of October! I don’t know about you, but how and when did it become October already? The temperatures are beginning to cool, the sun is setting early and the leaves are slowly changing colours. Ugh…I’m not ready for winter to arrive. Having said that, on a positive note, this is the time of year for testing new bikes and indoor racing. One of new bikes that I’ve been invited to test ride in three weeks is the all-new 2017 Honda CRF450. This exciting new model has many changes to the engine, frame and suspension, so I think it’s going to be extremely fun to ride. As we all know, Ken Roczen will be lining up on this bike in two weeks at the Monster Energy Cup so we’ll get our first look at it in Las Vegas. Then the following week the North American media will all gather at Monster Mountain in Alabama for a day of riding. This is going to be a very exciting day of riding and I can’t wait.
The Rockstar Energy AX Tour gets underway this weekend in Sarnia, Ontario.
However, before my trip to Alabama on October 20th, there are two rounds of the Rockstar Energy AX Tour to complete in Sarnia and Barrie. The opening round in Sarnia is this coming Saturday and I trust that almost all Ontario riders are excited. The weather looks like it’s going to be great for racing on Saturday and with the track being outdoors, this is great news. As we witnessed last year, this series provided us with some incredible action and I don’t see it being any different in 2016. With riders like Matt Goerke, Jess Pettis, Colton Facciotti, Cole Thompson, Brock Leitner, Tanner Ward and Austin Watling all set to race this coming weekend, there will be no shortage of talent on the starting line. Amateur sign-up begins at 7am on Saturday and practice gets underway at 9am. Here is a link for all the information you need for this weekend, as well as the entire series. http://www.arenacrosstour.ca/amateur-rider-services.html. If you’re not able to make it to Sarnia, you can watch the races on live streaming with Billy Rainford and I doing the commentating this weekend, and then Andy White jumping in the booth next weekend. Stay tuned for the upcoming link to Saturday’s live streaming.
I would like to once again send positive thoughts to my good friend Steve Beattie. Steve is Canadian dirt track legend and last weekend he was severely injured in a crash while racing at an event in Ontario. He is currently still in the hospital with multiple injuries and he needs our help. Even though he will be released from the hospital very soon and his injuries will eventually heal, he will be unable to work for an undetermined length of time. On October 15th in Dundas, Ontario there will be a fun day of riding to help raise money for Steve and his family. If you’re in the area and what to experience a fun day of riding for a good cause, below is the flyer with all of the information. Get well Steve, the entire Canadian motocross community is sending you positive thoughts.
Like everyone I’m sure, I cannot stand to see people get injured. Obviously with being in this sport for so long, I’ve seen way too many riders get injured while participating in this incredible sport. Whether it’s young kids or old guys, it’s always very heartbreaking. At it’s core, this sport is a lot of fun, but there is a dark side to it and when it rears its ugly head, it’s very sad. However, thankfully in most cases, injuries heal and life goes on. It always amazes me though that as soon as the pain begins to go away after an injury, one of the first things we want to do is get back riding. It’s no different than a women who goes through the ultimate pain of child birth, and then goes through it all over again a year or two later. The human body is an incredible thing and we can definitely be very resilient when we have to be. Just like Steve Beattie, I hope everyone who has recently had the misfortune of getting injured heals up quickly and can get back out on the track sooner than later.
Just as it was last year, I’m sure the Yamaha test ride will be a lot of fun tomorrow at Moto Park. Photo by Allison Kennedy
As we get this week off to a blazing start, tomorrow I will be heading to Moto Park for the annual Yamaha Canada test ride. After a brief introduction by the fine folks at Yamaha Canada to all of their new motocross and off-road models, all of us Canadian media will hit the track for an afternoon of riding. The weather looks as though it’s going be great tomorrow, so no doubt the Moto Park track is going to be in great shape. Please stay tune for a complete report on how these 2017 Yamaha’s work. With all of winning that Yamaha is doing all over the globe, I’m sure these new bikes are going to be incredible.
In closing, we’d like to wish Colton Facciotti and his wife as they’re expecting their second child this week. Colton, told me that is obviously his first concern this week, and he will make a decision after on whether or not he’s going to race this weekend. So, good luck to the Facciotti’s and good luck to everyone this weekend in Sarnia. I will see everyone there on Saturday. Have a great week and also, Happy Thanksgiving to all this weekend!
Good luck to Colton Facciotti and his family this week as they’re expecting their second child. Photo by James Lissimore