Honda Canada Racing Presents the Monday Gate Drop

Welcome to 2017 and another glorious year in Canadian motocross. As we focus our attention on the Monster Energy Supercross Series for the first part of the year, it will be interesting to see how new Honda rider Ken Roczen fairs in his first season riding red. Ken Roczen, and his teammate Cole Seely will be racing the all-new 2017 CRF450R in Supercross and everyone at Honda couldn’t be more excited. Once the supercross series is complete, we’ll turn our attention to the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals where the Honda Canada Fox GDR Racing Team will hit the track with their talented duo of Colton Facciotti and Dylan Wright. What an exciting 2017 we have ahead of us and we couldn’t do it without the support of Honda Canada Racing. Now it’s time for your weekly Honda Canada Racing Monday Gate Drop.

Hello everyone and Happy New Year! Well, we made to another new calendar year and I don’t know about you, but I was more than happy to flip the page to 2017. I can’t remember a year where I had so many extreme highs, yet so many lows. Professionally speaking everything was awesome, however, personally things were just not good. Having to witness my most cherished loved ones getting injured is never a good thing. Over the years it’s always been me getting hurt, so I know very well how to deal with that. But, when people close to you are the injured ones, that is something completely different. Anyway, other than some mid-winter sickness going through our home, we’re all healthy and happy and ready to face whatever comes our way in 2017.

The big news this week is obviously the opening round of the 2017 Monster Energy Supercross Series which will take place (rain or shine) on Saturday night in Anaheim California. I say rain or shine because as of the latest forecast, there is a 40% chance of rain on Saturday. I guess this means that there is a 60% chance that it doesn’t rain at all in Anaheim. Like everyone, I sure hope the rains holds off Saturday as no one wants to be part of an opening round mudder, there’s just too much cool stuff to see. I’m heading to Anaheim on Friday so I’m preying for decent weather.

This is the what we’ve all been waiting for, the gate is about to drop on the 2017 Monster Energy Supercross Series. Photo by James Lissimore

I guess the one of the big things we cannot control is the weather, if it rains, it rains, there is not a thing anyone can do about it. California has had the wettest December in years so I guess it’s only fitting that as we sit here a few days out from the opening round, we’re talking about the possibility of rain. As a rider, you’re taught to only try and control the things you can, and usually that is your own preparation. With this in mind, I’m sure most of the top riders aren’t even concerned about the weather.

With this being the opening round of the one of the most anticipated series on the planet, this week is different than any other for the riders. Not only to they have to mentally and physcially deal with the impending battle on Saturday night, but they also have to deal with sponsor events, press conferences and about 5000 more questions than they’re used to from everyone. All of these extra duties is enough to throw even the most seasoned veteran off his normal game, and this is why Anaheim 1 sometimes gives us a surprise winner. For a title contender, all they want to do is get through this week in one piece, finish strong, and move on to a much less hectic round two. This is part of what makes the opening round so exciting, it’s not just the excitement surrounding our sports elite riders, it’s also the anticipation of who might step up and take the win on the biggest stage in supercross. Whatever happens, I think we’re all in for an exciting 2017 Monster Energy Supercross Series.

Fresh off his 2016 Canadian MX1 title, Davi Millsaps will be looking to continue his winning ways inside the stadiums of North America. Photo by James Lissimore

As far as having Canadian riders to cheer for this weekend, it looks as though only Brock Leitner will be lining up at Anaheim. Jess Pettis was also supposed to be racing, but he had a small get off a few weeks back and is still nursing a sore shoulder. Jess will hopefully be back for A2 aboard his MX101 FXR Racing Yamaha. News is that Jess and his team will be together for the next two years as he just inked a brand new contract over the Christmas holidays. For now though, all Canadian eyes will have to be focused on Brock as he appears ready to take on the worlds best riders at the opening round of SX.

If we look past Anaheim 1, and even past the SX series to the much larger picture, this country is in great shape with a very talented crop of young riders. With the above mentioned Jess Pettis and Brock Leitner, we also have other young pros like Keylan Meston, Dylan Wright and Ryeley Gallup. Then when you consider riders like Casey Keast, Tanner Ward, Marco Cannella and Austin Watling, the MX2 Pro-Am class is about to get even more competitive. Folks, that is what you call a bright future for Canadian motocross. That’s pretty impressive if you ask me, and that is without even mentioning seasoned pros like Colton Facciotti, Kaven Benoit, Shawn Maffenbeier and Cole Thompson.

All Canadian eyes will be on Brock Leitner as he carries our flag into the Anaheim opener. Photo by James Lissimore

Well, that is it for me this week and the first Honda Canada Racing Monday Gate Drop. I hope everyone had a great holiday season and all of us at MXP Magazine wish you a very prosperous 2017! Look for updates from me this weekend from the mecca of supercross, Anaheim, California. Hopefully the rain holds off and the opening round is everything we want it to be.