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2016 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals: MX2 Preview
Photos by James Lissimore
As we head into the second half of the 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan, in the MX2 class we still have many questions and very few answers. Like we saw last year, this class is full of young and aggressive riders who are all trying to make a name for themselves. While consistency may not always be front and center with these young riders, the MX2 class will most certainly be exciting to watch as the riders tackle the difficult tracks of the East. So far in the first four rounds, only Cole Thompson has proven to be very consistent on his KTM.
Beginning at Round 6 in Gopher Dunes, the MX2 riders will get tested right away as they will be sure to find Gopher Dunes extremely challenging. From there they follow the rising sun east to the natural terrain gem that is Ulverton, QC, then it’s on to the beautiful East Coast for two challenging rounds. Following that, the series heads back to the sands of Deschambault, before finishing up at round ten in Barrie, Ont.
The MX2 series always seems to get decided in the final Eastern rounds of the series. The rough tracks are tough on the riders physically, and the extreme conditions are also tough on their machines. The rider that can limit their mistakes and be smart with their machines, will no doubt come out victorious in the end. So far that rider has been Cole Thompson, but as they say, anything can happen in the east. Let’s take a look and who might come out on top in the final MX2 standings.
1st – Cole Thompson- KTM Thor Racing Team
As we mentioned above, so far in this series Cole Thompson has lead the way in almost every moto. He was steady in the heat of Kamloops, smooth on the slick surface of round two, and battle through a little adversity in Calgary and Regina to bring the red plate to the east. It will be very tough to beat Cole in the final six rounds as the MX2 class will be racing on the tracks that he knows very well. Also, the fact that he lives in Ontario and is accustom to the heat and humidity will make him that much harder to catch. If Cole can ride smart and if his KTM is as reliable as it was out west, then we feel like Cole Thompson is the rider who will win the 2016 MX2 Championship.
2nd – Shawn Maffenbeier- Big Steel Box Redemption Racing KTM
Right from the drop of the gate in Kamloops, Shawn Maffenbeier has been incredibly fast and consistent as he attempts to keep Cole Thompson in sight. After three very solid rounds to start off the 2016 series, Shawn’s good luck came to an end at round four in Regina. In moto one he was docked ten positions for inadvertently jumping on a red cross flag, and then during moto two his bike malfunctioned and he was forced out of the race. Because of his bad day in Regina, Shawn enters round five some 50 points behind Cole Thompson. This is obviously a massive gap to make up in the twelve motos remaining, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Maffenbeier. This guy has the heart of a lion and he never gives up. We feel that although he will make a good run and he will win some races, sadly he will come up short and finish in second overal.
3rd- Dylan Wright- MX101 FXR Racing Yamaha
With the full winter of training Dylan had down in California, he came into the 2016 series in great shape. Other than a tough round in Nanaimo, Dylan has been very and fast and very consistent so far this summer. Over the past few seasons Dylan has always raced better on the rough eastern tracks and we don’t expect that will be any different this time around. If Dylan can get through Gopher Dunes with some solid finishes then we feel he will be able to use that momentum to climb back up to the top three by series end. There are few riders on the track more exciting to watch this year than Dylan Wright. He is fast, aggressive and he doesn’t give an inch to anyone on the track. With some good starts and some good luck, there is no doubt that he will win another moto this summer and finish the year up in third overall.
4th- Mark Worth- Monster Energy Alpinestar Kawasaki
When Jacob Hayes was injured at round one in Kamloops, the Monster Energy team called up American rider Mark Worth to fill in. So far it has been a great move for this team as Worth has been a nice addition to the MX2 class. He’s not only fast, but he’s also a very strong rider and that should help him on the eastern tracks. If Worth can gain a little more confidence and get himself to the front early, then we feel he’s capable of winning a moto or two before the series in over. The only drawback for Worth is that he not too familiar with the eastern tracks, but hopefully he will be a quick learner and he can find his way onto the podium as the series enters it’s final six rounds. We feel that when the final points are added up after round ten, Mark Worth will finish up in a very solid fourth place.
5th-Jeremy Medaglia- Honda Canada GDR Fox Racing
To say that Jeremy Medaglia has had a miserable start to the 2016 MX2 series would be a gross understatement. Not only did he not get off to a good start at round one, but a crash in Nanaimo forced him to miss rounds three and four and fall way back in the points standings. However, we feel that after healing up Jeremy will come out in fine form at round five in Gopher Dunes. Not only is Jeremy fighting for as many points as possible, but he’s also fighting for his career as he needs to prove to everyone, including himself that he can win races. This kid is very talented and he’s currently part of one of the top teams in the series, if he’s healthy for the eastern rounds, then there’s no reason why won’t be able to make a push for the top five in the overall points standings.
