Honda Canada Racing Presents MXP Chatter With Colton Facciotti

If we think back to the end of last year’s national series, Colton Facciotti ended 2017 on a tear. In the final ten motos of the MX1 series, Facciotti won five of them and in the process climbed to third overall. He was definitely on a roll and feeling good about his riding. However, like all great champions, Colton knew that he still needed to take his race-craft to another level. So, during the off-season he rehired his old trainer, Todd Schumlick, and made a commitment to himself and his team that he would be more prepared than ever, and would be ready to win the moment the gate dropped on the 2018 season. Well, if his first race of this season is any indication, Colton has made good on his promise as he raced to a wire-to-wire victory at the opening round of the 2018 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Series in Abbotsford, BC. Moments after his big win, we caught up with the 29-year-old rider for this week’s Honda Canada Racing MXP Chatter.

MXP: Colton, that was a great ride. You led every lap and took home your first win of 2018. How do you feel?

CF: I felt good all day actually. With the track the way it was you just had to relax and try to have fun with it. In the end, I was able to get a good start and ride my own race.

MXP: I guess it was just one of those tracks that you couldn’t override or take too seriously?

CF: Not at all. Once I figured out earlier in the day that I was going to make mistakes and that no two laps were going to be the same, I actually began to have fun. I think that mindset really helped me.

MXP: How was the track, I mean it looked awful. Was it as bad to actually ride as it looked?

CF: It was pretty bad, I’ll just leave it at that.

MXP: I guess a win is a win and you can take that away from tonight.

CF: Yes, it was nice to win, that’s for sure. I mean, it was better than finishing in second.

MXP: That is true (laughs). Today it looked like you kind of paced yourself. Practice was okay, your heat race was okay, and then you saved your best for the final race of the night.

CF: With the way the track was and with so few riders, there was really no point in pushing hard until it counted the most. I was able to get off the gate decent in both my heat race and in the main event so I think that made a big difference. I don’t know, it was just a weird day where it didn’t really feel like a race. The track was such a mess that no one was really racing out there, we were just trying to survive I guess.

MXP: I can’t even remember the last time you had a meaningful race this early in the season. Obviously, the training down at GPF has gone really well?

CF: Yes, Dylan and I have been going at it pretty hard down there for the past month and it seems to be paying off.

MXP: With this new series beginning so early in the year, and indoors as well, you’ve had to practice on AX and SX tracks at GPF. How has that been?

CF: That part has been great and I’ve had a lot of fun getting back on those types of tracks. I used to ride that stuff a lot when I was younger, but for the past ten years or so it’s just been outdoor training. To have to get an indoor set-up on our bikes and ride these types of tracks, I think it’s been great to get out of my comfort zone and work on the skills you need to ride this stuff.

MXP: Do you feel like this will even help you once we get to the outdoor portion of this series?

CF: Definitely, it’s always good to work on your timing and corner speed. But, I really think it’s going to help me with my aggression in the early part of the motos. As everyone knows, in AX and SX you have to be so aggressive, especially in the early part of the race.

MXP: Well, so far your new training looks to be working. In other big news, you will be lining up in Daytona in a few weeks. Can you talk about that?

CF: Yes, it’s something we’ve been talking about for a while. I’m really excited to head to Daytona and line up against the top SX riders in world. Hopefully I can go there and ride well and have some fun. Daytona is the most famous place on the planet for racing so it will be cool to go there and be a part of it.

MXP: That is great news Colton and we wish you good luck there. I’m sure all of Canada will be cheering you on! Congratulations again on your big win here in Abbotsford and good luck for the rest of the series.

CF: Thanks Palms!