Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
Good day and welcome to another edition of the Honda Canada Racing Monday Gate Drop. With this past weekend bringing the Honda Racing GDR Fox Team mixed results, the Red Riders’ hope will be to regroup this week and then come out strong at Round 8 in Moncton, NB. It’s hard to believe that we’re already at Round 8 of the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, but with just six motos remaining for both the MX2 and MX1 classes, anything can still happen. We would like to thank Honda Canada Racing for their continued support of not only this column but also this sport in general.
The day at Round 7 started off with a smooth track and bright sunshine. Photo by James Lissimore
As I write this, I’m currently sitting in the Halifax airport waiting for my flight home to Toronto. Right now, it is exactly two hours since the final moto ended at Round 7 at Pleasant Valley Raceway. With my son breaking his foot last summer around this time, I missed last year’s race here so this weekend was my first time visiting this track. I had heard a lot of horror stories last year from the riders about how slippery the track was and how fast it is. I had also watched it on television, keeping in mind that most pro riders are rarely happy with any track, and that television never really does a track justice. Well, after seeing this track in person, I can say that for today at least, I was glad I was on the sidelines and not on the track. Don’t get me wrong, this track has potential and the Cooke family works incredibly hard at putting on a great event. But, with really dry conditions today and some of the highest speeds I have ever witnessed on a race track, racing on this track is only for the bravest of riders.
Let’s begin with which riders did not have a very good day at Round 7. First off, I think I have to say that Cole Thompson was the first rider whose day didn’t start off very well. Coming in with a busted-up thumb, as well as a stress fracture in his femur, Cole did his best as the MX2 points leader to attempt practice. However, he quickly found out that he couldn’t hold onto his KTM and he was forced to not just call it a day in Truro but also a season as he’s headed to surgery next week. Considering that he came into last weekend with a very large points lead and now a week later he’s done for the season, this is very hard to take. So with his teammate Kaven Benoit already out for the season, and now Cole, I guess it’s up to young Tanner Ward to carry the orange flag for the final three rounds. There is talk of the KTM Thor Racing Team possibly bringing up Dakota Alix for Deschambault, but at this point what is really the point? Tanner Ward proved on Sunday that he has the speed to run inside the top five in the MX2 class, so I think it’s important to make sure he finishes the season healthy. Anything is possible during this crazy season. As I mentioned last week, what a difference a year makes for this team.
We want to wish Josh Osby all the best after his massive crash yesterday. He’s been one of the bright spots of this series and hopefully he will heal up very soon. Photo by James Lissimore
Another MX2 rider who also had a terrible day was Redemption Racing’s Josh Osby, who came into Round 7 tied for second in points with Shawn Maffenbeier. During the second MX2 moto with Shawn Maffenbeier two laps down with bike troubles, Osby and Dylan Wright were battling for the lead when one of the most horrific crashes in some time happened. As the two riders raced each other down the straight heading to the finish line double, neither rider wanted to shut off, and as they launched 70 feet through the air, they came together. With Wright being the rider on the inside, Osby got the worse of the collision and in a split second he went cart-wheeling off the track and into the fence. It was an awful sight to say the least and many quickly assumed it was Dylan Wright’s fault. I’ve witnessed a few of Dylan Wright’s aggressive moves during the past few seasons that have made more than one rider unhappy. However, as I watched this crash happened right before my eyes, I can say that this was just an unfortunate racing incident. Both riders were being far too aggressive for that section of the track, and both were going for the lead so you can understand why. In this case, someone had to back off or there was going to be trouble. Unfortunately for Osby, no one backed off and he got the worst of this crash. The only thing Wright could’ve done a little better in my estimation is anticipate what Osby might do once the two riders went airborne. With the track turning left right after the jump, of course the riders want to lean in and begin their turn in the air. Wright could’ve checked up and not gone for the big air needed to clear the jump. Last weekend we saw Cole Thompson not anticipate what Jacob Hayes was going to do and that crash has ruined Thompson’s season. This is racing and things happen in a split second; both Thompson’s crash, as well as the Wright/ Osby crash could’ve been prevented, but how many times have we said that over the years? Thankfully, Josh Osby tweeted last night that he suffered a lacerated liver in the crash, but that he was going to be okay.
Moments after this photo was taken, Alessi and Facciotti collided and Colton crashed hard. Thankfully Colton was able to remount and charged back up to 9th by the end of the moto. Photo by James Lissimore
So enough about the bad news out of Round 7 in Truro, NS. The good news was that Dillan Epstein absolutely dominated the MX1 class with a 1-1 moto score. Epstein was fast right from the beginning of the day and he looked pretty happy to be away from the sand tracks of the past two weekends. Behind Epstein was a pack of riders all looking like they were just trying to survive the day. Facciotti went down hard off the start in the first moto and had to charge from last to ninth, all while coughing up blood. In Moto 2, Colton got off to a great start and was battling with the leaders early. Then he washed the front end out in a corner and once again had to battle from behind. I think it’s safe to say that Colton hopes the series avoids this track in 2018 as he simply has zero luck at it. MX1 points leader Matt Goerke had a great day and gained some points on Christophe Pourcel in the championship. Goerke rode like a beast all day to finish up in second overall.
In the MX2 class it was Jess Pettis, who was coming back from a broken collarbone, taking his very first overall win. Pettis rode great all day long and took advantage of the Wright/ Osby incident to win the second moto and take the overall. Shawn Maffenbeier, who came into Truro two points behind Thompson, picked up a pile of points and now leads the MX2 class by 21 points over Osby. This season’s MX2 class has been crazy and the points have been all over the place. For instance, Dylan Wright, who got off to an awful start out west, now only sits 33 points out of the lead. With what we’ve seen so far in 2017, this championship won’t be decided until the final moto in Barrie. Now the series gets ready for one of its most historic tracks and Riverglade MX Park in Moncton, NB. With some of the biggest crowds of the series, this coming weekend will be rocking once again in the east.
The MX101 FXR Yamaha Team had a very good day at Round 7 and now lead the MX2 points. Photo by James Lissimore
Finally, I will leave you with some more bad news and the cancellation of the 2017 Walton TransCan. I’m sure for most of you, this sad announcement comes out of left field and is hard to believe. For those of us close to the situation it is also hard to believe, but we could almost see it coming. In 2011 and 2012, I worked with the Walton TransCan crew putting together this massive event, so I was able to see first hand just how much effort and planning went into it. The process was not started weeks before the event, it was started months before. I actually remember our first meeting where we spoke about the upcoming event actually took place in November, ten months before the event. As you also can imagine, it takes more than one person to pull off an event like this, it takes a team. A team that must be on the same page and is always in constant communication and constant motion. Regardless of what happened last year with the weather and not having a pro national for the first time, the current Walton team was not a cohesive unit and if they had tried to hold the event this summer, it would have not been fair to the families and to the riders that had worked so hard to get there. I know many people are bummed out and maybe even mad, but this is the best thing that could happen for this year. Maybe down the road the TransCan resurfaces at a different location, but with a renewed energy and focus. For now, let’s just say thanks to Walton Raceway and to the entire TransCan crew for battling everything that was thrown at them over the years, and for putting on such an awesome event for a quarter century.
The shocking news was finally made official today as the 2017 Walton TransCan is now cancelled. Photo by James Lissimore
Well, that is it for me this week. Tomorrow morning I’m heading to California to test ride the new 2018 Yamaha YZF450 at Glen Helen Raceway. First thing Wednesday morning, myself and a host of other MX media guys get to throw our legs over this new bike for the first time. With many changes, I’m very excited to ride the new Yamaha, especially on one of the most famous tracks in the world. Stay tuned for a full report on how this new bike works. I’m back from California on Thursday evening, and then Friday I head back out east to Moncton for Round 8 of the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals. On Sunday, I will be hanging out with the Honda Racing GDR Fox Team as I’m doing a behind the scenes feature story in the next issue of MXP Magazine. I will be the team’s assistant manager for a day in Moncton so I will get to see and hear all that goes on during race day for a factory team. I’m pretty excited for it and I’m sure it will make for a very cool story. I hope everyone has a great and safe week of riding.
