Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
Hello and welcome to the final Honda Canada Racing Monday Gate Drop of the month of August. As I mentioned in one of my past Monday columns, where has this summer gone? Whether you spent the summer racing, riding or at a cottage, I’m sure you’re all wondering the same thing as we get ready to tackle the final few days of August.
For the sport of motocross in North America, August is the month of finales with almost all of the major series wrapping up this month. As we watched on Saturday on a very wet Ironman Raceway track, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship held its final round. After a very long season I’m sure those riders are ready for a long vacation. It was good to see both Aaron Plessinger and Eli Tomac win the 250 and 450 championships. In Canada, we had our national championships finish last weekend at Walton Raceway with Jess Pettis, Colton Facciotti and numerous amateurs taking home Canadian National motocross gold. It is now time to take a big, deep breath and get ready to enjoy the final long weekend of the summer of 2018.
No this was not taken after the 65 moto at Walton on the Friday morning. This was taken moments after my wife and I completed the 2018 Mud Hero Challenge.
I hope everyone has now fully recovered from the Walton TransCan. Even though this event was over a week ago, it was still on my mind as my family participated in the Mud Hero Challenge on Saturday. This was our second time doing this unique event, and last year the mud was almost a novelty. This year after racing in the mud at both Deschambault and Walton, though, we were beginning to second guess our decision to sign up for this year’s Mud Hero. For those of you who have never done this event or something similar, it’s basically a 6km jog through the forest at Albion Hills Conservation Area. The run, although relatively easy and very scenic, is not the fun part of Mud Hero. The fun part is the 18 various obstacles scattered throughout the 6km course. There are mud holes you have to run through, walls you have to climb over, big large tabletops made out of thick rope that you have to traverse over, and just about anything you can imagine. By the time you reach the finish line, you’re covered in mud…like a lot of mud. As I said, last year it was new and kind of fun to get all muddy, but this time around after getting really wet and dirty in Deschambault and Walton, it seemed like an all to familiar feeling. No more mud please!
This sport could never have too many Tyler Medaglia’s. Photo by James Lissimore
Mud was also the name of the game on Saturday when the riders lined up at Ironman Raceway for their final round. Other than the normal Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship riders, there were also a few new riders lining up on the wet starting line. Fresh off his 4th overall in the 450 MXTour Series, Tyler Medaglia decided to make the trip down south to race in Indiana. If you didn’t love Tyler before this past weekend, how do you not love him now? I mean, let’s think about it for a minute: As most of you know, Tyler and his family live in Nova Scotia, some 2500 KM from Ironman Raceway. After a long summer of racing and travelling across Canada, I don’t think anyone would’ve blamed Tyler if he simply stayed back on the east coast and had a nice relaxing weekend with the family. However, when the Monster Energy Alpinestar Huber Racing Kawasaki Team Manager, Adam Robinson, brought up the possibility of racing at Ironman a month ago, Tyler jumped at the opportunity to keep racing.
No doubt Tyler’s elbows up style helped him ride so well at Ironman Raceway. This photo is definitely Palms approved. Photo by James Lissimore
There is an age old saying that states that as long as you never try something, you’ll never risk the possibility of failing. However, if you never try anything or put yourself out there, you most certainly will never succeed. For Tyler and Chad Reed (another story all together), they definitely had a day to remember at Ironman Raceway. Both riders got a little fortunate when the morning rain turned the track into a complete quagmire for most of the day. Tyler, a renowned mud rider, obviously felt right at home in those conditions, while a few of the series’ top riders did not. Regardless of the adverse conditions, a rider still has to put themselves in a position to succeed. This is where a rider like Medaglia really excels, in my opinion. He’s always seems to have that ability to block out his surroundings and focus on the task at hand. On Saturday, he did just about everything right and he had one of the best finishes a Canadian rider has ever had at a USA Outdoor National. I believe that Ross Pederson’s third overall at Hangtown in 1987 still stands as the best. So, if there was anyone left in Canada who didn’t think Tyler Medaglia was a hero, I think he proved you wrong with his ride at Ironman Raceway. I said this back in June after watching Tyler during the opening rounds of the MXTour Series that he’s riding better than he ever has. He looks so comfortable on the green machine and he’s not even on the 2019 KX450 yet. The new KX450 is the best Kawasaki 450 that I’ve ever ridden and I cannot wait to see Tyler on it.
It’s been a long time since there was this much excitement over Chad Reed racing an outdoor event. Photo by Frank Hoppen
From Tyler’s amazing ride to another Plus 30 legend, Chad Reed. I know Chad doesn’t have the same GOAT status as Ricky Carmichael or Ryan Dungey, but has there ever been a rider or athlete that has responded to being told no better than this guy? If you knock Chad Reed down or tell him that he can’t do something, you had better be prepared for him to get up swinging. After his disastrous SX season earlier this year, Chad appears to have once again made a commitment to his fitness as he tries to get a ride for 2019. One of the good things about Social Media now is that you’re able to show people exactly what you’ve been up to. With that said, for the past six weeks it’s been obvious that Chad has been training hard. He made it clear that he not only wanted to be ready for 2019, but also ready for an opportunity like the one that came to him this past weekend. Like Tyler, I don’t care if it was muddy, dry, or any other condition, Chad’s ride at Ironman Raceway was very impressive. Also, by the sounds of it, MXSports enjoyed having him there as Reed’s presence increased their ticket sales. I hope Chad gets a good bike to ride for the 2019 Monster Energy SX Series and that he can have one final year on his terms. I think he’s earned at least that!
That it is for me this week. I hope you have a great final week of August, and I hope everyone has a great long weekend. If you live in Ontario and want to try something different, Gopher Dunes is holding their annual Sprint Enduro on Saturday. It’s always a lot of fun and something new to try if you’ve only ridden motocross. Have a great week!
