Honda Canada Racing Presents The Monday Gate Drop

Good day and welcome to the Easter edition of the Honda Canada Monday Gate Drop. I hope everyone is having a great long weekend, and if you celebrate Easter, Happy Easter from all of us at MXP Magazine.

So after two solids weekends of Rockstar Energy Triple Crown AXTour racing, the series has taken a week off as it moves from the west to the east. It’s been a solid start to 2019 and everyone appears happy with what has been going on thus far. This is goods news for this series as well as for Canadian motocross and it’s definitely an improvement over 2018. At this time last year we had experienced one mud round in Abbotsford, and although the Calgary round was dry, it was mired in protests and controversy. As we say farewell to the western half of the 2019 AXTour and look forward to Sarnia this coming weekend, all is well on the Canadian motocross front.

During these first two rounds we have witnessed some great racing in the both the 250 Pro class as well as the 450 Pro class. Last weekend in Calgary, we saw two first time Canadian AX winners as Dylan Wright grabbed the 250 Pro win and Phil Nicoletti took the honours in the 450 class. Both riders are known for their speed and aggression on the race track, so it will be interesting to see if winning gives them that extra boost in these remaining two rounds. If you recall, last year the Sarnia round was one of the best attended rounds of the series as there weren’t too many empty seats. If there were 3000 people inside Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia, I would estimate that 2500 were Cole Thompson fans. This year should be no different as the Sarnia fans love their hometown boy. Other than the usual top riders who have been at the opening two rounds, we might see a few new faces on the starting line as Ontario and Quebec definitely have some AX talent that could show up. One of those local fast Ontario pro riders is Tanner Ward. The Woodstock, Ontario native mentioned to me last month that he might race these final two AX events just to get some racing in prior to the outdoor nationals starting. If Tanner lines up this weekend in Sarnia then he will also have a large contingent of home fans in attendance. It all gets underway on Saturday evening in Sarnia, and then we head to Round 4 the following weekend in Barrie, Ontario. Yes, it’s definitely great to have some AX back in Ontario for another year.

This past week the deadline came and went for anyone to get their application in to be the 2019 MXON Manager for Team Canada. My feeling is that with the events of the past few weeks I don’t think most of us would touch this position with a ten foot pole. Between the fund raising, the apparent drama, and just the overall task of dealing with the CMA, I’m quite sure the list of names is shorter than those who love our new Carbon Tax. As unfortunate as it is that we are where we are with regards to this event and this position, is it really any surprise? Dealing with the CMA has been difficult since I can remember. In fact, I could go on and on list the bizarre decisions or behaviour that I have experienced in my day with regards to the CMA. I have a great memory, but even I don’t remember the first time I heard someone utter the words ‘we need to get rid of Marilyn and the CMA.’ Yes, that phrase is as old as the dirt we race on in this country, and during these past few weeks it’s been once again brought to the forefront of this MXON discussion. But, and this is the big ‘but’, if you want to be Team Canada’s MXON Manager then you have to deal with the FIM, the CMA, and yes, even Marilyn! It’s a dubious task to say the least and that’s one big reason why the list of new applicants for this position has always been short. I will add, though, that just as recent as this past Thursday I heard that there might be some changes on the horizon with how Team Canada and this event in particular is organized. Also, I heard that despite all that has happened in recent weeks, there are a few people who might want to step up and make sure we have a Team of our best riders to head to Assen in September. Stand by for more information in the coming weeks.

Like most of us, I hope someone or some group steps up and tries to make this happen for 2019. Because through all of this, the real losers are our riders as well as the sport in Canada. Not only are our riders some of the best in the world and should be at this event each and every year, the amateur side of this sport is beginning to trend downwards as far as numbers in Canada. Now it’s more important than ever to draw interest at all levels of this sport from the excitement of big events like this. I mean, look at how excited this entire country got earlier this year when Jess Pettis was racing in the Monster Energy Supercross Series. Our men, women, and young riders were all excited! This is just one reason why we need to see our top Canadian riders racing on the World stage at least once or twice a year.

With all of this in mind, here is some advice that I’m sure all of the preceding Team Canada Managers will agree with. The CMA is at times hard to work with and at times you’re going to feel like banging your head against the wall. End of story! Also, if you want someone to talk to then give my dad a call and he can tell you all about the time in 1983 that the CMA moved his son from 80B to 80A just a few days after he won just one moto and thus pointed out of the 80B class. The following weekend, his son (okay it was me) washed his front end during the first moto 80A start in Hully Gully, crashed and then got run over by about 35 bikes. That day my dad wanted to throw everyone wearing a white CMA uniform into the Hully Gully pond, and then drive to Hamilton and tell Marilyn exactly how he felt. You see, we all have frustrating CMA stories, but they just help make up the fabric of our incredible motocross history here in Canada.

It is, however, Easter weekend and we should keep things positive. Hopefully you’re able to enjoy some family time this weekend as well as hit up your local track. After missing the opening two rounds of the 2019 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown AXTour Series because of an awesome Mexican vacation, I will be back to work this weekend in Sarnia. Let’s hope that it stops raining this week in Ontario so the Jetwerx crew is able to get some dry dirt to build the track for Round 3. Last year the dirt was a little soft but the racing was still good. This year should be no different and I cannot wait. I hope everyone has a great week and thank-you for reading.

One more thing. Don’t forget our Live the VIP Life contest that we’re doing with Hoosier Tire for the Sarnia and Barrie AX events. All you have to do is answer the following question and your name will be entered into the draw. Please email your answer to me at chris@mxpmag.com.

Q: Name the country that Jyrie Mitchell calls home?