Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
By Stephen St. Pierre
As the 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan continues its easterly summer long trek, this weekend’s Round 4 stop is the Moto Valley Raceway in Regina, SK. The soil in Regina is prime, dark, chocolate cake topsoil, which presents a real challenge to riders once ruts start to form in both the long, fast straightaways and corners. Moto Valley Raceway is located northeast of Regina, and with its severe elevation changes and large jumps, provides various terrific spectator viewing areas.
The first three rounds of the 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals have yielded some great racing action on the track for the record breaking crowds in attendance. Fans are also able to live stream the racing action by using the free Conx2share app and view all the racing action on their mobile phone or computer. The live stream feed includes the sharp and entertaining commentary from one of the best in the business, Brian Koster, as well as some invited guests.
MX1
KTM Canada Thor Racing’s Davi Millsaps has claimed the checkered flag at 5 of the 6 motos contested in the MX1 class so far. After giving up the Red Plate following Round 2, Davi came storming back last weekend in Calgary and again was completely dominating. A lot of the pre-season talk was that Millsaps would be at a disadvantage as far as knowing the tracks that his competitors have been racing on for years. So far the former US champion has adapted brilliantly and looks like he is having a lot of fun north of the border.
Currently second in the MX1 series standings, and only 14 points back, is Monster Energy Alpinestar Kawasaki’s Mike Allesi, who has a pair of second overall finishes in the last two rounds. After last weekend’s race, Mike said that two laps into Moto 1 he didn’t know if Davi was still in the race he was so far gone. Alessi knows he needs to start ahead of Millsaps to beat him and will be looking for his first holeshot of the year this weekend in Regina.
Honda Canada Racing Fox GDR’s Colton Facciotti will be looking to rebound and finish on the podium this weekend like he did last year at the Moto Valley Raceway. Colton finished outside the top 5 last weekend, off the podium for the first time this year, and didn’t look like the Colton we know. In the process “Colt 45” lost the Red Plate and dropped two positions in the series standings.
Last year’s Regina race winner, Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Brett Metcalfe, will bring those good memories into this weekend’s Round 4. Brett thrilled the spectators last year with epic battles for the lead with Colton Facciotti in Moto 1 and then Matt Goerke in Moto 2. Metcalfe has been doing a lot of testing between races this year, and he is starting to get very close to the Brett we know that can win motos. He comes into this weekend in fourth place in the series standings after finishing on the podium at the last two rounds.
Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Matt Goerke is the only rider besides Davi Millsaps to have claimed a checkered flag this year. Goerke had a big crash last weekend in the first turn of Moto 2 before putting on a charge to come from last place to finish eighth. Matt had the Red Plate on his bike coming into
Regina last year where he finished second overall, after taking the win in Moto 2. He is currently fifth in the series standings and is looking forward to the sand tracks in the east where he is always super-fast.
MX2
KTM Canada Thor Racing’s Cole Thompson kept the ball rolling last weekend with another perfect performance on the track. Although Thompson admits that he has eaten a bit more roost than he would like in the last two rounds’ first motos, but in the second motos he has ran away from the field both weekends. “Tommy Gun” has had the Red Plate on his motorcycle since Round 2; he was fourth overall at the Moto Valley Raceway in 2015 while competing in the MX1 class.
In last weekend’s first MX2 moto, Redemption Racing Big Steel Box KTM’s Shawn Maffenbeier was able to keep Cole Thompson in sight and was less than 2 seconds back at the checkered flag. With six second place finishes to start the season, Shawn has been the most consistent racer in either class and is only 11 points behind Cole Thompson in the series standings. Maff will have the home field advantage this weekend as he is from Swift Current; he finished on the podium at last year’s race in Regina.
Triple Effect/Strikt/Stewarts Kawasaki rider Brandon Leith has been one of the biggest surprises in the MX2 Class so far this season. Leith has not had an overall finish worse than fourth and sits third in the series standings. Even after getting a flat tire in last weekend’s first moto, the talented young American from Salt Lake City managed to finish sixth.
Coming off an eighth place overall finish in last weekend’s race in Calgary, SG Power/Shift/Honda’s Brad Nauditt will be looking to get back on the podium like he was in Round 2 in Nanaimo. Brad sits fourth in the series standings and finished eighth last year in his only other appearance at the Moto Valley Raceway.
MX101 FXR Yamaha’s Dylan Wright had his best overall result of the season last weekend at the Wild Rose MX Park where he finished fifth for the day. Dylan has shown great speed this year, winning the first MX2 moto of his career at Round 1, and then grabbing another podium finish in the second moto in Nanaimo. He also failed to score points in two motos and sits fifth in the series standings. The talented young Canadian appears to be nursing a sore ankle from a crash in Nanaimo, but you can count on him finding the podium as the series moves east.
Since he crashed in the first turn of Round 2, Honda Canada-GDR-Fox rider Jeremy Medaglia has not made it back to the starting line. Jeremy has had great results in Regina finishing second overall last year after winning the second moto and taking the overall win in 2014.
The first three rounds of the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan have taken place in good weather conditions and the forecast for Regina this Sunday looks like the trend will continue. If you haven’t already purchased your tickets you can buy them online easily at the mxnationals.ca website. If you are in another part of the country and are unable to attend the race, you can see all the action live by downloading the free Conx2share app and live stream every moto on your mobile phone or computer.
MX1 Point Standings 2016
1. Davi Millsaps (KTM) 162pts
2. Mike Alessi (Kaw) 148pts
3. Colton Facciotti (Honda) 146pts
4. Brett Metcalfe (Yam) 137pts
5. Matt Goerke (Yam) 134pts
6. Cade Clason (KTM) 110pts
7. Kaven Benoit (KTM) 106pts
8. Tyler Medaglia (Husq) 101pts
9. Keylan Meston (Yam) 94pts
10. Morgan Burger (Yam) 89pts
MX2 Point Standings 2016
1. Cole Thompson (KTM) 173pts
2. Shawn Maffenbeier (KTM) 162pts
3. Brandon Leith (Kaw) 131pts
4. Brad Nauditt (Hon) 103pts
5. Dylan Wright (Yam) 97pts
5. Casey Keast (Yam) 97pts
7. Jess Pettis (Yam) 87pts
8. Mark Worth (Kaw) 85pts
9. Mc Cough Brough (KTM) 83pts
10. Tallon La Fountaine (KTM) 77pts
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