Interview: Colton Facciotti

Chris Pomeroy
Walton Trans Can Staff Writer

Leading into Round 5 of the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals, three-time Canadian Champion Colton Facciotti is in a very unfamiliar position. After crashing at Round 2 in Kamloops, Facciotti was forced to ride hurt and do his best to stay in the points race. With a new bike and a new team, he has gone through a lot of changes in 2012, and so far this year is not what he expected. We caught up with him as he was preparing for the toughest race of the year, the Gopher Dunes National.

CP: Hey Colton, how are you. What is going on today?

CF: Not too much actually, just finished training and getting ready for Saturday. Obviously Gopher Dunes will be tough, so I just want to be as prepared as I can.

CP: Let’s jump right in and talk about 2012 and how it’s been for you so far. Things started off well in Nanaimo with a solid second place finish, then in Kamloops everything fell apart.

CF: Yes, I came into Nanaimo feeling really good and well prepared. Everyone on the Red Bull Royal Distributing Fox KTM Team worked very hard to make sure we all felt ready. Like you said, Nanaimo went well, even though I didn’t win, I felt happy with how I rode in the mud.
Then in Kamloops, I had a crash and injured my shoulder pretty badly, since that point it has just been survival really. Each moto I am just trying to soldier through and not fall too far behind in the points.

CP: Can you take us through the crash and what exactly the injury is.

CF: It happened in the first moto at Kamloops. I was going for the lead in the second corner and Matt Goerke kind of came over on me and took my front wheel out. I ended up falling on my shoulder and right away I knew something was wrong with it. I decided that it would be best to sit that moto out and try to come back strong in moto two. It ended up being a shoulder separation and with those injuries it’s not like you can just pop it back in and be on your way. They take a lot of time to heal. So, in between motos we worked on it a bit and I was able to ride and actually did really well in moto two, all things considered.

CP: So you only missed that moto and since then you haven’t missed a race. But, I think what some people might not realize is that when you are racing hurt for a number of weeks like you have been, you don’t get to practice during the week. You just do everything you can to make it through each race day. So your fitness and confidence really take a beating.

CF: Yes, for sure, you end up getting away from your entire routine. Since Kamloops I haven’t been able to practice at all so while the injury has been healing slowly, my riding has been suffering. I had my trainer, Todd Schumlick, come and stay with me last week and we did a lot of work to try and get me to where I can ride without pain, so hopefully it works.

CP: You’re obviously a pretty smooth sand rider and you know the Gopher Dunes track well. How do you feel heading into Saturday?

CF: Well, I certainly have felt better in past years but I think I will do okay. The three week break we had was good for me so I think if I can get good starts and find some good lines, I should be there for 35 minutes. Every rider has to face some adversity the odd time so I guess it’s my turn. Like I said before, I am pretty happy with my results so far despite being injured.

CP: I know you only had Nanaimo to race healthy, but have Goerke or Bobby Kiniry surprised you at all?

CF: No, not at all. I knew they were both going to be tough this year. They raced the Supercross Series and did quite well so their speed was obviously there. As you said, I was only healthy for Nanaimo and that race was a mess. We have made some changes to the bike since the early rounds and it feels good, but it goes back to not being able to practice or test. It’s hard to change something during the race day; you just have to go with what you feel comfortable on. My team has worked hard so I just hope I can get some wins for them before the season is done to repay them a little bit.

CP: We are almost at the halfway point of the series. Soon we will be sitting at Walton Raceway wondering where the summer went. You attended the Walton Trans Can as a rising, young star. Back in those days, how did you prepare for the trip East from British Columbia to race against Canada’s best?

CF: I remember always being excited to go to Walton, not just for the racing but for the trip itself. As a rider, you always get bored racing against the same riders, so Walton was a chance to go and see some new faces. The track, the people, and the atmosphere are always great there, even now as a pro, I love going there.

CP: Do you have a favourite memory from the TransCan?

CF: I have a few, that’s for sure. I won a couple of titles there in 2000 so that year sticks out in my mind for sure. But, nothing tops standing on the big stage, in front of a huge crowd and having the Walton Sword presented to you. It is a special moment and I have been lucky enough to have experienced it three times. Hopefully I get things going here in the next few weeks and can get another one.

CP: What advice would you have for any young rider who is getting ready to travel to Walton Raceway to compete in their first TransCan.

CF: Well, first I think you just have to prepare the best you can and not leave anything to chance. Once you’re there, learn the track and figure out some places to pass because you might not always get a good start. From there, just be relaxed and race your own race, don’t worry about who you’re racing against even if you have never seen them before. One last thing, have fun! It’s a fun week so try and enjoy every moment of it.

CP: Okay Colton, thanks for doing this. I hope this weekend and the rest of the series goes well and I hope your shoulder keeps getting better. Good luck.

CF: Thanks Palms. I am looking forward to the East, the tracks, the weather and being closer to home. We’ll see if we can start getting some wins here soon.