Monday Gate Drop

Good morning and happy Monday to all! I hope everyone had a great weekend, and by the looks of the weather across the country, I hope everyone stayed warm. My weekend was great. Saturday was filled with a day of sports for the Pomeroy family as my son, Ayrton, had hockey in the morning and some supercross at night. Well, he calls it supercross but it was actually round one of the Chesterman’s Indoor Series in Tillsonburg, Ontario.

It was an alright turnout at Chesterman’s on Saturday night with Ontario fast kids Jake Tricco and Preston Masciangelo making the trek there to race some indoors. I know it’s a small series but as I’ve said before, if you live within a few hours of the track then you should definitely go and check it out. Racing indoors does a lot to improve your racing skills. The short, high intensity motos are great for your reflexes and decision making, not to mention that it’s never a bad idea to keep racing at least once a month over our long winter. The racing on Saturday night was great and Ayrton took home his first ever race win and overall in the 4-7 PW-50 class. There were only two P-dubs but I guess at six years-old a win is a win.

The exciting news of the week came on Friday as it was announced that Dylan Wright has signed on with the MX101 Yamaha Team for the next three years. This wasn’t too much of a surprise as the deal has been in the works for some time, but it has to be a first in Canada to sign a rider for three years. When you consider Dylan’s age and obvious potential, it makes perfect sense to lock him in for that length of term and let him develop. This is an awesome deal for everyone involved and it really solidifies how valuable a program like MX101 is for a young rider. To be able to get a kid at a very young age and slowly bring him up through the ranks until he’s ready for the Pro team is exactly how’s it’s meant to work. It is reminiscent of how an NHL team drafts a kid and brings him up through their system until he’s ready to shine on the big stage. Well, from all of us at MXP, congratulations to Dylan, his family and the entire MX101 Team for this deal as they’re all great people. I spoke to Dylan briefly on the weekend and this is what he had to say about his new deal:

“I am really excited to sign with MX101 for next three years as they are close to home and I have been able to build a good relationship with them over the many years I have spent ripping laps around Sand Del Lee. I was really surprised to get an offer for three years and am happy it could be with such an amazing team. Becoming a Pro is something that we all dream about as kids and for this dream to come true is just amazing. Signing with MX101 is a really special thing to me as they are the ones who taught me how to ride when I was kid. I couldn’t ask for a better team to ride for because I always know that Kevin and Johnny will do everything they can for me to succeed and obtain my goals. I look forward to next year because it will be the first time I ride the tracks out west and the first time I can live the Pro atmosphere in the rigs. Also I’m very excited to race the new 2014 YZ 250F. Yamaha has put so much effort into their bikes for next year and I am blessed I will be able to work with them and be on their program.”

We’re all excited to see Dylan next year on the all new 2014 YZ250F; a new Pro on an all new bike. Speaking of this new Yamaha, I’m super excited to fly tomorrow down to Alabama for two days of riding the 2014 YZ 250 at Monster Mountain. To be down there as the only Canadian publication with other magazines like RacerX, Transworld and Dirt Rider is an honour and I can’t wait. I’ve never been to Monster Mountain but from what I hear it’s the perfect place to test ride a brand new bike. Thanks to Yamaha Canada for this opportunity. Everyone will be able to read about it in our next issue that comes out in December.

This coming weekend is the opening round of the Kawasaki Canadian Arenacross Championships which has a rider list that includes Spencer Knowles, Ross Johnson, Jeremy Medaglia, Tyler Medaglia and Ryan Lockhart. The racing is going to be awesome! As I said before, there’s nothing better to improve a rider’s skills than racing indoors. Also, congratulations to Kawasaki Canada for signing on last week as the title sponsor for this winter’s series.

I have to begin packing for Alabama so in closing I’d like to thank the Scott family for letting Ayrton and I ride last week at Panic Rev down near Sarnia. This awesome track is just down the road from the Thompson Training Facility. If you’ve never been down to that area to ride, you must go in 2014. Panic Rev has a long, fun, big bike track and also a cool mini track. There is something for every level of rider there. I hope everyone has a great week and good luck to everyone racing this weekend in BC.