Monday Gate Drop

Good Morning. First off, let me wish everyone a Happy Remembrance Day and a Happy Veteran’s Day. We’re all truly grateful for the effort and sacrifices that our Military has made over the past century. Like many people my age, I had a grandfather who served in WWII. He was in Europe for just over four years in the 1940s. Although he never once spoke to me about his experiences over there, from listening to stories from my Mom, it was a crazy, life altering time. Sadly, he went to battle as a wide eyed teenager and returned four years later a reclusive, changed man, all in the name of protecting the way of life we enjoy today. Although he survived the war and came home physically uninjured, he never would recover from the mental scars. He passed away when I was twelve a very unhappy man. Here is to all the men and women and who have served and continue to serve in our military so we can all live life the way we do every day. Thank you and now on to some racing action from this past weekend.

Out in British Columbia this past weekend was the opening round of the 2013/14 Kawasaki Canada Arenacross Championships. From all the reports, the racing was intense on both nights. In fact, to show the parity of the field that assembled in Chilliwack on the weekend, there were four different main event winners and two different Dash for Cash winners. On Friday night it was Brock Hoyer and Tyler Medaglia taking the wins, on night two it was Jeremy Medaglia’s and Spencer Knowles’ turn to light it up and dominate. In the ever popular Dash for Cash on Saturday night, it was Canadian moto legend Ryan Lockhart who took the win and the $1305 prize. Now I’m sure the money was great for Ryan, but knowing how much he wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to racing and everything that he’s been through, he probably had to fight back the tears on the podium. Congratulations to all the winners from Chilliwack and good job to DMX and GuaranteedMX for their coverage. I wasn’t able to make it out this weekend but I am heading there in two weeks for rounds three and four and I can’t wait. Please enjoy the race report from the one and only Brent Worrall that is on our site also.

As you can see I had a good time riding the 2014 YZ250F last week in Alabama.

The reason for me not being able to attend the arenacross on the weekend was that last week I was in Alabama for the 2014 YZ250F press launch. For two days, ten other journalists and I put the new Yamaha through its paces at Monster Mountain, a track that is not only awesome but is well known to a lot of Canadians. You will be able to read a report on the bike and the ride day tomorrow on this site, but I can tell you that this 2014 YZ250F is an amazing bike. The new fuel injection works great and the handling is superb. Obviously, Yamaha is very excited about this bike and you will be too when you throw a leg over it.

In other racing news from overseas, Leading Edge Kawasaki rider Teddy Maier was crowned the King of Stuttgart in the opening round of the German Supercross Series. Teddy topped Jake Canada and Kyle Chisholm to take the title. With the off season now in full effect, it looks as though most of the top riders from our Canadian Nationals are going to be doing a lot of racing during these winter months.

In closing, I will be teaching a school at the Chesterman’s Indoor Track in Tillsonburg, Ontario this Thursday evening from 4pm to 7pm. Please email me at chris@mxpmag.com for more information. I hope on this dark and cloudy Monday, everyone takes a few moments to reflect and say thank you to all of our past and present day soldiers. Happy Remembrance Day!!