Monday Gate Drop

Good Morning and welcome to this week’s edition of Monday Gate Drop. This past weekend saw lots of racing action both in the USA and here in Canada. As we all followed either Twitter or the MXP Internet Radio Show, we know that Honda was the big winner yesterday in Kamloops taking victories in both the MX2 and MX1 classes. Both Vince Friese and Colton Facciotti rode incredibly all day on the rough Whispering Pines track proving that they’re two of the fittest riders on the circuit. I didn’t make the trip out to Kamloops but our man Brent Worrall sent us his in depth report which is posted on our site. Since I didn’t attend the race in Kamloops yesterday I don’t want to comment on it too much, but I will say that if you read my Kamloops story on Thursday last week, I did sort of predict how Facciotti would do yesterday. Maybe I got lucky, who knows, I just had a feeling that we’d see him at his best on a track that has been less than good to him in recent years. That’s what champions do!!

This red machine was on fire yesterday.

I spent my Sunday at Walton Raceway for the final ANQ of the 2014 season. Yesterday in Walton could best be summed up by the word “Long” as motos ran well into the evening. With over 500 entries and 21 motos, the length of the day was no surprise; unfortunately unless everyone wants two lap races this is unavoidable. Another thing that was very evident yesterday was the toughness of the track. With so many riders and only so much time, grooming the entire track in between motos was not possible and it was rutted and rough! I actually thought the track was better in my second moto as there were more lines to choose from, you just had to use your imagination. I know there was some first time participants yesterday, especially in the younger age classes. I spoke to a few as the day went on and most were very unhappy with the track. I told them that when they come back in August for the Parts Canada TransCan that they wouldn’t even recognize the track at Walton Raceway as it’s very different. Congratulations to everyone who rode yesterday as you certainly rode one of the toughest tracks of the season so far.

If you want to be a good all around rider than you must learn how to ride rutted tracks such as Walton Raceway. Here Bobby Kiniry shows us how’s it done.

I will also add that while sitting watching some of the racing yesterday at Walton I came to the conclusion that we as riders (myself included) don’t practice riding rutted tracks enough. It’s such a tough condition to recreate when practicing, especially in the summer when everything is bone dry! However, if you want to make yourself a better, all-round rider and if you want to do well at the TransCan, you must find a way to practice riding in ruts. It’s such a different type of riding. We see it when some Americans come up here; they do very well. I remember two years ago at the final round of the pro nationals in Walton, Kawasaki rider and 2012 MX1 Champion Matt Goerke put on a riding clinic en route to a victory. That day, he rode as if there were no ruts. Maybe to him they weren’t that bad, but he got that way by constantly practicing in those conditions. This is part of what makes motocross the toughest sport in the world because as riders we have to race in so many different conditions, and each one of these conditions makes the bike react differently. What separates the great riders from the good riders is their ability to adapt. This comes from preparation and perspiration. You have to practice in these certain types of conditions and you must practice in them a lot.

So all of the ANQs are done and some lucky riders will be getting their Golden Tickets soon solidifying their qualification into the 2014 Parts Canada TransCan. On the national front today, it’s definitely a very proud day in Canadian motocross. Anytime one of our riders steps up and beats a top American rider who has come North to battle us is a very special deal. Yesterday in Kamloops on a track that hasn’t exactly been kind to him, Colton Facciotti took home a very popular win in the MX1 class and will now take the red plate to round three in Calgary. This sport can be great one day and cruel the next. This weekend in Calgary will present the riders with an entirely different challenge; the track will be different, the weather will most likely be different and we may have different winners. However, on this day, less than 24 hours after Colton’s big win, let’s all celebrate with him and hope that he can keep it going.

That is it for this week’s Monday Gate Drop. In closing I’d like to pass along a congrats to Dylan Kaelin who had a great day in Kamloops yesterday, also to Ryan Lockhart who rode strong and gave us Vet riders hope that we can still compete. Finally, here’s a big get well soon to little Ryder Reinhart who got injured at Walton yesterday. In a perfect world no one should ever get injured doing something as fun as riding a dirt bike, but when it’s a child it’s especially upsetting. Get well Ryder and we’ll see you back racing soon. I hope everyone has a great week. I’m off to Calgary on Thursday for round three of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals so look for updates all weekend. Have a great week everyone!

See you all in Calgary!