Monday Maniac #15
By: Ryan Gauld
It’s official. The gate drops on the 2012 moto season this weekend in Ontario at none other than one of the greatest facilities in the country: Gopher Dunes. Actually the “official” start happened this past weekend at the CMRC Ride Day at Gopher on Easter Sunday. As expected, it was not a huge turnout but still more than 100 riders showed up to cut laps in the sand, get their 2012 CMRC license and bench race with fellow racers about the SX season, the upcoming moto season, and maybe even some hockey playoff bets. It was a glorious three days of weather for this long weekend so hopefully most of you were able to get out and cut some laps while still trying to throw some family time in the middle of it all. Now that the Easter egg hunt is over, put the chocolate away and be ready for this coming Sunday as the ANQs and a brand new provincial series starts. Normally the first race of the year is a warm up or at least has no real importance put on it. Not this year. It’s wide open for the start of the year so hopefully……..you’re ready!!
Liam O’Farrell showing off his new colours on the TM bike.
Photo by Randy Wiebe
Check out this brand new idea from the CMRC regarding the races in the 2012 season right HERE. Visit www.cmrcracing.com for the complete schedule.
Richard Grey looking sharp on his new Yamahas at Gopher on Sunday.
Photo by Randy Wiebe
I like the new ideas and the fact that there is going to be something at the end of the series this year. It’s hard to stay focused or even go racing when there is no real incentive at the end of it. Now there is something earned for your efforts, which is a good thing I believe.
Is it just me or is Motopark basically just like an American facility like GPF or MTF now? I hear so many Canadians brag about this track and that track down in the US. I don’t need to start on reasons why it’s like this, but it’s very easy to see why when you look at what they have. Well brag no more about that other country. Head to Motopark and get blown away by a track that is prepped to perfection and hospitality that is second to none as far as I’m concerned. I have been up there like five times already and each time you go you get the feeling of something special happening in Ontario. Iain Hayden and his crew are simply showing their passion for the sport by building a track that any racer could call their favourite. Good on ya boys. For all you people that may have not had a chance yet to get there, trust me, you will be more than happy with your day of riding. Really looking forward to their race on April 29th. Stay tuned to their website for more information – www.motoparkracing.com
Did you guys happen to see Bryce Vallee’s crash at Pala last week? If not HERE it is
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Bryce Vallee (the Yamaha rider who goes down in the lead) suffered a long list of injuries and will be going through an extensive rehabilitation process.
What a scary incident but it was a racing incident. There was nothing anybody could have done to stop what happened. Poor Bryce went off the side of the track, off that small table, but his bike and body stayed in the main line. So crazy to see these things but sometimes this happens in racing. This sport is not for the weak stomach
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Now a lighter side of the sport – check out this video funny goon vid:
Having fun like this on a bike should almost be illegal. LOL
Ronnie Mac RAW!!! from Dayton Daft on Vimeo.
Those panic rev endoes are pretty boss if you ask me. LOL
Now for some great news: More than two months ago Machine Racing Yamaha’s Kyle Keast broke his foot pretty bad. Well, this last week he got back on the bike and is focused on his goal of besting his 4th place plate from the last two seasons. Here’s small vid of him blasting some dust berms.
height=350Kyle Keast is back on the bike. If you haven’t heard the “Dozer” has Twitter now. Hit him up @KyleKeast4
So I just showed you three videos from our sport that went from “Oh my God”, to “that’s hilarious”, to “great to see.” It’s basically what you get every weekend at the races. This sport is a beautiful beast.
So far we have received some very good feedback on our first issue of 2012 here at MXP; thanks to all that have shared their thoughts. We are already getting #2 and the first CMRC program underway. This time of year is always busy for me. I still love to race each weekend, plus the job, and all the reality of responsibility I have myself wrapped in. It’s tough, no doubt. I mean it’s tough for anybody really. Life is supposed to be tough and the ones that rise above the small hiccups in the road are the ones that are successful and happy. I personally let the little things get to me too often. Not sure if you’re like that but it’s hard to ignore certain things that come across your plate. It’s in our good nature to just let stuff slide constantly in Canada. The way we were raised really hurts us sometimes when making big decisions. Then you add in the sensitivity a high percentage of us have, and you can’t really say anything without whining, excuses or in some ways even tears. I was like this in my racing career. Always feeling sorry for myself and letting the little things get in the way of what should have been a great career. I mean it was good and is still good, but it was never great. I feel I’m trying to make it great now with MXP but dealing with some of the players in this industry seems like a battle I will never win. I’m uber glad that this weekend the race season starts. I, like many of us passionate race fans, are truly happy at the track. Gopher is always a great way to start the year. Smiling faces in the pits, new families, great track, all of this just leads to good times. I am excited to see the new season get underway to see what racers rise up out of the pack this summer and chase their goals on dirt bikes. So this weekend coming, squash those little things. Focus on your goals and race because you want to. Not for anybody else and just enjoy being able to ride a bike because you can.