Monday Maniac #25

Monday Maniac #25

By gauldy107

 

Well, the circus we call the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals has swept through the city of Calgary at Wild Rose MX Park for the third round of the series. The weekend could not have gone any better in pretty much every category. Weather, racing, fans, MotoXRadio, podium, were all on point this weekend which is really good to see after the horrible weather in Nanaimo, and the weak spectator turnout in Kamloops. The only screw up this weekend was the riders meeting. Hey Paul Kingsley, it’s all about communication buds!!! For that the caption in the next issue of MXP for the beauty pic of you I have just got more interesting. Hahahaha It was a minor error, but its fun to give Kinger the gears. The staff/team is really starting to mesh well and we are banging out nationals like it was our job…… wait I guess it kind of is. LOL

It was really cool to see how many lady racers showed up on Saturday for round two of the Woman’s National series. The most this country has ever seen, and according to points leader Haley Larson the most ever, including the US. I talked to quite a few of the girls this weekend, and they are really happy with the way the series is going so far. They enjoy being the main attraction on Saturday as they get treated like the stars that they deserve to be. Though, woman racer Camille Baker wants to have all four rounds in the west national events. I think that’s a good idea and I can’t see a reason why it wouldn’t be possible to do next year for the series. Four west and four east. If the girls continue to amaze us with solid race action and full gates then their bargaining power will go through the roof for 2013.

The track at Wild Rose got revamped for this year by Marc Peters. I only heard one rider say he didn’t enjoy it, but the rest were all smiles all day because of how tough and technical it was with big jumps that made it fun. The racing was a tad boring for the most part until the final MX1 moto of the day… I will get to that. The facility though is so cool cause you watch racing and in the background the city of Calgary. It really is a beautiful backdrop for pictures.

I really don’t see Monster Leading Edge Kawasaki’s Teddy Maier losing this title. The way he is winning motos with ease right makes me think that it will be hard to not bet the #3 will grab his second MX2 title come August time.  He won both motos this weekend over the 39 other MX2 riders like they were juniors out there. It’s harsh to say that about all these other amazing talents, but Teddy get’s into the lead and just gaps the field. Royal Distributing KTM Red Bull Fox Jeremy Medaglia is no slouch at all, and even in moto one Jeremy actually looked faster than Teddy for about three laps. If he made the pass he may have been able to get in Maier’s head a little. Teddy would have none of that and pull out to a 10 second lead over Jeremy in the moto, and an astonishing 41 over third place rider Kyle Beaton. In moto two Teddy stretched it out to a 15 second at one point and it was 30 seconds over third at the checkers. Those numbers only mean one thing: domination. I believe that Jeremy could be the only guy to stop Maier,  but he needs to get it done soon or this championship is all over. It was nice to see Washington native Brad Nauditt get on the box for third overall on the moto scores 4-4. He also grabbed both Royal Distributing holeshot’s as well to give him his best ever national day here In Canada. The only real drama from the either of the MX2 motos took place in moto two with Topher Ingalls. While running third he noticed his rear wheel getting loose and pulled into the mechanics area to find the axel bolt had come undone, nearly falling right out of the swingarm. This could have gone bad in so many ways, but luckily he was able to get it fixed and get back into the race. As he got back going he was lapped by leader Teddy Maier, jumped right in behind him and started to click off racers trying to get however many points he could. Well, he was going pretty fast and hung with Teddy but this really pissed off Monster Leading Edge Kawasaki mechanic Pat O’Connor. Pat came out on the track many times and nearly smacked Topher with the pit board on the very last lap. Topher backed off and apologized to the team and Maier after the moto. That’s a tough call for any racer out there. In one hand, Topher was just trying to get back in the race after the embarrassing axle moment. On the other hand, you’re not supposed to race with the leaders, but if you’re going fast enough are you supposed to just slow down? It’s a tough call really. At least it gave us some sort of drama from an otherwise uneventful race.

 

 

It was unbelievably exciting to see OTSFF Rockstar Yamaha Motovan.com’s Bobby Kiniry get the win yesterday. One of the nicest dudes that has ever come up to Canada from the US, showed us the heart of a lion yesterday. Moto one saw him start inside the top five and moving forward. A small tip over would drop him back to 8^th. He charged like a man possessed and climbed back up to second by the checkers. Moto two saw the best race of the year so far and likely one of the best in the history of the sport. Bobby moved into the lead early while Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki’s current MX1 points leader, and perfect so far heading into this race, Matt Goerke, started about 7^th after a small tip over on lap one. He would charge right to the rear wheel of Kiniry. Both riders would show the fans a race between two animals that was the most epic battle this country may have ever seen. There was no passing, but Goerke stayed within two bike lengths for about seven laps. Matt would drop his lap time and nearly make a pass, but Kiniry would just grab another gear and match the pace of Goerke. For seven straight laps both riders (laps 8 through 14), who started the race doing 2:10 and 2:11’s dropped their laps a second a lap. Their best was in the 2:06’s. It was amazing to watch these two gladiators stretch each other’s abilities and skill to the fullest.  These two athletes gapped third place rider Colton Facciotti by 30 seconds. To witness this type of greatness is a moment I will never forget. To see two riders giving it that much, and laying it all on the line to win is what makes this sport so special.

 

That wraps up this week’s Monday Maniac. I will be spending this week in Edmonton with the Keast crew and of course Ryan “Showman” Lockhart. As I sit here he is telling me who will be wearing what number at the end of the 2012 season. I will save that for another Monday’ but this guy is constantly making me laugh at his thought process. Definitely one of the beauty’s in Canadian moto. Till next week you web nerds!!!