Monday Maniac #7
By: Ryan Gauld
This weekend was the annual trip to Indianapolis for the Indy Dealer Trade Show. The show was great but the hockey game was better. Canada dominated of course, but it was the memories and laughs we had that stood out over any score on the ice.
I hope everyone enjoyed their Family Day yesterday (if your province has jumped on board). I actually spent some time with my family so I lived up to what the holiday is named. I don’t do family deals that much. I don’t really have a reason but I’m just not that kind of guy. Some people will think that’s bad and others will just roll with it. I’m an only child so it’s just pops, mamma and myself. Mom tries to bring us together more but all my Dad and I do is just rip each other for our faults or failures. Again, some people may laugh at that and others will think that’s just wrong, but it’s the way it’s been from day one. It doesn’t mean we don’t love each other or care, it’s just the way we express ourselves. As my buddies used to say and still do, “You’re a product of your environment.” This sometimes comes across in a negative way, which in turn gets the sensitivity hairs standing on some people’s necks. For me to kiss ass or butter someone up is something that I don’t do very well. I speak the truth. It’s just the way I was raised. Even if it’s the wrong thing to say it gets said. Most of the time it’s not wrong but it’s the truth and the truth hurts. This industry is full of people that can’t handle the truth.
Our booth was killer all weekend long. People are stoked about our new look for the mag and every page within it. The team of Jaggs, Betty, TW, Chaz, Goat, and I killed it. MXP is definitely a mag lots of people want to be involved in.
When I was a kid growing up, working as an editor or writer was the farthest thing from what I thought I would be doing. I sucked in English class, I hated reading, and writing was just boring; I wanted to be an athlete. I played in every sport possible and for the majority was good at most everything I did (except board sports…just couldn’t figure that out). I like to think I’m a good writer now. I’m lucky that I get to write about the sport I am so deeply passionate about. I mean, if I as writing about cooking, cars, other sports or whatever, things may be different. But I’m not and I don’t, I write about motocross. I write what I see and what I feel. A few times lately I have received some phone calls from people telling me about what others are saying about what I write. I have never written anything that isn’t the truth; I can’t lie, I’m horrible at it. I also can’t write to kiss butt. I’m just not that made that way. I don’t even do it for my Mom or Dad or my girlfriend. The people I love get the straight goods from me. I wouldn’t want it any other way. If I don’t like you, I share it. If that dress makes you look fat, I tell you it does. If you’re being an idiot, I point it out. Now, you don’t have to agree with me or even like what I say, but after that awkward moment when it comes out, a few minutes later you realize what was said actually makes sense but it may be lacking some sort of explanation as to why I said it. You never get a pat on the back or a thank you for the good things you do. Yes, sometimes it’s mean or hurtful when things are said that are the truth. That old saying of “If you have nothing nice to say then don’t say it at all”, well that motto is tough for me. My environment growing up was if you sucked or it wasn’t good, that’s what was pointed out to you. Whether it was my family, hanging at Machine Racing everyday or Bondi Engines, when things were good or you did well, I rarely got any sort of thanks or respect for it. You knew they felt that way but showing it was a sign of weakness. Now I’m not blaming anybody for the way I am, I’m just saying that’s the way it was and is, and it’s not wrong.
Make sure you hit this party if you’re in Montreal for the trade show this weekend.
This past week I got messages and phone calls because of a few things I have written lately. Even though they we’re 100% true, the parties felt like an explanation may have been in order. Before I get into it, I want to say thanks to the three people that contacted me who were related to the content that I wrote about, and for not being that guy that shares their gripes with others and then I get it from a third party down the line. That is spineless and for those that do, it’s weak and childish. If you have an issue, man up and express it. I applaud the ones that did and for that reason I will explain what I meant behind the words I wrote.
This got a few people fired up last week:
Now back to some more upbeat news: Tyler Medaglia finally made the announcement about his 2012 race team – Team Viral Oils, Troy Lee Designs, Powersports Honda, Gopher Dunes Racing. It seemed to take forever but I’m betting the kid is stoked to finally get it done and out of the way. Looks like he’ll be the lone man racing a Honda next summer. I will like to see Honda back in the pits. Though as of right now, Honda is not a National series sponsor so the TV coverage for #11 will be hard to come by. National Motocross has a fantastic television package, paid for by series supporters like KTM, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki. “You have to pay if you want to play” as they say sometimes in this business. There are rumours that Honda is revisiting their past strategy of stepping away from the series they once dominated and is seriously considering coming back in 2012. After all, there is no other National motorcycle racing series in Canada that travels coast to coast with a top level national TV package. As a fan, it seems like an easy decision, but I’m not cutting the cheques so I guess we’ll see. No matter what happens with Honda and the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals, it’s good to see Tyler find a new home. Now the question is… How will he do? Coming off back to back titles in MX2 you would have to think he will be at the front of the list for contenders to chase down the #1 Royal Distributing KTM Fox Red Bull bike of Colton Facciotti. The gate drops in just over 3 months. What do you think?
This guy will do himself his sponsors, his family and any other supporter that joins his team very proud this summer and will get tons of great press because of it. Tyler Medaglia is a true champion in every sense of the word.
Photo by Marc Landry
Now some people involved in this team got their feathers in a bunch. Only two people shared their opinion with me on this. This is 100% the truth about Honda. Honda Canada did not pay last year like the other four manufacturers to support the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals. This is a business and sometimes company policies, or politics, get in the way. It’s a fact. Because we live in Canada, we wouldn’t just shut the door on, in this case, anyone riding a Honda. We’re good people, and we let stuff slide. Honda pulled out in 2011. In 2011, Jay Burke rode a Honda and wore the helmet camera for the TV show and still got press when he was running up front, however “Honda” was never mentioned or associated with Jay. In 2012, do you really think that Tyler Medaglia will not get press? This kid has a great shot at winning a title. He is a two-time champion. For any sponsor that doesn’t have a good rider or team and has some money to spend, it would be pretty simple to join this team because you get a professional rider, a personality, a chance for some wins, and a legitimate shot at a title. Honda should be ecstatic that Tyler is riding their brand for his 2012 run in the MX1 class. This team should be going to the crew at ‘Big Red’ and asking them to support the sport in Canada. There is no other series in Canada to support that delivers as much press, a fan base, or national notoriety than the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals. It should be simple but it’s not, and that’s the truth. Tyler will still get TV if Honda doesn’t participate, he will still get fans by the thousands across the country coming by and getting an autograph, and the bikes will still sell for the brand. It would be so much better for our sport and the company if they came back. We want them back and they want to be back. I as a fan and a writer want them back so it’s an even playing field across the board and the series will be stronger for it.
Villopoto had a little luck go his way when Chad Reed, while running second, lawn darted himself into the ground giving Poto the runaway win and a good cushion in the points.
Photo by Rich Shepherd
Cole Thompson made his debut this past weekend in the East Coast Lites class. The kid did himself and his country proud by scoring a very impressive 9th in the main. Talk about fulfilling your dreams. It can only go up from here for this talented speedster from Bridgden, Ontario.
Photo by Rich Shepherd
The KTM 350 was all people could talk about once it got out on the market. I agree this bike is fun to ride, but to race, NO! Not one person that raced the KTM 350 in 2011 liked it or showed serious speed on it. No matter if it was in the US or Canada, this bike did not live up to the hype in which KTM had hoped.
I wrote this in our photo annual under the “Biggest Disappointment” category for 2011 in my “Gauldy Awards”. Yes a bit harsh, I suppose, but again, 100% the truth. I could have explained my reasoning behind it a little better or clearer so I will right now.
This bike is an amazing machine. For KTM to even take the chance and build such a bike for the MX1 class that is 100cc less than the competition it’s up against says that the company itself has the confidence to take a chance. This is a vet or amateur bike; a bike that is a lot of fun to ride and will give any customer the confidence they may be missing late in the moto because of its lighter weight and nimble feel. On the pro side of the sport, this bike was not super competitive or a podium threat under the legs of the four riders I based my opinion on: Mason Phillips, Michael Willard, Mike Alessi and Andrew Short. I did not go off of anything that Antonio Cairoli did in the GPs. He has won two titles in a row on this machine so whatever they have done to that bike makes it work for him and it’s awesome to see. But again, I don’t follow the GPs nor do I really care what happens over there. I guess one could say my opinion has no merit since I didn’t look at all the facts. I will agree to that. Michael Willard did not to a good job on the machine for the company. Yes, he was not at the same level he was when he dominated and won two MX2 titles for KTM. Maybe he was not the guy that they should have hired to race that bike. Both Willard and Phillips loved the bike, but they also hated that after the majority of the starts they were way back in the pack. Jeremy Medaglia beat Keast on this bike at a local race on a track that you would think would favour a bigger 450 machine, so the bike has its positives and negatives. Mike Alessi went from being a title threat to a guy that could barely crack the top ten. Andrew Short holeshot 75% of the motos in 2010 and in 2011 he was lucky to be top 15. In 2012, KTM only has riders in the GPs riding this machine. In the US and Canada they have backed right off and realized that maybe at the pro level the bike is not what it could be. However, for a Vet or Amateur rider, this machine is the ultimate dream. From the media side of things or if you were a guy sitting in the stands, you definitely wondered what KTM was thinking when the rider/bike combo they had was just average out there. Now if you went and bought this bike and rode for fun at the local level you would be very happy. I don’t know how I could explain myself any more.
This bike is awesome. It struggled under riders Andrew Short, Michael Willard, Mason Phillips and Mike Alessi, but just because they didn’t shine doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and love the KTM 350.
Photo by Greg Oldham
I hate being a writer because I am very opinionated, and some things I say upset people, even though it’s true. I will never be able to kiss up to anyone. I’m just not made that way. Maybe I should step down from my position at MXP as the editor. Our company needs the advertising dollars from these companies to continue, but I can’t lie about it just to make that person happy. That’s why I’m not a sly salesmen. I don’t feed you BS; what you see is what you get. I wear my heart on my sleeve and if that is wrong then……. well, too bad; McDonalds training program for me. I would rather just be a regular dude with no voice rather than suck up and not believe in what I say. Hope you like having lots of naps from what’s written out there after I’m gone. Snoooooze!!!!!!