When you look back at this past year in Canadian motocross there are many great stories and many great performances. In both the amateur and pro classes, we all witnessed riders push their limit on the racetrack while battling for moto wins and championships. As we’ve done for the past five seasons, this is the time of year that Palms sits down to compose his annual Golden Elbow Awards that celebrate the memorable moments from the past year. Whether it was Dylan Wright’s title runs in the 250 AXTour and MXTour Series or Phil Nicoletti’s Triple Crown Championship, there were multiple moments that will leave people talking for years to come. For this year’s Golden Elbow Awards, let’s now look at the winners of the 10 categories.
Starting a new job or entering a new class or level in a sport is never an easy thing. As you walk through the door for the first time you don’t know what’s on the other side or if you’ll be able to handle the added pressure and workload. For every rookie that is able to find success there are more than a few who don’t. The task of learning while competing at a high level is never an easy thing; it takes the right person to stay on track.
For 2019, that person was Ontario rider Sam Gaynor, who spent the season under the Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha tent. Growing up, Sam was always a talented rider who possessed a lot of promise but always seemed to play second fiddle to faster riders. However, you can’t have a rainbow without first having some rain. Perhaps it was through this adversity that Sam learned how to work and remain positive. Throughout the 2019 season Sam definitely had his share of ups and downs on his way to 9th overall in the 450 Triple Crown Series. His impressive finishes put Sam in the spotlight at almost every round, and he was a great addition to the OTSFF Yamaha Team. Sam was strong and found a way to remain consistent starting with the first gate drop, something that we usually don’t expect from rookie athletes. Sam Gaynor had a great year and he is my pick for the 2019 Rookie of the Year Award.