MXP Q and A

This weeks MXP Q and A is brought to you by the incredible people at Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd.

Welcome to another edition of the MXP Q and A, I want to start off by thanking everyone for their questions. I’m sorry if I can’t get to all of them, I will try over the next month to get them all answered.

With the approaching 2014 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals beginning on May 31st, this week’s question comes from BC. Brent would like to know that in all my years involved in this sport, who has been the best BC rider that I’ve seen?

Thanks for the question Brent. I’ve definitely been lucky to have seen a more than a few of the fast BC riders up close over the years. It’s very hard to pin point one rider who stands above the rest as there has been a few great champions. I think if you look at sheer numbers then you have to go with Colton Facciotti as his three MX1 Championships in the modern era puts him on top. However, it’s impossible to talk about great all the great BC riders that I’ve seen ride without mentioning guys like Al Dyck, Dusty Klatt, Kyle Beaton and Darcy Lange, all of which were unbelievably talented.

When I turned pro way back in 1989, Al “Too Trick” Dyck was at his prime and was one of the few riders who beat Ross Pederson….the odd time. At first glance, you’d wonder how Dyck could go so fast with his unorthodox style, but in all my years there are only a few riders I’ve witnessed that could carry momentum like Dyck could. This made him deceivingly fast, especially on a 125. Add in the fact that he was a great mechanic, so his bikes were always very fast. Throw all of these things together and Al Dyck had a very successful career.

Even though his career was cut short after an ugly crash in Moncton a few years ago. Kyle Beaton remains one of the most talented riders from BC to ever throw a leg over a dirt bike.

After Dyck retired in1992 there was a bit of a gap as far as super fast riders coming out of BC. This however was the calm before the storm as in 1998 there was a kid from Courtney, BC named Darcy Lange who took Canadian motocross by storm. Although Darcy’s real talents were indoors, he was still a very strong outdoor rider and on more than one occasion came up just short of winning a Canadian outdoor championship.

Just as everyone was getting to know Darcy, in came Dusty Klatt who pretty much changed the style of motocross in Canada. His corner speed, his scrubs and forward riding style made him very entertaining to watch ride a motorcycle. His innovative style, as well as his multiple outdoor championships make him one of the top Canadian riders of all time in my books.

Don’t let this fun loving smile fool you, once Darcy Lange put his helmet on he was a fierce competitor. He still remains the only Canadian rider to almost win a USA Supercross Championship as he came up just short in 2007.

Colton is certainly cementing himself as the most successful BC rider of all time.

So as you can tell Brent, I think it’s impossible to pick just one BC rider who is above the rest as there has been a number of great ones over the years. If Colton Facciotti can win the MX1 Championship in 2014 then I think you have to put him far ahead of everyone. He will then be a 4-time Canadian Champion against some very stiff competition. Looking into the future, it’s very bright for the BC talent pool as there is a host of very fast kids coming up. The next ten years is going to be very exciting to watch as this country’s most western province just keeps pumping them out.