The 2016 motocross season will soon be upon on us, and I cannot think of a better topic than to write about and share the changes the Saskatchewan Motosport Association will be implementing this year, and a glance from behind the scenes. I have been involved with the SMA for ten years now and I can say without hesitation that 2016 will be the best year yet for the Saskatchewan Region. It has not been an easy trek to get to where we are, however, as I remember numerous times, it was always a challenge to make changes no matter how small. It was not for a lack of trying though, rather than being afraid to try something new or having the “if it’s not broke don’t fix it” mindset. I know it is one of the toughest barriers we face at times, however if all we do is try, we start to gain a better understanding of what is possible. The region needed to start looking at ways to improve and advance ourselves for the future of the sport. Our neighbours in Alberta and Manitoba always had bigger numbers and with that a different way of doing things. Both of these regions had been with a transponder system, higher entries, fees and payouts, and a good selection of classes and schedules to choose from. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan was still scoring manually, had the same old schedule, and the same gate and entry fees. Saskatchewan is and always will be a bit different than our neighbouring regions, and that’s okay, because we promote ourselves as being different with our commitment to Family, Friends, and Fun, and that is what has kept us strong. The only question was for how long? Members started to inquire about transponders, and the need for electronic timing started to become real. How long would it take until we recognized our members’ wants to move out of the past and into the future? Then it happened! Two years ago the Saskatchewan region purchased My Laps Transponders and Trackside software with the help and support of our National Sanctioning Body, the CMRC and Mark Stallybrass. The SMA made what I consider to be its biggest investment and change for the future of Saskatchewan motocross. This opened the door to a number of changes to help clubs and promoters, race day operations, plus improve racers’ and fans’ experiences at the races.
With transponders having been our goal since I can remember and a successful implementation of that system in 2014/15, I would ask myself, what was next? Being that I have the privilege to travel across the country with the CMRC for the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals, I am able to see what the rest of the country is doing and what systems are in place, as well as what the Pro Nationals are using. Then comes the Trackside Self Registration system. I have been working with this system and have helped Pro racers enter during sign in. After a few rounds, the riders were able to do sign in for themselves, and the system continued to work well. So knowing how to use the system, and what it can do, why not Saskatchewan? Why not us? At the AGM in 2015, I prepared a presentation of the program, and used the knowledge I have of the program, to offer the region something new and useful to improve racer experience. This is also a system that not everyone has, and Saskatchewan can take pride in knowing we are leading other regions in the west with our new registration process, which just got a whole lot better. This new system again opened the door to more suggestions of what more we can do. The SMA will continue to look forward to invest, grow, and promote this amazing sport of Motocross in Saskatchewan with the help with our sponsors, partners, and CMRC.
