Top 10 Canadian Amateur Riders- Part One 6-10

Although this country has a greater number of young, very fast amateur riders than we’ve ever had before, how do we know where they might rank against each other? Other mainstream sports have this ranking system down to a fine art, but this increasingly popular sport that we all love does not. After speaking to numerous people in the industry we’ve compiled the first official list of the top ten amateur riders in Canada as they stand at the end of this season.For part 1 of this story from our final issue of 2015, we take a look riders 6-10.

Words by Brent Worrall, Andy White and Chris Pomeroy

Photos by James Lissimore

#6- Jacob Piccolo
Another one of the great up and coming riders who has already made quite an impact on
his competition and the Canadian Motocross world is Jacob Piccolo. Piccolo, who was profiled recently in MXP Magazine as a rider that is ‘Young and on the Rise’ is all of that and more. With a laundry list of top level accomplishments and a bulging trophy case as supportive evidence, Piccolo is armed and ready for the upcoming season. He will move forward with the experience of nine plus years on a motorcycle and will only be 13 years of age this December. Piccolo, who has confidence and skill set on a motorcycle, usually hears those on the sidelines watching saying ‘Wow, look at that kid go!’ Yes, go he can. Jacob’s riding style is as confidently aggressive and brazen as anyone I have ever seen on a small bike. Jake has proven his mettle consistently through the years in an ascent towards the throne of Moto greatness. He has won multiple World Mini Grand Prix titles along with Parts Canada Walton Trans Can and WCAN titles. He has also made the trek to compete at the Loretta Lynn’s Grand National Championship in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Jacob is also a multi-time Future West Moto Arenacross Champion and has added many provincial titles to his lengthy and growing legacy. One of the accomplishments of 2015 that Jacob is proudest of is laying claim to victory in the first ever KTM Western Canadian Super Mini Nationals. This victory was attained as Piccolo battled as a 12-year-old riding against some as old as 16 years of age. The series took place during three rounds of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals in the west. Nice work Jake!

I am not sure exactly but I have to think that by winning this inaugural series in mid-June in Calgary, Alberta that it set the ball in motion for what has just transpired this Fall. With the victory in the KTM Western Canadian Super Mini Nationals, Jacob won a brand new 2016 KTM 85 and some other complimentary bells and whistles. Although he stayed true to his connections of Maple Ridge Motorsports and Kawasaki throughout the outdoor season in 2015, Piccolo will now ride for Team KTM Racing. He is highly anticipating having the kind of support needed to continue his ascent to the top of the Canadian Motocross world and beyond. This past summer saw Piccolo gain more valuable experience at the Parts Canada Walton Trans Can. He competed in the 85cc 12-16 year old class as well as hitting the podium in the highly competitive Super Mini class. With at least three more years of eligibility to ride at this top, small bike level, I believe Piccolo will add to his small bike hardware collection and championships in a big way in 2016. All friends and family members of the likeable rider, who will wear his usual number of 81 in 2016, have every reason to anticipate much success this season. This is a perfect fit for KTM because their best small bike rider, Tanner Ward, has moved onward and upward to ride big bikes this season. Jake Piccolo is the perfect rider to be passed the KTM Racing torch and will carry it proudly.

Jake Piccolo will see some Arenacross seat time as we wind down here this Fall towards the drop of the gate on the 2016 calendar season. Jake Piccolo and his biggest fans, Mom, Dad, Dan and Jen, will look to get some early season seat time south of the border. They are not sure exactly which big races they will target but have thought through a few options. A few of the goals Piccolo will target this coming year are the Western rounds of the KTM Super Mini Nationals, the WCAN and the Parts Canada Walton Trans Can. The Piccolos have expressed a sincere interest to also follow a path in 2016 that will see Jacob get an invite to the Monster Energy Cup to represent Canada in the Super Mini class.

With the likes of Casey Keast, Tanner Ward and Westen Wrozyna already doing our homeland proud, Piccolo has a great opportunity to increase our list of accomplishments at that event. Jacob Piccolo, who always has a smile on his face at the races and loves every aspect of the sport, seems to have everything one could ask for moving forward. As he reaches a new level of maturity on and off the track in the next couple of years, I feel Piccolo has a great opportunity to build himself a type of on-track confidence and presence that will be somewhat bulletproof. These may seem bold or strong expectations to put on a soon to be 13-year-old Motocrosser, but if these expectations showed up on his door step in the form of a pair of boots with a welcome note attached, you can bet your bottom dollar that Jacob would jump right in. In 2016, it will not matter what colour of boots he steps into as I am sure he will reciprocate the confidence his connection have put in him in the form of consistent, top level results. Keep that throttle pinned Jacob Piccolo, Canadian Motocross fans that do not know who you are certainly will soon.

#7 Preston Masciangelo

With a diverse list of top ten riders, for #7 we look to Brantford, Ontario’s mini sensation Preston Masciangelo. Over the last few years Preston has enjoyed one of the most successful 50cc mini bike careers that we’ve ever seen. With multiple wins on both sides of the border, this talented kid definitely has a bright future ahead of him.

A year ago, Preston won the prestigious KTM JR Supercross Challenge (KJSC) race at the 2014 Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas. Heading into the race you wouldn’t know that this was one of the biggest races of his young career and one that brought a lot of pressure with it. He was confident so he felt that he could do very well. To win the main event and be interviewed on the podium at Sam Boyd Stadium was definitely one of the highlights of Preston’s motocross career. He took it all in stride, and on the podium he was humble and well-spoken as he thanked everyone in Canada for their support. That big win in Las Vegas capped off a very successful 2014, which saw Preston also win the Toronto KJSC and a Parts Canada TransCan title.

After spending all of last winter training hard and racing Arenacross, it was definitely a tough transition for Preston to switch back to outdoor motocross in the spring of 2015. However, with support from sponsors like Cobra Motorcycles and Thor, he managed to qualify for the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National, so the Masciangelo family headed south to Tennessee in late July. After three motos against the planet’s top 50cc riders, Preston finished with a 6th overall in the 50cc 7-8 Limited class. Although he just missed out on his goal of finishing in the top five, he was very proud of his accomplishment and of all the hard work that he put in.

After returning from Tennessee, Preston then headed to the Parts Canada TransCan in Walton, ON. Even after suffering a flat tire while leading one of the 50cc motos, Preston was still able to bring the home 50cc Open title and the prestigious Dunlop Silver Tire Award. After Walton, the final big race of the summer was the Baja Brawl in Michigan. Preston won both titles the year before and was excited to race there again. The Brawl draws a lot of attention; racers come from all of the States as far as California, Florida, Texas, etc. There were quite a few elite riders there ready to race in all classes. Preston rode well and finished with a podium spot in both the 50cc and 65cc classes.

With his recent plans of heading down to the Mini Olympics in Florida cancelled because of an unfortunate hand injury, Preston has now said good-bye to the 50cc class for good as he now looks forward to becoming a full time 65cc rider in 2016. With plans to continue training all winter before heading to a few Arenacross races in early 2016, and then to the Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur SX in March, Preston is looking forward to another successful year next season.

#8 Jake Tricco

As we’ve stated about each of these talented young kids, all of them have a solid support structure at home. Each weekend these kids load up their bikes and leave their normal small town lives in search of motocross glory wherever their journey takes them. This is never an easy thing to do because when any young athlete is taken out of their home environment and put on the big stage, it can sometimes be an overwhelming experience. However, one teenage rider who has taken all of his early success in stride is Ontario rider Jake Tricco. Hailing from the four season adventure town of Collingwood, Ontario, Tricco is an all-around athlete who loves to ride not only motocross in the summer but also loves to hit the ski hills in the winter.

Those who have witnessed Tricco’s road to the front of the pack in the 85cc class know all about his hard work ethic and his flair for style. For the last few seasons Jake has spent his summer’s training at the famous Moto Park facility and its emerging Moto Park Training Academy. From the beginning of July until the end of August, Tricco and his fellow MP Academy athletes spend their days not only riding long motos, but also learning about how to train properly and have a proper nutritional program. This regimented routine has been instrumental in Tricco’s success on the track and many feel that his recent, stellar results are only the beginning of what should be a long career.

Even though this season was Jake’s first full year in the older 85cc 12-16 and Super Mini classes, all of his off-season training and preparation instantly paid off as he was very fast on his Yamahas from the moment the snow melted in Ontario. With big wins during the Ontario Provincial Series, Jake used the confidence he was gaining from the regional races to compete successfully on a bigger stage. In the weeks prior to the 2015 Parts Canada TransCan, Tricco and his Moto Park training partner, Marco Cannella, headed over to Spain to compete in the World Junior Cup. Under the extreme conditions that Spain delivers in the summer, Tricco rode brilliantly to finish inside the top 25. This amazing performance on the world stage gave Tricco the extra amount of confidence that he was looking for. By the time he made it to Walton Raceway a few weeks later for the 2015 Parts Canada TransCan, he was ready to dominate.

During that week at Walton, Tricco not only had to deal with the pressure of trying to win a Canadian National Championship, but he also had to deal with the severe injuries that his father, Dan, suffered in a crash while racing in the early part of the week. With even more eyes focused on young Jake to see how he would respond to these added distractions, he ended up demonstrating the mental fortitude of a veteran rider as he rode away with the 85cc 12-16 TransCan title. It was a fitting end to Jake’s 85cc career as he now will begin testing the bigger YZ125 two-stroke in hopes of taking his career to the next level.

As with all of these riders, Jake’s best attribute is his ability to first set goals and then do whatever it takes to achieve those goals. As we’ve said many times, it’s not easy being a young and talented athlete. It takes sacrifice and determination to get to the level that they’re all at. Jake Tricco is another rider who we’ll be hearing about for a very long time in this sport.

#9-Tanner Ward

When we look back to see how our rider on the rise, Tanner Ward, got his start in Moto, let’s just say he came by it as honestly as one could. Born into a family of Motocross enthusiasts and brothers already heavily involved, it was a pretty natural fit that he would see his first seat time at two years of age. Like most kids who have ever had the opportunity at a very young age to swing a leg over a motorcycle, having fun was the number one goal. Along the way, Tanner’s appetite for success has only seemed to increase with each of his quickly mounting accomplishments. Now at the age of 16, when asked of the top five accomplishments to date, the recently signed Royal Distributing KTM Canada rider pointed to his five Walton Trans Can titles along with being invited to and participating in the Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas. With the kind of support that most riders would dream of having, 2015 looked to be a very promising and productive season on the race track for Tanner Ward and his new connections.

Before the gate even had a chance to drop on the outdoor action in Canada, Tanner Ward suffered a very serious setback in the form of a broken femur. The rider, who had high hopes of qualifying for the 2015 Loretta Lynn’s Grand National Championship among other big events, was forced to the sidelines. Tanner’s fortitude and positive attitude saw him long before he was back on the race track mentally preparing 2015’s Plan B. With Loretta’s now a reach at best, the sites for the KTM Racing Frank Fit rider quickly became the Walton Trans Can, the ECAN, as well as the newly added KTM Eastern Canadian Super Mini Nationals. In a year that would see Ward, who through most of his career had been a little on the smaller side than his average competitor in the Super Mini class, take full advantage of his final year on the small bike. The ECAN would also see Tanner Ward put his KTM on the top step of the podium in both the Schoolboy 1 and Super Mini classes. Ward would also, fittingly in his title sponsor’s namesake, capture the first ever KTM Eastern Canadian Super Mini National title.

The 2015 season was also highlighted for Tanner by avenging his 2nd place overall finish in 2014 at the Parts Canada Walton Trans Can with the overall victory. He would also take care of his foes in the Schoolboy 1 class and take solace in how good it felt for the first time in his young career to win all three Motos in a class at that event. The Super Mini final Moto of 2015 was one of the best races at the Trans Can event, which saw Ward fend off an intense charge by one of his rivals, Moto Park’s Jake Tricco. I was at the podium last year when Ward played second fiddle to competitor Casey Keast and I could sense how unhappy he was with second place. I often said that second is not always a bad result as it can often provide the kind of fuel needed for a young rider to get to the next level. This year Tanner harnessed that fuel to his advantage. Nice work Tanner!

Tanner Ward has just completed his first ever Canadian AX-Tour Series. Even though this discipline is not totally foreign to him, it was a very rewarding and new experience. The ability for Tanner to get more seat time on the bigger bike in the close confines of these arenacross venues is a huge asset. Tanner was also a part of the AX-Tour crew who was responsible for everything from track building and tear down. Even though his first trip west was not for a Pro National, I can only think that making the trek that he did with the Tour gives him even more intangible experience. Tanner is a hard worker who just loves and lives for the sport of Motocross. When asked what other sports he was into or in which he was interested, Tanner’s response was “Nothing really – BMX Biking, it’s pretty much it. It’s all about Moto for me”

With the AX-Tour in Canada and the outdoor season now marked in its place on Tanner Ward’s resume, I asked him to take a quick look into the 2016 Chrystal Ball. Ward hopes to compete in more AX-Tour events with the travelling series south with a sharp mental focus on outdoors in 2016. He will be contesting the MX2 and MX3 Junior classes as well as the Schoolboy 1 class. If all goes as planned, Ward’s outdoor season will begin in Texas at the spring series where he hopes to be consistently inside the top 10. From there it will be some Loretta Lynn’s Qualifiers in an effort to do all of his connections proud at the iconic event. In the spring, Ward will touchdown for gate drops on Canadian soil to qualify for the 25th annual Parts Canada Walton Trans Can. Ward also has the 2016 ECAN on his hit list and will look to add to his legacy at that event as well. Fall will also see Ward head back to the Baja Brawl south of the border where he hopes to hit top dead centre of the podium. When the 2016 outdoor season is done, there will be no letting off the gas pedal of Moto passion as Ward will again team up with his AX-tour connections and hit the road. Tanner Ward is a very versatile, hard-working, personable individual off the race track. On the race track he is pretty much the same minus being personable as he prefers the taste of victory over defeat. He knows the value of and appreciates every ounce of support from his army of backers and fans of the big #184. Keep that passion pinned Tanner Ward and good luck in 2016, the future of Canadian Motocross is the better for it.

#10 Tyler Gibbs

Unless you are a riding colleague or friend of Mission, BC up and coming rider Tyler Gibbs, you may have never heard his name before. I am sure there are a few good reasons for that, but moving forward I have full confidence that Tyler Gibbs’ assertion into the hearts of Canadian Motocross fans has been underway for quite some time. Tyler, who is 14-years-old and goes by the self-proclaimed nickname of ‘Two Guns,’ got his introduction into the two wheeled off-road riding scene through his father Paul Gibbs. The Gibbs family, who were transplanted to British Columbia from Ontario, resides on the east side of the Fraser River in lush green Mission, BC. Tyler began riding at the age of three-years-old. With his dad still actively lining up, it was a perfect fit that he would be destined to see his first gate drop on a Tuesday night in Mission, BC. In his first race ever, Tyler Gibbs was not only a winner but hooked on Moto.

Through the early years, Tyler always finished at or near the top and seemed to have a natural gift to excel on a motorcycle. He has many coloured accomplishments on his resume including Western Canadian Amateur titles at Raymond on a 50cc and 85cc bike. His first ever trip to the Walton Trans Can produced a podium finish on a borrowed motorcycle that was pretty much on life support. Upon moving to the 85cc 7-11 year-old class full time, as well as lining up as a junior to most in the Super Mini class, Gibbs has turned heads and raised eyebrows where ever he has raced. The first season of Arenacross in the Super Mini class, Gibbs pocketed a championship; an accomplishment to this day he is very proud of. He also won the 85cc 7-11 year-old title that same year. Heading down to race south of the border frequently, Tyler Gibbs resume also boasts World Mini Grand Prix, Mammoth Mountain and Glen Helen top 10 finishes to go along with his numerous Arenacross titles.

I really believe the story that illustrates what Tyler ‘Two Guns’ Gibbs is made of began scripting in earnest in 2013. I remember wrapping up the Future West Moto Arenacross Series that winter in late February, and after talking to Tyler, I was a little overwhelmed at what I had encountered. It was at that time it became paramount that I was talking to a 10-year-old who seemed to have smarts and maturity beyond his years. Without getting into details, I am pretty sure that if I conversed with a whole classroom of kids his age, it would not compare to the same intellect, rationale or meaning I got out my chat that day with Tyler. In 2014, with his sights set on stamping a ticket to Loretta Lynn’s and area qualifier victory in the books, it was off to Washougal. There, at the regional qualifier in the final Moto while running third with his ticket all but pocketed, things went bad in a hurry. With just less than half a lap left, Tyler crested one of the trademark tunnel jumps of Washougal Raceway and caught a large chunk of soil that pitched him sideways. With his bike ejecting him violently in a high side manner while holding his leg as prisoner, Tyler Gibbs was, in the blink of an eye, on the ground with a broken femur. Four months later, Tyler would be back on his motorcycle doing what he loves: racing dirt bikes. Once again while practicing for a weekend of Arenacross racing at Chilliwack’s Heritage Park, Gibbs was served up a super-sized dose of adversity. Coming up short on a triple jump sent Gibbs to the sidelines in a wheel chair, left to nurse back to health two badly broken legs.

At this point in the twelve-year-old’s life some serious questions would arise as to what his future would hold. None of these questions coming from Tyler but more so from his mom Christine and dad Paul. They were, as any parent would be, quite distraught to see their son have to endure so much pain and adversity. After giving Tyler the option of pursuing anything else in the world, young Gibbs’ passion stayed the steadfast. With the heart of a lion, he worked his tail off to get back on his feet and back on a motorcycle. Against all odds, Tyler’s re-birth seemed to see a rider that was, if at all possible, even more determined not only to excel but do everything in his power to ride the bike on his own terms. Tyler has had a couple of successful, back to back campaigns since that double dose of adversity, which has seen his stock and confidence soar to its loftiest height. As a 14-year-old rider in 2015, Tyler Gibbs won the BC Provincial Super Mini Championship as well. He was an alternate for the Parts Canada Walton Trans Can but elected to save the trip for 2016.

Tyler Gibbs has successfully completed top step performances at both Canadian Arenacross series. He was a solid victor in Armstrong, BC at Round 1 of the Future West Moto Series on his CRF 150 in the Super Mini class. He followed that up with two successful weekends in the western rounds of the Canadian AX-Tour at the Penticton and Calgary rounds. At the Calgary round, Tyler turned many heads with his skill and finesse, and was able to double up the massive double jump that troubled many. Gibbs was crowned the AX-Tour West Super Mini and 85cc 12-16 year-old Champion. Two accomplishments that will look very attractive to his backers on his newest resume, Gibbs will take that momentum and success back to home turf for the back half of the 2015 Future West Series.

Tyler will focus his efforts in 2016 on lining up at as many of the biggest races that he can find. He enjoys the competition and is not shy to bang bars with the best anywhere. Tyler Gibbs believes that in this sport you are only as good as your competition and he has proven that going out of your way to find it makes good things happen. He will also take on the upcoming seasons Loretta Lynn’s qualifiers as well as contest the western rounds of the Nationals and is sure to be a contender for the top step of the Super Mini Nationals. 2016 will also see Gibbs do everything in his power to get himself a ticket to the Monster Energy Cup in October to ride the Super Mini class. Keep that passion pinned Tyler Gibbs, you are definitely one of Canadian Motocross’s top prospects heading into 2016.