Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
We’re not at the finish line yet; there are still three more sleeps until the gate drops on the 2014 Motocross of Nations in Kegums, Latvia this Saturday and Sunday.
Words by Danny Brault
Can you feel it? That sense of national pride and hope building up as we approach the 2015 “Olympics of Motocross,” the Motocross of Nations in Kegums, Latvia?
I sure feel it and I’m jealous of those who are there, in the flesh, taking in the biggest outdoor motocross race in the world. But is the MXoN the biggest “race” in the world? Without cheating and asking Google, let’s be bold and state that yes, yes it is the biggest race in the world because motocross truly is the ultimate sport. Man and machine. 30 minutes + 2 motos over the roughest and toughest terrain on earth. Rain, heat, mud, guts, glory … and it all comes together with the best-of-the-best this Saturday and Sunday in Latvia.
What’s going on with Team Canada right now? They’re getting comfortable and adjusting to the time change. I feel terrible for Tyler Medaglia, his mechanic Steph LeBlanc, Kaven Benoit and his mechanic Jerome Therrien. Since they were heading overseas already, it only made sense for the KTM foursome to fly in a little earlier and check out the Orange Brigade’s headquarters in Mattighofen, Austria. Sadly, their trip experienced turbulence when the AIR FRANCE strike gong-show interrupted their flight … more than once. Fortunately, the team kept calm and Medaglia even had some fun with what surely was a miserable experience.
“If you now Tyler, he loves to play games and had me believing that they were stuck and not going to make it because they missed their plane and were headed to Belarus, then back to Vancouver, then back to Frankfurt, and needed to rent a car and drive,” said team manager Ryan Gauld. “I almost fell for it all cause he’s a sneaky little bugger. I was stressing.”
Nothing beats a good road trip, eh?
X marks the spot – that’s where Team Canada and the world motocross community is located this Saturday and Sunday for the annual Motocross of Nations.
I had wrote a bit ago about how incredible it would be to see a Canadian rider come sweeping around the first corner, in the lead, during a qualifier or moto at Latvia this weekend. Imagine that, “Lightning Bolt Colt” Facciotti out front, commanding the world’s best … you never know, it could happen! And, if it does, Facciotti earns him and Team Canada more than a few twoonies.
While flipping around on the mxgp.com website, I came across the Fox Racing Holeshot Award for the MXoN. The iconic moto brand sponsored holeshot cheques during the entire 2014 World Motocross Championships and continue that with €1,000 (that’s approx. $1400 CDN) for each of Sunday’s three ‘main event’ MXoN motos.
Be sure to follow your favourite social-moto-media sources for the latest updates during the 2015 MXoN. Team Canada MX is offering a behind the scenes look on their Instagram account. Follow it here. Sadly, myself or Pomeroy couldn’t make it to Latvia this year but we’ll have images coming in and we’ll be sure to keep readers updated as best we can on mxpmag.com, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
You can watch live video coverage of the MXoN from the comfort of your home. After completing a short registration, you’ll be all set to watch all of the action on Saturday AND Sunday! Get live coverage here. Can you say ‘tail-gate?’
Keep track of RESULTS and LIVE TIMING at mxgp.com. I find the MXoN Facebook page is great for seeing up-to-date images and notes as well.
The Canadian Nationals are a ‘big deal’ in their own right, but it’s another level at the FIM Motocross of Nations. Check out all of the custom race staff vehicles!
Friday & Saturday’s schedule for the 2014 MXoN in Latvia. Interesting how they have a ‘Start’ practice following the Free Practice for each class.
GDR TLD Honda’s Colton Facciotti is first up on the block for Qualifying action on Saturday, with MXGP leading things off. Kaven Benoit is up next in MX2, with fellow KTM rider Tyler Medaglia closing out the day in Open MX3.
Sunday’s program at the MXoN.
If Team Canada makes the A-final, which shouldn’t be a problem but you never know, Facciotti gets it “easy” having the first and third motos on Sunday. Poor Benoit has to race the first two motos, with Medaglia running back to back in the second and third races. There’s really only 30 minutes rest between motos at the MXoN, so fitness comes into play, big time, for Benoit and Medaglia. Fortunately, all our of troops are fit as a fiddle, stay away from the hooch and don’t inhale.
Kaven Benoit’s custom painted Team Canada helmet. Kudos to painter 6Graphx on a job well done!
Team USA’s three amigos: Jeremy Martin, Eli Tomac and Ryan Dungey . MXoN Facebook page
Team Belgium’s Jeremy van Horebeek and his works YZF. MXoN Facebook page
Check back to mxpmag.com tomorrow for another update on Team Canada MX at this year’s Motocross of Nations in Kegums, Latvia!
