1. Now that the first six rounds of the Nationals are under your belt, what has been the highlight of the season so far?

1. Nanaimo was definitely my highlight so far. I think best results races are the highlight for any rider.

1. How is travelling the country coast to coast with Kieran going?  Have you done any sight seeing or typical tourist things with him since this is his first time in Canada or has it been all business?

1. Kieran is awesome because he’s quiet! We get along great. There is lots of room in the fun mover, so we each have our own space which helps a lot. We haven’t even had a little fight yet all season. We didn’t do any tourist things really until we got to the midway point of the season and got back to Montreal. Since I lived in Montreal for 3 seasons, I kind of know my way around a little. We’ve been to La Rounde and done a bit of sightseeing so that was nice to have a few outings non moto related.

1. You and Kieran are basically a two man team, what is it like basically running your own program? Is there an added stress to the season or is it nice to just set your own pace and get things done?

1. It’s been easy. Andy is still the boss, so he runs the show and he is just so great and knowledgeable about managing a successful team that I have no stress at all. It is nice to kind of have my own program and just travel in the fun mover because I don’t really like living in hotels and out of a suitcase.

1. You’re national #6 this year, what was your goal coming into the season and do you think you are on track to meet your goal?

1. My goal was to be in the Top 5. So I haven’t really had the season I was hoping for so far, I’ve struggled with my starts a bit but for the most part I am happy with how the season is going. Hopefully I can really do well in the last 3 rounds.

1. With travelling across the country in your fun mover, have you been finding it difficult to get training in? Canada is a big country to drive across!

1. I think it makes it easier actually. Being in a motor home you are always “home” so we have our runners with us all the time, our mountain bikes, everything we need to train is just right there. When you are flying to races you loose a few days travelling and in the air so I found it a lot harder in the previous years, but I love the set up we have now.

1. I know that there are lots or people helping you out, who would you like to thank?

 

      A.      First off, Andy, he’s been great, so much help and we couldn’t do iwithout him plus  KTM Canada, TCI ,DLPerformance, Kini Gear, Spy, SRH Clothing, Asterisk knee braces, Dunlop tires, Alpinestar boots, FMF, RK Chains, LB Graphics, Cycra plastics, VP Gas, Twin Air, Bel-Ray, Renthal, IMX and Kermaxx products.

There are a couple rounds left in the Canadian Nationals which is really hard to believe; this weekend we head to the legendary (in my mind) Riverglade MX Park.

I love this round; it is easy going Canadianna at its very best. With great fans and great racing, it is the true turn in the road of the series. Riders will turn and head back to Ontario for the final two rounds. For fans, it is one of the last few chances to catch this great brand of racing. If you are going to be in Moncton, Sand Del Lee or Walton, there are a few things you should do at one of these races. I put together a quick hit list of things to do, things to pack and how to make the most of your day at the Canadian Nationals.

 

1. Pick out a local Pro or Intermediate rider that maybe you practice with or watch race on the weekend, a rider that you cannot keep up with, or one that you always wonder how they go that fast. Watch how they do on the weekend. Maybe they are battling to qualify, or are going for National points. Soon you realize that the 40 men that line up at a Canadian National are downright fast and talented racers.

Pick a pro and introduce yourself

 2. Stop by Kevin Urquhart’s pit and ask for "Big Sexy".

 

3. Go walk through the pits and take the time to say hi to some of the smaller teams. The Lepps, the Ruffs, the Maffenbeiers, the Allisons, the Murphys, the Stocks, the Snelgroves or the Sniders are families chasing a dream and loving being together (and there are lots of others, I just named a few). They are the most friendly people you can meet in the pits, and they appreciate it when people stop and say hello. Trust me, you will likely hear a good story or be offered a sandwich.

 

4. Pack smart. Get a big back pack and put in it a small radio so you can listen to the announcer, a lawn chair, sunscreen, water, a marker, sunglasses, a camera and find a good spot early in the day to get really close to enjoy the racing.

 

Travs and Fabs. Always up for a chat.

5. Stop and say hello to Marc Travers, Ryan Gauld or Brian Koster, the hosts of the TV show we all enjoy. They are good guys, and love to meet people.

 

6. Pick a favourite rider! In the last three or four laps of the moto, hang over the fence, wave a t-shirt and yell your loudest. You will have a hoot, and it will be the motivation the rider may need to finish strong. Trust me, riders appreciate it and remember it.

 

7. Keep in your car a clean t-shirt to change into, a bottle of water, a towel, and deodorant to clean up for the ride home.

 

8. Resist the urge to ask riders for goggles or jerseys. Half the riders have to buy them or only get a limited number, and the ones who get them for free are not supposed to hand them out. Simply tell them “Great job today!”

 

9. If you are taking your wife or girlfriend, pack toilet paper. Nothing ruins a woman's day more than no toilet paper.

 

10. Pack in your travel kit an umbrella. Sun or rain, it is nice to have the overhead protection.

 

11. Take a picture with the Monster girls. All the girls are very fun, beautiful people who do not mind to pose for a photo, and it will be a cool memento to have from your day at the races.

 

Mmmmmm..... cold beer!

12. Don't underestimate how good one cold beer can taste that is in your cooler.

 

13. If you see a track worker at the end of the long day working away, thank him or her -- it is those people that are the soul of these national events.

 

14. If you are at the podium, watch for the champagne bottle. It always gets left behind, and is a cool thing to get autographed.

 

15. If you get a chance, walk the track at the end of the day. You can only appreciate how rough a national track can get at the end of the day by riding it or walking the track (just don't steal any banners).

 

16. Stop by Monster and grab a free drink of Monster Energy.

 

17. Enjoy yourself, and I hope to see you at one of the last few Monster Energy Motocross Nationals.

8. OH, CANADA

Like many privateers, Indiana’s Travis and Shane Sewell didn't find it feasible to drive from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest. Instead of taking the week off, they decided to take a different route and made a trip to the great white north to compete at round six of the Canadian Motocross Nationals at Ste. Julie in Quebec. Travis enjoyed success at Ste. Julie finishing seventh overall in the 450 Class. The same could not be said for Shane, who crashed out in practice and finished 39th overall.

After seeing their winning streak come to an end at Round 5, Yamaha Red Bull Blackfoot Fox Racing’s Colton Facciotti and Tyler Medaglia rebounded at Round 6 of the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals in Ste-Julie, QC.

Facciotti demolished the MX1 class with yet another clean sweep while Medaglia nailed down the MX2 overall on the strength of 5-1 motos.

A hardpack Circuit de Ste-Julie track, blue skies, temperatures that hovered in the low 30s, and a stiff breeze were a welcome change from the deep sand and scorching heat and humidity that felled many a rider one week earlier at Gopher Dunes in Courtland, ON.   

In the first MX1 moto, Facciotti nailed down the holeshot and never looked back. By the third lap he had a 10 second lead on his teammate Dusty Klatt, who had followed Facciotti into turn one. By the end of the moto Facciotti had about 22 seconds on Klatt, who stayed in second the entire moto without being threatened for position.

Close behind were Rockstar Energy Troy Lee Designs OTSFF Suzuki’s Bobby Kiniry, Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki’s Teddy Maier, Yamalube BlackfootDirect Yamaha’s Jared Allison and Maier’s teammate Matt Goerke.

By the halfway mark Facciotti and Klatt had a huge lead on the chase group, which included Maier in third, Goerke in fourth and Rock River MSR Yamaha’s Travis Sewell in fifth. Kiniry experienced bike problems early in the moto and finished outside of the points.

The biggest battle was for third place between Maier and Goerke. Goerke hounded Maier the entire moto, passed him with some three laps to go, and then lost the position back to Maier on the last lap.

Sewell sealed the top five, which coupled with an eighth place in moto two, also gave him fifth overall on the day.

The second MX1 moto holeshot went to defending champion Klatt with Goerke, Maier, Royal Distributing KTM’s Robby Marshall, Confused Clothing Bulldog Racing Kawasaki’s Kevin Urquhart, Facciotti and Kiniry in tow.

Klatt managed to stay up front for about 10 minutes while Facciotti picked off the riders in front of him. Although Klatt would briefly reclaim the lead around the halfway point, Facciotti was untouchable once he was back in the lead.

He finished about five seconds ahead of Klatt, who again finished runner-up, taking home second overall on the day.

Goerke ran in third for most of the moto, finishing in that spot just ahead of his teammate Maier. Thanks to 4-3 motos Goerke snared third overall on the day while Maier grabbed fourth overall on the strength of 3-4 motos.

Kiniry redeemed himself by finishing fifth in the moto, taking home some valuable points towards the title hunt.

The first MX2 moto holeshot went to Royal Distributing KTM’s Jeremy Medaglia, who was followed into turn one by Gopher Dunes Racing Suzuki’s Topher Ingalls, Moose Racing Kawasaki’s Jarred Williams, and Les Chuts Kawasaki’s Jonathan Parise.

Medaglia, who missed Round 5 due to injuries, was obviously on a mission to make up some ground on the other title contenders and led wire to wire. Unfortunately an early mechanical DNF in the second moto saw what could have been a great day go sour.

Meanwhile, the two leaders in the points chase, Tyler Medaglia and Royal Distributing KTM’s Kaven Benoit, were both faced with catch-up races. Benoit was caught up in a first turn crash and Medaglia went down for a soil sample early in the moto.

While Medaglia clawed his way into a fifth place finish, Benoit exited the stage with a mechanical issue.

At the flag it was Jeremy Medaglia, Topher Ingalls, who kept a persistent Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki’s Tyler Sjoberg behind him for second; Sjoberg in third, followed by his teammate Austin Politelli in fourth, and Tyler Medaglia sealing the top five.

Sjoberg nailed the second moto holeshot but Benoit relieved him of the lead right after turn one. On the second lap, Tyler Medaglia, who started around fifth, took over the lead from Benoit and never looked back.

Most of the moto saw position changes behind the defending champ, which eventually saw Benoit latch onto second place, Sjoberg third, Ingalls fourth and Politelli fifth. With 3-3 motos Sjoberg recorded second overall on the day while Ingalls snared third overall.

Politelli took home fourth overall on the day, thanks to his 4-5 motos; Kini KTM’s Kieran Leigh sealed the top five overall on the strength of 6-6 motos.

In the Women’s Nationals, Taylor Miller again crushed the competition with two holeshots and a clean sweep. She led both motos wire to wire and was never threatened for position as she put a lot of real estate between herself and second place Kirsten MacDonald and third place Karly Pozdenkoff in the first moto.

McDonald saw a possible second overall podium finish go down the drain early in the second moto thanks to a get-off that dropped her back to a 17th place finish.

Morgan Gillis followed Miller across the finish line in moto two for second place with Naydeen Lothian in third. Thanks to fourth place finish in moto one, Gillis recorded second overall on the day while Pozdenkoff claimed third overall on the day on the strength of 3-5 motos.

It was hot and sunny skies, followed by a rainy downpour for riders at the start of the Fall Series at the Terrace Motocross track  July 16 and 17.

President of the Terrace Motocross Association (TMA) Earl Houlden said there were roughly 50 riders with 111 entries, a turnout Houlden said is low for  a BCMA race, but still good considering Terrace is the furthest point away for riders to travel in the series.

Day one saw water poured over the track to help keep dust down. Day two was a different story with lots of rain and mud, but Houlden said the riders didn’t seem to mind.

“Our local riders did well, even with the absolute downpour, all the riders were just having a great time,” Houlden said.

“It went from 28 degrees to what felt like 10, still the racing was phenomenal,” Houlden added.

There were two injuries on the track Saturday afternoon from two of the youth riders. One of them sustained a concussion, and the other a concussion, broken arm and knee damage.

Houlden said both are doing well post- race.

He said there was a lot of encouragement over the weekend from out-of-town riders for Terrace to consider applying to host a national race.

“We are considering applying for it, it means a lot of work for us,” Houlden explained.

He explained a national race would bring a lot of people and attention to Terrace.

“It’s as big as it gets for Canadian Motocross,” he said. “It would be huge for this town.”

The TMA was the only Motocross track west of Prince George, although it is now joined by a track in Smithers, which opened last weekend.

The track will be quiet for the next few months as Houlden said the TMA are getting ready to plan a poker run and a fun day race for September.