14 06 MXP Magazine

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CONGRATULATIONS

COLTON FACCIOTTI

2014 CANADIAN NATIONAL MOTOCROSS MX1 CHAMPION

Congratulations to the entire Honda Gopher Dunes Racing Team!

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TRUST A CHAMP We make our bikes with performance in mind.

Colton chose his bike with winning in mind. Isn’t it great when a good plan comes together?

Find yours at honda.ca 2014 Honda CRF450R

Honda Motorcycles & ATVs Canada

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Professional rider on closed course with safety precautions taken. Do not attempt.

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INSIDE:

HOLIDAY

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32 NATHAN BLES - COVER STORY Changing Styles

38 THE DUSTY KLATT STORY

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C ON T EN T S // VOL UME 1 4 - IS S UE 6

CANADA’S SOURCE FOR MOTOCROSS AND OFF-ROAD

EXCLUSIVE FIRST RIDE

2015 SUZUKI RM-Z450/HUSQVARNA FE350S/FE501S HANGING WITH PIRELLI AT THE ME CUP

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DUSTY KLATT STORY

THE CAMPBELL RIVER CRUSHER 11/28/2014 12:01:34 PM

The Innovator

48 PIRELLI TAKES ON THE MONSTER CUP Yellow is the New Black

56 DOUG DEHAAN TELLS HIS STORY Quiet Success

62 THE DEVILS LAKE YAMAHA TEAM

Danny Brault Goes Behind the Scene

74 2014 RED BULL SEA TO SKY

Marty Halmazna Reaches for the Sky in Turkey

86 BUYERS GUIDE AND GEARING UP

A Look at some of the Newest Products

BIKE TESTS AND PRODUCT TESTS

68 2015 SUZUKI RM-Z450 Palms Rides with JS7

80 2015 HUSQVARNA FE350S AND FE501S Premium Off-Road Machines

84 REKLUSE CORE MANUAL TORQ-DRIVE CLUTCH Holeshot Device

COLUMNS

24 FAMOUS LAST WORDS BY CHRIS POMEROY Forever Young

26 GUEST COLUMN BY SHAWN MAFFENBEIER Reinventing the Wheel

28 UPSHIFT BY BRIAN KOSTER Waiting for the New Year

30 TRANSPARENCY BY DANNY BRAULT Family First

112 EVOLVED NUTRITION BY DREW ROBERTSON Making a Plan

114 ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR WITH MARC TRAVERS Saying Goodbye

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PHOTO BY JAMES LISSIMORE

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2015 FACTORY RIDE EDITION

MAKE EVERY RIDE A FACTORY RIDE

WWW.FXRRACING.COM /FXRRACING.COM

/FXRRACING

RYAN MILLAR

2015

EXPOSED LEADING THE WAY Photo by: James Lissimore

Right now Casey Keast is the fastest Canadian rider on small wheels. In Las Vegas he showed his talents by grabbing the holeshot in the second Super Mini main event.

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MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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DEFYING THE PRESSURE Photo by: James Lissimore

After a great battle, Ontario rider Preston Masciangelo outlasted all the kids to win the KTMJRSX Challenge at the 2014 Monster Energy Cup.

EXPOSED

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MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE 路 MXPMAG.COM

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MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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RETURNING WITH STYLE Photo by: James Lissimore

Canadian race fans have to be excited that Matt Goerke will be back racing here in 2015. In Vegas he showed some of the flair that he’ll be bringing North next season.

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Left: In between races in Cloverdale the stands turn into a jungle gym.

Right: The Fro and Las Vegas just seem to go together.

Left: A growing family and a new teammate. Chad Reed definitely has a lot on his plate heading into 2015.

Right: Photobombing the Masciangelos.

Left: In BC, the riders are treated like celebrities.

Right: Even in Vegas Iain Hayden is a man constantly on the move.

Left: Prior to the racing in Vegas, Bobby K was feeling pretty good.

Right: Afterwards... not so much.

22  M O T O C R O S S P E R F O R M A N C E ¡ M X P M A G . C O M

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Right: This guy was clearly unhappy that James Stewart wasn’t riding the ME Cup.

WE WANT YOUR PHOTOS!

PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE AND MXP STAFF

Top Right: New father, Ross Johnson, tries to keep his mind on racing.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Above: So far the Seven Deuce Deuce loves Canada.

Above: People from Saskatchewan sure know how to relax.

Send your pictures via Facebook or hashtag you photos on Twitter or Instagram with #MXPCaughtonCamera and you could see your photos in an upcoming issue!

Far Left: Metty is all set to return to Canada in 2015.

Right: Word is that Kyle Beaton has traded his work coat for some new Fox gear.

Far Left: Ran into these awesome fans at the Monster Cup. Left: The trophies are so big in BC that you can hide behind them.

Right: F1 driver and fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo is a huge fan of Supercross.

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FAMOUS LAST WORDS

F O REVE R YOUNG

ave you ever had someone tell you not to grow old or that growing old stinks? As much as getting old is inevitable, feeling old is something that you can postpone.

Being involved in a high energy sport like motocross certainly helps with putting off that feeling of “being old.” Maybe it’s the riding, maybe it’s being surrounded by young athletes who don’t know what the word ‘old’ even means. Whatever the reason, my advice to those who want to hold onto to that youthful feeling is try and do what young people do.

Oh, and here’s another word of advice: this practice only works for your mind, your aging body may still feel its age.

I remember back when I was sixteen and entering my foray into the Pro class. The riders who were leading the pack, both provincially and nationally, seemed really old to me. The riders I’m speaking about are of course Jeff Surwall and Ross Pederson, who were both experienced pro riders at the time. Although I hadn’t witnessed much of “The Rollerball’s” national dominance in person, Surwall’s speed was no secret as I saw it almost every weekend as he tyrannized Ontario Pro motocross in the early 1990s.

At the time, Surwall was 28 years young and I remember thinking how old that seemed. I guess to a slightly cocky and naïve teenager, 28 was ancient.

Of course it wasn’t and Surwall could handle himself just fine on the track. In fact, if his successful business career wasn’t calling him back then he probably could’ve raced for many more years. In my defense, though, in 1990, 28 years-old was considered to be a motocross rider’s twilight years. If a rider like Pederson or Surwall were still on the track as they entered the third decade of their life, it was definitely an anomaly Things have sure changed as far as age and the maturity of pro riders goes these days. Nowadays,

H

“ NOWADAYS, MORE AND MORE TOP RIDERS ARE BECOMING FATHERS WHILE IN THE PRIME OF THEIR CAREERS, THEIR LIFESTYLES ARE CLEAN AND SIMPLE, AND THEY’RE MORE FOCUSED THAN EVER.”

WITH CHRIS POMEROY PHOTO BY JAMES LISSIMORE more and more top riders are becoming fathers while in the prime of their careers, their lifestyles are clean and simple, and they’re more focused than ever. Add in the training and better nutrition that our top riders are consuming now and we’re seeing more and more riders racing into their 30s.

One such rider who we’ve seen reborn in the sport as he approached his 30th birthday is Ryan Lockhart.

The Newf, as he’s known in the motocross world, has been racing pro since 1999. That’s an eternity in this sport. Even though he was very fast back then, injuries, more injuries and a self-proclaimed lack of focus in his younger years have all accumulated to Newf being arguably better now than ever before.

Oh sure, he won a national moto in 2003 and he reached as high as #6 in 2007, but those milestones were expected from him, and one could say that he could’ve and should’ve done better.

That all doesn’t matter now as I’ve never seen anyone besides Michael J. Fox travel back in time.

What Newf is doing now, on and off the race track, is simply amazing. After years of searching he’s finally found that comfort zone and balance between life, career and racing. While he obviously isn’t full time on the national circuit, Newf still races about 20 times a year and is currently competing in the 2014 Future West Canadian Arenacross Series.

Recently, at the Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas, I ran into Newf and we made a bet that if he won a main event during the AX series then I would give him an MXP cover. With a host of fast and younger competition to race against each night in BC, it doesn’t look as if he will get that main event win this year. Even though I feel like this ageless wonder might deserve a cover, a bet is a bet.

However, as a consolation to Newf and all of us old guys that still love to throw our aging legs over a dirt bike, this column is for you. Remember, your age is just a number!

24 M O T O C R O S S P E R F O R M A N C E · M X P M A G . C O M

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GU E ST COLUMN IST

REINVENTI NG THE W HE E L

very year the moto industry is slammed with brand new ideas that could potentially change the sport forever.

We see all the major manufacturers every 3-4 years make huge changes, always trying to lead the way into the next best design, whether it be Yamaha with the backwards motor concept, Suzuki with the first fuel injected bike, or Kawasaki with their electronic start mode. Along with the manufacturers, we see all the aftermarket companies pushing the limits to the point where we can now buy a traction control system that can plug in and work in minutes. We as riders are looking for the next best trainer, supplement, or training regimen to push us to the top of the podium. We’re consumed by companies telling us that their product is the next best thing. How do we look through all the BS and find out what we really need?

Being a part of the OTSFF Rockstar Yamaha team over the last two years, I have had many people across the country come up to me and ask about the product we use, the new model of bike we’re riding, how I ended up making it into the Pro ranks, and how little Johnny can get a ride on the factory team. The last point of how little Johnny can make it in moto always sparks the biggest conversation, and I always start by telling them that they don’t need to reinvent the wheel. I’ll get a strange look at first, but then proceed to tell them that there are many paths that previous Pro motocrossers have taken to make it into the Pro ranks.

With our world constantly looking for the next best thing, I believe mini parents and up and comers don’t take the time to look back on the mistakes others made on their journey to becoming a Pro. In my opinion, too many people are trying to make their own path. Why not talk to some of the older Pros?

E

“I BET WE COULD ALL TELL YOU THE MISTAKES WE MADE, AND GIVE YOU SOME POINTS ON THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT HELPED US TAKE THOSE STEPS TO BECOMING A PRO. LEARNING FROM OTHERS THAT HAVE GONE DOWN THE SAME PATH IS A GREAT WAY TO PUT YOUR CAREER ON THE FAST TRACK TO SUCCESS.

WITH SHAWN MAFFE NBEIER PHOTO BY JAMES LISSIMORE

Even the younger guys? I bet we could all tell you the mistakes we made, and give you some points on the biggest things that helped us take those steps to becoming a Pro. Learning from others that have gone down the same path is a great way to put your career on the fast track to success.

I always encourage people to take some riding schools from a bunch of different coaches, read up on product, and educate yourself before making decisions based on advertisements or just word of mouth. Broaden your horizons and look past what kind of horsepower gains you’re going to get, and look into how you could invest into some things that will change you as a rider to make you more consistent and safe on the track.

Lots of people tell me how they don’t have the money to do certain things. I then encourage them to learn how to work on their bikes. Learn how to rebuild top ends and put fresh oil in your forks. When you have a better understanding of your bike, you in turn will save money, make better decisions on the product you’re buying, and be able to set up your bike better. All of those points will save you money and make you a better rider. Take the time to learn about your bikes and learn how to ride that bike!

With all that being said, I don’t expect people to run out and buy a Yamaha and follow my career path to a tee. We are all different in our own way.

We all live in different parts of the country, have different schedules, and we all have different goals we’re trying to achieve. Whether you’re going for the Junior Championship or the CMRC National Championship, learn from the previous contenders, try to see through what’s useless and pick up what is useful. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel, look at how the wheel before you went through the same ruts!

Thanks for reading!

26 M O T O C R O S S P E R F O R M A N C E · M X P M A G . C O M

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WAITING FOR THE NE W Y E A R et your hats and mitts out cause it looks like another early winter here in Canada. It is mid-November as I write this, it was minus 20 degrees overnight, and we’ve had half a foot of snow on the ground for over a week now. I know it’s hard to dispute global warming but it seems more of a global weather shift as climates all around the world have turned askew. With uncustomary early winters and late springs these last couple of years, it may be more prudent to open discussions about the next bloody ice age. Right about now, I feel we could use a little bit of that global warming right here in our own backyards. Oh well, at least it’s good for the snowmobile industry who have had their fair share of struggles with some of the unseasonably warm winters, so if you don’t have a sled it may be time to look into obtaining one. It’s a great way to burn some fuel and get ur yeah yeahs out while you wait for spring and summer MX. The sleds today are so much more reliable than when I was a kid, and they are also so trick it’s hard not to get excited just looking at them. They have speed and excitement written all over them just standing still on the showroom floor…and yes, by golly Martha, they are fast!

Anyway, on the surface there is not a lot going on right now in the MX world. The Canadian Arenacross series is super cool along with the various US AX series and assorted European Supercrosses. The Canadian MX of Nations team struggled with results in Latvia but overall I’d have to say it was a huge success for the red and white. Amateur racing in Ontario is undergoing changes and will hopefully bring back the unity and glory days that once made this region the strongest in the country. By strongest I am talking just sheer volume of the country’s population being in Ontario, so it stands to reason to have the largest turnouts at its local races. By the time you read this, the US Supercross season will be very close to getting underway. Arguably, this series has become the pinnacle of the sport, and in my opinion, has all the ingredients to dwarf any other sporting event…even my beloved NHL and NFL. As much as I love hockey and football, neither even come close to elevating my excitement and anticipation level as watching live AMA Supercross.

Get your wallets out as the bets have already started on the whole Villopoto-in-Europe thing…will he beat Cairoli or not is the question. Too bad our sport is not more mainstream in North America because Vegas could have a ball with this.

We are in what is generally referred to in motorsport as the silly season. It is a time in the off-season where team riders and personnel are shuffled around, and contracts are both signed and

G

“ IT’S A TIME FOR TEAMS TO RESTRUCTURE AND SCHEME TO FIND NEW WAYS TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE OVER THEIR RIVALS. BEHIND THE SCENES IN CANADA THERE IS A LOT OF PREPARATION ALREADY GOING ON FOR THE 2015 OUTDOOR PRO NATIONALS.”

WITH BRIAN KOSTER PHOTO BY JAMES LISSIMORE

broken. It’s a time for teams to restructure and scheme to find new ways to gain an advantage over their rivals. Behind the scenes in Canada there is a lot of preparation already going on for the 2015 outdoor Pro Nationals.

We as Canadians must stand tall and applaud the efforts of Team Canada in Latvia. It was remarkable to see the outpouring of support and donations to the team this past year. Many have been behind the team for numerous years, but with new team management and an overt fundraising campaign throughout the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, available funds were at an all-time high. Now don’t get me wrong and think there was this huge overflow of cash, there wasn’t, but there was just enough to put forth (by Canadian standards) a first class endeavour. Kudos to all who donated, and double kudos to the riders and all who worked tirelessly organizing the trip. By all accounts, things went relatively smoothly across the pond. This could spell a new beginning for the future of Team Canada at the des Nations. Here’s to next year and a chance for Team Canada to break the top ten at the 2015 MX of Nations, which will be held in the defending champions’ home country of France.

While the Monster Cup in Las Vegas and the Red Bull Straight Rhythm were both awesome, neither carry the weight of the full-fledged AMA Supercross Series. Even I, as a staunch, old school outdoor motocross fan, must concede to the fact that Supercross is super exciting and so much more accessible to a wider audience. From a production point of view, it’s a lot easier to cover. In my opinion, last season the SX television coverage reached an all-time high. While I am never completely satisfied with the shot choices of the director (like watching the leader go round and round and around some more while an epic battle ensues off screen), the show has made some great strides. As a fan of Emig, Carmichael, Windham and McGrath’s work in the booth, and Dianna and Jenny on the floor, I still wish I had a quarter for every time I heard someone mention they wish the Canadian production team would take over the US show. My stock answer to that is “yeah, when pigs can fly”.

Anyway, it’s nice to hear and somewhat flattering to the Canadian production crew but there is no illusion of this ever coming to fruition. That said, I would still just love the chance for our team to be behind the scenes organizing the production and having Marc Travers sitting in the director’s chair to illustrate how it should be done…never mind his astute commentating skills. Oh well, it’s easy for anyone to be an armchair critic but when you have fifteen years of experience under your belt, maybe, just maybe, there is some merit to the words.

28 M O T O C R O S S P E R F O R M A N C E · M X P M A G . C O M

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T R A NSPA REN CY

FAMILY FI RST

om and Dad, Josie and Donny, what a pair. So loving, supportive and full of personality.

It all started for these two lovebirds of more than 25 years when Josie got hooked on Donny’s wild man ways. He was making a living racing snowmobiles for Ski Doo, which allowed him to afford a sweet, silver Corvette and a Honda 750 street bike.

Chicks dig racers, and it wasn’t long before Donny and Josie hit up a ‘50s-style roller-skate burger joint, followed by a Drive-In flick featuring Steve McQueen.

The hot, fast and sexy lane of bachelor life came to an end after Josie informed her fiancé, Donny, that they had a little Brault on the way. Just what the world needed.

After tying the knot, honeymooning at the Daytona 500 (I wonder who chose that romantic destination?) and giving birth to their first, me, young Daniel Michael Brault, everyone settled down in Peterborough, Ontario. From ages 0 to 3, the Brault trio bounced around homes in Peterborough and Lakefield, before Donny finally made up his mind and bought a 4-acre paradise on a dirt road in Douro.

Next up was the arrival of my younger brother of two years, Corey, or “Corndog” as Steve Matthes aptly titled him. Corndog and I were lucky to have a Dad running his own business, which included one truck, trailer and a moderately sized bulldozer. D4 maybe? Every night we would beg him to keep driving diesel fuel through his CAT, remodeling jumps and making them bigger as we got bigger, and so did the speed of our dirt bikes. Looking back, it’s too bad we didn’t realize races are won and lost in the corners, but we just thought jumps were so cool and fun. Between the jumps, Dad dug out two ponds so we could play hockey during the winter. It allowed us and the neighbourhood to remain quite active year round.

Growing up under the mentorship of Josie and Donny was a great experience, painful at times, but what family isn’t filled with a certain amount of dysfunction? The physical pain stems from my brother and I, and our neighbours, the Doherty brothers, causing all kinds of mischief. I definitely can’t give Casey Keast too hard of a time for what he did to the MotoConcepts trailer at Kamloops because looking back, we did worse stuff and got away with it. Of course, we learned our lesson the hard way, taking boots in the butt from Donny (with his steel toed work boots), and Josie would let us have it with my Heman sword. Eventually our brains and butts got the message, and Corey and I straightened ourselves out … a little.

Like both of our parents, especially my Dad and Uncle Dougie, who we later found out did some REALLY incredibly dumb and wild stuff growing up, my brother and I had a lot of energy. We played hockey and went snowboarding in the winter, and from the time we could walk, we had ATVs and then dirt bikes.

M

“FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE STILL GOING TO THE RACES WITH YOUR FAMILY, REALLY CHERISH THOSE TIMES. AND IF YOUR FAMILY SEEMS CRAZY AT TIMES, EMBRACE IT, KNOWING THAT NO FAMILY EVER HAS IT ALL TOGETHER. BUT A FAMILY THAT GOES RACING TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER.”

WITH DANNY BR AULT PHOTO BY JAMES LISSIMORE

We didn’t become a Kyle Keast or Dusty Klatt, but we became pretty good riders at the local level and made some lasting memories along the way.

A typical Brault weekend at the races? We started off pretty organized, because that’s how Donny likes it, and it would usually be me loading must of the supplies while Corey built a new BMX jump. Josie took care of the snacks and drinks, and did her best to keep the Brault boys from completely ripping each other’s heads off. It’s like the ‘Griswolds Go Racing.’

At the races, you can expect a consistent string of arguments; no matter what my Dad says, Corey goes against it and then we start all over again. Even though Donny was a sled guy, he loves racing and offers some pretty good tips at times. His classic speeches were on taking the outside gate on the start if you weren’t feeling completely confident or had a good gate pick.

That way you wouldn’t get caught up in the first corner.

His next was never to follow the guy in front, and if it had to happen, bump him a little to make the pass.

Simple strategy from a simple man.

Both of our parents were great supporters; they didn’t ever show any care for results, as long as we had fun and tried our best. No living dreams through their boys in the least; they only went to the races because they saw how much their sons enjoyed it. Regardless of results, we ended the day as a family and Donny would rally his troops by stopping into the first fastfood drive-thru he could he find. And we loved him for it … and lots of other stuff too, of course.

Highlights of traveling to the races with Mom and Dad? For Donny, it’s thinking back to when we tried sleeping in a tent for two nights at a Walton Provincial, circa 2001. “Never again … never again,” he kept saying all night, as the four of us held each other tight in the cool night air.

Sleeping in tents at the races does suck, I will admit, but Donny really, really hates tents and laying on the ground. For Josie, I think back to the times when I had gotten injured. She was there when I first broke my leg, after another rider rode over my leg when I was on the ground, and also again for a couple of wrists and another leg. She was amazing at bringing comfort to the situation and making me feel like a broken tib and fib was only a paper cut. “Oh, you’ll be all right, Danny. We’ll get you to the hospital, get you some pain medicine and you can relax a bit. It’s okay.”

We don’t go to the races much anymore as a family. Corey rides on and off when he feels like it, and I’m in a similar state. When we do coordinate with life schedules, both have bikes and decide to hit up a local race, Mom and Dad always make sure to catch a moto or two.

For those of you who are still going to the races with your family, really cherish those times. And if your family seems crazy at times, embrace it, knowing that no family ever has it all together. But a family that goes racing together, stays together.

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Hey

Mr. Style.

You've Changed!

BY MIKE MCGILL AND BRENT WORRALL PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE For this issue of MXP Magazine we decided to make the cover story in two parts.

IN PART ONE, Mike McGill takes us through how the style of riding a motocross bike has evolved over the years. From standing up to Nac Nacs to the scrub, how you ride has changed immensely in the last forty years. IN PART TWO, our man out west, Brent Worrall, looks at our cover boy Nathan Bles. This Ontario kid had a very interesting year in both motocross and off-road racing, all the while doing it with a huge smile on his face. With a successful 2014 under his belt and a very bright future ahead of him, we felt this James Lissimore photo of Nathan Bles, showing some modern riding style, was a perfect choice for the final cover of 2014.

I guess you could say I’ve been around this sport for quite some time now. This past season marked my thirty-first year as a racer. I started racing motocross in 1983 and have only missed a couple of racing seasons since that time. I didn’t actually start competing until I was eighteen, mind you, but I always had dirt bikes growing up and would never miss an opportunity to tag along with my Dad to the track when he raced his Maico back in the ‘70s. My son, Max, actually competed in his first real race this past season as well, so us McGills are now officially a 3rd generation motocross racing family. I don’t think there’s a whole lot of people out there that can say that, although as time goes by I do know there are more and more.

In all those years I have witnessed a lot of changes within the sport first hand. Back in the ‘70s, for instance, it was crazy for someone to even get some air off of a jump. Believe it or not that was considered to be a big deal. Of course everybody sat down while they were riding then and the bikes had big, fat comfy seats, but only four inches of travel and terrible suspension. Then

the ‘80s arrived and the biggest changes in the history of the sport took place. The introduction of Supercross and its popularity led to all kinds of technological advancements to the bikes. Within a span of ten years, the bikes changed dramatically as did the way we rode them. As the Supercross obstacles became more difficult and challenging, riders like David Bailey, Rick Johnson and Ronnie Lechien developed the radical new standup style of riding that we see and are familiar with today. In the ‘90s, Jeremy McGrath took it a step further by utilizing the techniques he learned as a kid in BMX and applied them to moto. Jeremy kept the bike low over the jumps, and the speed he was able to generate and maintain by keeping the power to the ground eventually propelled him to a record 72 Supercross victories as well as one outdoor National Championship. “Showtime” changed the sport forever. Smart young riders like Chad Reed and Kevin Windham took what Jeremy had shown them and actually improved on his techniques in order to take the sport to an even higher level in the late ‘90s and into the new millennium.

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“JSR WAS OBVIOUSLY NO SLOUCH AT KEEPING THE BIKE LOW OVER THE JUMPS AND MAINTAINING HIS SPEED THROUGH THE TECHNICAL STUFF, BUT MOST WOULD AGREE THAT KLATT WAS ON ANOTHER LEVEL THAT SEASON. A NEW ERA OF CANADIAN MOTO HAD BEEN USHERED IN.”

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Change is constant, of course, and the techniques involved with riding a motocross bike fast are constantly evolving. I’d say it was around 2005 when I first began seeing photos of James Stewart pulling off what people immediately began referring to as the “Bubba Scrub.” He would approach the jump at a high rate of speed but then at the last second throw the bike low and sideways, almost touching the ground, thereby dramatically reducing the amount of time spent in the air. It was revolutionary to say the least and the MX community on the whole was completely blown away by what they were seeing. In fact, I can honestly relate it to the feeling of total fascination that I experienced the first time I saw photos of McGrath throwing down a “Nac-Nac,” or to take it back even further, some guy on an old CZ pulling off a one handed peace sign wheelie for the pages of Dirt Bike Magazine back in the’70s. To see how low and flat James was getting over the jumps in the photos was absolutely mind boggling. You almost didn’t think it could be real.

It was real of course, and with the advent of the scrub, the bar had been raised yet again. It wasn’t long after the photos of Stewart surfaced on the web that all the top riders had added some form of the scrub to their personal arsenals of moto weaponry. And not just in Supercross-crazy America either. In 2006, Campbell River, BC native Dusty Klatt, who was and still is an accomplished BMXer and downhill mountain biker, put on a scrubbing and whipping performance for the ages as he piloted his Blackfoot Honda CRF 450

to the CMRC MX1 National Championship. In doing so he dethroned Canadian MX legend and multi-time National Champion Jean Sebastien Roy. JSR was obviously no slouch at keeping the bike low over the jumps and maintaining his speed through the technical stuff, but most would agree that Klatt was on another level that season. A new era of Canadian moto had been ushered in.

As far as the scrub itself goes, pretty much everybody is doing some form of it these days. Heck, I see some Super Mini riders pulling them off now like they are nothing. I guess it’s time for a new innovation to take the moto world by storm. Although I couldn’t hazard a guess as to what it will be, I for one can’t wait to see what’s coming next.

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MOTOCROSS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST SPORT ON EARTH, AND TO EVERY ONE OF US WHO FOLLOWS IT PASSIONATELY AND FAITHFULLY, I AM SURE THE RATIONALE AS TO HOW AND WHY VARIES. I DO BELIEVE, HOWEVER, IF SURVEYED, ONE OF THE COMMON DENOMINATORS AMONGST ANSWERS WOULD BE AS MUCH ABOUT THE GREAT, COLOURFUL, UNIQUE, ONE OF A KIND INDIVIDUALS THAT MAKE UP THE SPORT THAN WHAT HAPPENS ON THE TRACK. BAYFIELD, ONTARIO’S NATHAN BLES IS ONE OF THIS COUNTRY’S BRIGHTEST LIGHTS WHO IS ALL OF THE ABOVE AND THEN SOME.

as support from MPH. Nathan is an individual who I believe, given the right opportunity, can improve immensely on his personal best of a 5th overall at the top level. With his top level finish of two seasons ago on his GDR Honda 250 as well as this past season’s best of a 5th overall in the big bike class at Ulverton, I know that Nathan knows he can compete with the top 5 in the 450 class. Given his 4th in moto one at Ulverton coupled with some great battling up front with the series’ heaviest of hitters, I look to Bles to come out

I didn’t know Nathan on a personal level until this past season, and I am sure that I am preaching to the choir to those who know him when I say he is

swinging in 2015.

Nathan is a very talented, versatile rider who

‘the real deal.’ Yes, the kind of guy you are proud to call a friend and the kind

crossed over last season to do some off-road racing.

of guy you would like to have on your race team, I’m sure. If I had my own team

The folks on that side of the sport were pretty blown

and a budget for a 450 rider with a ton of upswing, the great riding skills he

away as to his ability and results. Nathan parlayed

has, coupled with his personality and people skills, this would be a no brainer.

that experience and skillset into an opportunity to

Nathan is now 22 years-old and will wear the big #10 next season as a result of his efforts in the eastern portion of the 2014 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals presented by Motovan on his KTM. Nathan has been a Pro racer now for four years and has had a couple of goes with GDR connections as well

represent Canada in Argentina last month at the 6 Day ISDE. When I chatted with Nathan after the event, as usual, he impressed me with his positive outlook and take on something that did not go that well for him. He cited that making the best out of a

“NATHAN IS A VERY TALENTED, VERSATILE RIDER WHO CROSSED OVER LAST SEASON TO DO SOME OFF-ROAD RACING. THE FOLKS ON THAT SIDE OF THE SPORT WERE PRETTY BLOWN AWAY AS TO HIS ABILITY AND RESULTS. “

bad situation and getting something positive from the experience was of most value to him. “I learned so much from my experience and cannot wait to go back to next year’s 6 Day.” Great words to hear. On day 3, Nathan’s bike had some issues and he was forced to push it a couple of miles in the sand in temperatures of 41+ degrees. Nathan eventually abandoned the motorcycle and was in a fight for survival as he walked another two miles to a highway where he was located by passersby. Hospitalization for his condition would force him to the sidelines.

Nathan Bles is a warrior, a competitor, a talented rider, and more importantly a first class human being.

I’m not sure exactly when news of which tent Nathan will be under for the upcoming outdoor national season will be released, but I am sure of this: When the gate drops at round one, Canadian race fans will have one of their own to cheer for, whose results I personally would not dare to put a ceiling on! I would also encourage anyone out there that does not know Nathan to make an effort to get out to a race and make his acquaintance as guys like him are one of the big reasons motocross is the great sport that it is.

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ACCELERATE YOUR ADVENTURE. Experience the freedom of the open road.

Plan your ride at ontariotravel.net/goride Share it at #OntarioMotoRoads

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T H E

C A M P B E L L

R I V E R

CRUSHER B Y D A N N Y B R A U LT

PHOTOS BY HANNAH KLATT,

T H E

D U S T Y

JAMES LISSIMORE

Dusty Klatt has gone from logging wins at the Canadian

K L A T T

Nationals to logging long hours in the oil field of Northern

S T O R Y

Alberta. Before it was about providing for himself, now it’s about providing for his family. We caught up with Klatt to see what life’s been like since retiring from pro motocross.

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hen talking with former factory racer Dusty Klatt, recently, I felt the strong sensation that he has unfinished business in his racing career. Of course, things didn’t end the way he wanted. If that’s true, could it lead to a comeback for Klatt? I think probably not because the four-time champion says that he’s already announced a retirement and doesn’t want to flip flop on his decision. That said, throughout our conversation, many times Klatt retouched on how things went down; he believed there was another ‘plate’ left to make.

It’s been a while since we’ve heard much from Klatt, who resides in the tiny town of Campbell River on Vancouver Island, along with his wife Hannah, their daughter, ????, and son, Aro. Since retiring from pro motocross (2014 being his first year off) and healing up from his second knee injury in Moncton in 2012, Klatt hasn’t spent as much time at home as he’d like.

No longer racing to pay the bills, the 30-yearold is now working his way through a welding apprenticeship, spending two weeks on/one week off in the oil fields of Fort McMurray. Life is, of course, different for Klatt compared to the better part of the last decade when Klatt made a living racing on Sundays and keeping his pace up during the week in the gym, on a bicycle, or burning laps on his homemade sand pit track.

“How can you not miss it?” begins Klatt, thinking back to the days of living at home full-time, or most nights at least, and racing motocross for a living. “I miss being at home every night; it is hard being away from the kids. Only having a small amount of time at home each month is hard to swallow, but that’s part of my life now. If you want to have some toys and comforts, you need to go away sometimes to make money. There’s not much here on the island that can

that required healing time. In reality, he probably shouldn’t have been back on the bike, but he’s a racer and that’s what he does, race.

W

pay reasonably enough to justify being home every night. I don’t want to be that guy living pay cheque to pay cheque. I want to be able to afford to take our family on vacations and enjoy time away with them.”

That last season of racing in 2013 wasn’t a kind one for Klatt - maybe his roughest ever. It started off well with Klatt returning to BC Arenacross in Chilliwack and taking a main event win. He would continue to follow the indoor series, making some good cash and hosting some riding schools to cover his bills. He hadn’t been racing much off-season or indoor racing previously, his main reason being the risk of getting hurt and missing the Canadian Nationals, which are the bread and butter for most racers.

Sadly, his fear became reality when Klatt caught his foot on a jump face at one of the races, sending him to the ground, and later requiring a surgeon for work on his torn ACL. It was February and he was now out until the middle of the Nationals—if everything healed up accordingly and quickly.

When Klatt did return for Gopher Dunes, Round 5 of the Canadian series, it was obvious he was still healing and riding back into shape. It was understandable, considering the nature of his injury

He made it through Gopher Dunes, Sand Del Lee and Deschambault, but not Moncton. The Red Bull KTM Royal Distributing Fox Racing rider reinjured the same knee on the East Coast. It was now clear to Klatt that his professional racing career was coming to an end.

“It’s a real bummer how it went down, but you can’t change it,” he says, looking back. “My career wasn’t going to continue much longer anyways, but I’m happy to be healthy, for the most part, after racing, other than my knee that will eventually get fixed. I won lots of races, championships and got to travel all over the world. I’m pretty happy with my career but I really believe that I could have won another title if I didn’t get hurt. That was my goal.”

When the 2013 season came to a close and everyone had their eyes on Brett Metcalfe and Austin Politelli uncorking the champagne at Walton, Klatt sat quietly in his corner, out of the limelight for the first time in a long time, trying to figure out what he would do with his life without racing.

“I like art and building stuff. I didn’t want to sit at a desk all my life,” notes Klatt on his interests and strengths outside of moto. “Building stuff with steel is high in demand and always needs to be used.

Infrastructure, piping—there will always be jobs. For the long run, it’s probably the best choice for me. I like welding. There is almost an artistic way to weld, with beads and making things look nice.”

Klatt’s interest extends from metal to more mainstream artwork, which began when he was stuck on the couch for four months.

“I always drew in school, sketching with pencils and stuff,” he adds, when questioned further on his interest MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE 41

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“BUILDING STUFF WITH STEEL IS HIGH IN DE M A ND A ND A LWAY S NEEDS TO BE USED. INFRASTRUCTURE, P I P I N G —T H E R E W I L L A LWAY S BE JOB S . F OR THE LONG RUN, IT’S P R O B A B LY T HE B E S T CHOICE FOR ME. I LIKE WELDING. THERE IS ALMOST AN ARTISTIC WAY T O W E L D, W I T H BEADS AND MAKING THINGS LOOK NICE.” 42

in art. “When I hurt my knee, it was the first time that I touched paint in my life. I knew I would be on my butt a lot so I picked up paints and gave that a go. I always loved colours and landscapes, so it was fun learning to create colour and put it all down. It takes up a lot of time so it’s hard to find time to do it now.”

Healthy and healed, Klatt no longer has much time to paint. He spends his time working most of the month, running motocross schools and fi tting in his favourite time, family time.

Earlier this year, Klatt picked up a new Husqvarna FC450 from Dean Thompson at BlackfootDirect.com.

Located in Calgary, Alberta, BFD is a Canadian Husky dealer. Owner Dean Thompson was a big influence on Dusty when he was racing competitively. The wheels started turning to get back on a bike more than a year ago.

“I talked to Andy after I injured myself after Moncton,” Klatt says. “I wanted to stay in touch and start some schools and begin training riders. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while. That’s been

a dream of mine; to train and teach athletes. I like helping people keep safe on bikes and get them away from bad habits.”

After a few talks with his former KTM race manager, Andy White, it was decided to keep Klatt on board as a promotional asset for the brand. But which brand, KTM or Husky?

“Around the Calgary National, Andy talked to Florian (Burguet, President of KTM Canada). I was under the assumption I would be on a KTM and promote that brand, but then they talked to Dean at Calgary and they agreed on a Husqvarna. James Lissimore actually gave me the news [laughs]. He came back from the race and was like, ‘Hey you’re going to be on a Husky!’ I didn’t know what he was talking about but it’s great, obviously. I have a great relationship with Dean, so it all worked out really well.

I still have Fox, Red Bull and Oakley sticking with me too, so I’m really happy to keep it all going.”

For some reason, I was thinking Dusty would be the type of personality to not stay involved at all with

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racing and motocross; it’s an either all or nothing kind of thing. Like most times, I was wrong again.

“I never intended to stop riding,” he corrects me. “It seems like a waste to hang up my boots after riding and racing so much. As far as the racing aspect goes, yeah, I don’t think it will happen again. It’s unrealistic for me to think about … well, I mean, I retired so I’m not going to come back and pull one of those shows [laughs].”

He hasn’t ridden as much as he’d like, due to his work schedule and family life, but he managed to get in three riding schools and almost break the double-digits on his hour meter.

“I put just under 10 hours on the bike. I like the KTM and the Husqvarna feels pretty similar, actually I prefer the plastic layout and feeling of the Husky more. I rode a few times at Campbell River and got to hammer down some laps. It’s fun to relive that feeling. It is a totally different lifestyle working now; it took a while to get used to it. It was nice to get schools and some riding going again. It was a nice break being out teaching other people and helping kids.”

Sadly, Klatt will again have to put a halt on that ‘feeling,’ since he still needs to have more surgery on his knee. This should be the third and final one, but it will put him on the sidelines, plus he’ll be off work for three months. “I may have the surgery this spring and I’d like to go school during that time, or else I could wait until after the summer when my riding schools are finished and get the surgery done then. We’ll see.”

Klatt’s take on this past Canadian National season without him in it?

Could he have beaten the mighty Mike Alessi or his former rival, Colton Facciotti? “Oh, I don’t know,” he

begins. “I didn’t think that Alessi would win and build up these stupid leads. That’s not how it works. Even when Brett (Metcalfe) came up, he’s also an awesome outdoor rider, but he didn’t kill everyone. It becomes a whole different ballpark when you go to another country, new tracks, and you don’t know where the lines build up in every corner. At a professional level, every detail counts and odds are against riders when they go to a new country, I think.”

At the end of it, Klatt’s happy to

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see two Canadians on top at Walton and thinks next year should be just as exciting. Again—don’t expect to see Klatt on the starting line anytime soon. His focus is now on his trade, his family, building up their love nest and helping his kids do the things that they want to do.

“I want to give my family and kids all of the options available to fulfill their dreams,” he says, looking ahead to the future. “That’s my end of it. I got to race and train and that’s what I miss the most. I get pent up and full of energy, I miss training, cycling and going to the gym. It’s been hard getting away from that. I’d like to get my welding ticket, find a job closer to home, buy a bigger house for my family and eventually buy some property.”

When it came time to discuss his best memories from his racing career, which includes being part of Team Canada at the 2004 MXoN in Leirop, Netherlands—the year of Canada’s best overall finish, an 8th place; MX2 titles; two MX1 titles (all with Blackfoot Honda/ Yamaha); raced three seasons of AMA Supercross (250 and 450) and AMA Motocross, and he rode for many top level teams: Blackfoot, Star Racing Yamaha, Cernic’s Kawasaki, and KTM Canada.

He’s also the original Red Bull athlete in Canadian motocross, starting his relationship with the brand in 2006.

But what is his first memory that comes to mind when I ask what he remembers most about racing?

“It was really fun driving across the country with my Dad and family,” he answers, in his typical relaxed island tone. “That was cool and something I’ll always remember.”

And with that, I let the “Family Man” get back to work so he could continue providing for his young family in ell River, BC.

NUMBER ONE FAN Dean Thompson has been one of Dusty Klatt’s biggest personal and sponsorship supporters since he won his first MX2 title in 2004 with Blackfoot Honda. Thompson now operates the BlackfootDirect.com physical and online store, and continues to stay in touch with Klatt. They’re still buddies; Husqvarna Canada and BFD sponsor Klatt with an FC 450. We asked Thompson for his thoughts on the four-time champ: DEAN’S THOUGHTS ON DUSTY? “I’ve known him since I first started, back in 2005 with Blackfoot on Hondas. We’ve had a long relationship, he’s a good friend and just a quality guy. He does what’s expected and gets results.

I’m happy we could maintain a friendship from racing; it’s rare in this industry.

MARKETING VALUE OF SPONSORING THE FORMER CHAMP He’s a multi-time champ, from the new era.

He’s raced in the US, won championships in Canada and really put Canada on the map over the last decade. We’re happy to have him riding a Husqvarna and we’re getting him a new bike in the spring, for sure. He’s busy on social media and connects really well with his fans, even though he’s not racing seriously anymore. He’s helping kids and spending time with younger people in the sport. He contributes back to the sport and that’s why BlackfootDirect.com and others continue to support him.

DUSTY’S RIDING ABILITY AND STYLE He wasn’t a JSR or Facciotti, but the guy has natural talent and unbelievable style. He’s always the first guy to try something first and different on the track. He’s the one to try a big jump first.

He reminds me of McGrath with his BMX skills and how he transfersn that into motocross. He’s quiet and keeps to himself. He never gave up; he would let it all hang out, even if he had to fall of the bike. He left it on the track and never went out with a chest protector or more than seven tear-offs, saying ‘If I take too many tear-offs, it would’t motivate me to get to the front fast enough. Same with the chest protector; I don’t want to eat roost all moto.’”

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COURTESY OF THE SHARPELESS FAMILY

ENSURING

LEGENDS

BY MONIKA STRAK | PHOTOS BY BILL PETRO

LIVE ON aunched in early 2014, Legends of Canadian Motocross brings the people and history of motocross in Canada vividly to life. With hundreds of photos and stories gleaned from the past four decades, Legends continues to be a work in progress as more and more are regularly added to this impressive archive. We sit down with Bill Petro, the source of most of these images and the driving force behind Legends, to discuss why this project is so important to the continuing success of the sport in Canada.

L

Motocross is a noisy swirl of dirt, sweat, grease, and power. But

COURTESY OF LARRY BASTEDO

motocross is also much, much more ... it’s the unique personalities of the riders and the myriad of memorable individuals who support these riders in so many different ways both on and off the track.

Most of today’s riders grew up watching their idols race, guys like Ross Pederson, Jean-Sebastien Roy, and Blair Morgan. But as time goes by, these heroes will slip into the remember-when file, faded memories of circuit clashes of the past that soon become just names engraved on a championship trophy or chronological list of title holders, meaningful only to those who were there. The also-rans— the ones who hounded those winners right up to the bitter end, the local favourites, the ones who in many cases provided the real entertainment—and all the memorable support characters who make up the colourful motocross

Left top-to-bottom: Jim Pomeroy 1972; Larry Bastedo 1958; Jan Eric Sallqvist 1976.

Above: Zoli Berenyi Jr. 1979; Bill Sharpeless 1961; George Petro in the lead at Welland Ontario 1972; Brad Lackey’s puts the final touches on his Kawasaki at the 1972 GP in Copetown.

mosaic at each event, well, they’ll disappear altogether.

Which is why Bill Petro, a lanky professional photographer and resident of Norval, Ont., has made it his mission to ensure that the heroes of yesteryear will not be forgotten.

“For me personally, it all began back in 1972, the year my brother George

(George, it should be noted, still races at age 60!)

His timing, though unintentional, was impeccable, as the Seventies were the Golden Years of motocross.

To a young college student with a camera, this presented a bewitching kaleidoscope of colour and drama that begged to be recorded for posterity, and now, four decades later, Bill possesses the most extensive photographic archives of Canadian motocross history—the foundation for the Legends of Canadian Motocross.

THE HYPER-ENERGY WAS PALPABLE: THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS FLOODED STORIED IF TEMPORARY TRACKS LIKE COPETOWN AND SAINT-GABRIEL-DEBRANDON, NEWER AND FASTER BIKES FROM JAPAN AND EUROPE SHOWED UP AND WERE OGLED ENVIOUSLY BY BOTH RIDERS AND POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS, AND SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS FLOWED LIKE WINE. started racing,” he recalls, “I was in Conestoga College’s photography program, and it was only natural that I’d go to each of his events and practice everything I’d been learning.”

“The seeds of the Legends concept really began around 2004 or 2005, as the fiftieth anniversary of motocross in Canada was coming up,” Bill remembers.

“I was approached to put together a

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Thousands flock to experience the 1981 MX Nationals in Copetown Ontario.

commemorative book, but the cost of printing it would’ve been prohibitive, so we starting thinking about other ways to bring the past 50 years to life for younger fans.” The “we” here included Carl Bastedo, the founder of Motopark near Chatsworth, Ontario, and who continues to be closely involved with the Legends project. Bill’s connection with Carl goes right back to his fledgling photographer days—Carl was one of Bill’s first clients during his tenure at Kawasaki Canada.

With the internet now a constant force in everyone’s lives, it made sense to document the written history and photography together as a purposebuilt website (www.locmx.com) that could be used not only as an educational platform but also a uniquely interactive way for visitors to submit their own photos and recollections of days gone by, making this a sort of Wiki-archives of the sport. In a sense, the Legends website now provides a permanent on-line home for anything to do with Canadian motocross history. Legends of Canadian Motocross is also supported

by a mobile touring display at shows and racetracks throughout Ontario; this exhibit hosts interviews and autograph sessions with actual Legends, with the goal of raising sufficient funds to expand its schedule across Canada next year. (See more under the GALLERY tab on the Legends website.)

So what defines a “Legend,” exactly?

“That’s a good question,” says Bill. “Our definition is more flexible than, say, the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame, which goes largely by point standings. We want to recognize those people who put everything they had into motocross over the years, not just the champions.”

“The Legends website is a place where people anywhere in the world can go to learn about Canadian motocross history,” he continues. “When you go to

the FIM or AMA websites, it’s as though Canada didn’t exist. Everyone knows all the big guns from Europe and the United States, but Canada also had great races, great riders, and great events, and we continue to have them. With the Legends of Canadian Motocross, we can show younger riders and fans that we do have a solid foundation in the sport, and that we can build on that to really make our mark on the world stage.”

www.locmx.com Preserving History While Giving to the Future

For his own contributions to the preservation of Canadian motorcycling heritage, Bill Petro was awarded the Bar & Hedy Hodgson Award in 2013 by the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

The Legends of Canadian Motocross (www.locmx.com) welcomes your photos, memories, and financial support to continue its goals.

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IS THE NEW BLACK

~ PIRELLI GETS TRACTION IN LAS VEGAS ~

BY CHRIS POMEROY

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As I sat in the lounge at Terminal 3 of the Toronto International Airport waiting for my flight to Las Vegas for the 2014 Monster Energy Cup, at the gate next to my flight was a flight to Orlando. I couldn’t help but notice that although the age bracket was diff erent for each flight, the excitement was on the same level. On one hand you had a lounge full of very excited children who were looking forward to getting to Disney World to see their favourite characters, while on the other you had a lounge full of adults who were equally excited to get our “Boeing Going” and get to Las Vegas, a town that is unofficially known as the Disney World for adults.

Waiting for me at the other end of that fi ve hour flight was not only the City Of Entertainment but also Josh Whitmire of Pirelli Tires North America.

Josh and Pirelli Tires had just come off one of their most successful seasons in USA racing with many top finishes, an exciting line up of new tires, and the signing of one of the sport’s most popular teams, Chad Reed’s TwoTwo Motorsports. The other big and exciting news that was announced just a few days before the Monster Energy Cup was that Pirelli had also signed on as the official tire sponsor of the Rockstar Energy Drink OTSFF Yamaha Team in Canada for 2015. Just a week prior, the OTSFF team announced they had secured the services of Matt Goerke for 2015 so it was definitely an exciting time for Pirelli and the teams they support.

My task for the Monster Energy Cup was one for which I was excited. Not only was I headed back to Vegas after a six year hiatus, but I was there on behalf of Pirelli Tires to observe what goes on during a race weekend for the largest motorcycle tire company in the world. As my loud and excited flight descended into Vegas on the Thursday night before the race, the bright lights of the strip stood out the like the Griswald’s house at Christmas. Attending the Monster Energy Cup, while

The Pirelli group is a close knit group and they’re very proud of their product line.

They’re proud of their riders and they’re proud of the fact that consumers can go out and buy the same tires that the top Pirelli riders use, with the exception of the cool yellow versions.

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shadowing the guys from Pirelli, was going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it couldn’t have happened in a better city.

Friday morning came quickly and it was time to get ready to meet up with Josh Whitmire in the lobby of our hotel. Friday at the Monster Cup was not only set-up day for the teams, but it was also the very important press conference inside the stadium. Also, since Pirelli had flown in some of their representatives and executives from around the world, Josh and I had to head over to the New York, New York Hotel to pick them up and drive them out to Sam Boyd Stadium.

As we drove, I quizzed Josh about the Pirelli program and just how successful it’s been over the years. I also asked him about the recent signing of the Rockstar Energy

“The first thing that impressed me about the Pirelli operation at the race track was just how much interaction goes on between Pirelli and the teams they support.”

IS THE NEW BLACK

Drink OTSFF Yamaha Team in Canada. “Canada is such an important market for Pirelli, so we wanted to increase our presence there. The deal with the OTSFF guys literally came together in a week and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of that team.

This weekend will actually be their first race on Pirelli Tires so it should be great,” stated Whitmire.

Once we arrived at the NYC themed hotel, we met up with the Pirelli people from Italy and Australia. To see and listen to them interact with each other made it very clear to me that this company is just like a big family. There weren’t just the usual handshakes and normal pleasantries, there were hugs and conversations about kids and how things were going back home. There was also a great deal of pride when they spoke about the company they represented, and of course a lot of excitement about being in Las Vegas to watch the 2014 Monster Energy Cup. After a 20 minute drive through parts of Vegas that I’ve never seen before, we arrived at the stadium. We didn’t have a lot of time to waste so we headed straight to the press conference to hear what the riders had to say about their chances at this one-off event. The two Pirelli athletes on the stage, Chad Reed and newly signed JGR Yamaha rider Justin Barcia, both had slightly diff erent opinions of their expectations. While Barcia was extremely excited about his new team and his chances at the million dollar first prize, Reed had a diff erent view on the race. After arriving the night before directly from a vacation in Australia, Reed simply said, “I’m here because I have to be for my sponsors. If I didn’t then I would be at home in Florida recovering from jet lag.”

Two very diff erent perspectives

from two riders at diff erent stages of their career.

The young Barcia just wants to race anywhere at any time while the older Reed is just thinking about Anaheim One. After the press conference it was time to turn myself into a learning sponge and go to work.

Since Pirelli had caused quite a stir at the press conference by having Barcia’s Yamaha and Reed’s Kawasaki fi tted with bright yellow tires, as I walked back through the paddock with Josh, he definitely had a lot of questions to answer. I personally loved the yellow tires and I thought the bikes looked great with them on, however there were some that weren’t too big on them. The most frequently asked question was whether or not they would be used on race day. Josh simply replied, “We’ll see!”

The first thing that impressed me about the Pirelli operation at the race track was just how much interaction goes on between Pirelli and the teams they support. As Josh made his way from team to team to discuss tire choices for the weekend, it was definitely evident that each rider and each team has their own preferences. Being a Chad Reed fan I was more than anxious to hear his thoughts on what tire he would be running and how the track was. Being one of the elder statesmen in the paddock, Chad is very opinionated about how he wants his bike set up. Tread pattern and tire pressure both aff ect how the suspension and handling works. With Chad being a rider that demands a lot of front end feel when he’s racing, if any one thing is off, just a fraction, he can tell.

Another cool interaction Josh had was with our Canadian boys from the Rockstar Energy Drink OTSFF Team. Since they had just started to use Pirelli Tires, both the mechanics and their riders (with the exception of Goerke who ran Pirellis in 2014) were unfamiliar with the models available to them. It took a 30 minute sit down with Pirelli technician Doug Schopinsky to get all the facts MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE

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As I mentioned before, the Pirelli group is a close knit group and they’re very proud of their product line. They’re proud of their riders and they’re proud of the fact that consumers can go out and buy the same tires that the top Pirelli riders use, with the exception of the cool yellow versions.

and specs on the table. It was cool to see experienced riders like Bobby Kiniry and Kyle Chisholm sitting there like they were in a classroom, listening to every word Doug had to say. At this level, though, that is what has to happen as these riders can’t aff ord to be uncomfortable with any part of their machine once they get on the track. As a former racer, I always loved when people took the time to explain things to me. I remember Chris Bondi of Bondi Engines was one guy who would always take the time to talk to me about the engines he built. It was great to see the Pirelli Team take the time with each rider and team manager to go over what might or what might not work on the hard packed slippery Vegas track.

Even though we were at the track all day on Friday, it went by very fast. Before I knew it we were all cleaned up and sitting at dinner with the JGR Yamaha Team. The JGR Team has been with Pirelli the longest, and because of this, they know each other very well and have a lot of stories to share. Listening to them speak about the past and the future was very 52

interesting. While I was listening to JGR Team owner Coy Gibbs speak about 2015, I got a real sense that with their new rider, Justin Barcia, they feel like they’ll be a championship contender in 2015. With Barcia’s speed and tenacity it’s hard to argue with Coy’s thoughts.

After a delightful and informative dinner, my wife and I decided to walk off the calories by exploring the famous Las Vegas Strip. As you walk from one magnificent hotel to the next, it’s easy to ignore the fact that by the end of the night you’ve walked about ten miles. I was definitely wishing that I had some Pirelli treads on my shoes.

Saturday in Vegas was race day. As we headed back to the track, the light hearted conversation wasn’t quite as abundant as the day before. Everyone, including me, was just a little more focused as there is always more at stake on race days. As soon as we arrived at the track, Josh was gone on his daily ‘walkabout’ talking to the Pirelli teams and getting a feel for what they might need as the day went on. I tried to keep up but I couldn’t, so I headed back to the Pirelli support truck to

keep Doug and Tat company as they changed tire after tire. Between the two of them, they must’ve changed 75 tires each day for all the teams. I was a little bummed that not all the Pirelli riders wanted to run the yellow tires once the racing began. Again, riders will be riders and they’re not big on change, even if they look amazing!

Once the racing was underway at the Monster Energy Cup, a calmness seemed to come over all the Pirelli crew. They knew that, as a group, they’d done everything possible to make sure their teams were looked after, and now it was time for the riders to do what they do best…race! Oh sure, Doug and Tat were still changing the odd tire and Josh was still gathering information from the teams, but at this point the race program is moving so quickly that there isn’t time for major changes.

This is when all the homework and all the miles Josh and his staff clock pays off, after walking around the pits on Friday and Saturday afternoon, making sure everyone, including the Rockstar Energy Drink OTSFF Yamaha Team, was looked after. Even though I took with me a tremendous amount of knowledge about the inner workings of Pirelli at the race track, one aspect that really stood out was the level of support a rider or team gets at the track. Whether you’re Chad Reed, Andrew Short or Bobby Kiniry, you know you’re in great hands at the races with the Pirelli family.

As the night rolled on in Vegas and Davi Millsaps rode off to a very popular victory, there was a mixed bag of results for the Pirelli team. On one hand, their riders didn’t get the results they were looking for in the main events. However, on the other hand, the feedback they received and the product testing they executed under pressure-filled race conditions certainly served them well

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Five Questions

with Pirelli Tire Technician Doug Schopinsky

MXP: At the 2014 Monster Energy Cup the riders are faced with ever changing soil conditions. As a tire company, what does Pirelli do to adapt to tracks like this?

DS: The dirt here in Vegas is diff erent than anywhere else. It has a lower clay content than most SX tracks so most of the time when we’re here it just gets blue grooved. However, with it being overcast this morning, it didn’t dry out as much so we’re seeing the dirt crumble a bit. This is when it’s tough for us because the track is going to be constantly changing throughout the evening. When it’s like this we just rely on the rider feedback we get and what they want, and also our experience. There aren’t too many soil conditions we haven’t seen before.

For tonight’s race, the riders are going to have a track that is really hard packed in some sections, but in others, like the starting line, it’s really loose. Will the riders choose their tire based on what the start is like so at least they have a good chance of getting off the gate well?

Yes and no, each rider is obviously an individual so they’re all diff erent. To some of our riders the start is all they’re thinking about so they’ll go that way, while others who are just good starters, they won’t care and they’ll choose a tire that is catered to the entire track. A big part of my job is being around these riders long enough that I kind of know their tendencies and I know what to expect from each rider.

One of the things that I’ve noticed this weekend is that Pirelli seems to have a great relationship with the riders they support.

I believe we do, we definitely work hard at it, for sure. I’ve been around a long time and I’ve seen the sport change a lot over the years. With today’s riders you have to have good back and forth communication with them.

There’s a lot at stake for them and for us in this sport, so communication is definitely the key.

Pirelli is now working with Chad Reed and his team. Obviously he’s one of the older riders in the sport, and sometimes as you get older you get very set in your ways. You’ve worked with Chad before so you know him, what’s he like to work with?

Chad is a very analytical person and he certainly knows how he wants his bike set up. He’s also very opinionated and likes to speak his mind, which is great for us because it means that we always get great feedback from him. For instance, you will never hear him ask what set-up another rider is running. He knows what he wants to accomplish on the track so he does what he wants. One of the many good qualities about Chad is that he isn’t afraid to try diff erent things, even throughout the night. It might be a diff erent tire or just an air pressure change. He seems to have a great feel for what his bike is doing and what needs to be done to make it work better.

as they head into the 2015 Monster Energy Supercross Series. During their post-race meeting, everyone was very optimistic about the night’s racing and how the Pirelli riders faired. Even Chad Reed, who raced only two of the three main events that night, said he loved the new Pirelli tires that he tested at the Monster Energy Cup and he was looking forward to getting everything dialed in during the off-season.

As we loaded up the Pirelli support truck and I said goodbye to my new friends, they were as excited as I was that we were able to experience the race weekend together. As I mentioned before, the Pirelli group is a close knit group and they’re very proud of their product line. They’re proud of their riders and they’re proud of the fact that consumers can go out and buy the same tires that the top Pirelli riders use, with the

exception of the cool yellow versions.

I learned so much in just two days that I was exhausted. However, in true Vegas fashion, I mustered up enough energy to meet up with the OTSFF guys at the MGM Grand for some farewell fist pumping. Although one of their riders, Bobby Kiniry, was a little sore after breaking his hand in the LCQ a few hours earlier, the talk turned to Pirelli tires and how excited he was to be part of the Pirelli family in 2015. I definitely agreed with Bobby K, as the 48 hours that I was given a seat at the Pirelli table was a weekend I’ll never forget. With a lineup of riders like Chad Reed, Justin Barcia and the entire Rockstar Energy Drink OTSFF Yamaha Team, 2015 looks to be a very successful year for Pirelli Tires. Who knows, by this time next year, maybe everyone will have to agree that yellow is the new black!

You mentioned air pressure. If, say, Chad Reed wanted a change, how much are we talking about with a rider at his level?

For a rider like Chad, half a pound of pressure could be the diff erence between the bike being great or it being unrideable. Again though, it’s diff erent for each rider and these are some of the things that the Pirelli crew and I have to know. Also, what we learn here we pass on to our amateur teams, our dealers and ultimately our consumers, so everyone ends up with the same knowledge.

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If there were a ‘Canadian Motocross Hall of Fame,’ Doug Dehaan’s name would no doubt be on that shortlist.

Growing up in London, Ontario, Dehaan was a top contender in Ontario and in regional Michigan events. When he got onto big bikes, he fell in love with the technicality of indoor racing, and at 16, Dehaan was already trying to qualify for AMA Supercross events.

While his Canadian counterparts chased titles in their own country, Dehaan sought after his own dreams, which included AMA Motocross and Supercross, and European indoor events during the off-season. He was fast outdoors but Dehaan admits supercross is what he enjoyed the most—and he made a good living doing it at times.

When supercross came to an end each spring, Dehaan, now a sales rep for Fox Racing Canada, would return to his country and fight against guys like Blair Morgan, Jean-Sebastien Roy and Marco Dube for Canadian Championships. He rode for top teams like Morgan Racing Suzuki, Two Wheel Kawasaki, Blackfoot Honda, Yamaha (DANNY, WASN’T THIS THE BLAIR MORGAN TEAM?), and earned an all-expense paid supercross experience with the Butler Brothers Honda team.

Now 38-years-old, and having kissed a girl, Dehaan continues to ride and race as much as he can. Some former pros hang ’em up, but not Dehaan.

In fact, the Canadian surprised the SoCal cool kids when he schooled them at the Transworld Magazine Industry Cup race this past summer. Read on to how one of Canada’s greatest talents and overall good guys of Canadian moto has been keeping busy.

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Q U I E T S U C C E S S MXP: Hey Dougie D, it’s been a while. Give us a quick update on where you’re living and how your family is doing?

Doug Dehaan: I’m living in Steinbach, Manitoba, just outside of Winnipeg. My wife and I have been here a few years while I’ve been working for Fox. It gets a little cold; actually, it’s starting to snow today.

I believe you have one child? Or two now?

We have a boy on the way. We’re due in February. Of course, I do have a son with a previous relationship.

It’s tough because I don’t get to see him as much as I’d like. Hopefully, when he’s older and can fly, he can come over here and we can see each other more often. It would be cool for him to experience Canada.

I enjoy that feeling and miss it. Now it is fun to hang out with the guys and do it on my own terms.

the end of the race, I tend to back it down and try to finish without crashing [laughs].

Would you ever consider a return to the Canadian Nationals, even for one race?

If I was riding enough and felt like it wasn’t going to be 10 to 15 minutes of decent riding, followed by 15 minutes of survival, I might entertain it. I haven’t been at that level for a few years and it’s not what I want to be doing for that last half of the race. I think back to Doug Dubach in 2000 when he laid a beating on the Canadian series; he was 40

Manitoba has some good tracks. Where do you ride?

Grunthal is close to me and it’s one of the better tracks. They keep it watered and groomed. Growing up in Ontario, we didn’t have much of that for a Wednesday night - a watered and groomed track - so it’s neat for Manitoba to have that and it helps the scene for sure.

You were definitely one of Canada’s greatest motocross racers, Doug.

You were always a contender at Canadian Nationals, indoor events, and nearly won some European supercross titles. Not to mention you qualified for countless AMA Supercross and Motocross events.

Unfortunately, you’re one of those guys who never left with a Canadian title. Why do you think that is?

I could have stuck with just the Canadian series my whole career and rode MX2 my whole career until I won that, but I didn’t have my focus on accomplishing that. I got sidetracked with Europe and the US. My heart was always racing in the US. Was it the best to set my sights on that then also try winning a Canadian championship? Probably not. Colton (Facciotti) and these guys opt out of everything, except training and racing the Canadian nationals. I got into the US scene and Europe and never really said “I’m going to focus however long it takes to win a Canadian championship.” I came close a few times (to winning a title). I can’t say you create your own luck, but I had some bad luck that kept me from winning titles in Canada.

Is he into motocross?

He’s in his first year of school and he loves his BMX; he’s really good on two wheels. At two years-old, he was out on the sidewalk on a scooter.

He’s always been a fan of it.

What’s your sales territory with Fox dealers?

Thunder Bay out to Saskatoon and everything in between. It’s a pretty good loop and requires quite a bit of driving at times, but the benefit is that I can work from home.

When it is time to hit the road, you just go. I’m kind of used to it from racing. I see a lot of familiar faces from racing and I enjoy going to the stores, so it’s been good.

Are you still riding and racing when you can?

Yeah, I ride a Kawasaki 450. I’m happy to be on that. I do a handful of local races in Manitoba and try to hang with the young kids [laughs]. There are a bunch of fast kids coming up. I’m usually working myself into shape throughout the season but I love getting on the bike as much as I can. Sometimes work gets in the way but I still try to ride. I rode really well at the Transworld Industry Cup, and towards end of season I started to feel pretty comfortable.

years old. Then John Dowd, well into his 40s, he was still going hard—and still has potential doing it. When you put it into perspective, it’s pretty amazing those guys did that.

Feeling good enough to tackle a 30-minute national moto?

That would be tough to say. A practice track is one thing, and you think you have it for 20 to 30 minutes—but a national and race-day mode is totally different. I remember how it is. I do miss being exhausted and feeling totally spent at the end of the day. I try to ride like that during practice.

Who are the fast guys in Manitoba right now?

Josh Penner, of course, he races at a few local events. Ryan Millar is the fastest Manitoba guy. He goes fast for sure. Jimmy Decotis—he came up a few times this summer. It’s pretty cool to see a guy his speed on the track and be out there with him.

I beat a few of them here and there, but it’s fun to be up front and battle for a little bit. If I get tired at

Were you racing supercross right away at 16?

Yeah, I was. I got moved up early in the States when they heard I was riding nationals in Canada.

I started riding supercross at 16. It was definitely too early and I was not ready for that. It would have been better to stay as an amateur, but it was a different mentality back then, it was about moving up as fast as you could.

You were great at both, but all things considered, supercross seemed to favour your riding style and interests the most?

Yeah, supercross was always my favourite thing to race. Even arenacross wasn’t as much fun; too

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tight and a similar track every weekend. I always felt supercross was my strong suit. It was the kind of racing that I liked to do and that’s what I went after.

In BC, I like how things look when you get out there.

From a travel perspective, I like going to BC; trackwise, Ulverton.

What are your best memories from racing Supercross?

Early on, back in ’96, I was finishing in the top-10 and had a sixth in St. Louis. I was riding in fourth-place for some time, had a tip over and then Deegan and someone else got me. Later on, racing for the Butler Brothers Team and having that full set-up, of being flown to the races— which was a milestone to me, because most of the time I was taking care of myself and my own expenses. There was a brief period where I raced supercross with Blackfoot as well.

There are lot of different lifestyles top racers lead.

Some get caught up in the partying, some focus on training. What kind of lifestyle did you lead outside of racing?

I always trained hard and spent a lot of time in the gym; I did my homework that way. With Nationals, you can’t get away with it (partying), but maybe in some arenacrosses it was a factor. My first team with Morgan Racing Suzuki in ‘94, my teammates were guys like Mike Jones and Rich Taylor. My introduction to a pro team was different than I ever imagined [laughs]. Racing Quebec arenacross in itself was a whole different scene. It was not the most helpful for my career but it was an experience.

There were a few different approaches to racing in my career, but to make it any distance in this sport, you need to stick to the training regimen.

I think my best Doug Dehaan moment is when you and Tyler Evans got into on the track in the LCQ in Detroit.

Did you guys ever shake hands after that incident?

No, we didn’t. It went down in the pits. The Butler Brothers were pissed and Forest (Butler) was right there ready to tackle the guy. It all went down in the pits after that. I was laughing at Evans going off the track and he was grinning back. They (security) thought we were over it, but then he drove into our pits and just sat in a lawn chair. He wouldn’t leave.

The crowd gathered around and then the AMA officials came him and got him to leave.

Who do you see as the next big thing in Canadian motocross?

Cole (Thompson) is one of my favourite riders. He’s one of the guys I‘m rooting for. I think it’s amazing what Casey Keast did down at the Monster Cup, and being on center stage like that. I don’t know much about that rider, but it was awesome to see him down there and representing Canada so well.

The party scene doesn’t help your longevity, that’s for sure [laughs]. My guess is that you did pretty well for yourself over your racing career. Were you good with your earnings? Can you share how much you made during the best years?

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went to Europe and made five to six grand a night with a good weekend of racing. You could make more (in Europe) than your entire year racing in the US and Canada. I almost won some championships in Germany. Off season racing is where a lot of my income came from. If you were getting paid to race Canadian Nationals during that time, it was good too.

If you’re living off track purse, then you’re struggling; nickel and diming your way across the country. I don’t know what the guys are making these guys.

Anywhere from ’99 to 2006 I was making a good income from off season racing and a decent pay cheque from Canada and the US. I was able to put my money away and bought rental properties. I tried to hold onto the money, instead of spending it. I came away from racing with something and it left me with something to hold on to afterwards. I could expect to make 60 grand in Europe, from October to January, and then do the same the rest of the season in North America in my best years.

That’s good to hear, Doug. Some riders do manage their money well, but so many others spend it all. I suppose that’s true in life in general, though.

Coming from Canada, I tried to make it so that when the day came where I wasn’t racing, I wasn’t left with nothing. It’s not easy to keep that in mind and more difficult to do. I am thankful with the way things worked out; I enjoy working in the industry and still being a part of it.

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You’ve ridden for quite a few teams and on different brands of bikes. Which is the best bike you’ve ever raced?

One of my favourites was with Blair Morgan Racing in 2004. I had an ’04 YZ250 and loved that bike. It had Kayaba kit suspension that worked awesome.

The Honda 450 was great from ’06 to ’07; it was a nice bike to ride. Going back in the day, probably my Morgan Racing Suzuki 125 in ’94 to ’96 was pretty fast. If I had to pick one from each era of my racing career, it would be those three.

Toughest Canadian competitor?

(Marco) Dube and I found each other on the track quite often, on the Canadian scene anyways.

You’re originally from London, Ontario. Do you go back home often?

I haven’t lately; I need to get back there soon. We got married there two years ago back in London. I need to get back there shortly and see my family.

Which National track did you really enjoy racing on in Canada? Or maybe a city or town that was fun to visit?

I liked Ulverton in Quebec. It was sandy, had natural terrain and was a cool place to be. French fans are cool. The vibe in the Quebec scene is always good.

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Ho w E dmon t on, A lber t a’s Tr e v or Cer n y f ound a ‘ne w w a y ’ t o ch allenge f or ch ampion s hip s in t he C an adian Na t ion al s. I t i s n’ t che ap, bu t he lo v e s i t .

t didn’t happen on purpose, but sometimes the best things in life come that way.

Edmonton, Alberta’s Trevor Cerny has a deep passion for the sport of motocross. After beginning his addiction to the sport in 1987, Cerny began taking racing somewhat seriously, enough at least to have battled with guys like JSR in the early ‘90s. Nothing much came of his racing, no titles or #1 plate, but he would go on to purchase a piece of land in ’96, then two years later, open a motocross track that has ignited a spark to continue feeding his two wheeled addiction.

Cerny himself won’t be hitting the National starting line anytime soon, but he is in a position to challenge—legitimately—for #1 plates, albeit from a diff erent angle, with less risk and the need to hit the gym for endless hours. After inheriting Josh Clark’s services in 2013, the two would go to finish second overall in the MX2 championship. Most impressive is the fact that it was both their ‘first time’; Clark racing the nationals, Cerny managing a race team.

That success and rush propelled Cerny to keep running his Devils Lake MX race program. In fact, his passion runs so deep (and his pockets must too) that he expanded his team in 2014, adding MX1 riders Dylan Kaelin, David Gassin, and Women’s Champion Hailey Larson (girlfriend to Gassin as well). The expectation was to challenge for another MX2 title with Clark, get into the top fi ve in MX1 with Kaelin and/or Gassin, and win the team’s first championship with Larson.

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AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT It was a dream of Cerny’s to keep contending on the ‘national level’; he didn’t have any formal plans in place to become a team manager, it just sort of happened.

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“I came into the year as a sponsor,” recalls Cerny on his entrance into race team management at the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals. “We were doing suspension out of my shop and training at my facility with Josh. The man who brought Josh (Clark) up here became busy and had to step back. I ended up going down and picking up the rig, then Josh and I went racing. Being up on the podium certainly got me sucked back into the Canadian Nationals!”

Clark, who hails from Connecticut, came up to Canada in 2013 for his first full season of the Canadian Nationals. He would be challenging for the MX2 championship against guys like Austin Politelli, Kaven Benoit, Topher Ingalls, Brad Nauditt, and more. Despite limited support and experience on Canadian soil—and a rookie team manager at the wheel—Clark and his Devils Lake KX250F reeled off many podiums and an overall win; they were bona fi de championship contenders before the series hit Gopher Dunes in the East.

“Calgary was the breaking point for us,” says Cerny. “Round one in Nanaimo was tough; very frustrating for Josh, but we still had a fi fth in Nanaimo. We then had a fourth in Kamloops. It was a lot of mental work, getting Josh to believe that he belonged up there. I got Frenchie (Luc Caouette) to build me an engine and we installed it on Friday before Calgary. We got on the podium and never looked back.”

From the eastern seaboard, Clark is more than comfortable in the sand and has lots of experience on tracks like Southwick. It showed in Deschambault, Quebec when Clark went 2-2 on the day to claim his first win in Canada. “It was probably the best riding of my life!” he remembers happily.

In only their first year on the circuit, Devils Lake,

Cerny and Clark would go on to finish second overall in the 2013 MX2 Championship, only seven points behind Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki’s Austin Politelli, also an American rider but from the west coast of Southern California. A surprise to some but Cerny’s mantra is consistency and top fi ves, and it paid off.

WHO PAYS THE BILLS? It’s not cheap racing a full, 10-round professional motocross racing series. So who in the heck foots the bill for Cerny? He had three riders this year, two on 450Fs and one a 250F. That can amount to a lot of parts, especially at the speeds Kaelin and Gassin are going. With all of the manufacturers tied up with other teams, there would not be many left overs for a ‘satellite’ team it seemed. “I do [laughs],” answers Cerny, on who pays the bills for Devils Lake to go racing. “The last two years I’ve been the sole proprietor. They do take care of their own practice bikes, but we provide a bike for the nationals, a good amount of parts and we cover most of the expenses.

I put all my Devils Lake track money and our clothing line into the sport. Of course, this is my hobby. Some people go sledding in the winter, I go racing in the summer. Now that I’ve spent two years branding my name, I want to get another title sponsor to brand their name and get the exposure.”

It’s not the way he wanted to save money this past summer, but with injuries striking down most of Cerny’s riders, it prevented some parts from leaving their wrappers.

“I went a full season wondering if we were going to run out of parts, but the track ended up cleaning out most of my team—mentally and physically [laughs],” he adds.

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“I t w a s a dr e am o f Cer n y ’s t o k eep con t ending on t he ‘n a t ion al le v el;’ he didn’ t h a v e an y f or m al plan s in place t o become a t e am m an ager, i t ju s t s or t o f h appened.”

Moving forward, Cerny wants to increase sponsorship of his team, his parts supply and ensure details are covered to get Devils Lake back onto the podium.

“We need support and good backing to get this team to that next level,” he continues, “We’ve got most of the bikes sold, that’s positive. My goal would be to get some parts money and bikes to use for the year.

That’s about it.”

A modest proposal it seems for a team that has finished runner-up in a championship, won a women’s title last year with Hailey Larson (she also qualified for her men’s pro national), and had the top privateer with an 8th overall in MX1 with Dylan Kaelin. As we all know, however, budgets keep getting tighter and it takes wins to get companies to open their wallets.

Cerny strongly believes that 21-year-old Kaelin can get him and his sponsors back onto the box.

“Dylan finished 8th last year while DNFing four of the races. That’s remarkable,” says Cerny. “He carried the flag and I look forward to seeing what he can do this year. Our focus is staying in the top fi ve. Anything is possible at the end of the year. He showed several times that he can run the pace of guys like Tyler Medaglia, Teddy Maier and those who have been on the podium or have won races.”

What’s needed exactly to get Kaelin up fi ve more spots? “Starts,” replies Cerny. “He needs to start up front consistently, but he has the speed and determination to stay up there.”

Kaelin, who’s been racing pro since 2009 and spent the last two years racing MX1, believes he can be one of “those guys” in the premiere 450 class.

“For me, it’s doing more testing, working on bike setup and trying things that I’ve never been able to do before,” answers Kaelin on things he needs to work on to battle for podiums. “I have the skill and conditioning; there’s plenty of time ahead of me and I want more time to be committed

to racing full time. That would help. Having the resources to do testing and improve bike setup is important. There were a few motos where I struggled with setup and suspension. Next year I want to be a top fi ve guy. With more pre-season testing and riding, I think I will be there.”

At press time, Cerny is speaking with a few diff erent manufacturers but it looks like Yamaha will most likely be their home, and of course, they will remain with the Riverside dealership in Edmonton, Alberta.

“This fall has been super busy, with me working in the oil fields and trying to pay for all of this,” says Cerny. “I am talking to some diff erent brands and also riders. I only want to run with two main racers next year and focus on them. Maybe a third rider, which would be Josh Clark in MX1 if he is 100% healed from his eye injury and is ready to challenge for a championship.”

By all accounts, we can expect to see Kaelin back with Devils Lake. He and Cerny have become good friends and enjoy a great working relationship as well, each doing what they can to contribute to better results.

“They learned a lot more about racing this year than last year,” observes Kaelin from his first year on Devils Lake. “There were times in 2013 when Josh’s bike had a broken piston and they only noticed it after tearing it down after a race, but somehow the thing held on [laughs]. There was a point (in 2014) when I ordered a $1,000 worth of parts for myself: tubes, clutches and consumables that often need replacing. The team saw that and appreciated it; they had already taken a big bite supporting us. I’m excited to go into the second year with Devils Lake; I think we both learned a lot this year working together.”

There is one vacant spot on Devils Lake, and that’s reserved for MX2 talent. Cerny would like to be challenging for podiums in both classes but has yet to confirm a rider in the small bike class. “I have talked with Blake

Above: For the second year in a row, Hailey Larson dominated the CMRC Western Canadian Women’s Nationals by winning every moto.

Below: Under the watchful eye of the Devils Lake Yamaha Team, Dylan Kaelin had his best season as a Pro fi nishing eighth overall in the highly competitive MX1 class.

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Savage and Topher Ingalls,” he admits. “They both came to me, actually. It was the same with Kaelin, they all contacted me through Instagram asking about riding for me. It’s too early to say who we will go with. We learned a lot on the 250F last year, though, and I think we can build a really strong bike next year.”

Cerny has enjoyed a friendship with Doug Dubach since Dubach won his Canadian title in 2000. The two continue to stay in touch, and Dr. D looks after a lot of Cerny’s engine work. Don Ellis of Pro Action Suspension has been another key component to keeping Devils Lake’s bikes competitive against the factories. “Motovan as well, and also GM Stetson have been big supporters of ours,” notes Cerny on his primary sponsors.

CERNY’S VISION With two years of managing a professional race team under his belt, what has Cerny learned most? “It’s an individual sport, and then trying to mix a team into an individual sport.

Everyone has diff erent personalities. To make that gel is the toughest thing. The big challenge is keeping everyone positive and working together, even if you’re competing against the guy beside you. Trying to keep the comraderies and everyone smiling was difficult. Ten weekends is a long time.”

As far as vision goes, it’s no diff erent for Cerny compared to Andy White, Andre Laurin, Jason Hughes, Derek Schuster, Josh Snider, or any other team manager on the Canadian circuit: he wants to win.

“That’s our goal,” states Cerny. “I want to find guys who want to race and go after championships. I want to take it from the factory teams. This is a new way for me to get a title and still be part of the action. There’s more to it than being the best rider, it’s mental too. We were seven points away from taking a title with Josh. Our local kids love it when our riders hang out at the tracks and teach schools. That’s what it’s about, giving these young riders something to aspire to.”

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BACK IN THE GAME MXP Gets The First Ride On The 2015 RM-Z450 This time of year is always exciting as all of the motorcycle manufacturers are in the process of releasing their new models for 2015. In some instances they will release one of these models for the media to test, for which they give their all-important feedback.

These press launches are very important to both the media outlets as well as the manufacturers. For all of the motorcycle companies, the feedback from the media is very important as these days, with social media being what it is, news can travel very fast.

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his past summer MXP Magazine was invited by Suzuki Canada to California for their two day press launch of the 2015 RM-Z450.

With the recent success on the track by their top rider, James Stewart, as well as the newly signed Ken Roczen, Suzuki was very excited for the release of this bike as it now comes stock with some of the features that James has been using in 2014.

The two tracks that Suzuki chose for this press launch were Zaca Station and the famous Castillo Ranch, located minutes apart in the Santa Barbara region of California. Both of these tracks have proven to be great testing grounds in the past and this time it was no different. Even with the surrounding area very dry from the rainless California summer, the track conditions were moist as the track owners went to great lengths to ensure the conditions were near perfect for the visiting media.

As we all arrived and prepared to ride, an R44 Helicopter flew in and to all of our surprise, Factory Yoshimura Suzuki James Stewart hopped out. Not only were the media going to ride the new 2015 RM-Z450, but we were all going to get the once in a lifetime chance of riding with the former “Fasted Man on the Planet.” It was pretty cool to see all of the new Suzukis lined up for the media, and then the big #7 machine on the end waiting for Stewart.

As the fine people at Suzuki explained all of the new features on the 2015 RM-Z450, it quickly became clear that most of these changes have derived straight from James Stewart’s factory bike. Features like the Holeshot Assist and the new Showa SFF-Air Forks are both items that Stewart used to win races in 2014. As we listened to the Suzuki engineers going over this bike, it quickly became apparent that the 2015 RM-Z450 is built with one thing in mind: winning races. Before we get into how the Suzuki worked on the track, let’s look at some of the new features for 2015.

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Suzuki Holeshot Assist Control (S-HAC) The Suzuki Holeshot Assist Control (S-HAC) is a selectable launch mode system derived straight from Stewart’s factory race bike to help riders launch from the starting gate. There are three modes for riders to choose the best option for their skill level and riding conditions.

For hard surfaces or less than ideal conditions at the starting gate, a rider can use A- mode. To get the S-HAC into A-mode, you hold down the switch for more than 0.7 seconds. When there is better traction and a more aggressive launch is needed, hold down the S-HAC switch for more than 1.8 seconds; this will get you into B-mode. This system is smooth and works great. These days, racing demands that you get off the gate well; this S-HAC will help you get to the first turn before anyone else.

The launch control shuts off when the throttle has been open for 4.5 seconds or when the bike shifts into fourth gear.

The Showa SFF-Air Front Fork The SFF-Air suspension is an evolution of the SFF system with no coil spring, reduced weight, increased inner tube diameter, and increased damper rod/ piston size. The SFF-Air is made of three chambers; riders change the

spring rate with an air pump instead of changing out the coil springs. This next generation fork is the answer to Air Forks with the extra adjustability that the three chambers offer to riders.

You can have any fork set up you want for any type of track. With so much adversity surrounding air forks, it’s great to see a company like Showa give the general public virtually the same equipment that the factory riders use.

Increased Cooling and a Larger Kickstarter With complaints in the past about the RM-Z450 being hard to start, for 2015 Suzuki added some length to the kickstart lever. This added length allows any rider to kick the bike over a lot easier; even when the bike was hot it was easy to start. This was another item that came directly from Stewart’s factory bike as James used to find his Suzuki hard to start until they lengthened his kickstart lever.

Once the 2015 RM-Z450 gets started and you start putting in motos, this new Suzuki’s engine stays cooler thanks to a new Y-shaped radiator hose connection. This new shaped connector, along with a new water pump cover, allows for better water flow, plus cooling is increased by a staggering 16%.

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Redesigned Frame Finally for 2015, Suzuki took another page out of their factory effort and redesigned the frame on the RM-Z450. Since we’ve all watched James Stewart on numerous occasions, we know that he loves to throw his Suzuki around. To ride like this, Stewart needs a quick handling, light motorcycle.

On the 2015 RM-Z450, the engineers redesigned the frame to add rigidity and reduce weight. Both these changes work together to help the Suzuki be one of the quickest handling bikes in its class.

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Sometimes when a manufacturer makes a lot of changes to one of their models, the changes don’t immediately add up to quick lap times on the track. However, for 2015, the new RMZ450 is an absolute joy to ride on the track. Since I don’t have a lot of experience riding Suzukis, I was very eager to throw my leg over the bike to see why James Stewart is so fast.

Right away it was easy to tell that this new generation RMZ450 is built around Stewart.

The bike turns very well, and in the air it feels light and nimble. Although I don’t scrub very well, this bike made me feel like I could. With the seat and tank area being very flat, it’s very easy to slide forward for the corners and then slide back to transfer your weight to get the power to the ground.

On both tracks that we tested, there were certain sections that demanded a quick handling and balanced motorcycle.

On these important sections the 2015 RM-Z450 performed brilliantly, and allowed me to focus on hitting the line I wanted and not worry about what the bike was going to do. On the modern day 450s, this is exactly what riders are looking for.

Finally, the question I get asked the most these days is, “How do the Air Forks work?” Like fuel injection was as few years ago, these triple chamber Showa SFF-Air Forks are the answer. With the new bottom chamber, a rider can set the forks up the way they want and then adjust the actual ride height on the front end, much like you already do with the sag on the back end.

Once properly adjusted, these new forks worked great on the track. Almost all of the harshness that many riders complained about with the original air forks is now gone. If you’re a rider who likes to run their forks on the soft side, with the new Showa SFF-Air Forks, you can run them soft. To keep

your 450 from feeling front end low, you simply adjust the bottom chamber to make the front end sit up.

With great handling, solid power and brand new, updated suspension, this 2015 RM-Z450 is exactly what the doctor ordered for the modern day motocross bike. With its light and compact feel, this Suzuki seems perfectly suited to smaller riders. If you’re looking for a new bike that handles well and is fun to ride, you will love this new Suzuki. For some reason, Suzukis have fallen a little off the map in recent years in Canada. However, after speaking to the people that make up Suzuki Canada, they feel very excited about working their way back into the sport in our Country. With a fine product like the 2015 RM-Z450, I think Suzuki won’t have any problem selling bikes and getting back to the top of the podium.

Thank you to Suzuki Canada and Suzuki USA for providing MXP Magazine the opportunity to not just ride the new RMZ450, but to ride it alongside the likes of James Stewart and Ivan Tedesco. It definitely was a great two days of riding.

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his past season started for me in the woods, in the dark, in two feet of snow with one and a half inch carbide studded tires, railing trails with a couple of my closest friends. I wasn’t sure what this year was going to bring, but I would be happy to get into pro level condition again and race a couple Second Gear club races. I had taken a couple years off prior so I could take care of family and a few family matters. As spring came and went, my speed started to come back and thoughts of Extreme Hard Enduros were flowing through my veins …

AGAIN! Once you do some of these very addictive events, it’s hard to forget them, even if they’re hours long and almost impossible to finish. I know there’s a lot of you out there that know exactly what I mean. To be fair, the original plan that my good friend and manager Doug Raffan and I had, was to get in shape and talk to the people we know (sponsors) and let’s see where it can take us; Erzberg 2015 perhaps?

Calls and emails were made and within a month or so we had a handful of supporters backing us for whatever mayhem we wanted to get ourselves into. It was a little eye opening to come back after a short hiatus and have people remember us and back us again by some of the best in the business.

Bowridge Sports Husqvarna, MRSI, Aaron Machine Shop, Forma Boots, 2UNDR, Emperor Racing, Cochrane Floors and More, Ryno Power, the Second Gear Club and Riders Edge Suspension, just to mention a few.

Red Bull Sea to Sky is classified as a hard enduro as it’s a three day long event. Day one consists of a beach race, which is basically a motocross with EnduroCross obstacles in the sand. This is mainly for spectators but it’s a boatload of fun; wide open, full gas for 25 minutes. Day two is a forest race; 65 kilometres, single track through the woods of Turkey, and day three is the main event. Depending on how you did on day one and two would determine your starting position for day

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three. Day three, the main event consists of gnarly, single track trails from sea level to about 2400 meters. The goal is to reach the top of Mount Olympus and be the first to do it.

For the beach on day one I was given the 32nd start position, so I was lined up by myself under the infamous Red Bull arch with the choice, straight over the 60 foot sand trench gap jump or the “chicken line,” which would have at least added 20 to 30 seconds to my lap time. Well, I’m no chicken and I didn’t come all this way to lose on the first day.

The Husqvarna’s revs were up and the Goldentyre tire was planted. The green flag went up and the clutch lever released from my right pointer finger; second to third gear and over the first of many Endurocross-style obstacles. Then it was onto a couple more obstacles, through a few big sandy berm turns and onto the long straightaway alongside the Turkish Riviera, fifth to sixth gear wide open and pinned. Then I came up fast to a floater jump over a water hole, that in 6th gear I barely made; hard on the brakes to a left hand turn past hundreds of cheering spectators onto a handful of more crazy obstacles.

Next, the riders had to ride under a fishing yacht, over two tractor trailers, over a set of tires, over two flipped cars, a couple more double jumps and through the Red Bull arch.

Done! My adrenaline was running high and I told my crew that there was nothing I could’ve done to have gone faster. Later that day, we found out that my time was good enough for 26th position for the day two start.

For day two, we headed into the forest. This was an individual start again, and about 60 to 70 km of forest single track. Your result would give you a start position in the main.

The trail was fast and kind of cool, a lot like home actually.

However, larger rocks and the trees were a bit gapped apart.

Within an hour and a half, I entered the last bit of trail, which was a large concrete canal that travelled from the mountain streams to the ocean. While following this section I was able

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SEA TO SKY to reel in two more racers and put passes on them both. Under the Red Bull arch and onto the beach.

Wow! That was fun. I wasn’t too tired so I parked my bike right where the waves were crashing onto the beach and sat there for a couple minutes to soak it all in. Racing in Turkey and representing Canada was pretty awesome! Next I stood up and jumped into the ocean to get cooled off. Nope, the ocean was warm!

Oh well, it was somewhat refreshing and I don’t get to do that in Alberta. Next, wait for results and plan the next day.

Main event time came early. We got up at about 6:45am and swallowed down breakfast and some Ryno Power, and off to grab my Husqvarna TE300.

Why anyone would ride anything else is beyond me.

Check the bike over and made sure my TCP-XPOWER crew had the bike perfect. All riders met and rode a couple kilometres to the day three starting point. I was in the third row of ten thanks to my 27th result from the previous day. The plan was to start hard and then ease up a bit because it was going to be a long day. I’ve been here before and I am no stranger to this type of racing. The flag went up, my right wrist twisted and the day began. I was third into the first turn and then I said ‘to heck with this,’ and with two gears up I led my group into the very-publicized canyon section. After the second check point my day

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went really bad.

While riding the ultra-cool rock bridges, my front brake went soft and went to the bar. Then as I bounced out of a deep water hole, I hit a bolder and bang!!...then crunch. The bike wasn’t moving forward anymore and I fell back into the water. I picked myself up to notice I derailed my chain, and it was all wedged in the front sprocket. Without hesitation, I picked the bike up out of the water went back through the water hole I just came through, lifted my bike up onto the nearest big boulder and used it as a bike stand. I opened my tool belt and started to work on the chain issue. About one litre of water poured out from my helmet, and yes, the heat and humidity was kicking my butt. With a little luck and about 30 minutes later, I managed to get the chain unbound from the front sprocket and back onto the rear sprocket. I had a quick look at the front brake and noticed I had a taco shell for a front rotor. An old trusty crescent wrench bent the disc as straight as I could get it. I put the tools back in the tool pouch and I was off. I’m not going to lie, I was pretty beat.

It took me a while to recover but by check point four I was clicking gears and pointing the front fender forwards, I was just going to keep on givin’ ‘er. As the checkpoints came and went, I was fully recovered and things were starting to look up. I

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constantly had battles with the same three riders; we entered sections together, we exited the sections in different positions. It was like our own little mini battle. As we continued to relentlessly climb up the side of the mountain, my new race buddies were still there. I began to pull away, and sadly, I didn’t see them anymore.

At checkpoint 10 (out of 14) we noticed that I only had a sliver of fuel left in the tank, and the next gas stop was between me and the next check point, but nobody could tell us how soon it was going to come. While we had a minute discussion and planned the best course of action, a fan jumped from the sidelines and said, “Hey Canada, you come with me. You need gas?” I followed this unknown man while he ran to a van a little ways up the dirt road. He swung the back doors open and inside was a dismantled dirt bike. He grabbed the fuel tank that was sitting against the wall, opened it and started to pour gas into my bike. It looked mixed, but at this point I wasn’t questioning it. Off again and onto the last part of the race.

As I reached checkpoint 13, a lady told me

that I had reached the silver medal position and I thought, “Oh yeah baby, I’m going to make it!” The last few miles were tough and it felt like this event just wouldn’t end. As I came out of the tree line and started up the final climbs to the summit, a tear rolled down my cheek. With my love for the sport and what I’ve been through in the last couple years, it meant so much to have the support of so many people. At one point not knowing if I was going to be a racer again, and not knowing where I would compare to the best riders, I was very happy that I still had it in me to finish a really hard race!

To have racers such as Paul Bolton cheering you on at the last obstacle before you pass through the final check on top of a mountain in a foreign country through a Red Bull arch ... it was all worth it. I was a little bummed that my crew couldn’t meet me right at that time on the summit due to some traffic and navigational difficulties, but before I got to jump on the gondola with my bike before going back down to sea level, I did meet up with them to celebrate. There was definitely some high fives all around!

What’s in store for Marty Halmazna and crew?

Well, hopefully the new year will start with more cool snow riding with buddies, and now that I have partnered with Canadian company FXR Racing as an Athletic Ambassador to help create, develop and test the best product in Off-Road, Moto-X and Adventure lines, who knows where we’ll end up? Probably on a mountain somewhere far, far away. I really want to give a big thanks to my team, my family and the people that follow my adventures. If there’s an event that you’re interested in, put this in your bucket and then go and do it! This was a super cool race, and the organizers did a tremendous job. Start to finish it was awesome. I think that the organizers have a real gem here and I can see this race going on for years.

Thanks to my cherished sponsors: Aaron Machine Shop, MRSI, 2UNDR, Projekt, Bowridge Sports, West & Eastern Drywall, Cochrane Floors, LimeNine, Mike at Goldentyre, Canada Husqvarna-Motorcycles, Castle Creek Homes, Emperor Racing, Rievers Construction, Germancarspecialist, Rynopower, Marco Dubé at Forma Boots and Lee at Riders Edge Suspension.

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M X P G E T S F I R S T R I D E O N T H E 2 0 1 5 H U S Q VA R N A F E 3 0 1 S A N D T H E F E 5 0 1 S

BY CHRIS POMEROY | PHOTOS BY STEVE COX

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s with most motocross riders, sometimes I get caught up thinking inside the box and only ride on motocross tracks. Of course there are some riders that ride whatever and wherever they can. Nathan Bles is a perfect example of a modern day Canadian motocross talent that loves to get out and ride pretty much anything he can. Recently, MXP Magazine was invited to California for the media launch of Husqvarna’s newest foray into the dual-sport motorcycle market, the 2015 Husqvarna FE350S and the FE501S. I was excited, curious and a little nervous to be honest, because as I mentioned I haven’t done a lot of dual purpose riding.

When Andy Jefferson, a former Husqvarna factory rider, made his presentation to the media, it quickly became evident that these two new motorcycles are not your typical dual-sport machines. Sometimes

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these types of bikes lack certain high performance features that come stock on their motocross or full enduro cousins. Important features like suspension, clutches and engine components are all of the premium nature of these new Husqvarnas.

The thinking and the development behind the 2015 FE350S and the FE501S fits right in with the company’s four main core values (Tradition, Racing, Sweden, Premium).

The dual-sport market is one of the fastest growing markets in North America, with riders of today looking for the unlimited flexibility of being able to ride to work and play on the weekend with the same machine.

Husqvarna seems to have timed the market perfectly with the release of these two new motorcycles. Here are a few of the premium features that grace the 2015 Husqvarna FE350S and the FE501S.

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WP 4CS Four-Chamber Fork: This 4CS front fork features WP’s newest suspension technology. Wrapped in a very lightweight package, this fork gives riders a supple and consistent feel regardless of what surface you‘re riding on. Whether you’re on the roads or ripping down a trail, this multifunctional fork is the best Husqvarna has to offer.

WP DCC Rear Shock: Husqvarna’s DCC (dual compression control) rear shock is also the best that Husqvarna has to offer.

Working together with the rear linkage system and the front forks, this shock offers riders a very balanced and predictable performance, again whether you’re on- road or off-road.

CNC Machined Triple Clamps: As with all of the Husqvarna line, the 2015 FE350S and FE501S come stock with very cool looking, black anodized CNC triple clamps. These clamps not only look great, but they’re perfectly set up to work in unison with the front forks to provide a steering angle that helps make these bikes as stable at high speed as they are in tight trails.

Cross Linked Polyamide Sub Frame: This innovative premium sub frame is reinforced with carbon fiber and provides a perfect platform. This unique, three piece design is made from a high tech composite material that allows for more flex than the usual aluminum sub frame. Since Husqvarna made this sub frame in three separate pieces, if you bend or break a section of it you only have to buy that particular section, not an entirely new sub frame. It really is an ingenious design and one that will be sure to save the consumer some money.

Other Key Premium Features: * Fuel Injection by Keihin with a 42mm throttle body.

The EFI system ensures that both motorcycles will run perfectly in any condition and at any elevation. * Husqvarna innovative DDS Clutch with a hydraulic lever. * Cooling Fan * Pankl Crankcase * TrailTech Enduro Computer * Hand Guards * Brembo Brakes * Electric Start 82 M O T O C R O S S P E R F O R M A N C E

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As you can see from all these features, the 2015 FE350S and the FE501S certainly cater to the increasingly demanding dual-sport market.

With power, comfort and great handling, both of these motorcycles are made for any surface or any condition you will find. After Andy Jefferson’s presentation, it was time to suit up and hit the roads with the media and visiting Husqvarna dignitaries.

This was the part that we were all looking forward to; this was the part that made me a little nervous.

As we headed northwest from the Husqvarna office in Murrieta, we first had to travel by highway to get out of the city. Initially, the speeds were somewhat slow as we had to endure multiple stop lights. However, after a few miles we were outside of town with the San Jacinto Mountain range in front of us. Of the entire ride that day, this was the part that made me a little uncomfortable as I’m not used to travelling at 75mph on a motorcycle. However, the first part of the ride did give me the opportunity to really get the feel of the new Husqvarna. Since I was given the FE501S for the first half of the ride, I was definitely not without an ample amount of horsepower underneath me.

Even at the speeds that we were travelling, the FE501S felt very stable; the shifting, the braking and the straight line handling was great. The ease at which this bike rode down the highway certainly increased my comfort level. Before I knew it, we made a right turn and we were into some of the most beautiful paved back roads I’ve ever seen. These roads had it all - hills, tight turns, sweeping turns and very scenic views. The FE501S, even with its knobby off-road tires, stuck to the road, and when it was time to brake, the WP 4CS fork kept the front end from diving and affecting the handling. After 20 miles on these roads, we passed through Hemet, California, bunched together like a dual-sport bike gang. Once past Hemet, we slowed down, made a hard left turn off the highway and there, right in front of us, were the dirt trails and a giant mountain.

Once we were on the dirt trails, the quality characteristics of the 2015 FE501S really came to life. For the next hour we were pretty much climbing up the side of a mountain. At times you could feel the

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air get cooler; we each felt the trail demanded more and more concentration. This is what off-road riding is really all about, I thought as we traversed these awesome trails. One aspect I quickly noticed about the FE501S was that the more aggressive a riding stance I used, the better the bike responded. So there I was, standing up, my head over the handlebars and my one finger on the clutch, riding the rough uphill trail as if I was back at Walton Raceway. The Husqvarna loved it, and when the trail ended and we pulled back onto the pavement again, there was a sign that indicated we were 6,000 feet above sea level.

Once we reached the small village of Idyllwild, we all stopped for lunch, then it was my turn to throw my leg over the smaller of the two bikes, the FE350S. To help make the second part of the ride a perfect comparison, we followed our tracks and headed back

to Murrieta the same way we came. This time I was descending down the same rough, eight foot wide trails. Even though the FE350 was slightly lighter and smaller than the FE501S, both bikes handled the same. The only differences were obviously the less amount of power in the 350 engine, plus the 350 did turn a little quicker when the trails got really tight.

Have you ever seen those commercials where someone is driving in a convertible car with their hair blowing in the wind and they have a huge smile on their face? Well, maybe with the exception of my hair blowing around, this is exactly how I felt as we rode back down the side of the mountain and back into Murrieta. Every so often I would come across a few whoops on the trail and with a quick snap of the throttle I turned them into a double, just as I would on a motocross track. That’s how versatile these new dualsport bikes are. By the time we reached the Husqvarna office, my TrailTech Enduro Computer read 111 miles.

Over a hundred miles of every type of road and trail you could imagine, climbing up to 7,000 feet and back down again. Both Husqvarna models handled it all very well and made me feel like a seasoned dual-sport rider.

With the emerging North American dual-sport market, the 2015 FE350S and FE501S are two fully street legal Husqvarnas that are set to take the industry by storm. With their premium features, great handling and familiar Husqvarna good looks, both of these bikes are a welcome sight in the dualsport world. They even made me want to do more offroad riding in the future. I guess at the end of the day, that’s the biggest compliment I can give these two motorcycles. We all had a great, safe day of riding in the San Jacinto Mountains. Thank you to Husqvarna for this awesome opportunity.

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Introducing

THE REKLUSE CORE MANUAL TORQ-DRIVE CLUTCH

BY CHRIS POMEROY PHOTOS BY REKLUSE AND JAMES LISSIMORE

n 2006, Rekluse Clutches were first brought to our attention. Back then they were strictly an automatic clutch that was meant to erase the effects of the dreaded engine braking of the four-strokes. Although the idea seemed like a good one, not everyone liked using it simply because it took away some of the engine’s torque and made the bike feel less powerful.

Since power and torque were what the modern day four-stroke was all about, the automatic clutch didn’t work very well for motocross.

Fast forward eight years and Rekluse has come up with the perfect solution to replace your OEM manual clutch. This innovative new product is called the Torq-Drive Manual Clutch, and so far it’s reinventing the aftermarket manual clutch industry. This past summer, all top national riders, like Bobby Kiniry, Shawn Maffenbeier and Kyle Chisholm, used the Rekluse Torq-Drive Manual Clutch to achieve multiple holeshots and moto wins.

The Torq-Drive clutch pack is comprised of twelve steel drive plates and twelve friction disks instead of the usual seven and eight plate pack. This is achieved using Rekluse thin friction and thin drive plate technology,

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resulting in benefits far beyond billet plates. When this technology is coupled with our highly engineered pressure plate and center hub, the result is something you can actually feel working to your benefit.

The clutch design by Rekluse works with any bike manufacturer. With the Rockstar Energy Drink OTSFF Yamaha Team using this product in 2014, the team quickly discovered two benefits. The first feature the team noticed was the Torq-Drive Clutch was an instant holeshot device. From the moment the OTSFF riders inserted the Rekluse Clutch, the holeshots started coming. Another aspect they found from using the Torq-Drive was the durability of the clutch. In the world of pro motocross, the riders are very hard on their equipment, and they demand the best out of their machines and the parts that are installed. The Rekluse Torq-Drive Clutch fits right in with the high performance and quality products that the Rockstar Energy Drink OTSFF Yamaha Team used in 2014.

OTSFF Team Manager and head technician, Adam Robinson, had nothing but positive comments about the Torq-Drive Clutch. “The first thing that comes to mind with the Rekluse Torq-Drive Clutch is holeshots, especially with Bobby! Once we installed it on his bike he started holeshotting all the time. He just loves how the bike released off the line with this clutch. We were also very impressed with its durability. Sometimes we’d go two weekends before installing a new one.

That’s pretty unheard of at the pro level. We love this clutch and we’ll be using it again in 2015.”

As you can see, this new and exciting product from Rekluse is something that riders at all levels will benefit from. If you’re looking for an aftermarket manual clutch that is both durable and works well, this is the product for you. For more information on this clutch and all of the Rekluse products, go to www.rekluse. com or visit their Canadian distributor’s website www.mongoosemachine.com.

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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MXP’S HOLIDAY GEAR GUIDE

2UNDR DAY SHIFT $24.99

2UNDR SWING SHIFT™ $24.99

The Day Shift is 2UNDR’s newest addition to the family. This style takes things as close back to a traditional feel of underwear as possible, while still offering its patent pending Joey Pouch™ technology, giving its wearer the most comfortable feeling. The Day Shift model is made from a cotton/ modal blend and has four colourways, each with a unique pattern.

With its patented Joey Pouch™ technology, the Swing Shift will be the most comfortable day to day underwear that guys will ever wear. Joey Pouch technology supports your equipment, eliminates any skin on skin contact, and makes chaffing, adjusting, and any discomfort a thing of the past. Its No Drip Tip™ moisture control layer keeps the wearer dry for those busy, singleshake type of days. For the ultimate day-to-day underwear, the Swing Shift can’t be beat.

Distributed in Canada by www.rampionent.com

Distributed in Canada by www.rampionent.com

METAL MULISHA DASH BEANIE $23 Fitted beanie with logo screen print on wearer’s left side and logo embroidery at center back. www.metalmulisha.com

FOX COOLMAX MARZ THIN SOCKS The Coolmax Marz Socks are a thin fit with Coolmax technology. The Coolmax socks feature friction absorption, moisture management and durability. www.foxhead.com/ca

2UNDR GEAR SHIFT – RONNIE RENNER 2UNDR GEAR SHIFT™ $29.99 EDITION $29.99 Made from a blend of polyester/ 2UNDR has proudly partnered with action sports celebrity Ronnie Renner to develop a limited edition pair of Gear Shift™. Renner chose to have his signature pair of 2UNDR’s in his favourite KTM orange colourway, and added a bike tread pattern onto the fabric. Still offering all the amazing style and comfort that the 9” compression-like cut, and patented Coldskin™ material lining that Joey Pouch™ has to offer.

Distributed in Canada by www.rampionent.com

spandex material, the Gear Shift™ is an athletic, compression-like pair of underwear with a 9” inseam that was developed with the athlete in mind.

2UNDR has lined its Joey Pouch™ with Garmatex’s™ Coldskin™ material, made out of crushed jade. Coldskin™ supplies the wearer a cooler atmosphere for their equipment, lowering the body temperature up to 6 degrees!

Distributed in Canada by www.rampionent.com

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METAL MULISHA FOOT PRINT L/S $30 Long sleeve tee with front high density screen print and RealTree camo fill.

FMF HIGH POINT $28

www.metalmulisha.com

Flexfit X-fit cap with FMF woven label on crown and rear detail embroidery. www.fmfracing.com

GEARING UP

FMF VOLUTE $25 The FMF Volute Tee is a short sleeve ringspun tee with soft hand plastisol inks.

100% cotton. www.fmfracing.com

FOX 40 YEAR ZIP HOODY Celebrate 40 years of innovation with the limited edition hoody with bold retro styling from days past. Featuring the Fox Head applique printed on the chest area and screen print art on sleeves.

The self-lined hood also features logo aglets. www.foxhead.com/ca

METAL MULISHA DESTROYER $64 Yarn dye plaid made of lightweight brushed flannel. Patch pockets at chest, top stitch detail at left pocket, and canvas label at left chest pocket and back yoke. www.metalmulisha.com

FMF FLIPTOP HOODIE $90 The FMF Fliptop Hoodie is a 240 gram hooded zip fleece with sherpa lining, chest applique and custom zipper pull. www.fmfracing.com

METAL MULISHA RAINFALL PREMIUM $31 Premium cotton short sleeve tee with front oversized screen print. www.metalmulisha.com M O T O C R O S S P E R F O R M A N C E · M X P M A G . C O M 87

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100% CELIUM GLOVE $36.99

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Take flight with the Celium. The ultralight styling makes it feel as if you’re wearing nothing at all. The cuffless stretch-poly top hand increases comfort with an ultra-lightweight feel. The perforated singlelayer Clarino palm allows for superior airflow and comfort.Trek-Dry finger gussets enhance mobility and wick away moisture.

Distributed in Canada by www.matrixracingproducts.com and www.partscanada.com

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FIVE GLOVES MXF PRO RIDER $59.99

The MXF Pro Rider’s palm is made of Clarino and includes gel padded palm reinforcement. Wrist adjustment is accomplished with a Velcro™ closure.

The exterior is made from elastic, vented fabric with soft TPR imprint. The fingertips are covered in mesh fabric, while inside the fingers is made of heavy Lycra™.

Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com 3

FLY RACING PRO LITE RACE GLOVE

The Pro Lite Race Glove is Ultra Lightweight with a new softer hand feel for improved comfort. The Woven Four-way Stretch and Lycra® Finger Sidewall and Gusset allow for flexibility, comfort, and airflow.

Embossed Neoprene Cuff s provide a more secure fi t.

The Silicone Palm allows riders to create one logo when hands are placed together to show your favorite brand on the podium.

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100% AIRMATIC GLOVE $36.99

The perfect go-to glove for all types of riding. The multi-panel construction of the Airmatic is engineered to blend unmatched comfort and versatility into a great fi tting, all-purpose glove. The perforated dual-layer palm improves comfort protection against blisters. The Airprene cuff and thumb panels off er maximum protection and breathability.

Trek-Dry finger gussets enhance mobility and wick away moisture.

Distributed in Canada by www.matrixracingproducts.com and www.partscanada.com

5 100% BRISKER COLD WEATHER GLOVE $38.99

Get the perfect amount of insulation to block out damp, cool weather while maintaining exceptional dexterity and control of your bike. The lightly insulated soft-shell top hand ensures protection against colder temps. The moisture-wicking microfiber interior provides the perfect level of insulation. Integrated tech-thread keeps you connected with your phone or MP3 player.

Distributed in Canada by www.matrixracingproducts.com and www.partscanada.com

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SMITH EDGEWOOD SUNGLASSES The new Edgewood sunglasses are designed with a medium fi t for large coverage and constructed of 53% bio-based frame materials as part of Smith’s Evolve series, the largest eco-friendly sunglass collection in the world. Additional features include autolock hinges and Carbonic TLT lenses for crystal clear vision.

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GEARING UP

www.smithoptics.com

DRAGON THE JAM-JET/PURPLE ION Blending retro sport styling with truly modern refinements, this Italian-made design features clean, confident lines highlighted by metal badge details at the temple while seemingly endless color and lens choices mean The Jam off ers options for everyone. www.gammasales.com

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DRAGON MDX YOUTH-SUPERDUDE

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DRAGON NFXS-CAST/SMOKE/GOLD ION

Polyurethane Frame with a Unidirectional Air Flow System. A small fit in a moisture wicking MicroFleece Lined Face Foam. Lens Mounted posts for tear-offs and a lens that includes 100% UV Protection.

The Dragon features frameless technology, as well as Armored Venting and a 4 Layer Slant Cut Sweat Absorption Foam. Comes with both a 2” and 1.5” adjustable silicon beaded strap. 100% UV Protection and comes with a bonus clear lens.

www.gammasales.com

www.gammasales.com

FXR RACING INC MISSION MX GOGGLE – BLUE/ HIVIS $65.99 2

The FXR Mission MX goggle has a 2mm impact resistant contoured polycarbonate lens, and a high nose-bridge engineered to alleviate irritation. A large peripheral vision frame design and the triple density, molded, load spreading face foam provides ideal comfort. Made with an anti-scratch lens coating and anti-fog double lens with UV protection. www.fxrracing.com 3

SMITH FUEL V.2 SWEAT-X GOGGLE

The race-proven Fuel v.2 Sweat-X goggle offers fullframe graphics to compliment the re-engineered Ergonomic Outrigger positioning system for style and performance at its best. Designed with Sweat-X F.A.T. 3-layer face foam for added comfort and ultrawide, silicone-backed strap to stay in place. www.smithoptics.com

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7 100% ACCURI “OVER THE GLASSES GOGGLE” $74.99

FOX MAIN IMPERIAL GOGGLE

The Main Imperial Goggle features a large view port for unparalleled vision. The face foam is composed of three layers as well as a fleece liner. The Lexan lens offers 100% UV protection. The silicone strap is non slop, as well as there is a strap mounted third tearoff post. www.foxhead.com/ca 6

SCOTT TYRANT MX GOGGLES $113.99

The new Tyrant Goggle has been carefully engineered to achieve optimum fit, moisture management, and venting. For ease of use, the SCOTT Fit System can now be accessed on the outside of the goggle.

To further improve comfort, outriggers have been added to more evenly distribute goggle tension. To manage perspiration the Tyrant comes equipped with our proven No Sweat 3.2 face foam.

Distributed in Canada by www.importationsthibault.com

Our new “over the glasses” model is the ultimate goggle for riders wearing prescription glasses. The high performance features of our popular Accuri goggle have been integrated with specific engineering modifications to provide riders with the most comfortable OTG fit while maintaining premium performance.

Includes an expanded eye port for a quick and easy fit even with larger framed glasses.

Distributed in Canada by www.matrixracingproducts.com and www.partscanada.com 8 SCOTT HUSTLE MX GOGGLE $89.99 (CHROME) $67.99 (CLEAR)

Gain a competitive advantage in the Hustle, equipped with SCOTT’s latest Moto goggle technology. Dial in a custom fit with the revolutionary SCOTT Fit System, and enjoy SCOTT’s newest 3.2-layer foam for supreme comfort. Available in optional chrome or clear Works TruView lens formats, the NoFog anti-fog treatment ensures clear, unobstructed vision throughout your ride.

The comfortable 3 layer foam and durable No-Slip silicone strap, provide a precise fit.

Distributed in Canada by www.importationsthibault.com

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FORMA PREDATOR 599.99$

SIDI SIDI CROSSFIRE 2 SRS MOTOCROSS BOOTS $775.00

The Forma Predator boots feature the Dual Pivot Flex Control System with anti-torsion and double rear stop. The ergonomic Dual Pivot connector is made of nylon (loaded with fiberglass and carbon fiber).

The Thermoformed and ergonomic ankle padding is made of a protective and shock-absorption foamed PU-material fused with a polyester lining for easy foot entry.

FOX COMP 8 BOOT The Comp 8 Boot features instant step-in comfort with minimal break-in. Provides controlled ankle support with zero bulging. Featuring a sleek medial design with integrated rubber burn guard and a 2 in 1 lower strap design.

Distributed in Canada by www.mddistributions.com

FLY RACING MAVERICK F4 BOOTS The Maverick F4 Boots come in three sizes, adult (four-buckle), youth (three-buckle) and mini (two-buckle) designs to accommodate kids to adults.

The 3D Shin Protection is preshaped for comfort-molded plastic while adding impact protection. The Steel Toe Guard gives that finished look and protects the front of the sole from delaminating.

www.foxhead.com/ca

Sidi has taken the Crossfire 2 SRS a step further by incorporating a Dual Hinge System, that allows maximum mobility front to back, but also allows for strict rigidity from side to side.

The SRS version of the Crossfire Motocross Boot allows a rider to not only replace their soles when they wear out, but can also swap between SuperMoto, MX, and Adventure Touring soles. No re-gluing or sending your MX boots off in the mail.

Distributed in Canada by www.motonationcanada.com

www.gammasales.com

MOBIUS X8 KNEE BRACE $679.99 PAIR LEATT KNEE BRACE C-FRAME $756.99 An entirely new approach to further help prevent knee injuries from the Leatt® laboratory engineers and other medical professionals.

Better comfort, lower profile under the boot, reduction/elimination of excessive forces put on the femur (thigh bone), reduction/elimination of rotational forces, better knee cap protection, bring the inside of the knee closer to the bike for better control and 3-point force distribution defines this revolution in knee brace technology.

Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com

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The Figure-8 cable and behind the knee adjustment pad greatly strengthen the joint yet work as freely as your body’s own ligament system. The CCRS (Continuous Cable Routing System) adjusts the fi t with a simple turn of the locking CNC Forged 6061T6 anodized aluminum dial. Lightweight PIM glass filled Nylon shell conforms to your legs shape creating 360 degrees of protection that won’t rotate or slip.

Distributed in Canada by www.matrixracingproducts.com

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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FORMA COUGAR (KIDS) $279.99 The Forma Cougar boots are available in both black and white colours. Made of a leather exterior and personalized sued leather heat protector. The boots are adjustable through a velcro closure. Buckles are replaceable/ adjustable.

Distributed in Canada by www.mddistributions.com

OGIO BIG MOUTH $212.99

The OGIO RIG 9800 features the SLED (Structural Load Equalizing Deck) System for increased durability and handling in the harshest of conditions. The wide mouth LID opening allows for easy access to all gear compartments. Integrated foam construction is used throughout for added gear protection.

Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com

Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com

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100% GOGGLE CASE $59.99

Transport your goggles in style with our custom carrying case. The padded interior keeps all of your goggles, lenses, and accessories neatly organized and secure. The interior pockets organize cell phone, keys, wallet, and additional accessories. Removable foam inserts are molded to safely store your GoPro camera. Mounts come included.

MAXIMA RACING OILS ASSEMBLY LUBE $9.95/4OZ. BOTTLE Specialty, film forming lubricant is designed to protect moving components and wear surfaces during assembly and initial break-in. Prevents metalto-metal contact and offers excellent rust and corrosion protection during long service periods and storage. 2X Zinc activates at both high and low operating temps providing unsurpassed protection. Available in: 4oz Bottle Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com, www.partscanada.com, and www.importationsthibault.com

MAXIMA PRO PLUS+ is an ester fortified full synthetic 4T engine oil. PRO PLUS+ is formulated to exceed JASO MA requirements for 4-cycle engines with integrated wet clutches. Balanced additive system minimizes engine deposits while protecting critical engine, transmission and clutch components. PRO PLUS+ is designed to prolong wet clutch life and offers excellent feel.

Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com, www. partscanada.com, and www.importationsthibault.com

OGIO RIG 9800 $276.99

The Ogio Big Mouth bag features extra-large access to the main volume. The top pocket functions as a wet/dry compartment. The external zippered pocket allows organization for quick access to personal items. Large Skid guards provide increased durability and abrasion resistance.

Distributed in Canada by www.matrixracingproducts.com and www.partscanada.com

MAXIMA RACING OILS PRO PLUS+ $12.50/LITER

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4 FXR RACING INC ULTIMATE HELMET BAG $99.99 CAD

The FXR Ultimate Helmet bag has a large main compartment with a spare visor pocket and padded surfaces for added helmet protection. Two large side pockets can be used for goggle pouches, goggle chamois, and key ring multi-zippered pockets. This bag features a water-shredding drainage system and a heavy duty wear-resistant outer base. www.fxrracing.com

MAXIMA RACING OILS SG-920 SEAL GREASE Maxima SG-920 Seal Grease is specially formulated to reduce friction, producing a smooth butter-like action to moving surfaces. Excellent for use on fork and shock seals, during break-in and as a light assembly lube. Seal Grease is designed to stay in place and to eliminate stiction.

Next generation additives preserve metals from corrosion during storage. Available in: 1oz Jar Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com, www.partscanada. com, and www.importationsthibault.com M O T O C R O S S P E R F O R M A N C E · M X P M A G . C O M 91

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DT-1 DT1 AIR FOAM FILTER 10.15$-30.95$ The DT-1 air filter is manufactured with the highest quality bonded dual layer foam available. DT-1’s world class foam technology delivers maximum airflow while maintaining critical engine protection. The DT-1 filter comes with an exclusive super seal base which eliminates the need for grease. Our pre-oiled filters are oiled with the highest quality flame resistant biodegradable filter oil.

Distributed in Canada by www.mddistributions.com

MIKA METALS MIKA SPROCKETS FRONT SPROCKET $35.99 AND REAR SPROCKET $89.99

TWIN AIR FUEL TANK FILTERS $42.99 Twin Air’s latest product features a custom shaped adaptor for each model that fits securely under the gas cap, creating a leak-proof seal. Twin Air's latest product features a model specific gas tank fuel neck filter that fits securely under the gas cap, creating a leak-proof seal and uncompromising fuel tank protection. The filter media traps dirt or debris that commonly enter into your fuel system during refueling. www.importationsthibault.com

Mika sprockets are made of the highest quality aluminum to withstand the rigors of offroad racing. They are light, contain self cleaning grooves to improve sprocket life, and have a tooth design which allows for increased power transfer.

Distributed in Canada by www.mddistributions.com

GEARING UP

SM PRO MX WHEELS $1099.99/ SET 2014 saw the long awaited arrival of the SM PRO wheels into the Canadian market place. The SM Pro rim is made from 7050 series aluminium, the toughest and lightest Rim on the market. The spokes are bulldog high tensile stainless steel, in a cross 3 spoke lacing pattern.

Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com

SUNSTAR 520MXR1 WORKS MX CHAIN $94.95-$97.95 1

2

1

DUNLOP GEOMAX MX32

The Geomax MX32 targets soft-to-intermediate terrain and covers a greater range of terrain types. Multiple race-proven features aid in slide control and help deliver more progressive cornering action and extra tire bite. In addition, a new rear tire pattern with an innovative block design enhances traction while using fewer blocks.

Sunstar’s 520MXR1 is quickly becoming one of the more popular choices for high quality motocross racing grade chains with its sharp gold finish & attractive price point. Its also incredibly strong, yet super light with the 120L version weighing in at under 3.6 lbs.

Distributed in Canada by www.motovan. com, www.partscanada.com, and www.gammasales.com

www.dunlopmotorcycle.com

2

DUNLOP GEOMAX MX11

Both front and rear Geomax MX11 tires boast innovative features that help deliver optimum traction in a variety of sand and mud conditions, while providing enhanced stability even under challenging track conditions. Designed for sand and mud use on 250cc/450cc 4-strokes and 250cc-and-up 2-strokes, the Narrow-profile block faces help penetrate the sand surface for increased traction and great feel. www.dunlopmotorcycle.com

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P E R F O R M A N C E

B R I E F S

SHAWN MAFFENBEIER MODEL: GEARSHIFT COLOUR: BLUE SKI STYLE: INDEED

JOEY POUCH

THE

JOEY POUCH COMFORT FROM THE GATE

PHOTO: JAMES LISSIMORE

TM

DROP TO THE PODIUM FINISH

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FLY RACING KINETIC PRO HELMET The Fly Racing Kinetic Pro Helmet is made by a Poly Alloy shell, featuring a combination of high strength poly materials that create a durable light weight shell. Dual Density EPS liner combine to provide more progressive impact absorption. The quick snap removable liner & cheek pads keep you looking clean and help extend the life of your helmet. www.gammasales.com

ZOX HELMET RUSH C $199.99

FOX V3 SAVANT HELMET

The Zox Rush C TRYST helmet is made of a fiberglass composite shell, which meets FMV55 DOT-128 and SNELL 2010 standards. It uses Conehead technology which is characterized by two different density foams bonded together, allowing the helmet to have equal shock dispersion in case of an impact.

The Fox V3 Savant helmet features the MIPS Multi-Directional Impact Protection System. The shell is constructed using multiple composite technologies. Comfort is provided by the Dri Lex comfort liner. www.foxhead.com/ca

www.motovan.com

GEARING UP

ONE INDUSTRIES GAMMA W/MIPS HELMET $449.99

TROY LEE DESIGNS SE3 HELMET $629.95 CARBON, $549.95 COMPOSITE

The Gamma helmet features multi-directional Impact Protection System, resulting in substantial reduction in rotational forces applied to the brain. The shell is engineered for optimal strength to weight ratio. Cooling is increased through its flowthrough ventilation. Constructed from a pre-preg, reinforced fiberglass shell, for a feather-lite feel that our athletes demand.

As the premier motorsports helmet in our line-up, the SE3 represents advancements of key, racer inspired features that make Troy Lee Designs helmets the benchmark with professional level off-road riders.

The SE3 helmet utilizes innovative features that set it apart from the norm. Highly developed materials and processes, advanced composites and hardware along with systems and designs exclusive to TLD keep you protected in the most critical moment.

Distributed in Canada by www.importationsthibault.com

The Troy Lee Designs SE3 helmet is a must for every rider and condition.

Distributed in Canada by Troy Lee Designs Canada

SHOEI VFX-W MAELSTROM TC-8 $759.99 The VFX-W is the result of countless hours of conceptualization, R&D, and testing with the most hardnosed critics of all, our professional racing team. With top pros like Kevin Windham, Josh Grant, Josh Strang and Destry Abbott leading the charge, the VFX-W is drenched in state-of-the-art features, and absolutely no stone was left unturned during its development.

Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com

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FXR RACING INC BLADE CARBON HELMET BLACK $389.99 The FXR Blade Carbon helmet has an ultra-lightweight, hand laid 100% carbon fiber shell. The hiflow visor reduces lift at high speeds and protects from the sun and roost. The nose guard design improves frost bite protection and the front chin bar easily integrates the Breath Box and Anti-fog mask. This helmet is made with a hygienicallytreated, removable, washable comfort liner, with its eyeport engineered for seamless fit with the Mission Goggle. www.fxrracing.com

SCOTT 350 PRO HELMET $169.99 The 350 PRO helmets blend high end materials with leading edge design to bring you a stylish and comfortable value.

Utilizing a lightweight Thermoplastic shell, a cone-head inmold EPS liner, and a high-flow vent system Scott engineers were able to create a lightweight helmet that meets and/ or exceeds all major helmet safety standards. The 350 PRO helmets are the perfect choice for any competitive athlete.

Distributed in Canada by www.importationsthibault.com

6D HELMETS ATR-1 HELMET $850.00, ATR-1 CARBON $950.00 The new 2015 ATR-1 incorporates improvements to the helmet’s Omni-Directional Suspension (ODS) technology which further improves the helmet’s energy management performance capabilities and durability. Additional improvements include a new mouthpiece design,visor and shell. 6 exciting new graphic designs offer 12 different options to choose from, including 2 models manufactured using 100% 3K Carbon Fiber shells; one of which is a GEICO Honda team replica.

Sold Dealer Direct in Canada

FXR RACING INC X-1 HELMET – WHITE/HIVIS $219.99 The FXR X-1 helmet has a “Super Lite” composite fiber shell, constructed of Kevlar, aerospace grade carbon fiber and fiberglass. The nose guard design improves frost bite protection and the front chin bar easily integrates the Breath Box and Anti-fog mask. This helmet is made with hygienically-treated, removable, washable comfort liner, with its eyeport engineered for seamless fit with the Mission Goggle. www.fxrracing.com

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DECAL WORKS READY MADE KITS $119.95

GEARING UP

Our OEM licensed Ready Made Kits off er the custom look for a lower cost while maintaining the same quality that DeCal Works delivers in all of our graphics. Using our interactive DeSign Studio you can customize any of our graphics kits in your choice of colors and with your specified bike manufactures. Choose from 12 preset base designs. www.decalmx.com

DECAL WORKS PRE PRINTED BACKGROUNDS $69.95 15 design options for your bike as well as you get to build your custom backgrounds in the Interactive DeSign Studio in any colors you can imagine.

Preview your custom design in real time as you build them. You can even add your name, logo, sponsor etc. to personalize it even further. www.decalmx.com

ATLAS BROLL $99.99 First timers and young children are experiencing extreme risks at a very young age. Since these risks are ever increasing, the Broll was designed to keep them protected, but has been specifically designed for the lower level impact forces they encounter, along with ease of use across various sports like motocross, downhill mountain biking, bmx, etc. www.atlasbrace.com

ATLAS DEFENDER $129.99 The Defender design incorporates unique fi t, function, and adjustment based around the features of our brace family. Interchangeable parts and straps allow for 5 unique configurations that can be worn with or without a neck brace, over or under a jersey. The high performance foam is lightweight, tough, comfortable, and waterproof. No more added water weight or damp feeling after washing.

Bolt your Go Pro camera directly to your Defender with the optional mount that comes included. www.atlasbrace.com 96

ATLAS AIR BRACE $299.99 The new Air Brace features an insanely low weight of 599g (1.3 lbs.). The redesigned body hugging frame shape reduces brace movement and improves fi t/ range of motion. Other features include the simplified Easy Open release system, all new reversible Smart Mounts with multi-angle adjustment, lighter and tougher padding material in vibrant new colors, and a redesigned innovative tether that eliminates the need for multiple tools. www.atlasbrace.com

LEATT NECK BRACE GPX 6.5 $569.99 The Neck Brace GPX 6.5 features a new Carbon chassis design by LEATT. The new MaxiWeave Carbon matrix allows for increased rigidity and lower weight.

At 600g, it is lightweight while still very ridged without flex.

Off ering 3 way adjustability for great comfort and fi t. New model features improved helmet side clearance.

Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE 路 MXPMAG.COM

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Eve Brodeur East Coast Women Canadian Championship

Liam O’Farrell East Coast MX2 Canadian Championship

Dylan Kaelin MX1 Canadian Championship

Dave Blanchet East Coast MX1 Canadian Championship

Brock Hoyer West Coast MX2 Canadian Championship

arrell Liam O’F X2 rider M l a Nation n your lations o CongratuPodium results National

PREDATOR THE ULTIMATE OFF-ROAD BOOT.

MDDISTRIBUTIONS.COM • 418-925-8024 N.B.: dotted line is the limit for the banner Forma.indd 1

10/14/2014 11:07:25 AM

Coming in at 80 x 42.6 x 27.4 mm and only 97g, this small camera can be carried with you anywhere and everywhere. The high quality 7-element lens provides an optical 135° field of view. The 3hr battery life, rotatable lens and aerodynamic design make the Drift Stealth 2 a unique POV camera. With its colour coded screen and LED, you always know which camera mode you are in.

GEARING UP

DRIFT STEALTH 2.0 $289.99

Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com

HITCASE PRO+ FOR IPHONE 5, 5C & 5S $149.99 Featuring a brand new in-house designed TrueLUX™ Lens System, you can switch lenses on the fl y. Choose the included 3X Super Wide lens for an ultra wide point of view to get all the action or the Flat Lens for slimmer profile and a standard field of view for photos and videos.

New ShockWave Audio off ers 2x clearer sound, plus Hitcase Pro+ comes standard with our ShootR mount!

Distributed in Canada by www.motovan.com

MATRIX CONCEPTS M50 MECHANICS CADDY $139.99 The M50 Mechanics Caddy is a strong, lightweight rolling seat that works perfectly with any stand. Made from lightweight, heavy duty injection moulded polycarbonate plastic. The chemical resistant self-skinned seat is replaceable.The two graphic areas also can be customized with your name and number. The caddy also works great with stacking trays in the bottom.

Distributed in Canada by www.matrixracingproducts.com and www.gammasales.com

RISK RACING FLOW CONTROL $33.99 The Risk Racing Flow Control uses a fuel jug auto shut-off valve and fuel jug tube bender that automatically stops the fl ow of fuel when the tank is full.The cap & lanyard system bends the fuel jug tube into a position for easy entry and exit from the fuel tank.

When the fl ow control closes, it stays closed so the user can easily remove it from the fuel tank. Attaches to existing powersports style fuel jugs on the market.

Distributed in Canada by www.importationsthibault.com 98

MARIN MOUNTAIN BIKES RIFT ZONE 5 $2,267 Combining the agile feel of a trail bike with the inherent advantages of a 29” wheel, the Marin Rift Zone 5 gives riders the best of both worlds. Compact chainstays give the bike a playful feel, while the IsoTrac suspension platform absorbs small bumps and provides pedaling prowess. Well-spec’d with a dependable Shimano 3x9-speed drivetrain, SR/Suntour & X-Fusion air shocks and powerful Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes.

Directly sold in Canada by www.marinbikes.com/ca

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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ROYAL OFFERS CASH BACK ON ANY 2015

WITH OUR

BIKE

WHY WAIT FOR SPRING EVENT NOW till January 31st, 2015! Call or visit Royal for more details!

2014 MODEL’S

WILD CAT TRAIL

STELVIO T3 COMP

MSL $780 | ONLY $579

MSL $2380 | ONLY $1680

SKY TRAIL

MSL $475 | ONLY $369

Simply pay $50 down on the bike of your choice, and we’ll hold it for you until March 2015!

When you pick it up, you pay the balance AND SAVE!

SPEND up to $499 - SAVE 8% | SPEND up to $999 - SAVE 10% | SPEND up to $1999 or more - SAVE 12%* *On 2014 or older models. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

4 HUGE RETAIL LOCATIONS! GUELPH 519-822-7081 SUDBURY 705-566-8111 925 Woodlawn Rd W

3085 Kingsway

905-619-8000 900 Champlain Court

1954 Commerce Park Dr

WHITBY

INNISFIL 705-431-9364 MON-FRI 8AM-6PM EST EN/FR

1.800.265.2970

MAIL ORDER:

SHOP ONLINE:

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Alias MX HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

2015

A1 JERSEY $59.99 The A1 pants and jersey don’t have a lot of TPR logos, little to no excess material and just enough leather in the knees to provide protection. What you’re left with is a combo that is light, easy to move around in and in the case of the jersey, fully vented.

CLUTCH GLOVE

A1 PANT

$37.99

$169.99

A super light slip-on, the race ready Alias Clutch glove is thin, comfy and very breathable. And a first for a motocross glove, the Clutch has also been designed to work with touch screen devices. The single layer Clarino palm with silicone fingertip allows for lever control. Sublimated stretch twill eliminates any restriction for unparalleled flexibility, and the breathable top panel increases comfort and cooling.

aliasmx.com Distributed in Canada by kimpex.com

Lightweight KLN Dobby Polyester. Laser cut vented thigh panels with integrated direct injection logo. Large Full Grain leather knee panels for maximum durability and heat resistance - Multiple, articulated knee panels creates a pre-curved, race position knee area that accommodates knee braces without excess material. Adjustable waist closure system that ensures the perfect fi t.

AKA GLOVE $37.99 TPR rubber logos? Nope, not on the Alias AKA gloves. Instead the AKA is just one layer of Clarino® on the palm and breathable stretch material on the top. For any racer, this means comfort for the hands. The AKA Glove is a single layer Clarino palm with silicone fingertip print for lever control. Sublimated stretch twill eliminates any restriction for unparalleled flexibility. Breathable panel for comfort and cooling.

A2 PANT $134.99 600D oxford polyester is both durable and light weight. Large leather knee panels are used for durability and heat resistance.

Includes ratchet style buckle and heavy duty zipper closures. Engineered in specific panels to create a durable, precise fi tting pant.

A2 JERSEY $41.99 A return to the basics of winning, the Alias MX A2 jersey takes wellknown materials and creates a motocross jersey that favors function over flashy gimmicks. Light and breezy, the breathable polyester is cut generous to stay tucked in and to provide unrestricted motion. The heat of a moto battle or the cool shade of the woods, the A2 stays the same.

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ANSWER

answerracing.com Distributed in Canada by motovan.com

SYNCRON GLOVE

SYNCRON JERSEY

SYNCRON PANTS

$24.99

$27.99

$97.99

The Answer Racing Syncron Motocross Glove takes value seriously, providing protection and performance beyond the standard in entry-level motocross gloves. Optimized fit, comfort and breathability. Cuff is expandable with the secure TPR strap closure design. The pre-curved glove shape eliminates blisters due to palm fabric bunching.

Answer Syncron shows that style and performance doesn’t need to be tied to the price tag. The performance fabric provides moisture wicking properties.

The sublimated graphics are fade-free, and the self fabric collar provides comfortable fit.

The Answer Racing Syncron Motocross Pants are created of high strength nylon and polyester fabrics providing great looks and long lasting durability. Stealth fit pant features hassle free fit and pre-curved knees to offer you the protection you need without sacrificing the perfomance required for long motos.

ALPHA PANTS

ALPHA JERSEY

ALPHA GLOVES

$169.99

$55.99

$36.99

With their tech fit and lightweight, yet durable materials, the Alpha is Answer’s top of the line race wear. The premium performance fabrics provide moisture wicking properties, and the sublimated graphics are fade free.

Light and comfortable, the Answer Alpha Glove is your handle on complete control of the track. The Alpha Gloves provide a premium construction featuring the synthetic leather palm. Closure construction is provided by the Liteprene cuff with secure TPR Strap.

The Answer Alpha is a top level riding pant that is uncompromised in giving smart protection. These pro level race pants feature a lightweight, durable, attack position fit. Leather inner knee panels resist burning and insulate from hot exhaust.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Fly Racing

fl yracing.com Distributed in Canada by gammasales.com

KINETIC WOMEN’S JERSEY/PANT Jersey $44.95 / Pants $149.95 Anatomically Correct Women’s Fit for the ultimate in jersey performance and comfort.

Multi-panel Construction for maximum performance and comfortable fi t. The comfort-stretch collar is constructed of thermoplastic rubber, Lycra® and stretch-rib materials for increased function and great fi t. The pants have leather heat shield panels with Kevlar stitching for durability and heat resistance.around in and in the case of the jersey, fully vented.

2015

LITE HYDROGEN JERSEY/PANT

Jersey $44.95 / Pants $189.95 True Professional Level Gear – created with the direction of Andrew Short and Trey Canard, this jersey is the result of making exactly what the pros have been asking for—less. The low profile multi-directional mesh collar allows for comfort, function, and increase airflow. True Light Weight design, for a barely there feel which helps reduce fatigue and will keep you cooler.

F2 CARBON HELMET/FASTBACK

$389.95

The F2 Carbon combines a unique style and identity with race-inspired, lightweight helmet technology achieved through advanced Carbon/Kevlar construction. The outer shell is constructed using aircraft grade woven carbon fiber and Kevlar® composite materials, which creates superior strength while remaining extremely light. The quick release washable comfort liner and cheek pads– plush liner absorbs sweat, provides plenty of ventilation, and is easy to remove and clean without quick-snap system.

Troy lee Designs

troyleedesigns.ca Distributed in Canada by troyleedesigns.ca

GP GEAR JERSEY/PANT

SE PRO CORSE GEAR JERSEY/PANT

Jersey $59.95 / Pants $159.95

Jersey $79.95 / Pants $239.95

GP Jersey • Micro-mesh fiber polyester material provides lightweight fi t.

• Ribbed stretch v-neck collar for comfort.

• Tapered and angled cuff design provides greater roost protection and less material bunching.

• Gel print on tail keeps jersey in place.

SE Pro Corse • Lightweight ventilated polyester mesh with durable construction.

• Breathable stretch materials move with your body.

• Large-holed ventilated polyester mesh back, sleeve and front panel help keep you cool and refreshed.

• Sewn-in elbow padding for added protection.

GP Pants • Lightweight combination 500 denier polyester mesh / 600 denier polyester for maximum ventilation.

• Velcro side cinch strap system allows for up to 2” expansion of waist.

• Oversized 13” cowhide leather on the knee for maximum durability, added grip and heat protection.

• Velcro / snap button front and YKK brand zipper for increased closure security.

SE PRO Pants • Soft 500 denier polyester / 900 denier blended perforated mesh provides maximum airflow.

• Velcro side cinch strap system allows for up to 2” expansion of waist.

• Oversized 15” cowhide leather on the knee for maximum durability, added grip and heat protection.

• Full nylon mesh liner.

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Shift

shiftmx.com Distributed in Canada by shiftmx.com

ASSAULT RACE JERSEY

MSRP - N/A

Shift’s Assault Race jersey and pants can really almost sell themselves. To begin with, the style and colors are all on point and closely mirror Shift’s premier Faction line.

And secondly, the minimalistic design works in your favor with its lightness, unrestrictive feel and multiple mesh vent panels. Things don’t get any worse with this being Shift’s most affordable gear either!

ASSAULT RACE PANT

MSRP - N/A

A striking design that makes an immediate impact, the Shift Assault Race pant takes a less is more approach to everything it does. From bold clean lines to a lightweight minimalistic construction, the Assault pant is entry level motocross at its sharpest. The Articulated design in the waist and knees conform to the rider while in the ride position.

RECON JERSEY

MSRP - N/A

Tracks and rules don’t define the Shift Racing Recon Logo jersey and pants. This gear is made to be ridden, it’s as simple as that. Where that happens to be is up to you but Shift has made sure that you have a relaxed and versatile fit loaded with style. The technical polyester fabric provides moisture wicking functions as well as increased durability.

RECON PANT

MSRP - N/A

Relaxed, over the boot pant provides both comfort and style. Heavy-duty 600D polyester construction provides excellent durability. Adjustable waist tabs allow for a secure fit. Full grain leather right inner knee panel for heat and abrasion resistance. Zip off lower legs convert pants into long-length shorts.

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FOX

foxhead.com/ca Distributed in Canada by foxhead.com/ca

360 SAVANT JERSEY

2015

360 FRANCHISE JERSEY

180 RACE JERSEY

MSRP - N/A

MSRP - N/A

MSRP - N/A

Featuring a moisture wicking polyester main body fabric, as well as a large hole polyester mesh back panel for enhanced airflow. The athletic fit collar provides superior support. The sublimated graphics are fade free.

Fox says the style of the 360 Franchise jersey is football inspired. The venting, stretch panels and materials are all first rate. After all, it’s gotta be pretty good if Ryan Dungey and Ken Roczen choose to wear it.

The 180 Race jersey and pants receive far more attention and detail than you’d guess. The colorways, construction and fit are all made to appeal to a wide variety of riders.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

360 SAVANT PANT

360 FRANCHISE PANT

180 RACE PANT

MSRP - N/A

MSRP - N/A

MSRP - N/A

Fox’s 360 line comes with a ton of venting, 4-way stretch material and enough room to take knee braces and under jersey roost protectors. As a whole package, the 360 Savant doesn’t leave you wanting.

Engineered to excel in the rider attack position, the Fox Racing 360 Franchise Motocross Pant provides unlimited amounts of flexibility and freedom of motion. Double layer knee system features durable inner material with heat and abrasion resistant leather outer panels.

Clean, sharp lines from every angle, the 180 Race pant is all business. From the race tailored fit to an abundance of stretch material. The leather knee panels are heat and abrasion resistant, and the RAP construction allows for a precise fit on a bike.

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FACTORY RIDE EDITION JERSEY – BLACK/HIVIS

REALTREE™ FACTORY RIDE EDITION JERSEY – APHD SNOW/LIME

$59.99 CAD

$69.99 CAD

The FXR Factory Ride Edition jersey features lightweight high performance moisture wicking polyester, to provide you with maximum airflow while riding.

The colors are made with fade free sublimation print graphics for an extended jersey life.

The Realtree™ FXR Factory Ride Edition jersey features lightweight high performance moisture wicking polyester, to provide you with maximum airflow while riding. The colors are made with fade free sublimation print graphics for an extended jersey life.

FACTORY RIDE EDITION JERSEY – FUCHSIA/HIVIS

$59.99 CAD

The FXR Factory Ride Edition jersey features lightweight high performance moisture wicking polyester, to provide you with maximum airflow while riding.

The colors are made with fade free sublimation print graphics for an extended jersey life.

REALTREE™ FACTORY RIDE EDITION PANT – APHD SNOW/LIME

$209.99 CAD

FACTORY RIDE EDITION PANT – BLACK/HIVIS

The Realtree™ FXR Factory Ride Edition pant features a lightweight design with strategically placed stretch panels to provide you with maximum mobility.

Durable full-grain leather inner knee panels, as well as a large pre-curved knee area accommodate knee braces.

$189.99 CAD

The FXR Factory Ride Edition pant features a lightweight design with strategically placed stretch panels to provide you with maximum mobility. Durable full-grain leather inner knee panels, as well as a large pre-curved knee area accommodate knee braces.

FACTORY RIDE EDITION PANT – FUCHSIA/HIVIS

FACTORY RIDE EDITION SLIP-ON GLOVE - HIVIS

$189.99 CAD

$43.99 CAD

The FXR Factory Ride Edition pant features a lightweight design with strategically placed stretch panels to provide you with maximum mobility. Durable full-grain leather inner knee panels, as well as a large pre-curved knee area accommodate knee braces.

Made with durable 4-way stretch material to provide you with maximum mobility. A re-enforced chamaude palm and thumb along with silicone finger grips give you the ultimate glove durability.

FXR Racing

fxrracing.com Distributed in Canada by fxrracing.com M O T O C R O S S P E R F O R M A N C E · M X P M A G . C O M 105

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MSR BUYER’S GUIDE

msracing.com Distributed in Canada by motovan.com

STARLET WOMENS PANTS

$97.99

Cut and styled for the female racer, the MSR Starlet pant gives the same quality and protection that the guys get, but in package meant just for the ladies. Motocross excellence has arrived.

Features a comfortable mesh liner, spandex articulated knee panels, and 900 denier heavy-duty poly inside the knee panels.

2015

STARLET WOMENS GLOVES

STARLET WOMENS JERSEY

$29.99

Very minimalistic in construction, the fit not only feels great on the hands but flows a ton of air. The palm and thumb panel are synthetic for increased wear resistance and comfort. Palm side Velcro® brand closure wrist closure for bind-free flexibility.

$27.99

Entry level isn’t what it used to be; besides being obviously affordable, these days it is also light, durable and unrestrictive.

The style isn’t anything to joke about either as the colorway of the Starlet is one of the best looking in the MSR lineup. Hardcore motocross racer or trying to minimize expenses, the MSR Women’s Starlet jersey and pants work on both levels.

MDX-ROCKET

VENDETTA-PROPELLER

$44.95

$89.95

Featuring a polyurethane frame and a unidirectional air flow system, the Mdx-rocket provides both flexibility and safety. The face foam is lined with moisture wicking micro-fleece, and the lens provides 100% UV protection. Holds up to 28 laminated tear offs.

Custom molded nose guard has cut lines so you can shorten to desired length for a custom fit. The Vendetta googles utilize a one-piece outer mask and a inner polyurethane frame. The face foam is moisture wicking micro-fleece lined. The 100% UV protected lens is anti-fog treated, and lens mounted posts for tear offs.

NFXS-BOOST-TRANSITIONS

$299.95

The NFX Boost Transitions adapt when the light changes.

Featuring frameless technology and armoured venting, as well as a 4 layer slant cut sweat absorption foam. The 100% UV protected lens is anti-fog treated, and lens mounted posts for tear offs.

Dragon

dragonalliance.com Distributed in Canada by gammasales.com

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ATOM MX JERSEY

$44.99

Entry-mid level racewear line. Contains all critical features of a motocross gear, in a budget priced line. Ventilation and durability are sacrificed for cost. Targeted towards the weekend warrior and casual rider. The fitting jersey is tailored for better aerodynamics and less bulk.

ATOM MX GLOVE

Entry-mid level racewear line. Contains all critical features of a motocross gear, in a budget priced line. Ventilation and durability are sacrificed for cost. Targeted towards the weekend warrior and casual rider. Features 500d Kordura seat panel for abrasion resistance. The rib knee, crotch, and rear yoke are stretched for greater flexibility.

VAPOR MX GLOVE

$34.99

$44.99

Lite-prene slip-on cuff construction for a no bulk, lightweight comfortable feel. Single layer Clarino® palm with perforated thumb overlay.

Sublimated lightweight stretch twill for support and breathability. Stretch mesh finger gussets provide max airflow.

ONE Industries

ATOM MX PANT

$129.99

The Vapour MX Glove features Q-Span/Air mesh material construction for comfort and breathability. Dual layered Clarino® palm with perforated thumb overlay. Molded lite-prene at knuckles and wrist cuff. Lycra finger gussets for max mobility.

oneindustries.com Distributed by Importations Thibault Ltd www.importationsthibault.com

VAPOR MX JERSEY $74.99

Cutting edge Premium Racewear line. Targeted towards the pro/ expert level rider, or the casual rider who wants to wear the best and look like the pros.

Tailored fitting jersey for better aerodynamics and less bulk. Made of moisture wicking materials. Exceptional cooling through large open-pore mesh back panel & mesh forearms panels.

VAPOR MX PANT

$229.99

First ultra-lightweight pant in the market weighing at 1lbs 2,5oz. High end full grain leather with triple needle kevlar stitching. 1000d Kordura seat panel for abrasion resistance.

4 way stretch rear liner yoke. Features dual side waist adjusters with alloy belt ring.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Thor

thormx.com Distributed in Canada by partscanada.com

PHASE PRO-GP JERSEY $29.95

The Thor Phase set is the perfect blend of performance and value. Combining class leading performance features with legendary comfort and quality construction, the Phase kit is the ideal all-around gear.

The sleeves are raglan style, and the cuffs are collar are stretch knit.

2015

VERGE PRO-GP HELMET $339.95

The Verge Pro-GP Helmet features a reinforced chin bar for increased strength, as well as a hi-flow mouth vent with filter to prevent roost from entering. The fully adjustable visor provides ample coverage, and the minimal gaskets reduce the overall helmet weight.

CORE ORBIT JERSEY

$49.95

Thor’s premium gear set, Core gear combines unrivaled performance features with legendary durability.

A newly designed chassis provides increased comfort and performance and the larger mesh panels allow for increased ventilation.

Dropped tail construction helps keep the jersey tucked in.

CORE ORBIT PANTS $164.95

Thor’s Core Orbit Pants are made by pre-curved 9000 poly oxford construction for durability. The upper knee panels are accordion stretched for flexibility, and the inner knee panels are made by full grain leather for increased comfort.

Lower leg stretch material also helps improve comfort.

Designed and developed to withstand the toughest conditions and the most demanding riders.

PHASE PRO-GP PANTS

$99.95

The Thor Phase set is the perfect blend of performance and value. Combining class leading performance features with legendary comfort and quality construction, the Phase kit is the ideal all-around gear. Featuring a refined chassis for increased comfort and performance, the Pro-GP pants are double and triple stitched for durability.

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WE’LL WARRANTY YOUR ENGINE UP TO

500,000 km Limited parts Covered.

Registration required before 200,000 km.

Get more than a “probably” from your oil. Get a warranty.

If you’re looking for the difference between our oil and others, you won’t find it in industry jargon.

That’s why we created the Valvoline Limited Engine Warranty with protection up to 500,000 km.

So go to EngineWarranty.com. And get your engine under warranty.

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Detailed terms, benefits and limitations available at EngineWarranty.com. © 2014, Ashland Inc. TM Trademark of Ashland or its subsidiaries in various countries.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Thor

thormx.com Distributed in Canada by partscanada.com

PRIME SLASH PANTS

$119.95

2015

PRIME SLASH JERSEY

Inspired by uninhibited movement, Thor Prime racewear was designed for riders that are willing to sacrifice just a bit of durability for a whole lot of mobility. Minimalist features blended with a lightweight, stretch material form the perfect recipe for race day performance. Featuring stretch polyester-spandex chassis and a ratchet style waist closure with adjustable side cinch.

$29.95

Inspired by uninhibited movement, Thor Prime racewear was designed for riders that are willing to sacrifice just a bit of durability for a whole lot of mobility. Minimalist features blended with a lightweight, stretch material form the perfect recipe for race day performance.

Featuring a 4-way stretch moisture wicking fabric and raglan style sleeves.

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Kids’ Tickets $15!

Ages 2-12. Limit of four (4) kids’ tickets with purchase of a full-price adult ticket. Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Subject to availability.

7:00 PM JAN. 17 & 18 • ROGERS CENTRE Sat. Sun. 2:00 PM 2:00 PM APR. 25 & 26 • FIRSTONTARIO CENTRE Sat. Sun. 2:00 PM

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Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster.ca • 855-985-5000 • Venue Box Office

Untitled-1 1

© 2014 Feld Motor Sports, Inc. Competitors shown are subject to change.

#MonsterJam

2014-09-22 1:41 PM

E VO LVED N UT RIT ION

I LOVE I T WHE N A PL A N COM E S TOG E THE R looked outside the last couple of days and what did I see?? SNOW!! Not the best but we all knew it was coming. This time of year can be tough for all the motocross athletes; you can’t ride, and it’s time to start thinking about next year and preparing for it.

From September through to December motocross athletes are in a de-loading and recovery phase.

Your workouts during this time period will be of lower volume and lower intensity, but that doesn’t mean we sit on the couch, eat potato chips or stand in the mirror doing arm curls! I want to take you through scheduling, planning, goal setting and some tips on how to keep a good balance.

First off you need an assessment done. If you have ongoing issues or nagging injuries that you rode through during the season, now is the time to get

I

“ G OAL SETTING IS ONE OF THE SUBJECTS I MENTIONED RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE AND IT TIES ALL OF THIS TOGETHER. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR NEXT RACE SEASON? YOU WANT TO WIN OF COURSE BUT IN ORDER TO WIN, WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK?”

WITH DREW ROBERTSON PHOTO BY NICK HILL

these looked at and fixed. You want to start your off season training at 100%!

So let’s say you finished up the season and you had a lower back issue or one shoulder hurt a little. Well, we would get you in to see a good chiropractor or an athletic therapist. We would have them do an assessment, and depending on what they found we would make a plan. Let’s say the chiro or AT wants to see you once a week for the next four weeks, on Wednesday.

We write that on your schedule, and on those days we make sure to go to the gym prior to seeing them. The next day, we take it easy or do a light yoga session.

We are addressing the issues by a) making a calendar and ensuring we get things done, and b) plan our other activities around them in order to not go backwards.

Let’s have a look at a schedule I drew up to show you what I mean:

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

AM: Kickboxing class

AM: Workout Cardio (Up tempo)

AM: Dynamic Warm-up

AM: Dynamic warm-up

AM: Dynamic warm-up

AM: Dynamic Warm-up

Hang out and High five

PM: Stretch / SMR

PM: Chiro

PM: Yoga

PM: Workout

PM: Yoga

PM: Boxing class

Now, it might look like a big time commitment. The dynamic warm-up my athletes do are 20-30 minutes long, a kick boxing or boxing class is about an hour, the workouts they would be doing would be 35-40 minutes long, and the Yoga would be 30-45 minutes, either a class or most of them have DVDs so they can do Yoga at home. When you look at the total time and remember how much time you rode prior to this, it’s a big step backwards as far as overall volume. In the above example, I included boxing / kickboxing classes. If that’s not your thing, try another group fitness activity. Most moto athletes train solo or one-onone with a trainer, so it’s nice to try to group fitness classes and just have fun!!! The above example is showing you a week. What I would recommend is getting out a monthly calendar and write down your activities. By doing this, you’ll make sure to cross incorporate all the activities you want to do as well as give your body adequate rest. Don’t forget to account for the chiro, therapy appointments (if needed), and not do too much after or prior to jeopardize the work those professionals are doing with you.

PLANNING IS KEY!!

Now if we are cutting back on our activities, we also need to cut back on our caloric intake a bit. Think of it this way: if you’re used to driving your truck or car 500 miles a week, you’ll need “x” amount of gas.

If you then start driving your car/ truck 300 miles a week and continue to put in the same amount of fuel, it’s going to spill out all over the place. With the body, however, this overspill means BODY FAT!!! During the season, I have talked about keeping a diet log,

checking your caloric intake and comparing it to how you feel. For example, during the season you start to feel run down. If you haven’t changed your riding routine, you’re still sleeping well, all other factors are the same, so you might be under eating. It would be like running your bike out of gas. We would start by adding 400-500 calories a day and monitor how you feel and how well you’re recovering. During the off-season, the opposite is true. We are doing less, therefore, we need less fuel. Most of my athletes eat around 3,000-3,500 calories during the race season.

During the recovery phase, I drop them down to 2,500-3,000 depending on their activity rate.

Goal setting is one of the subjects I mentioned right out of the gate and it ties all of this together.

What are your goals for next race season? You want to win of course but in order to win, what is holding you back? Are you getting tired at the end of the race? Do you feel you need to be stronger? Define what you need to work on and set that into a ‘to do list.’ If it’s a bike issue, get in touch with a suspension tech or bike tuner. Champions don’t just happen, they are created. In order to get there you need to set goals and surround yourself with people who will help you along this journey. Sit down with these people, make your goals clear, come up with a plan, lay it out so everyone knows what they are to do, and then execute that plan.

Be sure to check out MXP for our Fitness Friday tips. Follow us on twitter @EvolvedMX Till next time, rest, recover, plan and have fun.

Drew OOOOOUUUUTTTT!

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The more research you do, the more sense we make!

New style D rings can easily be placed on the inside or outside of frame to further customize fit The more research you do, the more sense we make!

WHY TOP PROFESSIONALS CHOOSE CTi

why top professionals choose cti knee braces for mx and fmx

CTi braces are medical grade products, covered by most insurance plans with CTi braces are medical grade products, covered bya doctor’s most prescription.plans Whetherwith custom or off-the-shelf, every CTi ligament brace benefits fromorthe input of insurance a doctor’s prescription.

Whether custom medical professionals feedback from professional riders. The resulting is the off-the-shelf, everyand CTi ligament brace benefits from thebrace input of perfect blend of support and function,and designed to help you rehab and ride safely riders. after a knee injury. medical professionals feedback from professional The resulting brace is the perfect blend of support and function, designed MX and FMX riders have unique demands and anatomy. CTi features specific design advantages and/or toadjustments help youthat rehab safelyperformance after a knee injury. can beand maderide to optimize for riding dirt bikes, including: MX andframe FMX riders havewell unique and anatomy.

CTi • A basic that functions for riding.demands The CTi is the only ligament knee brace that captures design features specific design advantages and/or adjustments that can the tibia, locking down securely on the tibial crest. The rigid upper and lower arms combine with the behinges, made to optimize performance bikes,anincluding: condyle pads and straps to properly alignfor the riding knee jointdirt and provide accurately-tracking •

exoskeletal support.

A basic frame design that functions well for riding. The CTi

• There no rigid components in the knee upper medial aspect.

This captures keeps the riderthe streamlined isare the only ligament brace that tibia,to the bike andlocking enables them to use their thighs to on betterthe grip the tank without or digging in. down securely tibial crest.pinching The rigid upper

andbelower combine thecup hinges, androcks and • CTi can ordered arms with a patella cup. Thiswith protective keeps thecondyle patella safepads from flying to properly align the knee joint and provide an otherstraps debris common to riding environments. accurately-tracking exoskeletal support.

• CTi has no rigid components across the posterior (back) side of the brace, so you won’t experience or cramping in deep flexion (squatting) whoopsmedial or tight corners.

• pinching There are nowhen rigid components inthrough the upper aspect.

• CTi’sThis low-profile design allows it to tuck into the top of MXtoboots. worksenables in conjuction with the keeps the rider streamlined theIt actually bike and bootthem to help provide better overallthighs protection.to better grip the tank without to use their

pinching or digging in. longer, thicker or thinner based upon your height and weight.

• CTi can be manufactured to be shorter, •

CTi can be ordered with a patella cup. This protective cup keeps the patella safe from flying rocks and other debris common to riding environments.

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CTi has no rigid components across the posterior (back) side of the brace, so you won’t experience pinching or cramping when in deep flexion (squatting) through whoops or tight corners .

•

CTi’s low-profile design allows it to tuck into the top of MX boots. It actually works in conjuction with the boot to help provide better overall protection.

•

CTi can be manufactured to be shorter, longer, thicker or thinner upon your height and weight.

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O N T HE CUT TING ROOM FLO O R

S AYING G OOD BY E . . .

WITH MARC TR AVERS PHOTO BY JAMES LISSIMORE

Magazine is looking about the best it has ever looked, and the sport of Canadian Motocross is providing some amazing content. I look forward to watching it grow and will continue to read it in earnest. I hope my final few paragraphs will send me kindly on my way.

“MY PLAN IS TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN THE RACE-BY-RACE PRODUCTION OF THE SERIES, WORKING CLOSELY WITH SPI, THE TRACKS, AND THE HARD WORKING CMRC CREW.” adly, I must say, this is my last column for MXP. I have been working with this fine publication for over 10 years, and with these final words, I say goodbye. It has been a good run though. I have been Editor-inChief, photographer, writer, columnist, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Motocross has become such a part of my life, and MXP has been a focal point since the beginning. I think back to what has happened in the sport since I started working for this rag, seems like a lifetime ago. I do believe that MXP

S

THE EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING FOR 2015!

Okay, these recent PRs and interviews that have come out confirming the return of Matt Goerke and Brett Metcalfe to the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals has got me in a bit of a tizzy. The fact is, next year, our last three MX1 Champions will be squaring off for the title. That is about as good as it could get. But wait, Mike Alessi is more than likely to come back to Canada. Even better. Add Tyler, Bobby K, a healthy Cole Thompson, and we have ourselves a true Battle Royale. As a fan of the sport, this may be the single greatest line-up of talent this class has ever seen. I can hardly wait. There are still a lot of what ifs for 2015, some of which will not be answered until the first gate drops in 2015, but one thing is for sure, the 2015 MX1 Champion will be the last man standing.

But it is not just the riders on the gate that has me looking forward to 2015. My plan is to become more involved in the race-by-race production of the series, working closely with SPI, the tracks, and the hard working CMRC crew. I will still be looking after my usual TV production work, but it is time for me to get my hands dirty and roll up the sleeves. Let’s hope for some banner weather! (that’s a pun) THE FUTURE WEST ARENACROSS SERIES… Just wanted to give a big shout out to the new regime of Future West for keeping this series alive and making it viable. From all reports, it sounds like a great program. Quality pro names on the line, a tight program for the fans, great racing and multiple locations. The size of this program seems to be the perfect fit as well, although it is the western fans that are really making this series work. Love the support. But really, it’s more than just true fans of the sport that are required to make this work, you have to put on a good show, so the casual fan who buys a ticket, comes to see the show, and once there, decides they want to come back. Looks like Future West is nailing it.

LEST WE FORGET… As per usual, I spent the morning of November 11th in downtown Burlington at the city’s Cenotaph.

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, for me this is one of the most moving gatherings there is. The more we read about how difficult life is in other countries, the more we remember what the world has been like, the more important this day becomes, and add in the most recent terror attacks we have seen on home soil resulting in the death of two Canadian Soldiers, the threat of violence in and around where we live is real, which makes Remembrance Day all the more important. What is interesting is the shift. Let’s hope no one will ever stop remembering the importance of the men and women who sacrificed their lives and spirit during the two world wars, or even Korea and Viet Nam, but maybe it is hard for young people to associate themselves with that era. Maybe it’s just a bunch of old guys with medals parading down the street, but now there are young men and women who truly are veterans joining the march. Canada has placed itself in enough conflicts and peacekeeping action for the kids of today to realize who it is that is on the front lines doing their duty. My outmost respect goes out to you honourable soldiers.

A fond farewell…

Well, that is it. I’ve used up my allotted space. I hope our time together has been worthwhile, and I hope to see you out at the Nationals this summer. All the best and continued success to MXP. Travers OUT! European patent #03792104.6 US patent #7,481,729 B2

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