15 02 MXP Magazine

CANADA’S SOURCE FOR MOTOCROSS AND OFF-ROAD

THE IAIN HAYDEN STORY COMING IN FOR LANDING

COLE THOMPSON THE LONG AWAITED RETURN

THE GATHERING STORM

PREVIEW OF THE THE 2015 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MOTOCROSS NATIONALS PRESENTED BY MOTOVAN

E I S S U A S E L RU

41831514

JUNE 2015 . $4.95

B

15.02_Cover.indd 1

E F L A C T RETTME

2015-05-26 3:24 PM

15_Broc_Tickle_MXP_CANA_dps.indd All Pages Thor.indd 2

2015-04-07 1:24 PM

THORMX.COM Thor.indd 3

4/3/15 3:08 PM 2015-04-07 1:24 PM

Fly.indd 2

2015-04-14 4:28 PM

www.gammasales.com

Fly.indd 3

2015-04-14 4:28 PM

TLD.indd 2

2015-05-27 11:44 AM

TLD.indd 3

2015-05-27 11:44 AM

Maxima 4T Spread DPS Jun2015_Layout 1 5/6/15 3:37 PM Page 1

THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE LI N

PREMIUM BREAK-IN

10W30 PETROLEUM BREAK-IN SPECIFIC OIL Specifically designed for breaking in new bikes or rebuilt engines.

PREMIUM

SYN BLEND

5W30 • 10W40 • 20W50

10W40 • 20W50

• Formulated to use for first 1-6 hours

• Certified JASO MA

• Certified JASO MA

• High levels of anti-wear & extreme pressure agents

• Pure grade base oil

• Highly polarized esters

• Compatible with petroleum, semi-synthetic and full synthetic motor oils

• Excellent clutch life

• Elevated level of protection

• #1 in the US Powersports market

• Excellent value (cost vs performance)

PETROLEUM BASED

High-quality petroleum based engine oil.

ESTER-BASED SYNTHETIC BLEND Top tier, ester-based semi-synthetic engine oil.

• Delivers long-term benefits to new or rebuilt engines

Maxima 5.02 (DPS).indd 1

2015-05-07 9:32 AM

LI NE OF 4-STROKE ENGINE OILS

PRO PLUS+

EXTRA

10W30 • 10W40 • 20W50

0W10 • 5W40 • 10W40 • 10W60 • 15W50

100% SYNTHETIC

Ester fortified, full synthetic engine oil.

• Certified JASO MA • Ester fortified full synthetic • Next generation additives protect against wear and deposits • Value priced full synthetic

100% SYNTHETIC RACE GRADE

100% ester-based synthetic, race grade engine oil.

• Championship winning race oil • Triple ester synthetic formula • Industry leading additive system protects critical engine, trans & clutch components • Used by Factory Kawasaki to win multiple SX/MX championships

530MX

100% SYNTHETIC FULL RACE GRADE 100% ester-based synthetic, race grade engine oil.

• Formulated to produce max HP and torque • Triple ester synthetic formula • High film strength and excellent oil adhesion on metal surfaces • Used by Pro Circuit Kawasaki to win more SX/MX championships than any other team in history

All Maxima 4-stroke engine oils meet or exceed all known OEM specs and JASO MA

Maxima 5.02 (DPS).indd 2

2015-05-07 9:32 AM

THE IAIN HAYDEN STORY

COMING IN FOR LANDING

COLE THOMPSON

THE LONG AWAITED RETURN

THE GATHERING STORM

PREVIEW OF THE THE 2015 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MOTOCROSS NATIONALS PRESENTED BY MOTOVAN

AUSSIE S RULE JUNE 2015 . $4.95

41831514

C ON T EN T S // VOL UME 1 5 - IS S UE 2

CANADA’S SOURCE FOR MOTOCROSS AND OFF-ROAD

15.02_Cover.indd 1

BRETTME

TCALFE

2015-05-26 3:24 PM

F E AT U R E S

38 BRETT METCALFE COVER STORY Aussie Rules

44 THE CONSUMMATE PRO

James Lissimore Talks to Shawn Maffenbeier

52 COMING IN FOR LANDING The Iain Hayden Story

58 WHO IS COLE MARTINEZ?

Danny Brault Introduces the Next Team Green Rider

66 THE RETURN OF COLE THOMPSON

Airmail Speaks to the Kid from Ontario

74 WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Danny Brault Tracks Down Paul Carpenter

86 THE LONG SUMMER AHEAD

Previewing the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals

94 THE GOLDEN GIRL

Leticia Cline gets the 411 from Vicki Golden

108 YOUNG AND ON THE RISE

A Look at Ontario Rider Austin Watling

COLUMNS

26 FAMOUS LAST WORDS BY CHRIS POMEROY Enjoy the Ride

28 GUEST COLUMN WITH BOBBY KINIRY Ready for Battle

30 UPSHIFT BY BRIAN KOSTER Bring on the Circus

110 THE INSIDE LINE WITH ANDY WHITE

Is Your Homework Done?

112 EVOLVED NUTRITION BY DREW ROBERTSON The Road to Recovery

114 FROM THE DESK OF MARK STALLYBRASS The Next Step SPECIALS

20 EXPOSED 30 CAUGHT ON CAMERA 40 BEHIND THE GATE

TOC_15.02_v1.indd 22

2015-05-26 8:02 PM

PHOTO BY JAMES LISSIMORE

TOC_15.02_v1.indd 23

2015-05-26 8:02 PM

welcome to canada, eh! the rippa

JIMMY Decotis #20 wright

#120 keefer

FXR is proud to support hoyer racing

#49 Hoyer

halstead racing

#36 Halstead

dennis racing

#31 Dennis

RTR Performance

#23 Schmoke

jay burke racing

#43 burke

Danyluk Racing

#24 Swanson

RTR Performance

#74 Allen

stock racing

#90 STock

look for the fxr adrenaline unlimited booth at select nationals

FXR.indd 2

2015-05-27 10:12 AM

PC: Tyler spikeman track: sand del lee FXR.indd 3

2015-05-27 10:12 AM

GOING SIDEWAYS photo by James Lissimore

With the weight of a brand new #1 plate, Kaven Benoit goes all sideways at Zaca Station.

EXPOSED

14 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Exposed_15.02_v1.indd 14

2015-05-26 4:47 PM

Exposed_15.02_v1.indd 15

2015-05-26 4:47 PM

EXPOSED EARLY BIRD Photo by James Lissimore

If you ever get the chance to ride at Zaca Station, get there early as the view can be breathtaking.

Exposed_15.02_v1.indd 16

2015-05-26 4:47 PM

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE 17

Exposed_15.02_v1.indd 17

2015-05-26 4:47 PM

Exposed_15.02_v1.indd 18

2015-05-26 4:47 PM

WELCOME BACK Photo by James Lissimore

It’s great to see Teddy Maier back in Canada for another shot at MX1 glory.

EXPOSED

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE

Exposed_15.02_v1.indd 19

19

2015-05-26 4:47 PM

THE

CANADIAN MOTO SHOW

STARRING

Brent Worrall

MXPMAG.COM

V O L U M E

the chair on the air Wednesday Nights, 6pm www.canadianmotoshow.com

1 5

I S S U E

2

MXP has the exclusive rights to the CMRC’s mailing list of racing license holders. Every CMRC license holder from coast to coast receives and reads each issue of MXP. In addition to this exclusive list of readers, we are partnered with several motocross and off-road enthusiast organizations across the country.

MXP MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Mike McGill, Brent Worrall, James Lissimore, Craig Stevenson, Drew Robertson, Brian Koster, Bobby Kiniry, Danny Brault, Virgil Knapp, Leticia Cline, Andy White CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Virgil Knapp, Randy Wiebe, David Pinkman, Clayton Racicot, James Lissimore, Steve Dutcheshen, Frank Hoppen, Bill Petro, Matt Wellumson, Dan Stenning , Tyler Spikman COVER PHOTO: James Lissimore

FOR SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES CALL SUBSCRIPTIONS: 416-635-MXP1 PUBLISHER: Charles Stancer/Mark Stallybrass V.P. OF SALES AND MARKETING: Charles Stancer EDITOR: Chris Pomeroy SALES MANAGER: Al Jaggard SENIOR WRITERS: Brian Koster, Brent Worrall STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: James Lissimore

TEL: 416-633-1202 Email: charles@mxpmag.com Online: www.mxpmag.com

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES CONTACT

CHARLES STANCER | CHARLES@MXPMAG.COM | 416-633-1202

Canadian Publications Mail Products Sales Agreement# 41831514 MX PERFORMANCE is published 7 times per year Canadian Postmaster: SEND ADDRESS CORRECTIONS TO: PO BOX 171 STOUFFVILLE, ONTARIO L4A 7Z5 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (1 YEAR) CANADA $15.00CDN., U.S.A. $20.00US 416-635-MXP1

MX PERFORMANCE IS PRINTED IN CANADA

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION BY GROUP PUBLISHER & CEO: Tim Rutledge ART DIRECTOR: Mike Chan GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Patrick Beltijar, Patrick Dinglasan, Queue Gonzalez, Edward Shintani PRODUCTION: Richard Robles

Masthead_15.02_v2.indd 22

2015-05-26 8:06 PM

DOUBLE YO U R

TRACTION WITH DUAL AIR PRESSURE TECHNOLOGY

MASSIVE TRACTION GAINS - NO PINCH FLATS - 100PSI RIM PROTECTION - LBS. LIGHTER & LASTS LONGER THAN UHD TUBES

Available all across Canada through your local dealers.

Follow us on :

Thibault Tubliss 15.01.indd 1 TUBLISS_MXP.indd 1

Distributed by :

WWW.IMPORTATIONSTHIBAULT.COM

2015-03-23 2:08 PM 2015-03-18 13:37

Left: The Seven Deuce Deuce must be texting Kourtney to tell her he’ll be healed by Anaheim 1.

Right: Ryan Dungey sure has a lot to smile about in 2015

Left: The KTM Team gets a nice visit from one of Zaca Station’s cool neighbours.

Right: In his former life, Jay Moore made his living as a surgeon.

Left: In the USA, Team Chiz is a pretty big deal.

Right: Shouldn’t JSR have five #1s on his Fox jersey?

22 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

CoC_15.02_v1.indd 22

2015-05-26 7:40 PM

Above: We can’t be the only ones who think Kaven Benoit and JSR look like brothers.

Above: These two look-a-likes are never far apart.

Above Right: JSR and mini JSR take in Ben Milot’s freestyle show at Olympic Stadium.

Left: When you’ve been at it as long as Teddy, you’re not afraid to turn some wrenches.

WE WANT YOUR PHOTOS!

Bottom Left: Marvin wishes he had a seven pack of tear offs on his goggles.

Below: King Kenny can’t believe the 2015 Supercross series is finally over.

Bottom Right: The longest straight in Supercross is a monster.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

P HO T O S BY JA ME S L IS S IMOR E A ND M X P S TA F F

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

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE 23

CoC_15.02_v1.indd 23

2015-05-26 7:40 PM

Above: With the 2015 supercross season now history, we hope that Reedy has at least one more good year left in him.

Above: Cole and Kaven rub elbows with “The Man” at the KTM HQ.

Above Right: Maffenbeier has come a long way from his days outside the top 20.

Left: When Drew Robertson runs a camp, you’d better be prepared to sweat.

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

Bottom Left: Even though the 2015 title sponsor’s colour was green, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series was painted orange.

Below: The big yellow star awaits everyone in Kamloops.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

P HO T O S BY JA ME S L IS S IMOR E A ND M X P S TA F F

Bottom Right: Couch racers Wright and Decotis look great in their 2015 FXR gear.

24 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

CoC2_15.02_v1.indd 24

2015-05-26 7:08 PM

BENDING THE PERFORMANCE BARRIER By forging a curved, injection molded hard polycarbonite lens, Fox is taking clarity and strength to new heights. Experience the optically perfect, incredibly strong Air Defence performance MX goggle.

foxhead.com/ca

Fox.indd 1

2015-05-25 1:58 PM

FAMO U S LAST WORDS

y the time you sit down to read this, the gate will have dropped on the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan. All of the hard work during the off-season by the riders, teams, sponsors and of course the promoters, will now be put to the test as everyone begins this grueling ten round odyssey. Beginning in BC, the national tour will move east to Alberta then Saskatchewan before jumping to Ontario to begin the second half of the series. As we begin this highly anticipated summer event, all of us might need to buckle up as I believe it’s going to be one heck of a ride.

As far back as I can remember each new season brings with it both excitement and the uncertainty of not knowing what is around that proverbial first turn. Oh sure, it’s not hard to speculate who is going to be fast during the first few rounds and get that all important jump out of the gate, however, history has shown us that in this sport the only thing that is predictable is that motocross is very much unpredictable. The only for sure heading into the 2015 series is that the racing in both classes is going to be off the charts in each of the twenty motos that will take place during the next three months.

As always, the road to the final round at Walton Raceway in August won’t be an easy one. Our top riders will have to face

B

Enjoy the Ride WITH CHRIS POMEROY PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

many diff erent obstacles along the way.

This rollercoaster ride will include the sand and heat at the first round in Kamloops, and at round two in Nanaimo the biggest challenge will come from the shale-loaded roost the riders will have to endure from these modern day, sixty horsepower slingshots. From the Island of BC the riders head over the Rocky Mountains to race on one of the best tracks of the series, Wild Rose MX Park in Calgary, AB. This circuit is one of the riders’ favourites with its incredible soil and massive jumps, but it also poses a tremendous fi tness test for the riders as the facility sits at over 3000 feet of elevation. After the hills of Calgary the circus moves to the plains of the prairies for the final Western round in Regina. This high speed track is demanding on the athletes simply because there is very little margin for error.

Of course the one item I haven’t even mentioned is what type of weather Mother Nature will provide us during each Sunday. In the past it’s been a mixed bag of just about everything. It definitely sheds a touch of light as to why outdoor motocross is without a doubt the most demanding sport on the planet. It also provides the basis for my sole prediction that regardless of who wins each moto this summer, we are most certainly in for one thrilling ride. Let’s drop the gate shall we on the summer of 2015.

Think about it for a minute; lining up in Kamloops, fans will get to watch no less than five former champions compete for glory on Canadian soil. That star power is not only unheard of in this series, but in any series on the planet.”

26

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Palmst_15.02_v1.indd 26

2015-05-26 5:48 PM

Safety:8.25"

Safety:10"

p

AND HIS TRUCK.

p

ONLY JUDGE A MAN BY HIS CHARACTER. From grille to tailgate, Ram pickups speak volumes about their owners. From powertrains engineered for superior strength to cabins so well-designed and appointed they’ve earned a Ward’s 10 Best Interiors award, it’s easy to see why Ram trucks hold the highest customer loyalty of any full-size pickup. The 2015 Ram 1500, the Most Fuel-Efficient Pickup In History1, and the Ram Heavy Duty. With a Legendary Cummins® Turbo Diesel or HEMI ® engine, Ram out-measures the others, no matter how you size them up.

LEGENDARY

CUMMINS ®

TURBO DIESEL

TOWs up to 30,000 LB 1.5 TONNES more than f3502

RAM HEAVY DUTY

more fuel-efficient

than F-150 ecoboost

1

LONGEST LASTING

LINE OF trucks in canada3

highest

customer

loyalty

of any pickup4

RAM 1500

RAMTRUCK.CA

Based on a comparison of 2015 EnerGuide highway fuel consumption ratings for 2015 Ram 1500 4x2 with 3.0L EcoDiesel HFE V6 and 8-speed automatic (up to 35 MPG highway) and 2015 Ford F-150 4x2 EcoBoost V6 6-speed automatic (up to 31 MPG highway). 2Based on 2500/250 and 3500/350 class pickups. 3Longevity based on entire Ram Pickup lineup compared to competitive pickups. Based on IHS Automotive: Polk Canadian Vehicles in Operation data as of July 1, 2014, for MY 1988–2014 for all large pickups sold and available in Canada over the last 27 years. 4Based on third-party Canadian competitive ‘trade-in’ data for MY2008 to MY2013 new full-size pickups.

1

Dodge.indd 1 CCR_M_15_1052_RAM_LDHD_E.indd 1

q

q

35 mpg hwy

2015-05-25 1:36 PM 5/21/15 2:36 PM

UPSHIFT

GU EST COLUMN

n my last article I spoke about the many diff erent thoughts and theories of some of the top contenders in our Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals. Now as we are nearing the first round, I’d like to talk to you about what some would consider to be one of the most exciting and anticipated seasons our series has ever seen. As the long winter season is now behind us, there has been talk of more and more past champions from the last few seasons threatening to make another run at a championship this summer. Now that the season has arrived, many of these rumours have come to fruition, promising one of the best summers of racing that we have ever seen. Not just past champions but also many consistent top three finishers that will be looking to top the podium at the end of the season as well.

I am very excited as a racer to be part of this and be included as one of the names that could potentially top the list at the end of the summer.

The series starts in Kamloops, which promises to be one of the better racing courses. Year after year there have been great charges from the back happening there and great battles for the winning position. Just as we say every year, the opening round will have some great fireworks that will lead into great racing for the rest of the summer. Many of us now have been around professional racing for almost half of our lives and know how to prepare for such a series. I talked before about the many diff erent ways to prepare, so it will be fun and interesting to see which one pans out the best. Guys such as Brett Metcalfe, Matt Goerke and Colton Facciotti know how to prepare for a racing season; they have proof of that with the last three championships our series has seen. Then there are other champions such as Tyler Medaglia and

I

Ready for Battle WITH BOBBY KINIRY PHOTO BY MICHAEL VIZER

I think there will be great battles throughout the summer and throughout the entire field.”

28

Teddy Maier that also have recently won championships in the MX2 class. Coming in swinging to close it out, there are other names on the list of riders returning that have finished in the top three overall in the championship within the last three years that want to make a run at the top.

I know the TV package and sponsorship packages provided for the season are just amplifying that excitement as our series grows. Being from the States, we have a bit of a diff erent TV package, but from the same fan base that loves moto, I hear nothing but great things. The excitement coming from fans throughout our country leading into this season makes me feel great as a racer in the series. I think that promoters, sponsors and TV producers are doing a great job, proven by the increased fan base, sponsorship and TV packages. I just hope if you’re reading this that you can help support the people that get us all to the races, so they keep our series running and providing great racing for you. Now with all that being said, back to the racing.

Who do you think will be the next CMRC Champion? Will it be one of our past champions or someone new? Either way, my opinion is that you will see no rider running away with the series championship this year. I think there will be great battles throughout the summer and throughout the entire field, even back through 20th place, due to the fact that our series is bringing in better quality riders, striving to ultimately win and reach goals in a professional racing division. I also believe it will be fun from a spectator’s standpoint to see new bikes and riding styles emerge after the long winter series. It’ll be interesting to see how riders have progressed and worked on their weaknesses to better themselves to reach out for a championship. So now let’s get this series started and see who comes out on top.

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Kiniry_15.02_v1.indd 28

2015-05-26 7:50 PM

2014 360 FLIGHT COMBO

2014 V2

MX HELMET ONLY $199.88

$

SAVE OVER

100 OFF!

MSL PRICE

F-16 RACE JERSEY, PANT, GLOVES

2014 360 $

SAVE OVER

100 OFF!

MSL PRICE

488

$ 17 ONLYSL $2 76.85

ATR-1 HELMET

KTM JERSEY ONLY $36.88

ADULT $750 Youth $540

COMBO $149.99

SAVE OVER

M

$

23 OFF!

MSL PRICE

CORE JERSEY, CORE PANT, SPECTRUM GLOVE

V1 HELMET

MSL From $176.99

COMBO $215.99

AIR COVERT BRACE ONLY $296.99

HOT LAPS GRIPS

ONLY $9.99 PR

TORC 1 LEVERS

MOLDED BAR PADS

CNC SHIFT LEVERS

RIDE-ON LIFT

ONLY $168.99

DIE CAST LEVERS

MACHINED FROM $9.99 VENGEANCE FLEX LEVERS ALUMINUM

FAT PAD 2.0 ONLY $22.99 FRONT # PLATES FROM $26.99 SIDE PANELS FROM $48.99 RAD SHROUDS FROM $48.99

BRAKE $49.99 CLUTCH $49.99

UNBREAKABLE!

FROM $79.99

SWINGS FORWARD IN A CRASH! FRONT FENDERS FROM

$27.99

VFORCE REEDS ONLY $194.99

FACTORY EFFEX SEAT COVERS B-4 BALLISTIC $87.99 ALL-GRIP $61.99

MONSTER/ROCKSTAR TRIM KIT $68.99 UNIVERSAL FIT

FROM $115.99

REAR FENDERS FROM $33.99

4 HUGE RETAIL LOCATIONS! FREE SHIPPING! ON ORDERS OVER $89 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

*CALL OR VISIT WWW.ROYALDISTRIBUTING.COM FOR FREE SHIPPING DETAILS.

GUELPH 519-822-7081

SUDBURY 705-566-8111

WHITBY 905-619-8000

INNISFIL 705-431-9364

925 Woodlawn Rd W

900 Champlain Court

Royal.indd 1

3085 Kingsway

1954 Commerce Park Dr

*

MON-FRI 8AM-6PM EST EN/FR

1.800.265.2970

MAIL ORDER: SHOP ONLINE: WWW.ROYALDISTRIBUTING.COM 2015-05-27 11:02 AM

UPSHIFT

t’s finally riding weather after another long, hard winter, but as usual the wait was worth it. Here in my region of Southwestern Ontario the first few amateur races have been good, and the Pro class has offered a little glimpse of what’s to come once the Nationals start. The amateur scene is also cool to keep an eye on to see who just might be the next big thing in the future. It is awesome to watch some of the kids develop, and the battling in the little wheel classes never seems to disappoint. By the time you read this, all eyes will be on the beautiful Whispering Pines Raceway in Kamloops for round one of the highly anticipated 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan.

I for one am starting to get stoked to see the circus get together again and be able to be a part of such a great gathering of like-minded people. Be it the regulars in the pits, new people in the pits, or of course the many spectators who support our fine Nationals, it’s the people that really accentuate the excitement of the whole scene.

I’m sure people right across the country are seeing similar things at the track that are happening in my region and that is great amateur racing. Here in Ontario, the racing under the new umbrella name AMO (Amateur Motocross Ontario) has been running smoothly. AMO frontman Ryan Gauld is putting his energies into the sport he loves, is committed to making a diff erence, and is creating a harmonious racing environment for families to enjoy. It seems to be working as the first race of the year at Gopher Dunes and the second race at Moto Park ran well with hardly a hiccup. It’s not an easy job but I am confident Gauldy will stay the course and make things better for racers in Ontario.

In the Pro and age classes at Gopher Dunes, guys like Tyler Medaglia, Kyle Keast, Liam O’Farrell, Drew Roberts, Hayden Halstead and, back on a bike after a season off, little Richard Grey did battle. I know it was early in the season but the speed of the frontrunners was impressive. It was cool to see the big number 3 on Tyler’s Husky go up against the mighty Dozer, sporting the number 31 on a Honda. Now with the help of GDR, Keast is back in familiar territory after riding Hondas most of his amateur and professional career, and is looking lean and mean. All these riders looked fast, some looked to have better fi tness than others, but by the time the Nationals roll around I’m guessing the fi tness levels will generally be more on par. T-Dags has an awesome

I

Bring On The Circus WITH BRIAN KOSTER PHOTO BY JAMES LISSIMORE

Colton is the fan favourite and will be a force to be reckoned with, especially now that he is more familiar with his red Honda. Any way you slice it, it’s going to be a barn burner of a series.”

30

attitude and looks to fi t the white Husqvarna perfectly, and it was a treat for the fans to see him at Gopher. He rode really well and looks ready for round one. Due to first lap incidents and various crashes, we really didn’t get a chance to see Tyler and Kyle go head to head but both look strong. At Moto Park I was amazed at Keast’s cornering speed; lap after lap he would defy the laws of physics. Moto Park’s instructor and Pro rider, Zeb Dennis, who showed a lot of heart and speed as well in last season’s Nationals, kept Kyle honest as did Richard Grey for several laps before Keast’s training down south enabled him to pull a comfortable gap at the checkers.

So as the calendar inches towards round one in Kamloops, the betting has already begun. As you know the fi eld is stacked with talent in both classes but it seems for 2015 most of the chat has been centred on the MX1 class. With three previous champions from the last three seasons on the gate, all eyes will be fi xed on them.

Who will you put your money on? The 2012 Canadian Champion from Florida, Matt Georke, who will be on a Rockstar Yamaha, the 2013 Champion Australian, Brett Metcalfe, who will be back on the Monster Thor Kawasaki, or the reigning Champion on a GDR Honda, Colton Facciotti.

Arguments run strong for all three of these athletes. Georke has swept both motos at Gopher Dunes and can ride sand virtually like no other. He has been staying sharp racing arenacross, nailing down podiums leading up to now. Metcalfe looked very impressive at the limited number of Supercrosses he rode, and considering SX is not his forte he looked very solid. Brett looks fi t and is a true professional so you just know he will be in excellent physical condition and ready to fight for the title. Colton is the fan favourite and will be a force to be reckoned with, especially now that he is more familiar with his red Honda. Any way you slice it, it’s going to be a barn burner of a series.

One can’t forget about the awaited return of Cole Thompson. Cole is pretty much fully recovered from his knee surgery and could be the spoiler. Remember Cole won the overall at Walton in 2013, the year Metcalfe won his title. And of course there is Bobby Kiniry, Teddy Maier and a host of fast guys who all want to win.

That’s the beauty of our sport, it’s unpredictable, and no matter how the odds are stacked anything can happen…and usually does.

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Koster_15.02_v1.indd 30

2015-05-26 4:45 PM

Atlas 15.02.indd 1

2015-05-20 10:08 AM

OFFICIALLY LICENSED GRAPHICS

Also Sold Separately: Suspension Setting DeCals 12 for $47.40 Fork Tube DeCals from $29.95 Rim DeCals from $59.95 set Seat Covers $69.95 Plastics from $94.36 and up

DeCal Works 15.01_01.indd 1

2015-05-05 1:23 PM

www.DECALMX.com 815-784-4000

COMPLETE KITS:

$269.90

(INCLUDES PRE-PRINTED BACKGROUNDS)

FULL KITS: RAD SHROUD KITS:

$199.95 $79.95

Accent 1: Medium Blue Accent 2: YZ Blue Accent 3: YZ Blue Accent 4: Dark Grey Accent 5: White Accent 6: YZ Blue Accent 7: YZ Blue

DeCal Works 15.01_01.indd 2

2015-05-05 1:23 PM

Visit DeCalMX.com and use the Interactive DeSign Studio to create your own Custom-Made Graphics!

from $69.95

T-9 Series Backgrounds with integrated Airbox Decals

from $69.95

T-10 Series Backgrounds with integrated Airbox Decals

Accent 1: Medium Blue Accent 2: YZ Blue Accent 3: YZ Blue Accent 4: Dark Grey Accent 5: White Accent 6: YZ Blue Accent 7: YZ Blue

DeCal Works 15.01_02.indd 1

2015-05-05 1:24 PM

www.DECALMX.com 815-784-4000

e

from $69.95

T-11 Series Backgrounds with integrated Airbox Decals

from $69.95

T-12 Series Backgrounds with integrated Airbox Decals Series Options:

Your Number Options:

DeCal Works 15.01_02.indd 2

Your Name or Text Options:

2015-05-05 1:24 PM

DeCal Works 15.01_03.indd 1

2015-05-05 1:25 PM

DeCal Works 15.01_03.indd 2

2015-05-05 1:26 PM

COVER BOY

BRETT METCALFE: AUSSIE RULES

BY CHRIS POMEROY

PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

Brett Metcalfe comes into the 2015 season as one of the favourites to win the highly competitive MX1 title.

CoverBoy_15.02_v1.indd 38

The last time Brett Metcalfe was on Canadian soil he was standing in absolute jubilation on the Walton Raceway stage holding the big #1 plate.

he reason for this celebration was he had just completed the nine round Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals after three months of hard racing, and had become the first Australian to win a Canadian MX1 Championship.

However, for Metcalfe, there were more reasons to celebrate his summer of success in Canada.

He had not only won the MX1 title that day in Walton but he had also returned to the form that many thought had left him due to a few successive injuries. By rolling the dice and taking a chance on racing the 2013 season in Canada, Metcalfe found one of the intangibles that every athlete searches for and very few find… that is the confidence to win!

Since that August day in 2013, a lot has changed for Metcalfe as that on-track insecurity is definitely not an issue any longer. After a very productive offseason, he returned to his former home in Australia to race and teach motocross on the very same track where he grew up riding. Metcalfe was all set to return to Canada last summer to defend his 2013 MX1 title with his Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki Team, but while warming up for the opening round in Nanaimo, Metcalfe got the call that every rider dreams about, the one that he once thought he’d never receive again. On the other line was the team manager of the factory Kawasaki team in the US with an invitation to remain stateside and race Ryan Villopoto’s KX450F in the Lucas Oil Outdoor MX Series. As much as the loyal Aussie didn’t want to turn his back on Canada for this unique opportunity, he knew it was a deal that he couldn’t refuse.

As much as it was bitterly disappointing for the Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki Team, as well as the

2015-05-26 9:02 PM

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE 39

CoverBoy_15.02_v1.indd 39

2015-05-26 9:02 PM

COVER BOY

BRETT METCALFE

CoverBoy_15.02_v1.indd 40

national series and its fans, all was certainly not lost as we saw some incredible racing in Canada between Mike Alessi and Colton Facciotti. We were also introduced to Metcalfe’s replacement, Josh Hill, who was a class act all season long. To put icing on the cake, Brett Metcalfe proved that he made the correct decision as he had a successful series filling in for RV2, finishing a very respectable fourth overall in the talent ridden 450 class. Metcalfe managed to take the confidence he had gained in Canada to reeducate himself on the art of being successful on a motorcycle. Actually, in more than one interview last summer with the American media, Metcalfe paid homage to this country and its national series for helping him get back to his happy place. As I read those interviews, I remember thinking with true Maple Leaf pride, “You’re welcome Brett, you’re welcome!”

Here we are now two years from Brett Metcalfe’s inaugural race in Canada and he and his Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki Team have reunited to try to take back that coveted #1 plate. With his KX450F sporting his lifelong favourite number, #123, Brett is

fully committed to finding success again in Canada.

As mentioned, though, he comes in this time with a completely diff erent frame of mind. After all, he’s not the broken down man who is returning from potentially career ending injuries as he was in 2013.

This time around, he’s smarter, he’s better prepared and he comes in with the knowledge of how the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals work.

Sometimes we forget that while there aren’t many diff erences between our country and the USA, it still can take an athlete some time to adjust. In 2013, Metcalfe did this very well and we expect him to be even better this time around.

Last season we saw some incredible raw speed on the track as Mike Alessi battled Colton Facciotti for MX1 supremacy. Although Alessi seemed to be the fastest rider at most rounds, Facciotti appeared unfazed and simply excelled in the battle of wits with the American. What makes this summer’s impending battle even more interesting, though, is Metcalfe may not bring the same ten minute sprint speed that Alessi did in 2014. I believe that he’s a much more formidable of an opponent for not just Facciotti but

2015-05-26 9:02 PM

Right: Brett Metcalfe is definitely happy to be back in Canada and sporting his favourite number.

Left: In 2013, Metcalfe styled his way to the MX1 title.

He hopes to do the same again this summer.

for the rest of the MX1 contingent as well.

As we saw on numerous occasions during his 2013 MX1 title run, Brett Metcalfe is a cerebral rider who is capable of adapting to not just changing track conditions, but also to what his competition is doing on each particular race day. Metcalfe can slow down and ride smoothly as he did at the final round in Walton two years ago when all he had to do was finish to win the title. Or as we saw in Calgary and Sand Del Lee, he can recover from a mistake and show extraordinary speed as he charges to the front. Perhaps the most interesting talent that Metcalfe possesses is his ability to ignore all pain and suffering and still get the job done, as we all witnessed in the 40 degree Celsius, humidified heat at the Gopher Dunes National that year. Of all the foreign riders that have travelled north to compete in the Canadian series, I believe Brett Metcalfe is the most complete rider we’ve ever seen.

As we all prepare for the summer of 2015, Metcalfe, who recently celebrated the birth of his second child, is putting the finishing touches on his Canadian National prep by racing the first two rounds

of the AMA Lucas Oil Outdoor MX Series. These two, high profile races will undoubtedly serve as great warm up events for the opening round in Kamloops, BC. Once the series begins, Metcalfe will have to face varying track conditions as the deep loam in Kamloops turns to much harder soil in Nanaimo.

From there it will be on to one of his favourite tracks of the series, Wild Rose MX Park in Calgary. Two years ago this was all new to the determined Australian, now he will know where to go and where to eat when he arrives in each city. Before Metcalfe even turns one lap on the first three tracks of the series, he will have already had a vision of each track in his head.

This is something that he did not have in 2013 so that is just one of the reasons why the racing this summer in Canada could be the best we’ve ever seen.

Can Metcalfe win again? Of course he can, however, as they say in sport, the second championship is always more difficult than the first. To celebrate the excitement that’s about to come this summer, we’ve selected Brett Metcalfe as our June cover boy with this amazing shot by James Lissimore.

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE 41

CoverBoy_15.02_v1.indd 41

2015-05-26 9:02 PM

COVER BOY

BRETT METCALFE

Metcalfe comes into this season healthy and riding very loose. As he demonstrated at his teams 2015 photo shoot in May. 42

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE 路 MXPMAG.COM

CoverBoy_15.02_v1.indd 42

2015-05-26 9:03 PM

14D_IRIDE_Geo_RD_sngl_MXP_11D_GeoReed_SI 4/16/15 3:06 PM Page 1

I RIDE TO WIN

New-generation Geomax® MX32 and MX52 tires The same patterns that have dominated at the pro level for the past three years Dunlop riders have won 136 AMA Supercross and Motocross championships—more than all other tire companies combined

Ryan Dungey, Red Bull KTM 2015 Supercross Champion

Share your I RIDE story @RideDunlop Scan the QR to view Dunlop’s Geomax MX32 and MX52 product video.

For more Dunlop tire information go to dunlopmotorcycle.com or call 800-845-8378. ©2015 Dunlop.

This is an off-highway product — NOT INTENDED FOR HIGHWAY USE.

Dunlop.indd 1

2015-04-28 5:01 PM

n w a h r e i e S affenb M S T O O H R E P O M N D S I A S I S S L R D E O W A M J B Y

’ S A T E L D A A N M M O N A C A U I N S S O S C F E O P R

44 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Lissy_15.02_v1.indd 44

2015-05-26 5:37 PM

Motocross is a sport where one’s future success is often telegraphed far in advance. 50cc wins lead to Amateur Championships, media coverage and hyped up Pro debuts on well-supported teams. Most top riders at the National level have long been labeled as can’t miss talents with the requisite trophy rooms to match.

However, once in a while a rider comes along who didn’t light the world on fire as an amateur or make a flashy Pro debut, but through hard work and perseverance manage to improve each year, reach the top of the sport, win races and contend for championships. This is the story of one such rider, Swift Current, Saskatchewan’s Shawn Maffenbeier and his accent to being one of the favourites for the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals MX2 Championship.

Growing up in the prairies, Shawn got his first taste of racing at a young age. His dad, Randy, an avid racer, bought him a PW50 at age three and went to his first race in Moose Jaw. For Christmas that winter, he got a KTM50 and became a fixture at the local Saskatchewan races. Rising through the ranks, young Maffenbeier found himself in the winner’s circle a lot at home in Saskatchewan, but admittedly didn’t take racing too seriously at that point and struggled the few times they ventured to bigger races. “I raced Raymond a lot but never really had a solid program. More or less, we never really focused on being super competitive with the racing at a young age, it was more something we did for fun. We just went to the races then during the week we’d go to the lake, camp, have fun and not take it to serious.

We’d go to the local Saskatchewan races and I’d win, then we’d go to Raymond and I’d cartwheel, crash

T

and have problems just because I’d be riding faster, trying to keep up with those guys.”

Coming out of the Amateur ranks, Maffenbeier got his first taste of the Pro Nationals when he signed up for the Calgary National in 2007 as an Intermediate.

For Shawn, it was an eye opening experience: “That was still back in the day when you had to race to get in, and I didn’t get in through the qualifier. I actually holeshot the LCQ and I finished in the last transfer spot for the motos. That was a pretty big eye opener on how gnarly the Nationals were going to be for me compared to the Provincials.”

Realizing that it was going to take a lot of work to make it to the next level, Maffenbeier credits an opportunity to work with Todd Schumlick of PerformX as the catalyst that helped change the course of his career. “I was kind of at that point where my Dad realized that he had taken me as far as he could take me with riding and stuff. He knew we had to venture out and ask somebody for a bit of help, and Todd was the one guy who stood out for us.” With Todd, Shawn had found someone who could help mentor him on all the little things he needed to succeed as a professional, and he thinks it helped with his family life as well. “You know how it is with families. You see their parents get so involved, they start yelling at their kid and telling them they need to do this and that. It just turns out to be a crummy relationship in the end, and I think my Dad recognized that from the beginning. He never wanted to be in that position with me so that’s why he took on Todd. It’s like when you’re young, you’re like any other kid – you don’t listen to your parents but when someone else says the exact same thing to you from a different point of view, you’re like, ‘Okay, I’ll listen to that’ and ‘I’ll try that.’ I think Todd was just that guy I MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE 45

Lissy_15.02_v1.indd 45

2015-05-26 5:37 PM

could take information from, and it was more or less a business thing in the beginning with Todd. Then we grew into a friendship and we really took on a lot of stuff together. He helped me through a lot of injuries, and just taught me a lot about being a Pro athlete and surrounding me with people like Blair (Morgan), Colton (Facciotti) and JSR. He showed me how they did things, how I could learn from them and make my own recipe from their success.”

Now that he was learning the ropes of racing at the Professional level with experience from only one season of racing in the MX2 class, the Maff enbeiers made the bold decision to move up to the MX1 class in 2009 when Shawn was only 16.

The decision wasn’t so much about them feeling he was ready to move up to the premier class but more of the economic realities of racing as a privateer.

“Our biggest thing was cash. We just looked at that class, did a budget and looked at what it would take to be competitive (in MX2) with motors and such.

Also, I looked at it as an opportunity to learn some

46

more skills on the 450. It was a good chance to learn from the guys in the MX1 class.” Like the rest of Maff enbeier’s career, things started off slowly in the MX1 class but by 2010 he had grabbed a pair of Top-10 finishes at Shadow Valley and Riverglade. He finished the year in 12th place in the MX1 standings, setting himself up for a big year in 2011.

2011 was a breakthrough year in many ways. First off, the Maff enbeier clan showed up at the opening round, in Kamloops, with a shiny 18-wheeler of their own, having put the funding together to field their own semi truck and trailer for the Nationals.

For the Maff enbeiers, the rig made sense when they crunched the numbers. “It actually came from when we had a truck and trailer – a Gearbox. We had it for three seasons going across the country, and pretty much the truck was worn out. So, we were at the point where we needed a new truck and trailer to go racing. My Dad started searching around for rigs down south and found that racing trailer and truck. He thought it would present a much better

sponsorship package with how big the awning and the trailer were, so he took that opportunity to buy that up and it worked out for us. In the end, it was still Mom and Dad helping me go to the races, more or less, just in a bit of a bigger setup.” Even though they now looked like a big race team, it was still very much a family aff air for Shawn: “My family has always been such a big part of my program - my Dad and my Step-Mom, they travelled the country in the semi and totally matched my eff ort, off the track, to make it all happen. It’s always encouraging when you’ve got family behind you, pushing you. My Mom, she’s pretty much the rock of the whole program. I stay with her when I’m home and she’s got my back on pretty much everything as far as injuries and all that stuff. She’s probably my number one fan. From all of them, my sister, my cousins, I just have so much support from my family. I’m pretty fortunate.”

Shawn proved worthy of his new support with the Yamalube Schrader’s Yamaha team as he had his best season in the MX1 class, often running

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Lissy_15.02_v1.indd 46

2015-05-26 5:37 PM

near the front, scoring his first top fi ve finish at Calgary and finishing the season in sixth place overall. Maff enbeier was firmly on the map now as a top Canadian rider. With the results, though, came pressure, and for the first time since he turned Pro, Maff enbeier experienced a season in 2012 that failed to improve on his previous year. Crashes and injuries made for a rough start to the 2012 season, but he came back strong in the second half to log three straight top ten finishes to close out the year, finishing tenth place in the final MX1 standings.

The end of 2012 would mark a crossroads for Maff enbeier and his family. Running your own race team isn’t easy and with Randy and Shawn’s step-mom, Jackie, traveling the country in the rig, organizing the team and still trying to run their own business back home in Swift Current, the decision was made to explore some other options to see what might be out there for Shawn. “It is hard to travel across the country and do all that work and stuff. My Dad recognized how much work I was putting into it

and I also recognized how much he was putting into it. There was a point in time when I looked at him and asked, ‘How much longer do you want to do this?’ I’m lucky enough that my Dad’s got a lot of connections.

He had a good relationship with the guys at Yamaha so he made a call to them and asked if it would be possible to talk to Andre (Laurin, owner of OTSFF) to see if we could make something happen over there.

I think that’s where it started. I think my Dad needed a bit of a break from racing, and I think I needed it to become a bit more of a job for me. So we approached Yamaha, Yamaha approached Andre, and everyone liked the idea.”

For Shawn and the Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha team, the timing was right to take the next step forward in his career. CMRC had just announced a rule change, allowing 250cc two-strokes to race in the MX2 class and Yamaha was eager to have someone race their YZ250. It was time for Shawn to step back down to the class he had vacated four years earlier. Unfortunately for Shawn, a winter

of hard work preparing for his factory debut was undone in one practice session, as Maff enbeier crashed at the opening round in Nanaimo and broke his collarbone. Not one to sit around and sulk, Shawn worked hard on rehab and prepared to enter the series for the eastern swing. Once on the east coast, he proved that the decision to drop down to the MX2 class was a wise one, as he grabbed his first ever podium finish in a moto with a second at Sand Del Lee. He followed it up with another moto podium at Deschambault before finally completing his ascension from a struggling privateer to the top with his first ever National win at the series finale at Walton Raceway.

Brimming with confidence from his first ever win, Maff enbeier was excited to come into the 2014 season as a bona fide title contender. It also meant his third bike change in three years as Yamaha had a revolutionary new 250F four-stroke and they wanted their now top MX2 rider on it. “Going back to the two-stroke thing and the 450 thing, it was three

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE

Lissy_15.02_v1.indd 47

47

2015-05-26 5:37 PM

With the 2015 season on the horizon, Maffenbeier knows that sticking to the same formula will help take him to the next level, and hopefully a championship.”

48 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Lissy_15.02_v1.indd 48

2015-05-26 5:37 PM

CRAZY FAST SUPER LIGHT

www.ktmcanada.com

GAME CHANGER

Photo: S. Cudby

Professional rider on a closed course. Always wear proper safety equipment.

THE RADICALLY NEW 2015 KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. NEW FROM THE GROUND UP. LIGHTER, FASTER AND MORE REFINED THAN ANY 450 MX BIKE BEFORE IT.

/ktmcanada

KTM_Ad_SX_Dungey_USA_MY15FE_1-Page.indd 1

KTM Group Partner

2015-03-27 4:22 PM

years in a row that I rode three different bikes. It was like hitting the reset button every time. It was kind of tough, just with trying to find a setting and adapting, going from a 450 to a 250 two-stroke, back to a 250 fourstroke. You have different riding styles with all three bikes, but with that new Yamaha 250F, it’s no secret that it’s a badass bike with how well it’s been doing in the US.” With the mindset now that he was a podium rider, Maffenbeier started things off well at the opening round in Nanaimo, finishing second overall. He remained in the podium mix all season before grabbing his second career win at Ulverton. When the dust settled at the final round at Walton, Maffenbeier was standing on the final series podium with third overall. It was another step up the career ladder for a rider who’s proved that with hard work and dedication, there’s no limit to where it can take you. With the 2015 season on the horizon, Maffenbeier knows that sticking to the same formula will help take him to the next level, and hopefully a championship. “I think that when you stop learning, that’s when you’re going to limit yourself. I always try to keep an open mind and I think the biggest reason why people don’t advance is they’re scared to fail, so when you’re willing to take a risk and put a little on the line to see where it can take you, that’s when you take the next step. I think this year you’ll see me race a little differently than you have in the past, and hopefully it ends with me on the top of the podium.”

50 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Lissy_15.02_v1.indd 50

2015-05-26 8:17 PM

www.gammasales.com www.just1helmets.com

Just.indd 1

2015-04-14 4:30 PM

Iain_15.02_v2.indd 52

2015-05-26 5:06 PM

I N G M O C ~

I N ~

For Landing I A I N

BY MIKE MCGILL

|

H A Y D E N

PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE AND NICK HILL

hen I contacted Iain Hayden to speak to him about this story he had just returned from the closing round of the CSRA Snocross Championships that took place at Horseshoe Valley Resort near Barrie, Ontario. Iain races for the Rockstar Energy Polaris Racing Team. While he was the defending Pro Open Championship, Iain could only muster a runner-up finish in this season’s title chase. Still an admirable result but not quite what the six-time former champion was looking for. When Iain isn’t racing Pro Snocross he spends his time running Moto Park, the venerable motocross practice and racing facility located just outside of Owen Sound, Ontario. He’s also been known to dabble in the odd Pro Motocross National for the Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha Team. On top of all that he recently obtained his pilot’s license and purchased a brand new Piper Super Cub. That’s an airplane for those of you that didn’t know. Is there anything this Espanola, Ontario native doesn’t do? Well, you’re about to find out.

As most future moto stars do, Iain got his start on dirt bikes by bombing around with his family and friends on a Yamaha PW50. Unlike most he didn’t actually start racing until he was 12-years-old, which is considered to be kind of late for motocross. You see, Iain’s parents had no interest in dirt bikes or motocross racing, and certainly didn’t push their young son towards this path. “The interest was all mine,”

W

Iain_15.02_v2.indd 53

states Iain. Hayden remembers his first race vividly. “It was August of 1996 at the Massey Fairgrounds,” just outside of his hometown of Espanola, Ontario. To say that Iain was a natural would be somewhat of an understatement. He caught on to the sport so quickly, as a matter of fact, that right off the bat he started winning practically every event he entered, and he progressed through the amateur ranks at a rapid pace, so quickly that it even surprised Iain and his supporters. “Things went really quickly,” recalls Iain. “But it’s not that surprising as all I did was ride. You couldn’t keep me off the bike.” By the summer of 1999, just three years after he first started racing, Iain was contending for an Intermediate Championship at the Parts Canada Trans Can. He was up against some pretty heavy hitters in the GP Intermediate class that year. Names like Dusty Klatt and Derrick Fisher were on the line with Iain but when the checkered flag fell on the final moto, Hayden emerged victorious. The next day he turned pro and raced the final round of the CMRC National Championship on his KTM 250.

While he made fast work of his amateur career, Hayden is quick to point out that while he was the driving force behind his motocross success, he never would have been able to do it without the help and financial support provided to him by his parents, grandparents and his sponsor Nick’s Cathouse, which was the Arctic Cat / KTM dealership located in his hometown of

2015-05-26 5:06 PM

Espanola. On a side note, how anyone could not root for a guy who was sponsored by a shop called Nick’s Cathouse is beyond me. Darren Pilling, who was the manager of the Canadian KTM Factory team from 1999 until 2002 remembers the Nick’s Cathouse sponsorship fondly. “I think Nick sold four KTMs a year,” chuckles Pilling. “Two new ones to Hayden and Hayden’s two used ones from the year before.”

It was Pilling who really took an interest in Hayden for the start of the 2000 season. “I flew into Ontario for a sales meeting,” recalls Pilling, and I got to watch Iain ride. Pilling was immediately impressed with the natural talent the young rider was displaying out on the track. “He was a little rough around the edges, but man he had some crazy natural talent and raw speed. He was a very personable, outgoing kid too, which I liked, so I basically said to him right there and then, ‘Hey jump in the truck, let’s race the Nationals.’” Even though he was only sixteen and had never been away from home for any extended periods of time, Hayden jumped at the opportunity and so began a three year odyssey as part of the Canadian KTM Factory Race Team.

Hayden’s tenure at Factory KTM was definitely a bit of a rollercoaster ride for the young rider. His results were mixed as he struggled at times but also showed flashes of brilliance along the way. His best

finish was 4th overall in the 2002 East Coast MX2 class. He won a moto in Quebec that year and had several other great rides. Low points came in the form of a broken leg that he suffered in his rookie season at the Lethbridge, Alberta round. In the offseason of that year he injured his back while training in Florida, and following that Hayden sustained one of the most gruesome motocross injuries I have ever heard of. “I was out practicing, preparing for the 2001 season when I crashed into a tree that was beside the track,” recalls Hayden. “Unfortunately, a tree branch went right through my hip and groin area. It basically impaled me.” Hayden spent two weeks in intensive care after that incident, but in typical motocross racer fashion willed himself back on to his bike a mere three and a half weeks after that. “I had to use a kidney belt to hold my colostomy bag in place,” recalls Hayden. “But I was determined that nothing was going to keep me off of that bike.”

Looking back, Hayden admits that he must have put his parents through a lot during his early years as a pro racer. “I’m sure I gave them a lot of grey hairs,” admits Hayden, “but they were really cool about it.”

The demands of what it took to be a pro motocrosser were not the only thing Iain Hayden learned of as he travelled the circuit in those years.

“Darren Pilling was my team manager,” explains

Hayden, “and we drove back and forth across the country together. He was also the National Sales Manager for KTM at the time so we were always doing business along the way. I would always help him with everything from answering calls to doing bookwork as we travelled down the road.” Pilling admits that touring the circuit with Hayden was not just about having a racer along for the ride, it was like having a travelling assistant with him at all times. “Oh yeah,” says Pilling, “I had him doing receipts and invoices and all kinds of business related tasks.”

Another advantage to racing for KTM during that period was that Hayden was able to ride real factory equipment, which for the Canadian Nationals is a pretty rare thing. “I had a direct pipeline to the KTM factory back then,” explains Pilling. “Iain was riding a true 44hp 125 two-stroke machine straight from the factory in Austria, which was pretty sweet.” Another advantage to having such a close relationship to the KTM factory was the fact that Pilling got to send young Iain over to ride in Europe on more than one occasion. “I sent him to Austria one time with freestyler Andy Bell to jump ramps for the KTM brass,” laughs Pilling. “He’d never jumped a steel ramp before in his life but he did fine.”

It was during the winters between the 2001 and 2002 motocross seasons that Hayden began to get

54 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Iain_15.02_v2.indd 54

2015-05-26 5:06 PM

involved in snocross competition. Nick’s Cat House was predominantly a snowmobile dealership and they suggested that Iain give it a try. Utilizing his motocross experience, Hayden realized success in snocross right away finishing fourth overall in the Intermediate class in his first season. “It was great,” recalls Hayden, “I got to travel out to BC to race and everything. The sleds were way behind in style compared to what they are like today, but it was fun and I really enjoyed it. I seemed to be a bit of a natural.” So much so that he turned pro with Andre Laurin’s OTSFF team in 2003 and took 13 of the 16 Pro Moto wins that year to win the championship. “Even though I was never in it for the money I was starting to actually make a living with the snocross thing,” explains Hayden. “I have to admit it was pretty cool.” Other than a brief stint with Blair Morgan’s factory team and a year with the Royal Distributing squad, Hayden has remained with Laurin’s team to this day and earned 6 of his 7 National Championships for his long time sponsor.

“We seem to really complement each other well,” explains Hayden.

While Hayden’s snocross career was really starting to take off, moto was slowing down a little bit. By 2004, KTM had pulled their factory eff ort out of Canadian motocross and Hayden’s long-time

Top left: As the Team Manager of the Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha Team last season, Hayden had to call upon his past experiences sometimes to console his riders after a tough moto. Top right: Out of Hayden’s many talents the one that has remained constant throughout his racing career is his ability to holeshot when it matters most. Below: Always one of the most stylish riders on the circuit, Hayden hopes to use his fl are to win the Vet Master title later this summer at the 2015 Parts Canada TransCan.

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE

Iain_15.02_v2.indd 55

55

2015-05-26 5:06 PM

Although Hayden has won his fair share of motocross races over the years, one could say that his greatest success has come in the sport of Snocross where he’s a multi-time Canadian champion.

supporter, Darren Pilling, was out as team manager.

Looking for ways to fill his summer, Iain started teaching motocross schools at Moto Park. “As each summer went by,” recalls Hayden, “I began to get a little bit more involved with the operation at the Park. In fact, by 2009 Hayden had become quite involved in the day to day operations of the facility alongside original owner Carl Bastedo. That is when Hayden admits that the idea of taking over the operation one day first struck him. “I took Carl out for dinner for his sixty-fi fth birthday,” remembers Hayden. “That’s when I first brought up the subject.

To be honest I thought it was a longshot and at first Carl didn’t seem to react much to my idea. I thought maybe I had made a mistake even bringing it up but about three hours later Carl let me know that he thought it might be a good plan. I think his exact words were that he thought I might bring some value,” laughs Iain. By June 1, 2010, the deal was done and Hayden offi cially became the owner of the longest continuously running motocross facility in Canada - Moto Park.

Most would assume that taking over an operation the size of Moto Park would be a full time job for new owner Hayden, but in fact the opposite is true.

Iain’s snocross career hasn’t slowed down one bit since he became a businessman, and he has even continued to race moto on a high level on occasion.

In fact, in 2011 he went back on the CMRC National tour for the Rockstar OTSFF team, and while he was a bit rusty at the opening rounds, he got better as the season went on and actually scored an extremely impressive fourth overall at the final round of the season at Walton in the MX1 class. In snocross, the championships have continued to come as have appearances at the sport’s biggest event, the 56

X-Games. Hayden has actually been to the X-Games eight times, and while he agrees that at one time it was the biggest thing in the sport, it has really gone downhill in recent years. “It was a horrible event this year,” says Hayden. “It’s almost as if they are trying to squeeze snocross right out of it. I was thoroughly disappointed in it this year.”

As for the future of Moto Park, Hayden has plenty of things in store and a few surprises up his sleeve.

“Racing is important to us of course but it’s not everything,” explains Hayden. “The Moto Park Cup is our big event of the season but in the future we would like to cater even more to the recreational rider and keep growing that aspect of the business.” Hayden feels that the sport is changing; while motocross racing is what Moto Park was built on, people today are looking for a facility that provides more than just racing, so he and his crew plan on providing that.

“We want people to be able to come here and just have fun,” says Hayden. “Our goal is to give them the best bang for their buck. We will be continuously working towards that objective.” Recently, Moto Park held their first open practice days of the season and actually attracted a record number of riders, so apparently the plan is working. Hayden relies heavily upon his staff, of course, to make everything run smoothly at the Park. “Carl still lives here on the property and he’s still an integral part of the operation,” says Iain. “And we have a really good crew working here as well. We need them to pitch rocks,” laughs Hayden. “Seriously, we spend countless numbers of hours around here picking rocks. We’re hoping that eventually they will just go away.”

I’m thinking that the rocks are never going to go away completely but by all reports the track is in the best shape it’s ever been. On that note, Hayden has

some more news. Although he would not elaborate, he hints that there are some major track changes coming up in the very near future. “We want to keep things fresh and interesting for our customers,” says Hayden.

You would think that with everything else he’s got going on, Iain Hayden wouldn’t have time for anything else, but that’s just not the case. “I just got my pilot’s license last year,” explains Hayden, “and I’m hooked in a big way.” Hayden recently purchased a Piper Super Cub and plans to fl y to a few races in the future. “Sure, maybe I’ll fl y it to Gopher Dunes this summer,” says Hayden. He currently has the plane stored on the property at Moto Park where he had to land it on the snow with skis. “It was a little dicey,” says Hayden “but my snocross experience came in handy.” Speaking of snocross, it is still an important part of his life. The now thirty-two-year-old Hayden plans to compete at a high level for a few more seasons. Other plans include racing a few local motocross races including the Vet Master class at the Parts Canada Trans Can. This is, according to Hayden, something that he really looks forward to. He’s also planning on building a new home on the property at Moto Park and he’s getting married in October. It sounds like an overwhelming schedule but Hayden seems to be the type of guy that takes it all in stride.

I finished off my time speaking with Iain by asking him the question that I’m sure he sometimes gets tired of answering. What does he prefer, snow or dirt? “Right now,” he says, “it’s spring and I just finished my snocross season so I would have to say dirt. Ask me again in the fall and my answer would be snow.” Whether it be dirt or snow, Iain Hayden is certainly a man for all seasons.

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Iain_15.02_v2.indd 56

2015-05-26 5:06 PM

Mobius.indd 1

2015-05-25 1:43 PM

Cole Martinez COMING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME

BY DANNY BRAULT

|

PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

s the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan quickly approach, things became zany with yet another young, fast kid from the States joining the fray, Cole Martinez. This 22-year-old from Arizona has signed on to replace Austin Politelli on the Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki Team, and depending on who you ask, you’ll get one of three answers (see below) regarding news of Cole signing with the Kawasaki team.

“What’s that? They hired another American?! Why don’t they give a Canadian kid a chance?!”

“Cole Martinez is coming to Canada? Cool! That makes the MX2 championship even more interesting with him, Decotis, Benoit and Jeremy Medaglia.”

“Who’s Cole Martinez?”

Hey, it’s not the first time; teams hiring US or international riders isn’t something new. It’s similar to the times that KTM brought up Willard or Nye to win MX2 championships, or when OTSFF hired Treadwell, Johnson and Gracyk to try to steal an MX1 title from JSR. The Blackfoot empire dipped into the talent pool down south with the likes of Mike Craig, Sean Hamblin, Damon Huff man, Nick Evennou, Jimmy Nelson, and Aron Harvey.

Am I forgetting someone? Some fans love the idea of seeing more top names brought into the mix, other passionate and patriotic Canadian fans not so welcoming; they’d prefer seeing young Canadian talent getting chances instead of teams bringing in temporary foreign workers … who don’t work for much and know how to twist a cable.

It’s one of many debates that will rage on forever in Canadian motocross. I don’t believe there is a right or wrong opinion here. Sure, it is great seeing a deserving Canadian rider being babied under the big tents, on the best teams with the best bikes and catered lunches, but if the title contenders are all signed up, what do you do? There are big dollars and pressure on the table to win, so teams are often forced to

A

Martinez_15.02_v2.indd 58

2015-05-26 6:45 PM

Martinez_15.02_v2.indd 59

2015-05-26 6:45 PM

“ If I get an opportunity to make money and enjoy it, I have no problem racing the summers up there.�

Martinez_15.02_v2.indd 60

2015-05-26 6:45 PM

look across the border - or ocean in some cases (Kornel Nemeth) - to find the right man for the job.

With 2013 MX2 champ Austin Politelli unable to defend his title last summer, and then not re-signing with the Monster team for 2015, it opened up a chair for someone else to rock the Claw. A Canadian maybe? Not likely. With defending champ Kaven Benoit re-signing to KTM, Jeremy Medaglia getting the call to GDR Troy Lee Designs Honda and Shawn Maff enbeier returning with Rockstar Energy Drink OTSFF Yamaha for the third year, Monster Kawasaki’s team owner and manager, Jason Hughes, didn’t have many options.

Like he did with Politelli, Maier, Goerke, and Metcalfe (each of who went on to win a title), Hughes scoured the US racing scene for someone who fi t the bill.

“We talked to a lot of guys, Canadian and American, but in the end we decided on Cole (Martinez),” says Hughes, whose team is based out of Kamloops, BC, home of Round 1 of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals at Whispering Pines Raceway. “We met and talked with him, and you can tell that he is really motivated and excited to get out there. He already has relationships going with our suspension tech, Graeme Brough, and engine builder, Luc Caouette, and he really likes the Kawasaki. Everything just seemed to work out and we believe he has what it takes to win a championship.”

Would Hughes like to hire a Canadian rider? “Oh, for sure we would,” he responds. “We’ve talked to many of the top guys over the years, but often it happens where the top guys are already signed up. We did have Jeremy Medaglia on our team and have talked to him in the past.

Our sponsors want to race for a championship as do we as a team.

That’s why we’re out there.”

Cole Martinez COMING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME

It’s hard to argue with that, and for 2015, Cole Martinez has been chosen to lead “Team Green” back to the top of the MX2 division (and Brett Metcalfe leads the charge in MX1).

With dual citizenship (he’s from Arizona, lives in California, and his mom lives in Saskatchewan), Martinez has the paperwork necessary to race in Canada, he’s got the talent and fi tness and there’s a lot of motivation in his voice when you’re speaking to him. He’s definitely keeping himself in good company for success. He lives, trains and rides with West Coast Supercross Lites Champion, Cooper Webb, and has enjoyed his best ever supercross season on the Strikt Slaton Yamaha Team, battling for top 10 finishes in the Western Region. We caught up with Martinez shortly before Round 1 in Kamloops to learn more about him and what he knows about the Canadian series, as this will be his very first time racing in Canada. _________ MXP: Hi Cole, we’re excited to have you up in Canada this season. What are you up to right now?

Cole Martinez: I was riding today and then did some recovery stuff; a bit of yoga, I’m grabbing dinner and then heading home.

MXP: Recovery … for injuries?

CM: No, on the spin bike, recovering from my day and cooling down.

MXP: It’s going to be very interesting now in that MX2 class with yourself and fellow US rider Jimmy Decotis taking on top Canucks Kaven Benoit, Jeremy Medaglia and Shawn Maff enbeier. Tell us about how things came together for you to race in Canada?

CM: It came about through Hoodie (Brett Metcalfe’s mechanic) who had an ‘in’ with everything in Canada after racing there with “Metty.”

He helped to get me an opportunity to get in contact with someone.

We talked to Frenchie (Luc Couette) and all of a sudden we had a deal going. I was pumped! I began talking with Jason Hughes around the beginning of Supercross in January of this year, and things finally came together officially at the end of February.

MXP: I read that your mom lives in Saskatchewan? I suppose racing in Canada provides you with an opportunity to spend more time at her place?

CM: If it allows me to spend more time at Mom’s that would be great, but I’m also really happy to go there and be on the best team with a really good bike. I’m really excited about the whole deal. I’ve ridden the bike and love it. I can’t wait to get up there.

MXP: You’re in California right now, but is that where you grew up?

CM: I grew up in Arizona, but now I’m living in California. I’ve been here

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE

Martinez_15.02_v2.indd 61

61

2015-05-26 6:45 PM

on and off through the years and moved in fulltime a couple months before supercross this year.

California, eh?

MXP: I thought Florida was the place to hide out and get to work?

CM: Yeah, it seems to be that way [laughs], but Cooper Webb and I are living and training together and have a good thing going on out here on the West Coast.

MXP: Have you had a chance to ride a KX250F for the Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki Team?

CM: I’ve ridden the Kawasaki and it’s just as good as the Yamaha. I rode a test bike, just something to get going on for testing. I really liked it. I pick up a bike again this Monday and will start focusing on outdoors now.

MXP: Back to the California versus Florida thing … do you find California can be filled with too many distractions? Can you see why people get sucked into the glitz and glamour of SoCal life?

CM: It’s all about the people that you surround yourself with. I have good people surrounding me; Cooper Webb, obviously he is on the right path.

We’re trained by Gareth Swanepoel and spend a lot of time with Brock Tickle and Aaron Plessinger that’s the group.

MXP: Do you go out and have fun from time to time, though?

62

“With dual citizenship (he’s from Arizona, lives in California, and his mom lives in Saskatchewan), Martinez has the paperwork necessary to race in Canada, he’s got the talent and fitness and there’s a lot of motivation in his voice when you’re speaking to him.”

Cole Martinez COMING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME

CM: Not nearly as much as we’d like to [laughs].

MXP: How old are you?

CM: I just turned 23.

MXP: When did you turn pro in the States?

CM: I turned pro in 2012 but got hurt. That same year, I did a few races and then didn’t race any of 2013 because of injuries. I consider 2014 my first real season since I raced nearly a full season of supercross and outdoors.

MXP: I don’t like to assume things but you’re not coming to Canada to finish second, I’m sure. Are you anxious to challenge for a national championship?

CM: For sure. I’ve definitely been putting in the work and know I will be on one of the best bikes and expected to be winning races and championships. There are good guys up there, Benoit and a few other guys from the US. There’s going to be good racing.

MXP: New country, new tracks and new people.

What do you see as the biggest challenge coming to a diff erent country, albeit one right next door, to race for the first time?

CM: Honestly, the new tracks and not knowing them. I am sure Jimmy (Decotis) will have the same struggles that I have. These guys have been racing these tracks all of their lives, well at least since they were 16 or younger. I look to enjoy it; it’s a whole new

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Martinez_15.02_v2.indd 62

2015-05-26 6:45 PM

deal for me and a new experience.

MXP: Have you watched many of the Canadian Nationals on TV? If so, which one looks most thrilling to you?

CM: I prefer the dirt at Kamloops; it looks the best and that’s what I am most comfortable with. You would think I am more hard pack (being from the West Coast), but I am pretty comfortable everywhere.

MXP: Well, if you like the dirt at Kamloops, you should like it at Sand Del Lee, Deschambault and Ulverton. All of them are quite similar with sand and a mix of clay in there. Gopher Dunes is pure sand and it never really bottoms out.

CM: Yeah? I’m pumped on that; I ride sand pretty good and grew up riding it.

MXP: Are you familiar with your team’s suspension tech, Graeme Brough?

CM: I just met Graeme this year. He worked with Jake Canada last year and that’s the only time that I have seen him. It’s all gone amazing with the testing that we’ve done. We only worked one day (on the bike) and got it really close. I wouldn’t have a problem going racing after one day with the work Graeme and I did.

MXP: Are you very picky with bike set-up or pretty easy going?

CM: I’m not too bad, it’s just about getting comfortable. I don’t need anything too special.

Look for the MB1 Mobile Shop

IDE O - Anq 2 S K AM

AC r Dunes

TR

MXP: When do you head up to Canada for the first time?

CM: The week after Las Vegas Supercross we’re going up to Kamloops for a few days, breaking in bikes and doing some suspension testing.

MXP: Do you know much about the Canadian series?

Have many riders shared comments to you about their experiences here?

CM: I watched it when Metty went up there in 2013, and paid attention to who was all there - and obviously (Vince) Friese and (Mike) Alessi, who went up last year. I’m friends with Friese and followed him during last year’s series.

MXP: While watching Canadian races online, did you see any track that you’re not looking forward to?

CM: There’s one there … it’s super dry and has a lot of bowl corners. I can’t remember the name, but it didn’t look like a national series track.

MXP: I believe I know what track you’re referring to, but let’s allow you to discover which one it is when you come racing here this summer.

CM: Okay, sounds good.

MXP: Do you prefer supercross or motocross?

CM: I like indoors a bit better but can ride either one.

It depends on equipment you have; everyone can put in the work but it really helps to have a good bike especially in supercross. More so in the Lites class; with the 450 it helps to have lots of power, but they

are already so fast.

MXP: Who do you think will be tough to beat next year for you?

CM: If Decotis is going up, he will be good, Benoit, Maff enbeier - I watched him and he’s pretty good. He gets good starts and gives ’er the berries. You can’t count anyone out.

MXP: Could you see yourself turning to Canada for a long term opportunity? Maybe advance to the MX1 class at some point if things worked out?

CM: Yes, for sure. If I get an opportunity to make money and enjoy it, I have no problem racing the summers up there.

MXP: Do you know many guys who raced in Canada?

CM: I talked to Metty for a little bit, but mostly I heard about it from Vince. He had a good battle going with Benoit [laughs]. That one place the fans were ready to kill him.

MXP: Would you be more surprised if you cleaned house easily, or didn’t win a title or motos in Canada this season?

CM: If I didn’t win any motos [laughs], I would be heart broken. I have been working way too hard for it. I feel like that I have been doing so much work and more so than past years. I’m doing it (going to Canada) to do well and expecting nothing less. I expect to be winning or in the battle for the lead.

MB1 Suspension

MB1 HOLE SHOT LINK

Anodizing Services

Performance Improvement

e

ph 4 Go 4 TVR 2 Anq / 3 – n 2 o t O AM May /7 Wal lton 6 a e n W Ju /14 TVR tocup on e 13 t l n u a Mo J 21 W topark VR e n Ju rT Mo Mo e 27 y l n l u u J G e 28 Jun

226-270-7768

Join our growing DEALER Network

mb1suspensioncanada.com

Canadian Head Office: 72 Colonel Talbot Rd, RR#6 Tillsonburg,ON N4G 4G9

Martinez_15.02_v2.indd 63

2015-05-26 6:45 PM

CHAMPIONS CHOICE. The best riders choose the best equipment to win championships

Marin_2015CMRC_v2.indd 1

2015-05-13 10:31 AM

@MARINBIKES Marin_2015CMRC_v2.indd 2

2015-05-13 10:32 AM

Cole Thompson THE LONG AWAITED RETURN

BY BRENT WORRALL | PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

ThompsonReturn_15.02_v1.indd 66

2015-05-26 5:09 PM

ThompsonReturn_15.02_v1.indd 67

2015-05-26 5:09 PM

For 2015, Cole Thompson will be teamed with last year's MX2 Champion, Kaven Benoit. Both riders are hoping to take titles home to the Orange Brigade Team.

hen thinking of a sport, be it motorized, team or individual, most are quick to make the association based on who they have known to become household names. Yes, every sport has them, and those looking to achieve success and perfection always have their eyes on those who get the results. If one were to roll into a Motocross track anywhere in our country and were to ask the question that was put to this season’s Supercross viewing audience #WhosNext, Brigden, Ontario resident Cole Thompson’s name would likely be a top choice. The fact is that everyone loves a winner and Cole Thompson has been doing a lot of winning through most of his formative years.

Cole Thompson has been riding a motorcycle since he was four-years-old and has been blessed with some of the best support imaginable by his family. Cole is the youngest son of Kevin and Lynn Thompson, and has four older brothers, Justin, Jay, Kyle and Jeffery. Collectively, the family has been there for Cole and has been a huge part of the amount of success the now 21-year-old has had in his career to this point. Cole has to his credit over 40 amateur national titles from first class events like Loretta Lynn’s and our own Parts Canada Walton

W

Trans Can. That is a pretty incredible resume for an amateur career. Even though it is not at the Pro level, the numbers are staggering. Anyone who has been to one of those events knows what it takes to win. It takes a true champion to achieve victory in any one of those events. The family has sacrificed big time for Cole and the prize that all eyes were on was for him to become one of the best of the best. Running in those big events has paid off.

I remember seeing Cole race for the first time in person at the 2009 Walton Trans Can. I watched in amazement as he rode with an effortless flow at speeds that were no match for his competitors. I also remember being trackside on Pro Sunday thinking to myself that the CRF150 of Cole’s would not be that far out of place with the 250 Pro class riders that day. I guess what I was seeing was the writing on the wall for what we got a glimpse of in the 2013 version of the Canadian Nationals, one of the great riders of our future. In the 2013 season, Cole secured a ride on the Royal Distributing KTM team to contest the MX1 class for the eastern portion of the Nationals. Cole had some great results in 2013 and also acquired some valuable, intangible, top level experience. Cole is able to now look back on his trip to the pond that year at Riverglade as one of the laughable low lights

of that year’s learning curve. Learning from mistakes can have great benefits. Another one of those valuable lessons came that season at the Gopher Dunes round where Cole fought from mid pack to a 30 second lead in moto two of the MX1 class.

Unfortunately, that day came to a crashing halt on a step-up miscue, which ended his day but could have been a lot worse. Cole was able to secure his first CMRC Pro National career victory that year at the Sand De Lee round going 1-2 for the overall victory.

Cole remained focused and headed into the final round at Walton with his eye on one of his childhood career goals, winning the sword for being ‘The King of Walton.’ Winning the sword on that final day of the season was a great accomplishment for Cole and a great moment for the KTM team that had been faced with much adversity earlier that season.

Upon the conclusion of 2013 with Cole Thompson now a proven winner at all levels and his confidence high, all eyes would be on his next move. Having had much Supercross and Arenacross success, the opportunity to race for the Rockstar Energy KTM team south of the border, managed by Canadian Dave Gowland, landed on Thompson’s door step. In 2014, Cole lined up for the AMA Supercross Lites West class and also jumped into the big bike fray on

68 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

ThompsonReturn_15.02_v1.indd 68

2015-05-26 5:09 PM

Five.indd 1

2015-05-25 1:48 PM

the team’s 350 in the premier class. At the Houston round of the series in the Supercross class Semi, Cole had a first turn front end wash out take him out of action as a result of a badly torn up knee. Cole elected to have the season ending knee surgery that kept him out of the entire 2014 outdoor series.

For the first time since he had learned to ride a motorcycle, he would be off a bike for more than two weeks.

Cole Thompson, who had up to this point had so many things in his young career go in the direction he had worked towards, would face some serious adversity. His reconstructive knee surgery would see him lose every ounce of muscle in his leg and require that he bare no weight for six weeks. After the surgery was deemed successful, Cole would then commence the long, arduous journey of rehabilitation. Cole remained focused and every bit as determined to get back to the race track to continue to prove that he is one of our country’s greatest talents. He stated that it gave him a greater appreciation for what being healthy means, as well as those who have come back from the type of injury he was dealing with. Cole used the time off to reflect on all of his accomplishments and said that being away has only given him more desire to win. He wants to prove to his fans and his connections that they are teamed up with a winner, and he is committed to continuing to do whatever it takes to do just that.

Over this past winter, Cole Thompson climbed back aboard the KTM in Texas and admitted that it

Above: After missing all of last year with a knee injury, Cole is healthy and ready to battle for his first Canadian pro championship.

Right: In 2013, Cole raced the second half of the National series for the Royal Distributing Fox KTM Team, highlighted by a huge win at Sand Del Lee.

70 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

ThompsonReturn_15.02_v1.indd 70

2015-05-26 5:09 PM

MXP_SCOTT_JUNE_2015.pdf

Scott.indd 1

1

5/26/15

10:43 AM

2015-05-27 9:53 AM

Cole has worked extremely hard to be ready to return to pro competition. Even though he missed a lot of time on the bike, he currently feels stronger and refreshed.

took a little while to regain the hand eye coordination and timing associated with riding. He was elated to be back in his happy place and twisting the throttle again on a motorcycle after eight months off. I cannot help but think back to the final Pro National last year in Walton where I rolled up to congratulate Tyler Medaglia on his season’s success and Cole was perched atop of Tyler’s bike. I said, “Cole, you anxious to get back at it?” He responded, “You have no idea!” As he wriggled anxiously above the big number 3 bike, his body language screamed to be released from the imprisonment of his ailment. That is the kind of fuel I believe Cole has been using to his advantage, and it will also be with him right until gate drop at round one of the 2015 season.

Cole moved on from Texas to California this past February to stay with longtime friend and current AMA fast guy Cooper Webb. Cooper’s credentials need no introduction. Cole staying and training with him in Southern California will prove beneficial on so many levels. Most of the eastern based riders train for the upcoming nationals in the east, Cole has chosen a different path. He is no stranger to the east and already has national victories on sand tracks, so for him to be training in the west makes

perfect sense to me. Why? Well, for the first time this season, when the gate drops at Whispering Pines in Kamloops to kick off the first of four Western rounds of the Nationals, Cole will be seeing these tracks and their surfaces for the very first time. I truly believe the transition to these tracks will be relatively easy for Cole based on his hours of spinning laps on those Southern California tracks with fast company. Cole is a versatile rider who is good in all conditions and has seen many different race tracks across the continent. He has been studying the films from the previous season and in his own words says the adjustment should be no problem as he is a quick learner.

The bike KTM Canada has for Cole to ride is very new and improved, and he was very excited to get familiar with it. He claims the bike is noticeably lighter and quicker, and the changes to the chassis seem to suit his riding style to a tee. He said it is one of those things that his hard to put into words to explain; simply the best way to find out is ride one!

Great sales pitch, but the true fact of the matter is that KTM has proven that it now has a great bike.

Cole wants to prove to KTM Canada that they have chosen wisely with him as their 2015 MX1 title

hopeful. He is very excited about being the prospect to contest 2015’s entire outdoor series. Throughout much of Cole’s career, other than in Supercross, he mainly targeted more individual events than a specific series, so this is a change that he welcomes.

His goal and eyes are set on the Red Plate.

Thompson is also very much looking forward to the journey 2015 will provide in seeing all of the rounds from west to east, because he simply loves everything about the racing lifestyle. The field is deep and Cole knows that he will face a solid line up of veterans, and is very much up for the challenge. When asked what he thought might be something that would help him achieve that targeted red plate for he and his connections, Cole cited speed. “I have been focusing and working on improving my speed. I think that is going to be a huge part of being successful this season in Canada.” I can’t argue with that; speed is a very valuable commodity. The list of contenders are predominantly veterans, so it will not only be a breath of fresh air but also very interesting to see where the youthful drive, determination, and speed of Cole Thompson stacks up. My thinking tells me that all of his fans and supporters will not be disappointed. Good luck in 2015 Cole Thompson.

72 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

ThompsonReturn_15.02_v1.indd 72

2015-05-26 5:09 PM

100% 15.02.indd 1

2015-05-05 1:28 PM

It’s All ~OR~

NOTHING

BY DANNY BRAULT

WhereAreThey_15.02_v1.indd 74

|

PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

2015-05-26 8:55 PM

WhereAreThey_15.02_v1.indd 75

2015-05-26 8:55 PM

Carpenter really only keeps in touch with Billy Whitley and Jeff Gibson from time to time. Whitley played a big role in Carpenter’s coming to Canada and ever since the two have remained good friends.”

or former pro racer Paul Carpenter, it’s hard for him to do anything at half throttle. After giving it his everything in motocross, in the US and in Canada, the New York native now gives it his all for his family and business. Danny Brault catches up with the former Canadian Champion to see what life is like after racing.

Since 2001, four Americans have claimed number one plates in the premiere MX1 Canadian National Motocross Championships, and each of them did not return the following season to defend their title (only one never returned, ’01 champ Doug Dubach).

Doug Dubach may have returned to Canada after he and his YZ400 won their title in 2001, but unfortunately, he says that he never got a call from Yamaha. For both Matt Goerke (2012 Champ) and Brett Metcalfe (2013), they had intentions of defending their #1 plates but both received hard-to-pass-up opportunities in the US that they didn’t pass up. (Fortunately we have both back in Canada this summer,

F

along with current champ, Colton Facciotti!)

In the middle of this ‘rat pack’ comes New York’s Paul Carpenter, who is the fourth Yank to have come, conquered but yet never return to Canada in his title defense season.

However, he would race again up north in 2009, and again with Billy Whitley’s Monster Energy Cernic’s Kawasaki Team, alongside Bobby Kiniry and Jack Carpenter.

Like his other championship brethren Dubach, Goerke and Metcalfe - Carpenter captured his title in his debut season in Canada. Granted, he grew up and resides in Ithaca, New York, which is only a stone’s throw from the border, it certainly was still something new, different and not at all in Carpenter’s mind to include in his career.

Thinking back, he says it was the best racing move of his career.

After winning his championship in 2007 with the Cernic’s Kawasaki team, Carpenter didn’t get a chance or call to continue racing in Canada in ‘08, primarily due to the fact that he had his hands deep into creating and building a new team, Atomic Racing. It was an outfit that had major backing from a demolition company out of New York City.

76 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

WhereAreThey_15.02_v1.indd 76

2015-05-26 8:55 PM

Top Left: During his 2008 championship run, Carpenter and JSR not only battled hard but they earned a lot of respect for each other in the process.

Bottom Left: In 2008, Carpenter proved that he was capable of riding in any type of track condition.

Right: Carpenter and his Monster Energy Cernics Kawasaki were the perfect combination during his magical year in Canada.

WhereAreThey_15.02_v1.indd 77

2015-05-26 8:55 PM

After the final moto in Walton, Carpenter looked very relieved to finally be wearing the #1 jersey.

Motocross doesn’t really enter his day to day life anymore, except if the local kids need help building a track down the road.”

They supported Paul and his younger cousin, Jack Carpenter, during the 2008 AMA Supercross and Motocross series.

Similar to his move to race in Canada, it was another rewarding risk for Carpenter as he earned Privateer of the Year honours in Supercross and top 10 results on his Atomic Racing CRF450R. Sadly, in what was supposed to be a more longterm manoeuver in his career came to a halt when the recession hit and money got tight with sponsors (Carpenter thought he would be racing for and eventually running Atomic as a business - think Chad Reed and 22 Motorsports). Despite his program with Atomic coming to an abrupt end, Carpenter wouldn’t be left without a seat when his good friend and former team manager, Billy Whitley, hired him to race 450 Supercross and Canadian outdoors, and a chance for Carpenter to ‘defend’ his championship status in Canada on a team and bike he felt comfortable with. He wouldn’t have the multi-time veteran champ, JSR, to deal with, but he would have two young Canucks in their prime, Colton Facciotti and Dusty Klatt, that wouldn’t be giving up any ground.

“It was a pretty good year; I won a race and was on the podium pretty much every weekend,” he says looking back to 2009. “I really wasn’t too close to the title towards the end of the series, however. Colton had a big lead, almost 50 points.

I did everything that I possibly could have done to win that title; I was training harder than ever, maybe too hard. It’s like the harder I tried that year, the more things went wrong. I kept making more mistakes at the races. Billy was great, the team and bike were great, no excuses there. Just weird things happened, like one time a hay bale got kicked out from another rider, and usually you can just wheelie over it, but nope, it kicked me right over the bars [laughs].”

Carpenter isn’t shy to give nods to his competitors, of course, and says his time in Canada was nothing short of a challenge.

With the recession continuing to slow down spending, especially when it came to race budgets and sponsorship dollars, Whitley was forced to take a break from his campaign with the Cernic’s team, which meant Carpenter would need to look for a job.

At this point, however, he said he couldn’t ride for just anyone. He was getting older and needed to think more long term. That’s when the next chapter began for the champ.

“I’m really competitive and have to do it right.

That’s why I left the sport. I didn’t have the opportunities available that I wanted to keep it going.”

It’s interesting to see the different lines riders take on the track, but also in their afterlife of racing.

For Carpenter, he’s hung them up completely.

Motocross doesn’t really enter his day to day life

78 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

WhereAreThey_15.02_v1.indd 78

2015-05-26 8:55 PM

Yamaha 15.01.indd 1

2015-03-24 4:51 PM

anymore, except if the local kids need help building a track down the road.

“I’ve got my own excavation company that has been running for about five or six years now,” he says, when asked on what’s keeping him busy since retiring from full-time racing in fall 2009. “I’m doing a lot of residential work, sewer systems, pads, clearing, and grading. It’s keeping me busy enough where I could be engulfed in work if I wanted to be. It’s good, I enjoy it.”

Known for a strong work ethic and commitment to racing, it’s obvious Carpenter is delivering that to his personal and business life. When he’s not busy operating machinery, he and his girlfriend, Allison, are wide open with their one-year-old boy, Waylon Dean.

“Not like the singer [laughs], but it would be pretty awesome if he could sing like him,” laughed Carpenter, who himself is a country music fan. He’s not shy to hint that Waylon is free to ride motocross, and that he could see himself as a mini-dad. The 2031 Canadian Champ?

The transition from supercross star to entrepreneur didn’t happen overnight for Paul. He slowly dipped his toes into manning his own ship while working at his local highway roads department where he started in 2009 shortly after his deal ended with Kawasaki.

“I was there for a year and half, doing road upkeep, and from there started getting into my own thing.

Like most businesses, it was a bit slow at first but my family was really supportive and we kept at it. My family has a history with excavating so I was pretty familiar with it. Things have continued to pick up and the last two years have been our busiest.”

Even though Carpenter hasn’t been on a bike since the fall of 2009, he admits to keeping his hunger for racing nourished with regular conversations with fellow New Yorker and friend, Bobby Kiniry.

“I do miss riding and racing,” he says. “When I talk to Bobby, he tells it to me like I was still out there racing. It gets me fired up every now and then, when I hear him doing good or getting into a confrontation on the track. It makes me want to do it again.”

With Carpenter earning a title in his first season in Canada, I asked if he had some advice for Kiniry, who has been racing up north since 2009. “Just to twist the throttle!” jokes Carpenter. “I’m just kidding. He’s been around a long time and knows what he has to do.”

When it comes to keeping in touch with people from racing, other than Kiniry, Carpenter really only keeps in touch with Billy Whitley and Jeff Gibson from time to time. Whitley played a big role in Carpenter’s coming to Canada and ever since the two have remained good friends.

“It’s a good story how Billy and I got talking,” begins Carpenter. “I knew him from the Primal Impulse arenacross team and he had a good reputation; nobody had anything bad to say about him.

“I was sitting in my garage, it was an October

These days Paul Carpenter lives a happy life far away from the hustle and bustle of professional motocross.

evening and it was beautiful out. I remember Billy called just a few minutes after Paul Lindsay, who had a nice deal for me to race Suzukis in the US. I hung up thinking that was it, I was riding for them, for sure.

But then Billy called me about going to Canada. I thought he was crazy, but he was really honest about everything and said, ‘Here is what I can offer you.

Come on up, Canada’s cool!’ and he started telling me about the series and to watch the races on TV. “He was just so honest, he felt that I could win a title. It all blindsided me, but it was the best thing that I ever did. To this day, I’m great friends with Billy and really owe my last few years in racing to him. I wish that team (Whitley’s Cernic’s Kawasaki Team) had continued though, it would have changed my career path probably and I most likely would have kept at it.”

With Carpenter clearly comfortable in building his young family and excavation company, I asked him what advice he could share with future young American racers who may be thinking of lining up in Canada for a full ten round series.

“The biggest advice I could give is don’t be underprepared for it. Bobby said this many times; when racing local races, there is always one guy who is fast at certain tracks. The competition isn’t as deep (as the US) but the frontrunners are as fast as the guys at the American Nationals. There are different guys each weekend who can step up and win. It’s a challenge, for sure.”

Carpenter isn’t shy to give nods to his competitors, of course, and says his time in Canada was nothing short of a challenge.”

80 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

WhereAreThey_15.02_v1.indd 80

2015-05-26 8:55 PM

WE BUILD A TRIP TO THE PODIUM INTO EVERY TIRE.

62 podium wins in the MX Championship prove we build winning tires.

The Pirelli Scorpion range is no exception. Six tread patterns and compounds, built to dominate in all conditions. It’s the choice for professionals and amateurs alike who want podium performance out of every ride.

FOLLOW PIRELLI MOTO:

Pirelli 15.01.indd 1

2015-03-26 3:06 PM

Brad McLean

THE AFTERMARKET

BY CHRIS POMEROY

rad McLean needs no introduction to everyone in Canadian motocross. A former top racer on the national circuit, Brad has made a successful transition to the business world and is currently one of the men behind the company that handles products like Atlas Neck Braces and 100% Goggles. Brad also comes from a long standing motocross family and his dad, Bill, was a very successful racer himself during the 1970s and early ‘80s.

Now a father himself to two beautiful children, Brad still has a deep love for the sport and for the people involved in it. We caught up with Brad as he was getting all of his sponsored riders ready for the opening round in Kamloops, BC.

B

MXP: Hey Brad, it’s always good to catch up with you. How are things going out there?

BM: Everything is going great, I’m glad you called.

Obviously things are pretty busy both at work and at home. My wife and I have a three-year-old daughter and a ten-month-old son so they keep me busy every weekend, and yes, time just keeps flying by. You know what it’s like, any free time you have now is spent with the family and making sure they’re taken care of.

MXP: Definitely, it doesn’t take much to get busy then time flies by. Do you still get out and ride the odd time?

BM: No not at all, everything is just so busy with work and the family. Plus, where we live you can’t really ride so I’d have to load up my bike and drive somewhere and that takes time. One day I’ll get back out there, and maybe when my kids get a little older they will want to ride. Then we can do it as a family.

MXP: Talk to us about the business. Your company looks after products like Atlas Neck Braces, 100% Goggles and Matrix Products; everything from the outside looks as though it’s just rolling right along.

BM: Everything business-wise is going great, for sure. We’re very busy and each year we seem to grow as we take on a few new product lines.

I mean, in any industry as long as you can stay fresh and continue to grow I think you’re doing something right. We just launched our newest product with the Mobius Knee Braces so that’s

|

PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

going well. Our goggle and glove line, 100%, is doing amazing, and then we have Matrix Concepts and of course Atlas Neck braces. All of those products have a ton of momentum right now, plus we’ve also introduced a line of bike components called Next Components with levers, grips and footpegs. We’re very excited about that.

MXP: That’s amazing Brad, you guys have certainly done a great job. How often do you call upon your experience as former racer in this business?

BM: I think quite a bit, actually. You know, every time we look at taking on a new product line we first look at whether or not it’s something that racers would use or not, and obviously our past experience in the sport helps us with those decisions. We also look at whether a particular product could be a leader in its category if we market it correctly. It helps that we’re all racers here but I also think it helps that we’re capable of seeing the big picture as well.

MXP: So it’s more about the quality of the products you sell as oppose to the quantity?

BM: Exactly, we represent and sell products that we feel racers are going to use. So far that philosophy has served us very well and I hope it continues to do so for years to come.

MXP: That is great way of thinking Brad and it appears to be working out very well. You spent years racing motocross and living in that pro racer bubble that seems to exist. Back then, did you ever imagine that things would turn out like this with the business?

BM: You know, it’s funny, when I was racing I always was drawn to the aftermarket parts more than say the OEM side of things. I used to love to put the coolest parts on my bike and I thought the aftermarket stuff looked better. Even when my family had our Yamaha dealership I always paid more attention to those type of parts. While I didn’t see it being as big as it is now, I always knew that I’d be doing something like this in the industry.

MXP: You’ve been around the sport for a long time. How do you think it’s doing right now?

BM: It seems to be doing really well, actually. Out this way it’s rebounded nicely from a few years

82 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Maclean_15.02_v1.indd 82

2015-05-26 8:21 PM

T

MAN

Maclean_15.02_v1.indd 83

2015-05-26 8:21 PM

European patent #03792104.6 US patent #7,481,729 B2

ago, and right across the country things appear to be going well. I know bike sales aren’t as good as they were in say 2006, but I think they’re holding steady. Obviously with Social Media being what it is today it’s easier to promote everything to get the word out about what’s going on. I don’t know, I think everything is moving along fairly well and we’re excited for the future.

MXP: Speaking of the future, where do you see everything going in the next ten years or so?

BM: Good question Palms, I guess it would be great if we just kept growing and doing what we’ve been doing. With Atlas, which is our own company, we’re definitely looking at expanding and maybe opening an office in Europe to better serve our overseas customers. The Atlas brand is worldwide now so we’re still getting to know the riders in Australia, New Zealand and all over the world. It’s pretty exciting, for sure.

MXP: The future looks very bright for you and the company. Back when you raced, what was your favourite bike and your favourite track?

BM: Another good question (laughs), I would have to say that my favourite bike was my 2003 YZF250 Yamaha. We had that bike pretty dialed in and it was a lot of fun to ride. As far as tracks go, I’d have to say that Nanaimo was always fun to ride. I know you eastern guys wouldn’t agree with that, however out here we’re used to that type of soil, and ten years ago that track was pretty decent.

MXP: Well, if you say so Brad (laughs). Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today, best of luck with everything and we’ll see you this summer at the track.

BM: Thanks for calling. It should be an exciting summer in Canadian motocross, I’m looking forward to it.

“GIVES YOU LONGER SYSTEM LIFE, WITHOUT COMPROMISING WEIGHT” The ultimate weight reduction aluminum core, combined with hard steel teeth, giving you maximum durability and extended chain life Exclusively from Supersprox, Lifetime guarantee with KIT purchase. conditions apply, see website

Available with RK or DID Chains.

, KTM. Yamaha Taddy Blazusiak Marc Coma, KTM, g. cin Factory Ra 14. Mike Alessi Dakar winner 20

Also Distributed by

Call: (951) 637 - 0895 84 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Maclean_15.02_v1.indd 84

2015-05-26 8:21 PM

MM.indd 1

2015-05-13 3:45 PM

86

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE 路 MXPMAG.COM

Nationals_15.02_v2.indd 86

2015-05-26 5:17 PM

2015

The Summer of A PREVIEW OF THE 2015 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MOTOCROSS NATIONALS PRESENTED BY MOTOVAN ~ by Brent Worrall ~

he 2015 edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented

by Motovan will kick off just north of Kamloops, BC at a racetrack that has not only become a series favourite but one that has an ever-increasing history. Whispering Pines Raceway has undergone some major changes over the course of the last couple of seasons, and this year’s series opener promises to deliver. The ongoing construction on the scenic drive to the venue along the North Thompson River has been completed, which should make the commute in rigs of all shapes and sizes a little more user friendly. The construction and improvements have spilled over on to the battlefield for round one, and riders and race fans alike will see, among other track changes, a newly added sand section. Willie Watchell and his crew of foot soldiers at the GKMA have had the benefi t of some great spring weather and have put everything imaginable into making the opening round of the series one that will set the 2015 ball rolling in a positive direction.

For the second consecutive year, the series will see ten

T

rounds of racing action that will bridge our country’s vast landscape and provide competitors with all the variables they can handle and more. The tracks in the west, starting with the first round, are predominantly hard packed, and the heat and humidity that usually surfaces once the series heads east is not usually a factor. In the west there is no blueprint to follow as to what Mother Nature will have in store for the first four rounds, but history has taught us that we best be prepared for everything and anything.

In the past, Whispering Pines has seen temperatures in the 30s and this race fan has his fingers crossed that this year’s opener will be one of those beauties. From there we move on to scenic Vancouver Island to The Wastelands in Nanaimo, then off to Wild Rose Motocross Park in Calgary followed by the final round just east of Regina, Saskatchewan at Moto Valley Raceway.

Who will be ready and who, for that matter, will be lined up behind the gate once all the pre-season hype, rumours, innuendo, handshakes, smiles and reunited greetings of combatants transform to the on-track focus and foray of the title chases? More often than not the series always

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE

Nationals_15.02_v2.indd 87

87

2015-05-26 5:17 PM

Nationals_15.02_v2.indd 88

2015-05-26 5:17 PM

Left: Once again, Kaven Benoit will be racing his trusted KTM 250 two-stroke in hopes of successfully defending his 2014 MX2 title.

Right: After an off-season that included an entrance into fatherhood and an untimely injury, last year’s MX1 Champion, Colton Facciotti, will turn his focus to winning his fourth Canadian title.

has a few last minute surprises that surface just before or at the first round, so you can bet that, like the hype, this list of names will grow as it nears. Yes, not all surprises are pleasant and the common goal of all aspiring to achieve their marks in 2015 is just to give themselves a chance to be on the line of 40 at round one.

At press time, this is some of what we know about our MX1 class for 2015, and some of its major players and title contenders: Our current MX1 Champion, Colton Facciotti, had a great season last year where he was able to lay claim once again to the overall title after defeating Mike Alessi by 40 points in the MX1 chase after 19 motos of action. Colton had a minor setback this March at the Georgia Practice Facility but has reset. I would have to peg Colton as not only one of the early series favourites but as the one who will have a target on his back as the one to beat wearing the highly coveted number one plate. Colton, on the Gopher Dunes Honda, has four number one MX1 plates in his trophy case, and his skills, creative line choices and smooth riding style, along with an impeccable mental game, make him a perfect candidate to keep the drive for fi ve alive.

Last year’s number two finisher in the MX1 class, Mike Alessi, who suff ered an injury and setback at this year’s Daytona Supercross, will be back on Canadian soil for some action at selected rounds. Unlike last year where the Moto Concepts Team focused solely on the Canadian series for outdoors, they have mixed plans for 2015. At press time they did state, however, that we would likely see them at two rounds and maybe even more.

Moving through the 2015 contenders, based on the previous year’s finish, Kemptville, Ontario’s Tyler Medaglia will look to continue to build on his growing legacy starting in the west.

Finishing third at last year’s Nationals, Medaglia has teamed up with Parts Canada and Husqvarna Canada for 2015 and will bring a full tool kit of experience to the line with him in Kamloops. Tyler was not one to hold back his excitement when news broke that round one of this year’s series would be at the track on which he has had much success. Tyler got off to a bit of a slow start last year but continued to build momentum as the series wound

down. His goal this year is to win his first big bike title to add to his two MX2 championships.

Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki will field the duo of 2013 MX1 Champion Brett Metcalfe and two-time MX2 champ, last year’s number fi ve finisher, Teddy Maier as their MX1 entry for the series. The two well-seasoned veterans bring to the series a mix of talent, determination, experience and credentials that do not discriminate against any one of the scheduled series tracks and soils. These two can be counted on to be in the hunt for this year’s title right until its conclusion in Walton. Rockstar Energy Drink, the series title sponsor, will have 2013 National #2 Bobby Kiniry on the line in Kamloops trying to best last year’s seventh place overall series finish. Kiniry, another savvy, grizzled veteran of the Canadian series, will also bring the type of versatile skills and experience that will have him increase the list of podium contenders, week in and week out. Bobby, who has twice been national number two, would love to finally put that number one plate in the namesake of Rockstar Energy Drink atop his trophy case. Bobby had some tough luck last season, but if his Amsoil Arenacross experience this past winter is any indication, being involved in that great title chase right to the end, Bobby will have only one goal in mind this season. Bobby will have a new stablemate under the Rockstar Energy umbrella, the returning 2012 MX1 Champ, Matt Goerke. Matt also competed for the Amsoil Arenacross title this past winter. Up until then he had previously been riding at the top level in the U.S since his Canadian title. He now puts our list of 2015 contenders at an all-time premium.

There are more, many more! The 2015 title chase in the MX1 class will see the return of Royal Distributing KTM, Atlas Brace’s Cole Thompson. Cole has not seen action on Canadian soil since he was crowned ‘The King of Walton’ at the final round of the 2013 season. Thompson suff ered a serious knee injury in the 2014 Supercross series, which kept him out of action outdoors through all of last season. At 21-years-old, Cole is one of the younger contenders for this year’s big bike chase, but his skill set and years of competing with the best riders across the continent will have him in the hunt.

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE

Nationals_15.02_v2.indd 89

89

2015-05-26 5:17 PM

Our 2012 MX1 Champion, Matt Goerke, comes into this summer as an odds on favourite to not only win some races but to contend for a championship once again.

The Brigden, Ontario native, I believe for lack of a better term, is a true ‘wild card’ for this edition of the Nationals as he is a young up and comer who has seasoning beyond the years on his birth certificate. Cole has a ton of upswing and may possess a yet-to-be-seen youthful raw speed to go with his talent that surprises everyone. Cole will see Whispering Pines Raceway, as well as Nanaimo, Calgary and Regina, for the first time in 2015. I believe the fact that Cole has trained predominantly in Southern California in the off-season will help him a ton with the early part of the series.

The last time Kyle Keast was out west, making a concerted effort to contest the Nationals, was in 2012. Unfortunately for Kyle, he left Kamloops with a broken femur and his effort to improve on his best ever Canadian National #4 was thwarted. ‘The Dozer’ has teamed up with Gopher Dunes Honda’s Red Rider Support program and will contest the whole series. Kyle’s determination to get himself back into tip top shape will pay itself forward as the series progresses, and Kyle, like all of the other major players, will be in contention for podiums and hopefully the title. I know that Kyle will welcome the move from west to east as he is one of those that when the going gets tough Kyle Keast gets going. Even though I will only give him a little more fuel by saying this, it’s not always easier for a race fan to cheer for the underdog. I am not sure if Kyle fits the underdog bill but what he has had to come back from warrants a lot of credit and respect from this race fan.

By putting the contenders on paper is validating something I have known for a while: 2105 will provide race fans with an epic MX1 title chase. I have not even mentioned the likes of Redemption Racing’s Nathan Bles, RTR’s Michael Dasilva, RMR Suspensions Yamaha’s Brock Hoyer, PR-MX.ca’s Hayden Halstead or even newly added International Motorsports, RMR Suspensions rider, Ricky Dietrich.

This series is shaping up to be one for the ages. Any one of these riders, coupled with ones I have omitted, and trust me it was not by design, can threaten to hit the podium on any given weekend.

The MX2 class promises to deliver all of the above and more in the way of on-track action and excitement based on what we know about who will line up to

contend. Yes, like the big bike class, the list of contenders and those who do not or cannot make it will grow as well. As of press time, here is what we know and what we can look forward to: Last year’s champion, Kaven Benoit, who bested Vince Friese in one of the fiercest MX2 title battles this country has ever seen, will set out to defend on a Royal Distributing KTM 250 two-stroke. Like Colton Facciotti, Benoit finished 40 points ahead of the second place Smart Top Moto Concepts bike. There have been some changes to the two-stroke rule as a result of Kaven’s title last year, and I believe that news of him setting out to defend his title on a two-stroke is a good thing for Canadian Motocross and its fans. Will Vince Friese be back? As per my conversation via text with Tony Alessi, he once again stated that they were not exactly sure on the exact details but will likely line up for a round or two in Canada.

Saskatchewan native Shawn Maffenbeier, who had a minor setback in March, will fly the flag of the Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha team once again and look to win his first MX2 title, plus Redemption Racing will saddle up KTM two-stroke rider Seth Rarick. The eastern based sand specialist will look to improve upon his western encounter of a year ago. Canada’s Motorcycle FXR Yamaha will have sophomore Dylan Wright and newly signed Jimmy Decotis for their 2015 efforts, and will also have Dirt Bike Magazine test rider Kris Keefer race a couple of rounds. Gopher Dunes Honda’s 250F title hopes will be piloted by Jeremy Medaglia along with their Red Rider support program rider Westen Wrozyna.

The Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki team that has had much success in recent years will have U.S. based Cole Martinez on the MX2 bike for 2015. Cole has been competing in supercross at the sport’s top level and has had good results which should make him a force to be reckoned with throughout the series. Even though Cole resides mainly south of the border for his career in Motocross, the 22-yearold does however have a Canadian birth certificate and was pretty pumped about the upcoming season’s possibilities.

Add to this mix the long list of legitimate contenders like Vernon Motorsports Yamaha’s Jess Pettis, Brock Leitner, Devils Lake Yamaha rider Blake Savage, Shawn Rife, Kyle Swanson, the Allison Brothers, Liam O’Farrell, Quebec’s Sylvain

90 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Nationals_15.02_v2.indd 90

2015-05-26 7:55 PM

www.kiska.com Photos: H. Mitterbauer, Picasa

HUSQVARNA TE 300

Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations!

The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.

www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com

BRED FOR THE HARSHEST CHALLENGE When icons such as Torsten Hallman and Malcolm Smith rode decades ago, they had to wrestle bulky motorcycles with abrupt power and short suspension travel. Fortunately, Husqvarna motorcycles have evolved to offer the new TE line of off-road two-strokes, designed with astounding power characteristics, and the most advanced suspension technology available today. Thanks to the early heroes having survived years off-road brutality, you can now enjoy a level of performance they could only dream of: electric start*, adjustable power valve, fullyadjustable suspension and top-of-the-line components all crafted to perform together for your ultimate ride. (*excludes TE 125)

Husky.indd 1

2015-04-06 11:38 AM

After a few seasons of being in title contention, Shawn Maffenbeier is hoping that 2015 brings with it the championship that he so desperately wants.

LeGad and Jeremy Pronovost. Yes, it definitely looks as though the MX2 class will deliver a great title chase and give this sport’s increasing fan base in Canada what they have come to see. On the track it is about the individuals, and as a race fan I could write for hours about what each of them has to offer both on and off the track. I have come to respect and admire almost every single one of the above mentioned riders in both classes, not only as racers but top quality individuals who make Canadian Motocross so much fun to be a part of. I honestly feel that in 2015, both classes will see some of the best racing action we have ever seen on Canadian soil.

What will it take to win in the west or at least for one to head east with some major momentum and a chance to win their respective title? To win a title in either class, a rider will have to focus on their strengths and minimize the damages on their off days. Yes, even the best have those. The first four rounds are your typical western hard packed-type of tracks, and starts like at most races will be important. Kamloops and Calgary will provide the two rounds in the west that I feel will offer the most in the way of rider skill separation. It’s just my opinion but I know I am not the only one who feels this way. I have found with these type of tracks, if a rider gets a bad start it can often be difficult to push to make up the needed ground while trying to maintain traction and stay upright. On the flip side I have seen a lot of riders in recent years get a great start in Nanaimo and have their best result of the series. With the hard pack comes sharp braking bumps and rocks. Last year, Nanaimo had fewer of the accustomed ruts to rail and an increased chance of flat tires. It will be imperative for most to run a Moose at the Wastelands as there is no better way to give valuable series points away with a DNF from a flat tire. The Wastelands provides a great racing venue to see most of its racetrack from one of many great spectating vantage points.

The second half of the western rounds will take place at the scenic Wild Rose Motocross Park, which is perched right in the heart of Calgary, Alberta with a bird’s eye, panoramic view of the city’s downtown core. It is always cool to see some of the great photos of your favourite Pro Motocrosser flying through the air with skyscrapers as a backdrop. Over and above the eye candy, not only is this race a must see for us ravenous race fans for many reasons, but it’s always highly anticipated by most riders. Calgary offers great elevation changes, great soil that ruts up to perfection, allowing riders to maximize traction while twisting the throttle, and like Nanaimo it also has a concrete start pad. Even though the 2015 series cannot be won in the west, I look to see many who are committed to attaining titles have the ball of momentum in high gear by this point in the series. Confidence is a huge part of this sport. Watching Colton Facciotti and Kaven Benoit manage their 2014 efforts by holding the red plates from the get go is all the evidence one needs of that. The western rounds conclude in Regina, Saskatchewan, and if nothing else I do hope Mother Nature is in a better mood than last year. I did not make it to Regina last year and do feel for those who had to endure the conditions they were met with. The event was trimmed to one Moto as a result of the deplorable conditions last year. The track has a great, fun flowing layout with good tractable soil. I predict this year’s version of Regina will have everyone forgetting about 2014.

Champions in Canadian Motocross are crowned as a result of having to overcome many things and the weather variables that can materialize are a part of what it takes to be crowned a winner. The stage has now been set and all of this year’s players are ready for action when the gate drops in Kamloops on May 31 st.

Let’s Go Racing.

92 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Nationals_15.02_v2.indd 92

2015-05-26 5:20 PM

6D LIne Up Ad MXP.pdf

1

5/12/15

2:12 PM

IT’S WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS, BUT THE OUTSIDE AIN’T BAD EITHER. ( US PATENT NUMBER 8,955,169 )

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

6D’s™ patented Omni-Directional Suspension™ (ODS™) technology is a superior impact management solution that significantly reduces angular acceleration energy, low-threshold energy, and high-velocity energy transfer to the brain from crash impact. Learn more at 6Dhelmets.com SUSPENSION FOR YOUR HEAD™ Exceeds: US DOT FMVSS 218 (US) OF

3X PRODUCT YEAR THE

DirtRider/TWMX/DirtBike

ECE 22.05 (47 Countries World-Wide) / AU 1698 (Australia) / ACU (United Kingdom)

O

N

Y

W

B

T

T

T

L

E

Cline_15.02_v2.indd 94

L

n e d l o G l r i G

L C

G

E

e h T

V I C K I

D

L E T I C I A

W I T H

E L L U M S O N

IN

E

T S I S

N D O W

IC

I A

C L I N E

-

O S T O P H

B Y

M

A

2015-05-26 5:43 PM

After a few unsuccessful attempts, Vicki finally reached her goal at the final round in Las Vegas and became the first female rider to qualify for the night show at a Monster Energy AMA Supercross.

here are some of us who do things to prove a point, others who do it to prove a point wrong and some who do it because they know no other way. No matter what the reason for the drive, the fundamentals are the same: hard work and determination; though you may not succeed it’s the hustle that separates the average from the great. I learned this even more when I got the chance to sit down with Vicki Golden, Supercross’ new contender and women’s new hope for making history (though she would disagree with both arguments)

T

VG: Everyone puts that pressure on me as being the only female out here as if that’s supposed to define every single woman but I don’t see it like that. I don’t do things to be the first, I just do it because 1) this is the type of riding I love to do and 2) I want to do what everyone isn’t doing, female or not. I’m just not happy doing what’s trending and if it inspires even one person to do something they thought they couldn’t then it means even more.

MXP: Vicki started riding at an early age thanks to her older brother who she looked up to and parents who recognized a talent and supported her love for it. They bought her an XR50 for Christmas when she was 7 and she never looked back. By 8 she was racing in local Pee Wee races in Verona Oaks, CA and by 9 she was winning them.

I always took it seriously but I just never thought of it as a job. I just thought, “Oh, I get to go to school on the dirt bike today.” It was when I turned pro and realized I was making money at what I was doing that it hit me that this is a real thing.

The more I talk to Vicki the more I realize that this is the way her brain is wired. While others are thinking about what to wear or eat, she’s focusing on hitting her marks and carrying the intensity in practice or at a race. Everything she seems to do is to better herself at a sport she loves or she doesn’t do it at all. Riding a motorcycle is an extension of her body and mind, and her soul is the motor that drives them both.

Perhaps that’s why she’s won 3 consecutive gold medals in the X Games, a bronze in the best whip it, first and only lady to ride for the Metal Mulisha, first woman to complete Ricky Carmichael’s Road to Supercross, first woman to compete in a Freestyle Moto X competition, nominated for an ESPY for best female Action Sport Athlete, Won TransWorld’s Female Rookie of the Year, Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Champion and now is racing against the guys in the 250 Monster Energy Supercross East coast series.

Winning 3 gold medals in a row is pretty cool but really there are just so many things I’ve been happy with. I definitely was

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE 95

Cline_15.02_v2.indd 95

2015-05-26 5:43 PM

Vicki's speed and style has always fit in well at the X-Games

pumped on placing with the best whip it contest with all the guys even though it was just a bronze. I think that was almost better than getting 3 golds. At least it felt like it.

Currently Vicki rides for Hanson’s Racing but her road to supercross wasn’t always an easy one.

In 2009 I just got a fill-in ride for Trey Canard on the Geico team.

I went and did one race and then came home and was practicing with the team and had a crash that put me in the hospital and out for the rest of the year. I was devastated that I finally got a factory ride and only got to ride it once and then it all fell apart. I was hoping I would get to come back but it didn’t end up working out. I rode outdoors two more years after that but quit because I just wasn’t happy.

Throughout it all Vicki never lost her drive to keep moving and never focused on the negative. She takes a failure for what it is, a chance to learn and move on. When I asked her how she prepares for a race her response is simple: Mentally I’m pretty easy going. I try to not get stressed, just focus on practice and think about what I need to do better after then I work towards it. I am always making sure I’m forever progressing in each practice rather than just standing still.

Never has that statement been more important than now. Vicki had just finished 3 rounds of Supercross in hopes to make it to the 250 main event. She came up short in Arlington and had a few mishaps in the two Atlanta rounds.

Everything that could go wrong did. I was just over it with everything going wrong so I just wasn’t mentally ready, but we did the best that we could with those three rounds. The positive thing was that we got more track time so I started aiming for a learning experience. Riding Supercross is completely opposite than tracks back home. You get a sense of timing back home but the track you actually race on is completely different. Sure, that’s what every racer out there deals with, but it makes it more intimidating when you really want to start pushing to triple in rhythm sections and things. For me, jumping isn’t the issue, it’s just getting through rhythms clean and fast is the hard part. After that it’s just putting in the work and keeping the intensity up. Going weekend to weekend to a new and different track with limited practice time is challenging too. There’s a lot to figure out in 30 minutes.

Cline_15.02_v2.indd 96

2015-05-26 5:43 PM

www.gammasales.com

www.dragonalliance.com

NFX.indd 1

2015-04-14 4:33 PM

Vicki celebrates one of her well earned X-Games gold medals

Everything she seems to do is to better herself at a sport she loves or she doesn’t do it at all. Riding a motorcycle is an extension of her body and mind, and her soul is the motor that drives them both.”

With all of that and this sudden wave of media attention I wondered if it added any extra pressure to Vicki while riding.

I’m kind of use to all the pressure from others. I think I put more pressure on myself than really anyone outside that can apply to me. Sure media adds a little, but it has actually been a good thing for my sponsors and has helped with more track time. It just makes me feel crappy when something happens and no one gets what really is going on because of all the hype. I just try and shut it out because I will never win with the negative side of things. I’m just focused on technical stuff, hitting marks and carrying intensity.

I get pissed off a lot because I ride 450 for everything else besides SX and AX but I’m riding a 250F for the races…. I think about that way too much.

Vicki is a “tell it like it is” kind of gal and she’s earned the right to be like that too. In this industry if you’re not direct then you’re just wasting time, and time is something that isn’t free for Vicki. When I asked her what she does when she’s not riding she responded quite frankly: I don’t really have any spare time. What most people don’t realize is that in the winter I’m a racer and in the summer I’m doing jump shows for freestyle motocross. I don’t really have an off-season.

Just for fun I asked her if she could pick any other career, what would it be? She surprised me with her answer. This is a fighter, a girl whose entire life is

lived by teetering on the edge of death.

I would be a pro golfer or video gamer if I was super good at it. They make a lot of money and I enjoy doing both.

We laugh but there’s an undertone of knowing that a woman like Vicki would never be happy only swinging a club or tapping her thumbs. People like her don’t have words like “settling” and “sitting still” in their vocabulary.

At the time of this interview Vicki had one more shot to make history but by the time I typed the story that chance had faded away with the last round of Supercross in New Jersey. Vicki may not have made it into the 250 main event but she accompanied more than hundreds before and became an inspiration to hundreds after. When we focus on failure we miss out on the lesson learned.

Great things have come from defeat, it’s the risk that is the greatest reward. It takes a certain type a person to put it all on the line and that’s a power that few hold, which more should value. I’m certain that Vicki is disappointed but she doesn’t let it slow her down any, and with talent like hers how could you?

I’m definitely my happiest when I’m hitting ramps, throwing whips and doing something just right on my bike. I’m doing more than just Supercross and I’ll be doing more than just Supercross after all is said and done. If anyone thinks I’ve failed then they can see that I won’t.

98 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Cline_15.02_v2.indd 98

2015-05-26 5:43 PM

Radial Grips Radial design promotes a better grip surface and reduces blistering.

Available in single or dual compounds.

Built in grooves for safety wire.

Choice of colors and compounds.

Dual Compound

Half Waffle Grips Popular half waffle pattern with deep ribbed finger traction.

Available in soft or medium compounds.

Small diamond palm surface area.

Built in grooves for safety wire.

Single Compound

Cam Grips Thin, cam shape is ergonomically shaped to fit naturally in your hand.

Available in single or dual compounds.

Built in grooves for safety wire.

Choice of colors and compounds.

Single Compound Only

Dual Compound

Single Compound

The Next Innovation In Grips.

Distributed in Canada by:

888

NEXT Grips MXP.indd 1 Next 15.02.indd 1

296-8886

4/24/15 10:21:07 AM 2015-05-05 1:30 PM

BY CHRIS POMEROY | PHOTOS BY RED BULL PHOTO FILES

Redbull_15.02_v1.indd 100

2015-05-26 4:51 PM

Redbull_15.02_v1.indd 101

2015-05-26 4:51 PM

f you haven’t heard of Canadian Red Bull Freestyle rider Kyle Demelo, don’t worry about it. We hadn’t either until we got a call telling us to watch out for this kid, as he may be the next great talent coming out of this country. Kyle calls the Kelowna, BC area home, which is where he spends most of his time on the family farm working and training for his competitive debut later this year. We caught up with Kyle as he was preparing to take on the biggest project of his career thus far with his main sponsor, Red Bull Canada.

I

MXP: Hey Kyle, nice to finally catch up with you.

What are you up to today?

KD: Actually, right now I’m just driving around in my truck. I’m headed back home from the gym, then this afternoon I’m going to head out to my compound to do some riding.

MXP: Before we get into your riding, can you tell us where exactly you call home?

KD: Sure, I live about an hour south of Kelowna, BC. It’s so beautiful out here. I really like it and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

MXP: Can you guys ride all year long out there?

KD: Where I live we can’t because the elevation is a little higher than in Kelowna, but I know there’s been winters there where the boys have ridden all year round. The soil is also a little more sandy the closer you get to the city of Kelowna, so that makes it easier.

MXP: Did you ride any motocross when you were younger or have you always been a freestyle guy?

KD: I actually did a little moto when I was younger; my family was so busy with our business that they didn’t have the time to take me to any of the races.

If you can’t race then there’s no point in training to be a racer. Usually I would just go spend my free time riding in the hills near our farm.

MXP: So I guess it’s safe to say that is where your love of free riding came from?

KD: Exactly, I have such found memories of just going out and play riding and having fun. To race motocross and be successful you really have to commit to practicing on the same tracks and doing the same thing over and over again. This is one reason why I love freestyle so much, it’s just so much fun and it’s something different every day.

102 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Redbull_15.02_v1.indd 102

2015-05-26 4:51 PM

Redbull_15.02_v1.indd 103

2015-05-26 4:51 PM

MXP: I think athletes in every sport know how hard it is to become a Red Bull sponsored athlete. How did your connection with the original energy drink come to fruition?

KD: Well, a few years ago I got invited down to California to one of the old Red Bull Performance Camps and I guess I just got to know some of the guys at Red Bull. Then one of my friends that I ride with went to school with the Athlete Manager at Red Bull Canada and he suggested that Red Bull should check me out.

From there we just started building our relationship and now I’m one of their athletes. It’s really cool and they really look after their athletes. It’s not just about money or product, they treat you like you’re part of a big family, so it’s pretty cool.

MXP: Sounds like a big dream come true Kyle. I know that Red Bull is very serious these days about doing

really cool projects with their athletes. What are your plans for 2015?

KD: In the short term I’m just going to be training hard to get ready for my first competition later this fall. I will also be doing something with Red Bull this summer that I think is going to blow everyone away.

It’s still in the planning stages so it’s hard to talk about, but trust me it’s going to be awesome. If I had to pick an ultimate goal I think it would have to be to compete in the Red Bull X-Fighters one day.

MXP: Being a Red Bull athlete, you must run with a pretty cool crowd sometimes. Have you spent any time riding with the real high profile athletes?

KD: That’s one of the really cool things about being involved with Red Bull is that you do get invited to ride in some very cool places with some very good riders. I think I’ve probably spent the most time rid-

104 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Redbull_15.02_v1.indd 104

2015-05-26 4:51 PM

Ogio.indd 1

2015-05-27 11:18 AM

ing in California with Robbie Maddison. We got hooked through Red Bull and since then we’ve done a lot of riding together.

MXP: You have to tell us, we’ve all seen what Maddo is like on the bike, but what’s he like off the bike?

KD: He’s just the man, I don’t really know how to explain him in words. He’s just a real dude, he’s laid back and chilled, and he’s the type of person that will do anything to help people. Right from the first time I met him I learned that if you’re willing to put the work and effort in, he’ll stand beside you and help you achieve your goals.

MXP: That’s awesome! Like motocross, freestyle has evolved so much in the last ten years. What are your thoughts on the sport right now?

KD: It’s pretty amazing how far all of the tricks have come. It wasn’t that long ago that a backflip seemed impossible and now everyone is doing them. It’s definitely a sport that is in constant motion. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, someone takes it to a new level.

MXP: Does it scare you at times?

KD: For sure, when I’m out training and trying to learn a new trick, it’s not easy.

Even landing wrong in a foam pit doesn’t feel very good, and when you’re spending all day doing it, the pain and the frustration begins to appear. I think I get a little scared whenever it’s time to try a brand new, hard trick, however I think that’s

normal. The fear just makes me focus more and try to get it right.

MXP: Do you currently ride a two-stroke or a four stroke?

KD: Right now I ride a KTM 450SX. I used to ride a two-stroke but I definitely prefer a four-stroke now. I think you’re seeing more and more of them these days because these modern day bikes are so good.

MXP: So when you’re not training or travelling, do you just spend your time working on the family farm?

KD: Yes, that’s pretty much it. Right now that’s my life! (laughs) MXP: What does your family grow on the farm?

KD: A few different types of fruits like apples, cherries, and nectarines. It’s a really big farm and it takes a lot of effort to keep it going each year. I grew up around it so it’s been a huge part our lives for a long time.

MXP: That’s cool Kyle, there are a lot of big farms around the area where I live and some of my friends growing up were farmers. It’s not an easy living, that’s for sure. Well, I have to say it’s been great talking to you. I have a feeling Canada is going to know all about you very soon. Good luck this summer and ride safe.

KD: Thanks for calling Chris. I really appreciate you taking the time to reach out to me. I’m going to work hard to do everything I can to reach my goals and make a name for myself in competition. Hopefully everything works out!

106 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Redbull_15.02_v1.indd 106

2015-05-26 4:51 PM

Nitro.indd 2

2015-05-25 1:53 PM

Austin Watling

BY CHRIS POMEROY

|

PHOTOS BY TYLER SPIKMAN

ixteen-year-old Austin Watling has been steadily improving on the race track ever since his first Mini Thunder race some ten years ago. Born just outside of Sarnia, Ontario, Austin is as hard working as the oil refineries that surround his hometown of Corunna. When he was just five-years-old Austin began riding a Honda CRF50 at his local race track, and there was an instant connection to the sport. With some early direction by the Thompson Family and their MX Schools, Austin started on the right track. Those early lessons have laid the ground for the success he’s enjoying today.

Like any young rider who strives to be the best, it doesn’t happen overnight, and it isn’t done without the support of his parents. Austin’s family has been 100% behind him through the good times and bad.

When he wins, his parents are the first two people there to congratulate him; when things haven’t gone right, they’re also the first people there to console him. This is what makes motocross the greatest family sport on the planet and the Watlings play out this scenario each and every weekend.

After a few years of untimely injuries and frustration, Austin finally broke through at the Parts Canada TransCan in 2013 finishing multiple motos inside the top five. Riding a Honda at the time, Austin’s performances caught the eye of Team Green Canada, and for the following season he was given a very prestigious Team Green sponsorship.

Throughout the 2014 season Austin certainly didn’t let anyone down as he took home a multitude of CMRC titles. With Provincial titles in the Southwest Ontario region, Austin solidified himself as the top mini rider in the province. By the time the 2014 Parts Canada TransCan came around in August, Austin was fit and ready to battle the top small bike riders from across Canada.

After numerous battles, including a few motos in Walton Raceway’s mud, Austin would earn his first ever National podium as he finished a very impressive third overall in the 85cc 12-16 class. It was a tremendous performance and one that was a long

S

time coming. Austin would also have another great finish that week as he took home sixth overall in the highly competitive Super Mini class. Little did they know at the time, but due to a fast growth spurt and some interest by the Honda Red Rider program, the TransCan last summer would be Austin’s final, high profile event as a mini bike rider and as a member of the Team Green team.

With the help of WCK Honda in his hometown of Corunna, Ontario, as well as the aforementioned Honda Red Rider program, Austin is now riding a Honda CRF250 for the 2015 season. Although it’s his first adventure riding the bigger four-stroke machine, so far everything is going as planned as each weekend he’s been tearing up the MX2 and MX3 Junior classes in SWO. With plans to win another Provincial title this season as well as attempt to qualify for the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National in July, Austin and his family have a very busy summer ahead of them. In August, he will also be back at his favourite track at Walton Raceway to try to win his very first TransCan title.

One of the things that separates Austin Watling from his competition is his strong work ethic. While he’s on the bike he seems to possess a never-say-die attitude. However, off the bike, Austin trains under the direction of Kyle Thompson and his new Frankfit Fitness Academy located in Brigden, Ontario. There, Austin is put through the same workouts as top Canadian pro rider Cole Thompson, and it’s obvious that his hard work is paying off.

Austin is also staying focused, and is determined to be the best student he can as he’s currently a straight A student and has won multiple academic awards for his studies. This, perhaps, is Austin’s greatest achievement as it’s certainly not easy to stay focused on school when you’re on the road racing motocross every weekend. But, this is the type of commitment Austin has to succeeding in everything he does, and that is why he’s such a great role model for our young riders. Keep an eye on the #424 this summer and beyond, as Austin Watling is definitely a Canadian rider who is young and on the rise.

108 MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

YAOTR_15.02_v1.indd 108

2015-05-26 5:24 PM

YAOTR_15.02_v1.indd 109

2015-05-26 5:24 PM

THE INSIDE LINE ANDY WHITE

brought to you by

WITH

the day to get used to your race bike. Spend your money wisely if you want results. You can put the bling parts on the race bike and that is good for at least a second or two per lap.

have always said, “When the gate drops the bull#%@& stops.” Let’s see who has done their homework during the off-season. Frequently I am asked, “What is the best way to prepare for the new season?” Well, there are many ways to look at this.

Not only is there the need to be physically fi t, you also need to get your program all set by the beginning of the season. It takes a good three months to get your bike dialed in the way it should be. Now let’s remember, before you start testing suspension and engines you really need to be able to hang on to the bike for at least 25 minutes. You need to be in shape to test properly or you are basically wasting your time. How can you test if you’re not able to push like you should at round one?

Here are some easy steps to look at:

I

Suspension Set-up. I would say the most important part of your bike set up is the suspension. Considering the power these bikes are putting out today, suspension is the first item to focus on. So where do you start?

What suspension company has most of the top guys? I would make some phone calls and talk with a few companies to find out what they’re offering.

Can they come out and test with you at the practice tracks? Will they attend any national tracks? Can you call them for advice? The number one item on the top of the list is you need to be confident with your set up. If you don’t have confidence you’re going nowhere. There are 10 national tracks and they are all different! Figure it out and invest your money in suspension set up. Once you feel like you have a good set up, start practicing at different tracks to see if the set-up is good. Give your suspension guy some feedback. Here is a very important fact: once you have your set-up, please get the same suspension components for your practice bike. I will tell you later why.

Engine Modifications Now let’s look at the engine department. If you’re on a 450 you really don’t need to do much unless you are Colton or Brett Metcalfe speed. You don’t need more power. If anything you will need to fine tune it for yourself. Try flywheel weights and ECU mapping changes to make the power smoother hitting. Yes, it feels great to have tons of power for the first couple of laps. Tell me how that works out at the 20 minute mark of the moto. Try testing with different

110

Tires Please don’t forget to make sure you practice with good tires on your bike. Why would you go out and test or practice on used tires? The difference between new and used is so different it’s not even funny. Make sure you get the right compounds for the track conditions. If you’re not sure, take a quick walk around the pits and see what everyone is using.

Is Your Homework Done?

WITH ANDY WHITE

rear sprocket sizes. This is a cheap and easy way to move the power around. Another good idea is to get your valve seats cut. This will give you a few extra ponies for a small investment.

Bike Set-up. Here is one important fact that most riders don’t think about; make sure your practice bike is as close as possible to your race bike’s set up.

Suspension and engine set up should be exactly the same. Why would you ride a stock bike and a fully pimped out race bike for the races? They will have a completely different feel to them. It will take half

Lap Times Okay, so now you have the two bikes with their engines and suspension set up. Let’s head down to a rough practice track that no one likes riding on.

The rougher the better. If it’s too easy, how do you expect to learn anything? The next step is to make sure the transponder is working. Yes, it’s time to compare lap times from bike to bike to make sure they are pretty close. This is where your money will be really well spent. Invite your suspension guy to the test track and see if you can improve your lap times. I have never seen a stop watch lie about you going faster or slower. This is where you better be in shape because you are going to do lots of laps. Now stay on the main line, no cutting the track or you’re just cheating yourself. Remember to bring the following items to test with you: rear sprockets, tires, offset clamps and even different handlebars. You are looking for as much advantage as possible. Every second you save adds up after 12 laps on the track.

Ready to Win! Now let’s review. The most important item on the list is to make sure your confidence level is high. Remember, arm pump is due to hanging on too tight. Why are you hanging on so tight? NO CONFIDENCE!!! I don’t think I have ever heard of a rider winning the race and complaining about arm pump. The weekends are the easy part of the racing, the testing and training is the hard part. If you complain and blame everything and everyone before yourself, it’s time you look in the mirror and ask yourself the question, “Whose fault is it really?” See you at the races!

If you would like to ask any questions, please forward them to info@mxpmag.com.

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

White_15.02_v2.indd 110

2015-05-26 5:29 PM

WWW.MDDISTRIBUTIONS.COM Forma_15.02_v2.indd 1

2015-05-27 11:28 AM

EVOLVED N UT RIT IO N

ey there MXP readers. As I sit here writing this article, we are three weeks out from the first National!!! I say this every year but I think it needs to be said again - the field is stacked in both classes and I think we are in for a summer of great racing.

Palms and I had talked about writing an article about how to prepare for the long motos, and I will write an article regarding that topic later, but I think the first thing I want to talk about is recovery. I have written about recovery before but I wanted to provide you with some specific techniques that you can add to your program right now.

Every year we see more Motocross athletes show up at the first round ready to go and in great shape. The message has been sent, you need to put in the work in the off-season or you’re not going to be able to compete at the highest level. You want to maintain that conditioning throughout the long, hot summer, though, and this where most people run into problems. Typically during race season you’re travelling more, eating out and not getting enough sleep.

Then you want to keep training as hard as you did during the off-season. Well, what happens? You wear yourself out! I have listed the five most important things to add to your recovery process.

Here are five tools that you can add to your routine that will facilitate better recovery. Remember that training = work + rest. By incorporating these into your daily routine, you’ll make sure to recover better, which means you can perform at your higher level when training.

HI

The Road to Recovery WITH DREW ROBERTSON PHOTO BY NICK HILL

By incorporating these into your daily routine, you’ll make sure to recover better, which means you can perform at your higher level when training.”

1) Cool Down: Post-workout / Post activity recovery is second only to sleep in the recovery hierarchy. A post workout cool down speeds short term and long term recovery (defined as a return to a pre-training state) when compared to not cooling down.

Moving is preferable to static stretching because it supports circulatory activity (limb movement assists circulation so the heart doesn’t have to do it all on its own). Use a low impact method of cycling, rowing or walking. In order to flush the muscles, move easily for 2-5 minutes, then spring for 5-10 seconds. Repeat this process 3-4 times for a total of about 20 minutes. After each moto on race day, after each complete day at the practice track, and of course after you’ve had a big workout, make sure to add this to your schedule.

2) Recovery Shower: A properly executed recovery shower stimulates circulation.

There are great benefits to hot/cold showers scientifically recognized, however the

112

mechanism of action is not clearly understood. First, cook for 3-5 minutes under a hot shower, relax and massage the muscles.

This will cause the blood vessels to dilate.

Then slowly turn off the hot water until it’s unbearably cold – DEAL WITH IT. Remain under the cold water for five minutes. This will cause blood vessels to constrict. Slowly switch the hot water back on and cook again for 3-5 minutes. Repeat this process for at least two cycles. If you’re doing the recovery shower earlier in the day, end on cold. If it’s closer to the time you are wanting to go to bed then end on hot. I recommend doing a recovery shower right after you finish your cool down post workout.

3) Ice Bath: Following an intense workout or race, during which the muscles have been overheated, there is no good reason to cook them more in a hot tub or simple hot shower. If an ice cold stream is not available, put 40-70lbs of ice in a bathtub, add water to waist height and get in. Try to accumulate a total of 10-15 minutes in 4-5 minute intervals.

4) Recovery Walk: Several hours (3-4 minimum) after training, take a 20-30 minute walk with your dog, friend, spouse or spin on a bike at an easy pace (HR no more than 65%) to boost circulation, flush the muscles again and create a demand for more glucose. Afterward, eat a light snack, heavier on protein than carbohydrates if you’re getting close to bed time. On race day this can be done after you’ve gone back to the hotel, and if time allows before you eat dinner.

Don’t add this to your routine, however if it’s going to affect your bed time, GO TO BED!!

5) Foam Roller: An essential self-massage tool. Use it daily!! Rolling muscle and fascia under pressure stretches, separates and reorganizes it. It can be painful. The pain, though, is indicative of bound up tissue or different muscles adhering to each other, which makes them inefficient. Frequent use of the foam roller increases the effectiveness of normal deep tissue massage because the practitioner won’t waste time releasing knots and tension, and can work on deeper structural issues. Areas to key in on are the IT bands, quads, hamstrings, glutes and calves.

Don’t underestimate the power of recovery. If you don’t recover properly all you’ll end up doing is digging yourself deeper into a hole and eventually get yourself sick!

If you have any questions, please contact me at: drew@evolvednutrition.com.

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE

Robertson_15.02_v1.indd 112

2015-05-26 7:57 PM

Klim.indd 1

2015-05-27 3:03 PM

www.KLIM.com

© KLIM® 2015

MAX GERSTON • MOJAVE GEAR

FROM T HE DESK OF...

’m a sports fanatic. When I was young I played every “stick and ball” sport going. I was big into hockey then in the “off-season” I would play soccer and baseball. At school I would play everything else that involved a ball…except golf.

Now, when I turn on the tube and look to watch the news, I watch sports news. I prefer to hear about people’s accomplishments more than I do about everything that’s wrong in the world.

I have negative emotions just like anyone but I try to force myself to see the positives in things. For the last few years, let’s say from 2008 to 2014, there weren’t a lot of good things going on in our sport. Bike sales plummeted, the number of entries at races took a nose dive due to the economy and the increasing cost to get to the races, the number of races in each region declined because it became less affordable to host events, and a lot of splintering with start-up clubs in selected regions took place.

I believe 2015 will be known as the turnaround year for motocross in Canada. I’m getting a positive vibe from coast to coast that we’re on the road to recovery. The best news in the west is the three regions in BC are working together under one umbrella, yes CMRC, and are working together to improve their program, create a unified provincial series and schedule races to avoid conflict to the best of their ability. This was a long time coming. As recent as last year there were three different organizations putting on races on the same weekend. It was quickly learned that it did no one any good – clubs, riders, the industry, etc. There will be some bumps along the way, but the region is on the right track.

In Alberta, there is now a division between the north and south within the province.

This had to happen because of the size of the province (I wouldn’t drive ten hours for a couple of motos!). Both organizations are

I

The Next Step WITH MARK STALLYBR ASS PHOTO BY JAMES LISSIMORE

The best news in the west is the three regions in BC are working together under one umbrella.”

114

finding their way, trying to make changes to accommodate riders, and doing their best with what they have to work with. Once they come together to have a common provincial series, as BC is doing, they’ll be running on all cylinders. Be patient, it is coming!

Southwestern Ontario is like the SoCal of Canada, merely due to the surrounding population and the number of riders that race in the region. In SoCal there used to be about four organizations running races on each weekend. Lately in SWO, between clubs and sanctioning organizations, there could easily have been five events with 250+ entries each taking place on the same day.

That’s okay for the promoter, good for the industry, but not so hot for the level of competition at the top. This year, however, AMO (Amateur Motocross Ontario) has stepped up to the plate, have made some changes to the class structure and race day schedule, created a prize format for each race and at series end, and what do ya know, they hype is back. That’s a good thing, and something that was drastically needed.

In the other regions, the clubs and directors know that it’s not 2008 anymore. It’s a different ball of wax and they know they have to adapt to the current situation. They are making changes, maybe not as big or quickly as some people want, but they too are going in the right direction.

A lot of times when 95% of people are happy you only hear from the 5%. I’ve learned that over the years and it has thickened my skin. Believe the hype! This year is going to be year one of a positive turnaround for motocross throughout our country. There are way too many good things happening to gripe about the negatives. Praise the accomplishments that people are making. It’ll probably make you feel better.

Now I’m going out to practice the stick and ball sport I recently took up. It’s amazing how frustrating it can be to make a little white ball go where you want!

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

Stally_15.02_v1.indd 114

2015-05-26 5:22 PM

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.

Scan me for more details

Detailed terms, benefits and limitations available at EngineWarranty.com. © 2015, Ashland Inc. TM Trademark of Ashland or its subsidiaries in various countries.

Untitled-3 1

2015-02-04 4:41 PM

NEW

SFF-Air TAC (Triple Air Chamber) Same design as AMA factory racers

Oversized Petal Disc Brakes

THE NEW 20l5 KX®450F n

LAUNCH CONTROL MODE

n

4-POSITION HANDLEBARS

n

3 PLUG-AND-PLAY DFI SETTINGS

n

2-POSITION FOOTPEGS

Kawasaki strives to give you the closest experience to a factory ride. Proven champion and a potent track weapon in the hands of any serious rider, the KX450F’s powerful performance pushes riders to the front of the pack. The proof? It’s on the podium.

KX250F

kawasaki.ca/15KX450F

KX100

THE BIKE THAT BUILDS CHAMPIONS. KX85

KX65

©2015 Canadian Kawasaki Motors Inc. Always wear a helmet, eye protection

and proper riding apparel. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Adhere to the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual.

Kawasaki.indd 1

2015-03-17 4:29 PM