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FIRST RIDE 2019

SUZUKI RM-Z250

2018 MXON C A N A DA

TA K E S O V E R RED BUD

THE DOUG HOOVER STORY

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DECEMBER 2018 $4.95

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ALL HEART

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PRIME _ PRO FLOR AL

H I G H E N D, LOW S TRESS THOR M X .COM/PRIME _ PRO

THE FIRS T. THE FORE VE R .

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Congratulations, Colton!

2018 Canadian Motoc Moto champ and Honda ri r Your grit, talent and determination won you the title— along with the CRF450R. Honda is proud to have been a part of your journey to the top of the podium.

The 2018 Canadian Motocross season was an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride towards the championship for Honda’s Colton Facciotti. He celebrated his fifth Canadian Motocross championship this year after a demanding race schedule filled with tough competition.

His perseverance and commitment have paid off, as did his choice of motorcycle: the Honda CRF450R. Between the talent of Colton and the entire Honda GDR family, it’s been a year worth celebrating for Honda motocross in Canada.

Photography by @lissimorephoto Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing, and please respect the environment when riding.

Obey the law and read your owner’s manual thoroughly. Honda recommends taking a motorcycle rider training course.

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otocross a rider.

honda.ca

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COLTON FACCIOTTI

J ESS P E TT I S

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CONGRATS! TEAM MARIN

RIDERS TY L ER M EDAG LIA

AVA I LA B LE AT

@ M A RI N B I K E S CA N A DA

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FIRST RIDE 2019

SUZUKI RM-Z250

44

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE // VOLUME 18, ISSUE 5

28

FEATURES 28 C O V E R S T O R Y

Jess Pettis is all heart

32 2 0 1 8 M X O N S T O R Y

Team Canada takes on Red Bud

38 M O N T R E A L S U P E R C R O S S

Olympic Stadium once again hosts a SX

44 F I R S T R I D E : 2 0 1 9 R M - Z 2 5 0

Palms goes to Japan to ride the new Suzuki

50 T H E D O U G H O O V E R S T O R Y

COVER STORY

Mike McGill writes about “The Sweeper”

JESS PETTIS

56 M X P C H A T T E R W I T H D A R Y L M U R P H Y

Palms sits down with the blue flag master

63 R I D I N G W I T H T H E B L U C R U

Moto Park hosts the 2018 Yamaha Ride Day

ALL HEART

66 C A T C H I N G U P W I T H P H I L N I C O L E T T I

Andy White talks with the latest addition to Canadian MX

70 L I V I N G L A R G E I N J A P A N

Lawrence Hacking and Lexi Pechout race across the Pacific

76 T H E N I T R O C I R C U S S T O R Y

“The You Got This Tour” comes to Canada

78 Y O U N G A N D O N T H E R I S E

Palms profiles Ontario young gun Josh Bryan

SPECIALS 12 E X P O S E D 20 C A U G H T O N C A M E R A

COLUMNS

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22 FAMOUS LAST WORDS by Chris Pomeroy 24 FEMALE PERSPECTIVE by Salina Cannella 26 GUEST COLUMN by Jamie Baskerville 80 THE MENTAL SIDE with Sean Poitras 82 INSIDE LINE by Andy White

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CLEAN, PORTABLE POWER. /// YAMAHA INVERTER GENERATORS OUTPUT FROM 2,000–6,300 WATTS I IDEAL FOR THE TRACK, THE COTTAGE OR THE WORK SITE I LEGENDARY YAMAHA RELIABILITY

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EXPOS

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PHOTO BY JAM E S LISSIMOR E

SMOKING GUN With just a few laps to go at Red Bud, Tyler Medaglia’s bike sent up a smoke signal.

MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE // 15 6

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WHEELIE GRABBING GEARS KINGS No one The 250will riders everare forget wide the moment open aswhen they sprint for Travis Pastrana Turn 1 and in Riverglade.

Kevin Windham were introduced at Red Bud.

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MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE // 15 6

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MOTORCROSS PERFORMANCE VOLUME 18, ISSUE 5

FOR SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES CALL: 416-633-1202

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, Mike McGill SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR: Austin Watling STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: James Lissimore CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: James Lissimore, Drew Robertson, Brian Koster, Leticia Cline, Andy White, Matt Wellumson, Krystyn Slack, Sean Poitras, Lawrence Hacking CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Krystyn Slack, Virgil Knapp, Clayton Racicot, James Lissimore, Bill Petro, Matt Wellumson, Frank Hoppen, Summer Denzler, Matt Wellumson, Steve Dutcheshen COVER PHOTO: James Lissimore MXP has the exclusive rights to the MRC’s mailing list of racing license holders.

Every MRC 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 including the FMSQ. FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES CONTACT: Charles Stancer 416-633-1202 charles@mxpmag.com mxpmag.com 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 $20.00 Cdn., U.S.A. $40.00 US, 416-633-1202

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

MX PERFORMANCE IS PRINTED IN CANADA

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NIGHT OWLS Our top riders are so good that they can even race in the dark.

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CAUGHT ON CAMERA

A PHOTOGR APHIC JOURNAL FROM R ACES AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YE AR.

S Two future Team Canada riders talk about how cool dads are.

S Tyler Medaglia gives the gift that keeps on giving.

S There must be something in there.

S How could Brett Lee get so lucky?

S Standard orders at Red Bud.

S Canadian family pride at its best.

S The 2018 MXoN’s took a lot out of everyone.

S At least Plessinger’s hair looked good.

S A couple of USA legends can’t believe what they’re seeing on the

S Team USA could’ve used this guy on their team.

S Team USA was all smiles before the racing began at Red Bud.

S This must be French champagne.

track at Red Bud.

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PURE MOTO

N O W AVA I L A B L E O N L I N E

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A PHOTOGR APHIC JOURNAL FROM R ACES AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YE AR.

S No one had more focus at Red Bud than Jay Moore.

S It’s too bad that Team Australia had to wear helmets during the race.

S Windham came to Red Bud straight from the back woods of Louisiana.

S You know you’ve done well when the law congratulates you.

S RC grabs the mic and tries to calm the home fans down.

S Roger once again faces the music after another USA defeat.

S Ricky Johnson was so happy that you’d think it was 1986 all over again.

S We should all try to be as happy as Travis Pastrana.

S Matthes is still trying to process everything he saw at Red Bud.

S It was great to see so many Team Canada supporters at Red Bud.

S Even Marco Dube made the trek to Red Bud to cheer on his favourite riders.

S One person in this photo is having more fun than the other.

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www.kiska.com Photo: J. Lissimore

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FAMOUS WITH CHRIS POMEROY

LAST l a e R t I WORDS Keeping

I

t’s been quite the year in Canadian motocross, and according to the 2018 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Series calendar, it’s not over yet. By the time you sit down to read through this issue of MXP Magazine, we still have the Quebec City SX as well as the season finale in Hamilton on November 17th.

The moment the main event in Hamilton concludes, the Jetwerx crew will be handing out the big $100,000 prize to the Triple Crown winner, and probably taking a big sigh of relief. Year one of their new series will be history and then they can focus their attention on 2019. In my humble opinion, next year will be one of the most important in Canadian motocross history, both Regionally as well as Nationally. How many races, what will be the format, how much will they cost to race, and which tracks will these races be held?

These are all questions that will have to be answered as we head into 2019.

As I’m sitting down to write this the 2018 Monster Energy MXoN at Red Bud just concluded and we’re on the eve of one of my favourite races of the year, the Monster Energy Cup. After a long and hot summer of outdoor racing, I always enjoy watching a little supercross while the weather is still decent in Canada. The line-up for this year’s event looks pretty solid with Chad Reed, Jason Anderson, Marvin Musquin, Justin Barcia and perhaps even Ryan Villopoto. Yes, I said Ryan Villopoto. The former champion has been doing some serious SX training as he prepares for the Aus-X Open event in Australia in November and it looks like he’s going to use Vegas as a warm-up race. This is also a great event to attend in person so if you get the chance to go I think it’s one of those bucket list races.

“ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN, WHEN I SPOKE TO ALL THREE OF OUR RIDERS ON THE MONDAY AFTER RED BUD, THEY WERE ALL TIRED, SORE AND BEATEN UP!”

How many of you made the trek to Red Bud this year for the MXoN’s? By the look of all of the red and white clothing in the paddock and in the stands, a lot of Canadians went to cheer on our boys. The Red Bud track is a special place in American motocross history and heading into

this event it looked like all of the stars were aligned for a USA victory. However, due to some adverse weather, a puzzling track design, and some very, very fast MXGP riders, Team USA was never a factor for the win. It was a difficult day for the American riders and their faithful fans, and it certainly led to a lot of discussion about why Team USA isn’t able to win this event anymore. With the 2019 MXoN’s being held in the sands of Assen, Team USA might have to look outside of the box if they have any hope of winning.

With Team USA struggling at Red Bud, our team of Colton Facciotti, Tyler Medaglia and Jess Pettis had one our best MXoN’s to date. Oh sure, we’ve had better overall results in the past at this event, but considering the way our boys dug deep and battled through adversity I think they did this entire country proud. I’ve never been to this event before either as a fan or as a rider. Twenty years ago when I might have been one of the riders considered

for Team Canada, I don’t even think we sent anyone. However, it just looks as though so much can go wrong for any of the teams and the riders. Crashes, mechanical failures, just about anything you can think of can go awry. For our team at Red Bud, a lot did go wrong including injuries to all three riders and one mechanical failure. As you will read in our MXoN’s story in this issue, all of the members of Team Canada were happy with their overall finish, but if you take away just one incident, then this team could’ve finished much better. But hey, I’ll take 11th overall and I’m sure you would too. One thing is for certain, when I spoke to all three of our riders on the Monday after Red Bud, they were all tired, sore and beaten up!

As with the MXoN’s story, there are a bunch of great stories in this issue.

There is a Montreal SX story that talks about how cool it was to be racing back inside Olympic Stadium. This used to be one of the most popular events in Canada, so hopefully it can grow back into something memorable. We also spoke to Daryl Murphy about how and why he became one of the top officials in this country.

Daryl’s story is very interesting, and once we got working on it we had to add some pages as it was just that good. I also write about my very cool trip to Japan I took in September to ride the all-new 2019 RM-Z250. This new Suzuki was really fun to ride, and hanging out in Japan for five days was unforgettable. It definitely made the 13-hour flight well worth it.

Finally, with Jess Pettis gracing the cover of this issue, we have now celebrated both our outdoor champions in the past two issues. This season was an incredible one for Pettis and his race program. As you will read, his rise to fame has not been an easy one by any means and he certainly deserves all of the success he gets.

Congratulations to Jess Pettis and I hope everyone enjoys reading this issue of MXP Magazine.

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FEMALE PERSPECTIVE

BY SALINA CANNELLA • PHOTO BY PETER MARCELLI

t s a F g n i Gett

“THE NEXT STEP IS TO TAKE TIME TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ON A FANTASTIC GUIDE TO FASTING, SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF ATHLETES OVERLOOK.”

Welcome back racers and parents. First I would like to congratulate Team Canada for an amazing showcase for our country. Racing the best from all corners of the world is a very tough job and our boys showed they belong there, which was awesome to watch on TV.

W

hat a fantastic opportunity to represent our country; well done boys. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, sharing some great family time, remembering to be grateful for all the caring people in our lives and to all being healthy. As the season starts to slow down with only a few races to go, it’s a good time to start thinking about some healthy lifestyle changes or how to improve your body to prepare for winter training. Staying active is a healthy lifestyle; walking the dog, going for a swim at a community centre, or a light jog to help to keep the blood flowing. A great pursuit in Motocross is the maintenance of a strong core. Our core muscles are more than just abdominals, and training the core should be more than just

achieving a chiselled midsection (lol).

The core includes our low and mid-back, hips, pelvis, and glutes which are all the muscles used to control your dirt bike and work hard in the gym. It acts as the link between our upper and lower body, providing stability for the spine and pelvis, preventing and reducing back pain, and controlling our balance.

The next step is to take time to educate yourself on a fantastic guide to fasting, something that a lot of athletes overlook. When done right, fasting is an incredible effective tool. It helps clean all the valuable organs, rebuilds cells in your blood, which help build better muscles, helps slow aging, prevents cancer and improves heart health. Fears, forget them. Advantages, so many. Schedule whenever you need it. Therapeutic for so many health concerns. Starving and

fasting should never be confused with each other, and the terms should never be used interchangeably. Fasting and starving live on opposite sides of the world. It is the difference between recreational running and running because a lion is chasing you. What happens when we fast, the process of using and storing food energy that occurs when we eat goes in reverse when we fast. Insulin levels drop signaling the body to start burning stored energy. Glycogen is the most easily accessible energy source and the liver stores enough to provide energy for 24 hours. After that the body starts to break down stored body fat for energy. The biggest myth about fasting is it makes you burn muscle. The human body evolved to survive periods of fasting. We store food energy as body fat and use this as fuel when food is not

available. Muscle, on the other hand, is preserved until body fat becomes so low that the body has no choice but to turn to muscle. This will only happen when body fat is less than 4 percent. There are 24Hr, 3-6 HR, and 42Hr fasting protocols. Pick one and make it happen to make yourself completely energetic and clear headed. Maybe try fasting for 12 hours, say from 6pm till 6am. That is a great way to start, and it will make you feel great and help you sleep even better.

I hope I gave you something to think about, how important it is to change your eating habits to become healthy. If you want some great reading, add Discipline Equals Freedom to your reading list by Jocko Willink. See you at the races.

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GUEST COLUMN d l r o w e h t

BY JAMIE BASKERVILLE

seeing

Hello Canadian motocross, it’s been a while! For myself, 2018 has been a wild year with no shortage of adversity and adventure. Since last year’s International Six Day Enduro, I have found myself traveling the world, experiencing new cultures, and unfortunately, battling a problematic nerve issue throughout my wrists that has impeded my riding this season.

That being said, I’ve been doing everything possible to come back even stronger!

W

ith the MXON in Michigan complete and Canadian motocross patriotism peaking, we are going to keep that rolling by reflecting on my experiences representing Canada at the ISDE held in Brive, France last fall.

I was ecstatic to be on the plane ride to France for my first ever International Six Day Enduro, yet the inner voice inside of me saying “Hey bro, just remember you have to race for 6 days with minimal rest in a foreign country while representing 36,000,000 people...” was slightly nerve wracking.

With those thoughts now far in the back of my mind, touching down in Paris once again was an amazing feeling. After fitting half of Team Canada and roughly 10 Ogio 9800’s in the back of a small SUV, we finally had made it to the spot where we could pick up our sprinters for the weeks ahead. I’m going to be completely honest here, I think the 5-hour drive to Brive was almost as dangerous as the race itself.

Yes, we may have smashed the mirror off of the van while leaving the parking

lot, and yes, we may have almost filled the van with gasoline instead of diesel, but the real ‘piece de resistance’ of this French journey was getting slammed into by a 90-year-old man with a trailer on the freeway. Luckily, we survived.

I won’t speak too much on the van, but all I can say is if they ask you to upgrade to the premium insurance package, just do it.

A small car collision and several gas station croissants later, we had finally arrived at the picturesque town in southern France. With 10 days before the event’s start, I was shocked to see the amount of race-related infrastructure that was already in place. With trail markers, sponsor ribbon, streets full of bikes and a race paddock located in the centre of the village, Brive had been transformed into what looked like an enduro paradise.

As amazing as it was to be there, it was not long before the reality of the situation kicked. The biggest race of my life was rapidly approaching.

For the 7 days leading up to the race, I found myself and the rest of Team Canada battling the 45 degree heat as we walked each of the special tests. I

have to admit, the French sure know how to lay out an enduro course. A wide variety of terrain and an ample amount of elevation changes had me ecstatic to get the event underway.

Before I knew it, the test track was finally open to get myself and my new JET Husqvarna set up for the days to come. I was extremely grateful to have the knowledge of what Franco and his mechanics had acquired after years of being a top team in Enduro GPs. It was definitely a nerve wracking decision to switch to a different manufacturer only days before the race, but with their expertise I was feeling comfortable by the test day’s end.

That afternoon, the 6 Days festivities were officially underway. Downtown had been completely shut down for the annual parade. I was astonished to see the amount of race fans that lined the streets to cheer on their countries.

At this moment, the sacrifices, broken bones, blood, sweat and tears that my family and I had poured into racing for the past 12 years felt repaid. Standing amongst my countrymen with Canadian flags scattered throughout us was a feeling that nothing in my life

could ever replicate. To this day, I’m extremely grateful for what Derek and the rest of Team Canada had put together to allow us to compete.

With the limelight now behind us, it was race time. I had officially left the start gate and was now navigating my way through traffic to the first special test of the event. Thankfully, the first test was clean with only a few mistakes and it seemed that the day was only going up from there. I found myself cruising through the French countryside in the morning sun, fully aware that this was the most blissful experience of my life. That was, of course, until I was thrown into steep, rutted, mountain terrain that caused many riders to struggle. Technical it was, but I couldn’t help but to smile from ear to ear. This was officially my definition of a ‘dream race’.

Unfortunately, reality kicked in when I lost my rear brake pedal mid-way through the day. It was impossible to ride the gnarly downhills that the transfer trails threw at us. So, with the help of zip ties and a spare clutch lever, I rigged up a D.I.Y. brake pedal to complete the first day. Being grateful just to survive the 8-hour ride day and a properly brake fitted back onto my bike in the paddock, I set off on Day 2 hoping for some better luck.

With steep descents, blown out corners, and dust straight from Baja, Day 2 was another challenging day for both the bikes and riders. I was halfway in and the day was going to plan.

No time penalties, decent tests, and little fatigue had me feeling confident heading into the day’s end. This is where it all went downhill. The dusty conditions and the intense strain on the small bore motor was too much. I was now wrenching on my bike on the side of the road, finding any possible way to get in running and get back to the pit where i could attempt to rebuild it in the 15-minute paddock time slot.

Surprisingly, the resilient motor came back to life. From that point on, I had to ride with everything I had left in me.

Treating the transfer trail as a special test to make up the time, I had lost and avoided disqualification. I pulled into my final special test, near puking after making up the crucial time. Two corners into the test, the bike finally quit for good. My 6 days had officially turned into 2 days.

It may have not gone exactly to plan, but i felt as though the adversity taught me more than finishing ever would’ve.

I’m excited to return to the ISDE soon and complete my unfinished business.

Before I go I’d like to give a massive thank you to not only my sponsors, but Derek, the Robichauds, my family, Garth and Sprocket, and the rest of Team Canada for this unbelievable experience.

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AS EVERYONE KNOWS, CHAMPIONS ARE NOT MADE OVERNIGHT. SOMETIMES IT CAN TAKE MONTHS OR YEARS TO DEVELOP THE FOUNDATION NEEDED TO TAKE OUR SPORTS BIGGEST PRIZE. OVER THE YEARS, WE’VE SEEN COUNTLESS AMATEUR RIDERS WHO AT ONE TIME APPEAR TO BE FUTURE CHAMPIONS AT THE PRO LEVEL, ONLY TO ENCOUNTER OBSTACLES TOO BIG TO OVERCOME. ALTHOUGH EACH OF THESE OBSTACLES MAY VARY IN THEIR SIZE AND SHAPE AND EACH OF THESE RIDERS ARE DIFFERENT IN THEIR OWN RIGHT; THE ONE COMMON DENOMINATOR OF THOSE WHO HAVE FAILED IS THAT PRIOR TO THAT MOMENT WHEN THEY HAVE TO SINK OR SWIM, IF THEY HAVEN’T BUILT UP A TOLERANCE TO ADVERSITY THEN THEY’RE IN REAL TROUBLE.

A

s we’ve also witnessed in sport, adversity can rear its ugly head in many different forms. It can be an untimely injury, a loss of support, a sudden lack of motivation, or it can simply be the weight of having to face the high level of competition that comes with racing in the pro class. Regardless of what that adversity is, some riders are either prepared for the great task of trying to overcome it, or quite simply they’re not!

For Jess Pettis, his path to the 2018 250 Pro/Am championship has been anything but easy. Growing up in the “work first and play later “ city of Prince George, BC, Pettis learned at an early age the valuable lesson that work beats talent when talent doesn’t see the need to work. There is an old

Jim Croce song called “The Hard Way Everytime”, this classic 1970’s tune perfectly describes Jess Pettis’s rise through the ranks as nothing ever came easy. Supported by his family both morally and financially throughout his amateur days and early pro days, there was more than a few moments when the light at the end of the tunnel didn’t appear to be very bright.

At times there were injuries and setbacks for the young BC rider, there was even a brief contemplation of another career, but he never lost sight of where he wanted to be. At the top of his class in Canadian motocross.

Right from the beginning of 2018, Jess Pettis seemed poised for greatness. After a few solid, foundation building races in the Monster Energy Supercross Series, Pettis stormed into the Rockstar Energy Triple Crown

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“AFTER A FEW SOLID, FOUNDATION BUILDING RACES IN THE MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS SERIES, PETTIS STORMED INTO THE ROCKSTAR ENERGY TRIPLE CROWN SERIES WITH COVER STORY THE MIGHT JESS OF A WINTER PETTIS STORM IN HIS ALL HEART NATIVE PRINCE GEORGE.”

B Y C H R I S P O M E R OY / P H O T O S B Y J A M E S L I S S I M O R E

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Series with the might of a winter storm in his native Prince George.

Even though his early success didn’t surprise anyone, Pettis did look stronger and better prepared than ever before. After two big wins in the opening rounds of the MXTour, Pettis once again had to stare adversity in the face as a mechanical failure caused him to lose the 250 points lead. Throughout the following rounds, Pettis remained steadfast and still with the sole goal of winning the 250 title. When the series arrived at the toughest race of the series at Gopher Dunes, Pettis decided that it was time to grab the 250 series by its throat. The result that day was incredible by Pettis, two dominant moto wins and the points lead back in his possession. From that day forward, Pettis would never lose the points lead and although Joey Crown made things very interesting in the closing stages of the 250 series, Pettis would bend a little, but he would not break. When the final flag was waved at Walton Raceway Jess Pettis not only was victorious in the 250 Pro/Am class, but he also realized a dream that began many years ago. His Team Manager Kevin Tyler had this to say about his riders dream season.

“It was great to see the path and vision that we had together with Jess when we started three years ago come to fruition this summer with his championship run. I am sure this is his first win of many pro Championships to come in his career as he continues to impress, mature and improve each time he lines up it seems.

The team work and belief in the process is an on going thing, nothing is ever perfect but its how each struggle is tackled and overcome that makes the difference. Our program is one that is based on trust, mutual respect and good old fashioned hard work.

Jess has had his share of set backs and non-believers but he has never lost sight of the ultimate goal and this championship is just another check box in his impressive list of accomplishments.”

With his glorious summer over, Pettis set his sights on the largest motocross race on the planet, the 2018

MXoN’s at Red Bud. As a member of Team Canada Pettis had no idea what to expect, nor did he truly grasp just how special it would be to race for his country. With thousands of Canadian fans waving and cheering him and his teammates on, Pettis rode brilliantly against the worlds best riders to help secure an 11th place finish for Canada.

With a 250 championship now on his resume, as well as his attention garnering ride at Red Bud, the biggest question is, what’s next for Jess Pettis? When we asked him about his future plans he had this to say, “With a couple more SXTour events to go I still have to focus on those. After that I’d like to go to California and start to prepare to race a few rounds of the Monster Energy SX Series. After that I’m not too sure. Hopefully I’ll be back with the MX101 Yamaha Team for 2019 and together we can go and win another championship.”

With his amazing season soon coming to a close, Pettis will no doubt head into 2019 with the same workman mentally that has got him to where he is now. His rise to fame and the way in which he did it should serve as an example to all of our amateur riders out there. Regardless of how big or how many obstacles you face along your journey, you must face each one as they come and work hard to get over them. As Jess Pettis has proven, a little adversity when you don’t expect it is a good thing and should be treated as just another learning experience while on the road to greatness.

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COVER STORY

JESS PETTIS ALL HEART

I AM SURE THIS IS HIS FIRST WIN OF MANY PRO CHAMPIONSHIPS TO COME IN HIS CAREER AS HE CONTINUES TO IMPRESS, MATURE AND IMPROVE EACH TIME HE LINES UP. MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 31

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2018 MXON’S -

TEAM CANADA TAKES OVER

RED BUD

With rain falling and the hopes of an entire nation resting firmly on their shoulders, Team Canada performed beautifully all weekend at Red Bud. B Y C H R I S P O M E R OY / P H O T O S B Y J A M E S L I S S I M O R E

W

hen it was announced that the Monster Energy MXoN’s would be heading to the most famous race track in North America, RED BUD, there was a general feeling that Team USA would without doubt put their home court advantage to good use and finally win back the title as the best riders on the planet. Also, for Team Canada, not having to load everything up and ship it to Europe meant for an obvious large cost savings, which allowed for certain funds to be spent elsewhere. The stage was set for what would be the largest and craziest outdoor motocross event ever to be held on North American soil to go down in the heart of the good ol’ US of A. If Donald Trump wanted to make America great again, having this race at Red Bud was an excellent start.

Over the course of her tenure as Team Canada’s Manager, Kourtney Lloyd has stated many times that picking the three riders to make up our team is the hardest part of the job. These days, Canada is fortunate enough to have multiple riders that are capable of performing well on the world stage. For Kourtney and her managerial team, this is a good

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2018 MXON’S -

TEAM CANADA TAKES OVER

RED BUD

“THESE DAYS, CANADA IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE MULTIPLE RIDERS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF PERFORMING WELL ON THE WORLD STAGE.”

problem to have. For 2018, the riders chosen were Colton Facciotti, Jess Pettis and Kaven Benoit. All three riders were moto winners from this summer’s Rockstar Energy Triple Crown MXTour, and as you all know, both Facciotti and Pettis took home their respective championships in the 450 and 250 Pro/Am classes. The team was set, and everyone was happy and ready to go racing at Red Bud. However, we all know what happens to the best laid plans of mice and men…they can go awry! When Kaven Benoit went

down with a thumb injury just three weeks before Red Bud, Kourtney had to react swiftly and come up with Plan B. Thankfully, Tyler Medaglia, who also was a moto winner this summer in the 450 class, was ready to go and was able to step into Benoit’s shoes.

Our Team didn’t skip a beat.

As the big race drew near and everyone was absolutely giddy with anticipation, so was a dreadful forecast from Mother Nature. It soon became clear that the 2018 MXoN’s was going to be a mud race. This was a good and

bad news scenario for our team as on one hand all three riders are very good in wet and sloppy conditions, but the bad news was so were the visiting MXGP riders, who seem at times to eat mud for breakfast. Before the gate even dropped, the adverse track conditions pretty much took away all of Team USA’s home field advantage.

With rain falling and the hopes of an entire nation resting firmly on their shoulders, Team Canada performed beautifully all weekend at Red Bud. With the MXGP riders doing exactly what everyone figured they would, the USA team disintegrated before their home fans’ shocked eyes. Team Canada soldiered through the mud with a few injuries and one blown engine to bring home an 11th place at the toughest motocross event on the planet. It was an admirable finish by our three warriors and it was definitely a proud day to be a Canadian. To give this story an even more interesting take, we talked to Colton Facciotti, Tyler Medaglia and Jess Pettis to get their perspective about their weekend and their time as part of Team Canada at Red Bud.

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COLTON FACCIOTTI: MXGP CLASS This was definitely the best MXoN’s I’ve been a part of. I might be able to compare it to Budds Creek in 2007 but the fans at Red Bud and the hype was off the charts. There were so many Canadian fans there to cheer us on; it was pretty amazing and something that I will never forget. I think we all rode great, but it was unfortunate that Tyler had a bike issue and was unable to finish the one moto. However, he rebounded nicely for the final moto and helped us secure 11th overall.

Jess was great all weekend and rode well considering he’s in the toughest class out there with all of the 450s on the track at the same time. I’m really proud of how everything came together and how we as a team were able to battle through the conditions and a little adversity to make all of the Canadian fans proud. It definitely wasn’t easy, I can tell you that. I was a little banged up after my crash on Saturday, Jess was pretty sore after one of his crashes on Sunday, and I don’t think Tyler felt great heading into the final moto. However, I’m sure we weren’t the only riders hurting on Sunday. At that event with so much riding on your shoulders, it didn’t matter how hurt you were, you just had to go out and give it everything you had. It was a great weekend. From the riders, to the support crew, to Team Manager Kourtney Lloyd, we all pulled together and did it for Canada.

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TYLER MEDAGLIA: OPEN CLASS To start off with, that was one of the craziest weekends that I’ve ever had. The fans, the atmosphere, just everything was absolutely insane and I’m very thankful that I was able to be a part of it. Also, I’m so bummed that I crashed in that moto while running 8th with just a few laps to go. I felt great and I was in a good position to give our team a chance of finishing where we should have.

I still don’t really know what I did coming out of that corner, all I know is that I got cross rutted and then thrown sideways and off the track. I think my head landed on a bull dozer track or something hard because I really rang my bell.

Also, in that crash I damaged my

bike so it just went from bad to worse. Between motos we didn’t have much time to do anything so I have to give props to everyone in our pit who chipped in to help change motors in my bike. Then when I was sitting on the starting line for the final moto I just didn’t feel great, even today I don’t feel great, but we went out and gave it everything we had. I love this event and I love riding for my country. As I get older and reflect on things, I realize how lucky I’ve been to be able to ride for Team Canada over the years. This year was by far the best and I’m glad I was able to do it. It was also great to see Kaven [Benoit] there to help us and support us. My spot on the team was his spot prior to him getting injured so it was cool to have Kaven there. Finally, I just want to thank Kourtney for her hard work and of course all of the Canadian fans who travelled to Red Bud to support us!

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JESS PETTIS: MX2 CLASS Seeing as this was my first MXoN’s event, I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I arrived at Red Bud on the Thursday evening. Kourtney had once again rented a house so we were all looked after with accommodations and food. It was great not having to worry about hotels or where we

were going to eat. On Friday, we went to the track to get set up and have a look around, and it blew my mind once I got to the track and saw how cool it was. To be at the biggest motocross event in the world and to be part of Team Canada was incredible. It was also great having two experienced teammates in Colton and Tyler as they helped me with so many things throughout the weekend.

I know many people probably think that I was really nervous coming into this event, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous, however, all year long I’ve

tried to approach big moments with a relaxed attitude. I took this to Red Bud, and even on the starting line I felt confident and really relaxed. Unfortunately, in both motos I ended up going down and had to come from behind. In my opening moto on Sunday, Ken Roczen went down on the first lap and I hit his bike and crashed. It was actually a really hard crash and I landed hard on my shoulder, I didn’t really notice the pain until I got back to the truck after the race. Anyway, after going down with Roczen I got up and just charged as hard as I could until

I saw the checkered flag. In Moto 2, I went down in the first turn and had to start last again.

I just put my head down and gave it everything I had for the entire moto. I can’t even describe the feeling of being out there battling with those guys. Every rider in the A main was fast and hard to pass, but all three of us were able to get the job done and I think with all that we had to deal with, 11th was a good finish. I just want to say thank-you to everyone who supported us and I hope I get the opportunity to be a part of Team Canada again in the future..

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O’ The Montreal SX Returns To The Big B Y C H R I S P O M E R OY / P H O T O S B Y J A M E S L I S S I M O R E

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Light the candles Montreal, it’s once again time for some SX.

IF

you take the Autoroute 40 through Montreal and then exit to the south on Rue Viau, you only have to drive a few minutes until the street intersects with one of the most popular streets in Montreal, Rue Sherbrooke. Standing to the southwest in all of its beauty is Olympic Stadium. Built in the early 1970s to be both the centre piece for the 1976 Olympic Games and a stadium that would attract a Major League Baseball team to the city, the Big O (or the Big Owe if you want to be funny) is one of the most unique stadiums on the planet. It also happens to be one of the most expensive in overall costs, second only to Wembley Stadium in London. Over the past 45 years since the first shovel went into the ground, this stadium has held every type of event from baseball games, soccer games, auto shows, concerts, and of course Supercross.

As soon as the 1976 Olympic Games vacated the city of Montreal, leaving behind a financial wake that is still being felt today, Olympic Stadium needed events and they needed them badly. With the sport of supercross being very new to North America, it appeared to be the perfect fit for Montreal and their motorsport loving fans. For the next four decades the Montreal Supercross was the stadium’s biggest annual event outside of the Montreal Expos and the odd one-off event over the years. Quebec fans loved the Montreal Supercross and what it represented each year. It was a chance for them to see their favourite Quebec heroes battle riders from across the globe.

T No one can say that

Olympic Stadium isn’t cool to look at from the outside.

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O’ The Montreal SX Returns To The Big

R Our 5-time Canadian Champion gets introduced to the Montreal crowd.

T Colton Facciotti looked comfortable in Montreal and finished 6th overall.

Q Cody Vanbuskirk came to Montreal from the United States and looked great on his PR-MX Kawasaki..

T This is a sign we’d never thought we’d see again.

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When Quebec legend JSR took his first win there in 1996, the fans went crazy and practically blew the fragile roof off of the place. After the race, the streets outside of the stadium were wild with French-speaking fans singing and chanting “JSR...

JSR...JSR.” It was bedlam, and from that point JSR was their two-wheeled hero. Then, within two years of JSR’s final win at this historic race in 2008, fans lost interest, sponsors disappeared and the worldwide economic recession dictated that the Quebec Government spend their tourism money elsewhere. To everyone’s amazement, the race that no one ever thought would go away had all of the sudden come and gone!

Since that fateful day there have been rumblings that Feld Motorsports was thinking about holding a round of the Monster Energy Supercross Series in Montreal but it has since never materialized. With the thought of a supercross returning to Olympic Stadium far removed from anyone’s mind, this past summer it was announced that the Quebec based Gestev Entertainment Group hired the legendary SX promoter Eric Peronnard to headman the return of the Montreal SX. The idea was to focus mostly on International riders and make the event an invitation only type event. Seeing as Peronnard was the promoter behind the Bercy SX in France, as well as the old US

S Dylan Wright had a hard crash in practice and never really recovered.

R No stranger to SX events in the USA, Colt Nichols rode to an easy second overall.

R Cedric Soubeyras even came over from France and rode smart to finish 6th overall.

“The Montreal SX not only became the first big International event of the off-season, but it also served as the opening round of the 2018 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown SXTour.”

S Promoter

Eric Peronnard discusses things with Tony Alessi in the Montreal paddock.

S Josh Hansen was one of the few 450

riders who managed to be consistent on the technical Montreal track.

T Dillan Epstein Open SX in Vegas, he was the perfect guy to take on this type of event. So, with big riders like USA’s Malcolm Stewart and Colt Nichols, and France’s Cedric Soubeyras invited, as well as Canadian top riders Kaven Benoit and Colton Facciotti, the stage was set for the rebirth of the Montreal SX. As the 2018 Montreal SX and the new Rockstar Energy Triple Crown SXTour Series grew near, it was decided that these two events should partner up, thus making Montreal the opening round of the SXTour. This idea worked in both organizations’ favour as Gestev needed Jetwerx’s help to bring as many Canadian riders and teams to Montreal as possible. Also, seeing as Jetwerx is known for building tracks, it made perfect sense that they were the masterminds behind the technical and entertaining track. The Montreal SX not only became the first big International event of the off-season, but it also served as the opening round of the 2018 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown SXTour. With all of the top Canadian riders on hand, including Quebec’s new favourite son Kaven Benoit, and numerous American and International riders, fans once again had their “Us vs the World” supercross inside Olympic Stadium.

With 2018 Montreal SX being made up of three main events throughout the evening, and James Stewart’s brother Malcolm being the main attraction, it was only fitting that the Florida rider dominated all of the 450 races. Malcolm’s SX skills have never been in question, and the Montreal fans loved his hard charging and aggressive style. Even a bad start in the third main event of the evening couldn’t stop

appeared to struggle all evening in Montreal and could only muster a 13th overall.

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O’ The Montreal SX Returns To The Big

R Kyle Demelo tries to inspect the roof inside Olympic Stadium.

R Josh Hill had a great time in Montreal and finished with a very impressive 5th overall.

Q Let’s assume that Stewart made more than this in Montreal.

Q Matt Goerke surprised everyone with his speed through the whoops in Montreal.

He went on to finish third overall.

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T Local favourite Kaven Benoit didn’t

even make it out of the first main event after a small crash left him with a broken thumb.

“With 2018 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Series points up for grabs, our Canadian riders had to battle not only each other but also the host of American riders in attendance.”

T Regardless of whether they’re racing

indoors or outdoors, these two riders always seem to find each other.

Stewart from racing to the front of the pack. Behind Stewart was fellow talented American Colt Nichols, who rode very smoothly in all three main events to take second overall. In the 450 class, it was definitely the regular American SX riders who looked the most comfortable. Although the Jetwerx track wasn’t terribly technical, the whoops were very deep and treacherous that gave almost every rider difficulty. With 2018 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Series points up for grabs, our Canadian riders had to battle not only each other but also the host of American riders in attendance. By the end of the evening, of the regular Triple Crown Series riders, only Matt Goerke and Cole Thompson were able to finish inside the Top 5. Colton Facciotti, who put one good main event together, wasn’t consistent in two of the mains and dropped to 7th overall. Tyler Medaglia and Dillan Epstein were 10th and 13th respectively.

The 250 class featured another runaway victory for Jess Pettis on this MX101 FXR Racing Yamaha. Since he joined the Triple Crown Series in April of this year, Pettis has been virtually unstoppable. Add in the fact that he’s a very good SX rider and it’s no surprise that he owned the Montreal track. Logan Karnow, Shawn Maffenbeier, Tanner Ward and Marco Cannella rounded out the Top 5, but all four riders were no match for Pettis. The 2018 Montreal SX also had a few amateur classes as well as a Freestyle event. Local Quebec rider Eve Brodeur had the crowd on its feet as she won the Ladies main event, while Canadians Ben Milot and Kyle Demelo thrilled the fans during the FMX competition.

Considering this was the first supercross event inside Olympic Stadium in almost a decade, this event went off very well.

According to a few industry insiders, a tamer section of whoops and perhaps longer main events might have led to better racing, but for the most part everyone went home happy. With a multi-year plan in place, this event is here to stay for at least a couple more years. With Jetwerx also in need of high-profile indoor events to help compliment their series, we’re sure the Montreal SX will remain a part of the Triple Crown Series in 2019.

Even though this stadium continues to show its age, having SX back inside Olympic Stadium is great for our sport and for the city of Montreal. With the Toronto SX no longer, this is now the biggest indoor event in Canada. If this grand old stadium makes it through another Quebec winter, then we will look forward to seeing you at the 2019 Montreal SX.

S What a year it’s been for Jess Pettis.

T Racing his first event for the Autotrader JGR

Suzuki Team, Alex Martin was fast all night long.

R All of the fans loved Malcolm Stewart’s aggressive style.

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“THE ADDITION OF LAUNCH CONTROL WITH THE FC MODELS MEANS PERFECT ACCELERATION OFF THE LINE, WHILE CLASS-LEADING ERGONOMICS AND TRACTION CONTROL KEEP THE RIDER IN FULL CONTROL.”

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2019 SUZUKI RM-Z250 H B Y

C H R I S

P O M E R O Y

/

P H O T O S

B Y

S H I B A P H O T O

A N D

M A R C U S

M A R T E L L A C C I

owever, there was no stopping me or the other 350 passengers now as we were wheels up on time and head northwest to Japan. Our route to Tokyo took us just north of Edmonton, then right over Alaska and the north Pacific Ocean, before turning southwest over part of Russia and into Japan. From Tokyo, I had to take a short domestic flight to Osaka and then an hour-long bus ride to our hotel to Nora City, a well-to-do suburb of Osaka. From the time I woke up until the time my head hit the pillow in Japan, 28 hours had passed. This unique trip most certainly had some travel to it, but usually the longer the flight, the bigger the adventure.

The purpose of my first ever trip to Japan was to test ride the all-new 2019 RM-Z250. With the release last year of a new RM-Z450, Suzuki went to work on their quarter-litre machine in hopes of getting back into the market. The result is a new RM-Z250 that is lighter, faster and more agile than any previous model from history rich yellow brand.

With Suzuki’s RMArmy amateur support program doing well in the USA, Suzuki Canada is now looking to restart its support for riders in all classes. Since its introduction in 2006, the RM-Z250 has gone through more than one overhaul. In 2010, the game changing EFI system was introduced, then in 2010 the RM-Z250 was outfitted with the Holeshot Assist device (S-HAC). In between there were suspension and motor updates that improved the bike each year, but nothing major. That has all been changed for 2019 as the RMZ250 is a completely different animal.

With new features like a new frame and swingarm, a wider ratio transmission and a new Showa Coil-Spring front fork, the 2019 RM-Z250 is ready to get back on the podium.

JUST AS I SETTLED COMFORTABLY BACK INTO MY SEAT FOR MY FLIGHT TO TOKYO, JAPAN, THE CAPTAIN CAME ON THE P.A. SYSTEM TO UPDATE US THAT OUR FLYING TIME FROM TORONTO TO TOKYO FIRST WOULD BE 12 HOURS AND 55 MINUTES IN THE AIR AND 13 RIDE HOURS AND 20 MINUTES GATE TO GATE. THERE WAS DEFINITELY A COLLECTIVE SIGH FROM ALL OF THE PASSENGERS ABOARD FLIGHT AC001 AS THE THOUGHT OF SPENDING OVER HALF OF THE DAY ON AN AIRPLANE FINALLY SUNK IN.

RIDERS WITH SPAINTED HELMETS ARE JUST COOL. RIDERS WITH PAINTED HELMETS ARE JUST COOL.

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For 2019, Suzuki’s product concept is “The Winning Balance” and it’s made up of three words - Run...Stop...Turn. Their feeling is that for a motocross bike to be successful it must be able to perform these three tasks very well. To help make this new RM-Z ‘Run’ better, Suzuki has given the engine more torque and more power.

They’ve done this by going with two fuel injector systems with one injector moved further back into the intake tube. Next, they’ve increased the size of the header pipe diameter and also added a new cylinder and head for more power and durability.

To help with acceleration, the 2019 RM-Z250 now has a 50-tooth rear sprocket, one tooth larger than previous models.

To help this new bike “Stop,” Suzuki has increased the size of the front disc rotor to a whopping 270mm. They have also changed the frame geometry and added a more rigid and lighter swingarm. These three changes alone have made the new RM-Z250 lighter and more balanced, thus making it stop and maneuver much better than previous models.

The third concept term is “Turn.” For 2019, Suzuki wanted this bike to be successful on all types of track conditions and they wanted it to be the best cornering bike in its class. With the new frame and lighter, more rigid swingarm, Suzuki has also gone to a KYB Coil-Spring fork. The new KYB fork is one of the best on the market; add in an updated KYB rear shock with a 300 gram lighter spring, and this new RM-Z corners like it’s on rails. Suzuki hopes that for 2019, their new RM-Z250 will give them “The Winning Balance” on the track.

KEY NEW ADVANCEMENTS FOR THE 2019 RM-Z250 Increased Engine Performance New cylinder head delivers increased output and throttle response • New dual fuel injector system increases high RPM power • Evolved traction management system helps the bike hook up on a variety of surfaces • Updated Suzuki Holeshot Assist Control (S-HAC) launches you out of the starting gate faster • Greater cornering performance • New frame and swingarm balances lightness with strength • Revised engine location and new mounts expands the chassis’ nimble handling • Coil spring KYB fork provides superb performance and easy tuning • New KYB rear shock and linkage deliver remarkable control • Race-ready, high-grip Dunlop MA33 Tires • Improved Braking Performance • Larger front brake increases stopping power and feel • New, compact rear master cylinder is designed to prevent mud from collecting and from catching on the rider’s boots • Functional styling • Aggressive new styling from the championship-caliber RM-Z450 • Narrow cockpit and ergonomics allows riders to move with ease for maximum racing performance • Rider-friendly tuning • Fuel couplers are included for quick and easy EFI tuning • Pricing: TBA • Availability: February 2019 • •

After a day of sightseeing and a very detailed presentation dinner, it was time to head to the track for our long-awaited test day. The track chosen for this ride was the Meihan Sportsland track located up in the hills about 45 minutes from Osaka. This multi-purpose facility had a go-kart track, a supermoto track, a very popular drift track, and of course a national caliber motocross track. The MX track sat pretty much on the side of a hill and featured a very sandy and loamy surface. With the large amount of rain that had fallen the day previous, this was the only type of track that would’ve been even remotely rideable on this day. As we stepped out of the bus and stretched, there before us was a line-up of bright yellow RM-Z250s and about 25 eager technicians from the Suzuki factory in Japan. With this new bike not being released to consumers until early 2019, the engineers at Suzuki were using this test day as a great opportunity to receive some valuable feedback. In fact, during our day of riding we were in constant communication with the Suzuki engineers who were present as they wanted to hear what we had to say about this new ride after each session. This intense scrutiny made for a mentally exhausting day of riding, that and the fact that we were riding during the middle of the night body time.

After getting dressed and making some final adjustments to my very own 2019 RM-Z250, I headed out to the track to do some much-needed sight laps.

Whenever I go to these press launches I always make sure to do the same routine during the early part of the day.

The first thing I do is head out on the track to spend about 20 minutes riding around at about 75%. This gives me ample opportunity to feel the bike out and really get a close look how at the track.

Usually for these media events the tracks are always prepared perfectly, so in most cases there are no surprises. On this day, the Meihan Sportsland circuit was very soft and a little wet in places.

These conditions made for really tricky riding as it was just impossible to ride slowly. Whenever you were on the hilly track you had to stay on your toes and keep charging. This was by far the most challenging conditions I have ever faced at one of these press rides. As the day went on the Meihan track got rougher and more rutted, and by the end of the day it looked more like a slightly smoother version of Gopher Dunes at the end of a national event. However, as difficult as this track was to ride, it did gives us a great indication of how the new 2019 RM-Z250 worked in extreme race conditions. Once I get my first session on the track over with, I always come back into the pits to have some water and make any small adjustments

2019 SUZUKI RM-Z250

FIRST RIDE

needed on the bike. From there, I just treat it as a normal riding day as I try to get as many sessions in as possible.

My first impression of this new Suzuki was just how light and nimble it felt on the track. Whether it was going into corners and transitioning through the apex, or flying through the humid Japanese air, it felt as light as they come. With a change from air forks to spring forks for 2019, the new KYB AOS coil-spring front fork and an updated KYB rear shock really compliment this new Suzuki. For 2019, the RM-Z250 also received a new swingarm that is both lighter and more rigid. These changes really help this bike feel connected to the ground, both in acceleration as well as down a rough straight-away. The Meihan Circuit had various types of corners and whooped out rough sections, and I felt completely comfortable on each section.

“FOR 2019, SUZUKI'S PRODUCT CONCEPT IS “THE WINNING BALANCE” AND IT'S MADE UP OF THREE WORDS – RUN...

STOP...

TURN.”

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FIRST RIDE

2019 SUZUKI RM-Z250

The engine on the 2019 RM-Z250 has also received updates to give the bike more power and to keep it in line with other models in its class. Thanks in part to a new cylinder head, a newly shaped intake, and the addition of a second fuel injector, this bike has a power increase of just over 5% from last year. On the track this new RM-Z definitely felt like it had a lot more power, and after changing to the ‘lean’ ignition coupler provided to consumers by Suzuki, the engine really opened up. With the steep, sandy, power robbing uphills on the Meihan Circuit, the added power on this 2019 was very noticeable. So, with a great handling package and added power for 2019, this new RM-Z250 was really a joy to ride. The only issues that the media had was the lack of an electric starter. Perhaps it was us just being lazy, but with almost all of the new bikes featuring an electric start option, kicking a kick starter felt like a lot of extra effort at first. After a few times, though, it felt normal again to have to use a kick starter to fire up the motor.

It’s amazing how far we’ve come and how spoiled we are as consumers when we miss features like an electric start button. Anyway, the engineers at Suzuki assured us that an electric start option isn’t too far off being a standard feature on the 250F models. So, no electric start for 2019, however this new RM-Z250 does come with brand

new MA33 Dunlop Tires, your choice of three ignition couplers, as well as all new plastics that are interchangeable with the new RM-Z450.

All in all, it was a great day of riding in Japan and one that I will never forget. I really enjoyed riding the new RMZ250 and I think that it’s a huge step forward for Suzuki and this particular model. In talking with Suzuki Canada, I know they’re very interested in looking at ways to get back into racing at all levels in Canada. With a new RM-Z450, as well as this new RM-Z250, now is the time for Suzuki Canada to try to get serious about racing once again. With the RMArmy doing so well in the USA, as well as now having Chad Reed back racing on the yellow brand, the future is bright for Suzuki.

After a long day of riding and two days of sightseeing it was time to make the long journey home. By the time I landed in Toronto after another 12-hour flight I was obviously very tired and really had to focus during my drive home.

After taking a few days to get over my jet lag, I began to reflect on what an incredible trip this was to Japan. I now have had the honour of riding dirt bikes in nine different countries. Each memory I cherish, and each time some new and interesting stories have come out of them. I’d like to thank Suzuki Canada for inviting MXP on this adventure and for giving me the chance to test ride their new 2019 RM-Z250.

“MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF THIS NEW SUZUKI WAS JUST HOW LIGHT AND NIMBLE IT FELT ON THE TRACK.”

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JESS PETTIS TEAM CANADA MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS 2018 REDBUD USA

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THE DOUG HOOVER STORY

BY M IKE MCG ILL / PHOTOS BY B ILL PETRO

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON THE CANADIAN MOTOCROSS SCENE IN THE 1980S, TWO NAMES IMMEDIATELY JUMP OUT AT YOU. THE FIRST ONE BEING, OF COURSE, ROSS PEDERSON. CANADA’S GOAT OF MOTOCROSS WON A STAGGERING AMOUNT OF CHAMPIONSHIPS AND SELDOM EVER LOST. IN FACT, THERE WERE ONLY A COUPLE OF RIDERS TO EVER BEAT THE ROLLERBALL STRAIGHT UP IN A CANADIAN NATIONAL SERIES. ONE WAS MIKE HARNDEN, WHO WRESTLED THE ‘84 500CC TITLE AWAY FROM ROSS IN A HARD-FOUGHT BATTLE, AND THE OTHER BEING DOUG HOOVER.

CLOCKWISE: After spending years riding a Yamaha, Hoover switched to Honda for the 1986 season.

Hoover’s 1985 Yamaha teammate was Quebec rider Serge Gregoire.

The 1985 season was a good one for Doug as the #1 looked good on his Yamaha.

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H

oover bested Ross a couple of times over the course of his relatively short career taking the ‘85 125cc Championship and the ‘88 500cc title, along with multiple runner-up finishes in all three classes. Hoover was the real deal, and to this day Ross credits him with being the biggest thorn in his side and his toughest competition over those years.

Like most kids who got into moto in the late ‘70s, Hoover, who resided in rural Mount Albert, Ontario, got his start on an old-school Rupp mini bike that his father purchased for him at the age of eight. Kids started riding motocross later in those days as there were no 50cc mini bike classes for them to get into at the time. The 80cc, and to a lesser degree 100cc, motocross bikes were just starting to become a thing in those days. By the age of eleven Hoover graduated to 1975 GT 80 Yamaha, which, along with the Kawasaki 90, was the weapon of choice for kids that were just looking to have some fun riding a dirt bike back then. Doug and his brother, Don, would ride their bikes to school and during the summer would head out on their bikes early in the morning, and literally be gone all day. “You just couldn’t get us off of them,” remembers Hoover, who had countless numbers of back roads and un-cultivated fields to explore in the area where the family lived.

It wasn’t until he moved up to a 1977 Suzuki DS 125 dual purpose-style bike at the age of thirteen that the thought of racing motocross ever even entered his mind. “We were really more of a snowmobiling family back then,” remembers Hoover. “My Dad was into snowmobiling and we didn’t think about motocross at all. We didn’t know it, we didn’t watch it.” During one of their many cross-country excursions, however, Doug and his brother would sometimes stop off at a local track that some families who were into racing motocross had laid out. Doug would rip around the track on the DS 125, and some of the local kids who were into racing RM 100s told him he should think about racing. They told him about a few tracks and the MRAC, and it just so happened there was a track up near Hepworth, Ontario that was holding an event the following weekend.

“I talked my Dad into taking me, but

we really had no clue what we were doing,” chuckles Hoover. I bought a couple magazines to check out what was going on, you know, to prepare.

That DS 125 had a headlight on it, so no number plates. We taped up the light and away we went. They let me race the 100cc Schoolboy class and it went pretty well.” Pretty well was a bit of an understatement. Hoover won his first race. Based on this success they decided to enter an actual CMA sanctioned event the following weekend. “I was pretty intimidated,” admits Hoover. “The track was up near Hockley Valley somewhere and I was still riding the DS 125 in the 100 Schoolboy class.” Even though he was on totally inferior equipment, Hoover won again.

At this point his father started wondering what this kid might be able to do if he had some decent equipment.

“We bought our first two real motocross bikes from Gordon Stafford in 1980,” remembers Hoover. Stafford was the Ontario Maico dealer and a top racer in his own right back in the day, but sold Suzukis as well. “We picked up an RM 100 and a 125,” says Hoover.

“We squeezed the 100 motor into the 125 frame to make it legal for the Big Wheel Schoolboy class. We saw Rob Kunzig and Jeff Sutherland, two of the top riders in the class, do this and figured this was the way to go.” The switch proved to be a wise decision as the superior suspension of the 125 chassis helped Hoover dominate the class that season. So much so, as a matter of fact, that in only his first real season of racing motocross, Hoover won the CMA Big Wheel Schoolboy

National Championship in SaintTite, Quebec. “That was pretty cool,” remembers Hoover. “The trophy was a wooden, hand-carved work of art. I still have it to this day. It’s one of the things that I kept from my racing career and I have it at my cottage.”

Doug and his father were obviously hooked on the sport after his somewhat surprisingly successful 1980 season, so the decision was made to skip the Junior ranks and move right into the Intermediate, or Senior, class as it was known then. “I didn’t really want to be part of that,” remembers Hoover when discussing the Junior class. “There were 135 kids in the 125 Junior class back then. You would have to qualify and sit around all day to ride a final. We decided to skip it and go straight to Senior.” Doug and his father actually had to petition the CMA and were eventually granted special permission which allowed him to bypass the Junior class and go straight to Senior.

1981 turned out to be another banner season for Team Hoover. “We really were a team,” remembers Doug. “My Dad would be the mechanic and Mom would even get involved by helping clean the bikes and equipment.” The switch was made to Yamaha, and Doug’s father, who owned a trucking company, was able to use his business connections to secure a solid sponsorship for his son. CV100, a fuel additive company, came on board and supplied Hoover with bikes and a substantial cash allotment for parts.

“WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST TWO REAL MOTOCROSS BIKES FROM GORDON STAFFORD IN 1980,” REMEMBERS HOOVER.

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THE DOUG HOOVER STORY It was pretty much unheard of for an Intermediate rider to garner such support at the time, but Hoover certainly didn’t disappoint his new sponsor as he lit up the Ontario motocross scene that year winning all three classes - 125, 250 and 500 in the Ontario Highpoint Championship as well as the 1981 CMA National Motocross Senior 125cc Championship. And as if that wasn’t enough, Doug moved up to the Pro Class immediately following the Intermediate Championships and scored a 5th overall in the 125 National Championships.

Hoover was obviously on the fast track for success but how did he manage to make such a rapid ascent through the highly competitive MX ranks? More importantly, how did he make it look so easy? “Well, it wasn’t easy,” chuckles Hoover. “You know, I didn’t really have any influences as far as motocross goes. I would buy the odd magazine. I knew who Bob Hannah was but that was about it. I’ve always been the type of person that goes one hundred percent all the time and when I would get into something I would be all in. I was also extremely competitive with everything that I did.

That’s the way it was with me and motocross back then.” Hoover admits that even his family members think he’s a little odd because he can never sit still. “Even when I’m up at my cottage I never relax. I work the whole time I’m there,” laughs Hoover. “That’s just the way I am.”

While his move to the Pro class full time in 1982 would have been looked upon as being extremely successful in the view of most observers, one very large obstacle was blocking Hoover from achieving the results he truly felt he was capable of. That obstacle of course being the one and only Ross Rollerball Pederson. “That guy just never lost,” remembers Hoover. By 1984, Doug had solidified himself as the number two rider in Canada. He finished second overall in the 125, 250 and Canadian Supercross Series standings to Ross, but the actual chances of him dethroning the Rollerball from the top step of the podium seemed to be

Even though he was a national hero, Hoover spent a lot time racing in his home province of Ontario.

During his successful career, Hoover was always known for his perfect riding style.

slipping away. “It wasn’t really frustrating,” remembers Doug. “It was a big learning curve for me, and I was always thinking and trying to figure out what it would take for me to be like him. My mind was always working, thinking “What’s he doing, what’s it going to take for me to beat him?”

It wasn’t until a chance encounter wit Pederson in the spring of 1985 that Hoover finally realized what it was going to take for him to beat Ross. “We were down in St. Petersburg, Florida, training for the upcoming season,” remembers Hoover. “Ross happened to be staying at the same hotel as we were, and one morning, out of nowhere really, he asked if I would like to go

for a run. We had always been fairly cordial but we never really hung out,” states Hoover. “But I thought, hey, why not?” Hoover ran quite a bit at the time as part of his training and felt that he was a pretty solid runner in his own right. “I was doing my stretching and getting loosened up,” remembers Hoover. “Ross just walks right out of his room, no stretching or anything, and starts to run. After a couple miles Ross picks up the pace, so I match him. After five or six miles he picks it up a little more, and I start falling behind a bit. By the time we get to around eight miles I can’t even see him anymore. That’s when it really dawned on me. The reason he beats everyone is because he’s in such great shape. I knew right then and there if I was ever going to beat him I needed to pick up my game.”

And step up his game he did. In fact, Hoover started developing a Rollerballlike training regime of his own following their morning run in Florida. “Back home I started taking my own program to another level,” remembers Hoover.

“I’d have my mechanic, Rick Sparling, drive my bike out to the practice track, which was about an hour run from where I lived. I’d run to the track, then I’d burn a couple of tanks of gas through my practice bike and then I’d run home. I did this same routine day after day after day.” In fact, it was on his run home one day that Hoover felt like extending his distance a little.

And on his travels, he came across a

beautiful old house out on a country road that was for sale. Hoover fell in love with the place immediately and bought it soon after. His family still lives there today.

1985 turned out to be a breakout year for Hoover. His new commitment to training paid off in a big way as he went head to head with the Rollerball and won the CMA 125cc National Championship. “I beat Ross head to head quite a few times that year,” states Hoover. “But for me it wasn’t so much about beating Ross as I just had the feeling, especially in the 125 class, that I was going to win every time I got on the bike. It was always such a mental game, and that year I was really in the right place mentally.” Not only did Hoover win the 125 title that year but he also took his Cycle World / Yamaha Canada sponsored bikes to 2nd overall in the 250 Nationals and 3rd in the 500cc division. Probably one my most memorable and satisfying races of that year came for Hoover at the 250cc GP of Canada at Moto Park when Doug was able to score a 2nd overall podium position against some of the top GP competitors in the world.

Hoover also had the opportunity to represent Team Canada at the Motocross des Nations in Gaildorf, Germany in 1985, and he certainly made the most of it. Teamed with Al Dyck and Mike Harnden, Hoover tallied 7th, 9th, 9th finishes in the three-moto format race and led Canada to a 10th place overall finish, which at that time was

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Doug shares a Moto Park podium with Ross Pederson and Jeff Sutherland.

“IT WAS A LOT OF WORK AND I WAS A 125 GUY REALLY. I LOVED TO RIDE THE 125, BUT HEY, I’LL TAKE A CHAMPIONSHIP ANYTIME.”

our best finish ever at the prestigious event. “I must say I was a little intimidated by all the European stars at that event,” remembers Doug. “I read about those guys in magazines and now I was actually racing them at the biggest race in the world. It was us against the world. That’s how we felt.”

“The Sweeper,” as former Yamaha factory mechanic and Team Manager Keith McCarty had dubbed him while training with Broc Glover down in California, was really on a roll. “Maybe Ross wishes he’d never taken me running with him that day,” chuckles Hoover in retrospect. Things between the two were not quite as amicable as they had been in previous years once

the 1986 season rolled around. “Ross didn’t like to lose,” states Hoover flatly. “That’s a big part of what made him so great.” Things got pretty tense between the two, so much so that after Ross cleaned Doug out during a moto at a National in Quebec that year, Hoover’s uncle, who happened to be a retired boxer, took it upon himself to have a few words with the Rollerball.

“My uncle, Earle Patton, was a regular fixture at the races,” continues Hoover.

“He was my unofficial business manager at the time as well. He just loved the whole atmosphere. He was actually the one who got me the Esso Easy Mix Sponsorship.”

In ’86, Hoover made the switch from Yamaha to Honda and also secured a lucrative outside sponsor in the form of Esso Easy Mix. I always wondered how he was able to pull that off and was anxious to ask him about it. “Yes, that was my uncle. He happened to be playing golf one day with one of the top guys at Imperial Oil, who, as it turned out, was very interested in motocross.

They were already big into sponsoring Formula One and snowmobiling, so it seemed like a good fit to them, I guess.

Plus, the Easy Mix had just come out, so they were putting a push on it. They paid for everything, including a salary for me, so it was a great deal.” Jeff Surwall had Labatt’s as a title sponsor at that time as well so the pits at a Canadian National in those days were well represented by outside sponsors, ahead of their time you could say.

Hoover had a solid season on the Honda in ’86, scoring podium finishes in all three classes in the Nationals that season. No Championships however, and it actually wasn’t until 1988 that Doug hit the top step of the podium once again. That was the year that Hoover won the 500cc National Championship onboard the big CR 500. “That Honda was the fastest bike I’d ever raced,” remembers Hoover.

“The bike was completely done by Pro Circuit and it was such a beast,” he chuckles. “I only weighed about 148 pounds soaking wet at the time and it was everything I could do just to hang on. You really had to rely on technique and finesse to ride that bike effectively, because if you just hammered the throttle you would wind up in a lot of trouble real fast.” Hoover’s smooth style transferred well to the big Honda, and he won the title going away that year. “It really wasn’t a fun bike to ride,” admits Hoover. “It was a lot of work and I was a 125 guy really. I

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 53

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THE

In one if his final big races, Hoover was a part of Team Canada at the 1987 MXoN’s at Unadilla.

DOUG HOOVER STORY loved to ride the 125, but hey, I’ll take a championship anytime.”

With a second National Championship freshly under his belt, some solid sponsors in place and just being twenty-four at the time, you would have thought Hoover was only entering the prime of his racing career at the end of the ‘88 season, but that was not the case. In fact, at the end of the season, in what was a surprise to many, Doug Hoover retired. “There were several reasons,” states Hoover. “Honda was cutting back their racing program substantially and Esso was also cutting back on their racing department at the same time. I don’t think they were unhappy or anything, they were just going in a different direction, so that left me with limited support for ‘89. I did receive an offer from Yamaha, but it wasn’t great, and they still had Ross on the team at that time, so I didn’t really think that would work out too well.”

So, left without a lot of options, Hoover decided to call it a day. “Physically, I was still in good shape. My family was in the trucking business, so I knew I could pursue that avenue, and I just thought to myself that I had accomplished everything that I could in motocross. Maybe it’s time? I had the number one plate on my bike and I’ve done everything that I wanted.”

While we have all seen that retirements often don’t stick when it comes to professional sports, Hoover was true to his word and never attempted a comeback to the sport. In fact, he has ridden a dirt bike very few times since he left the sport on top back in 1988.

“John Nelson talked me into doing a hare scramble a few years back called the Springbank 100,” laughs Hoover.

“He told me how great it would be, and I actually ended up winning the thing. It was fun but afterwards I told him there was now way I’m doing that again.” Hoover did purchase a CRF 450 a few years ago but with work and family commitments just never found any time to ride it. “If I had a choice to go fishing or riding I would pick fishing every time, so I knew I might as well just sell the bike.”

“WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST TWO REAL MOTOCROSS BIKES FROM

White gear and a white bike, it’s safe to say that Hoover had a great look going in 1985.

GORDON STAFFORD IN 1980,” REMEMBERS HOOVER.

During the winters, Hoover spent a lot of time training in Florida. Pictured here, he’s racing at the famous Daytona SX in 1986.

Although he doesn’t follow the sport that closely these days, Hoover looks back on his days as one of Canada’s top motocross racers with nothing but fond memories. “Absolutely no regrets,” states Doug. “It was a great era and I enjoyed it immensely. I’m not trying to say anything negative about motocross today, but it was a different ball game back then. The level of training and racing was extremely high.”

Doug still stays in touch with some of his old racing buddies, former Yamaha teammate Glen Nicholson in particular, and even manages to give his old rival Ross Pederson a friendly call once or twice a year.

Hoover remains in the trucking business and spends his days running his family’s company, DH Systems, in Zephyr, Ontario. He enjoys spending time at his cottage and recently

purchased a couple of Yamaha TTR 125s. “My youngest daughter and I made a pact that we were going to try to get out and go riding every chance we could, and so far, it’s going pretty well,” laughs Hoover.

Doug Hoover was the epitome of cool in 1980s Canadian moto. Always stylish, always smooth, Hoover made riding fast look easy, and his battles with Ross Pederson have become stuff of bench racing legend over the years. While his career was not that long, Doug Hoover certainly left an indelible mark on the history of Canadian Motocross.

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FIRST OFF, WE ALL SEE YOU AT THE TRACK DOING YOUR THING, WHAT DOES DARYL MURPHY DO WHEN HE’S NOT AT THE TRACK?

When not at the track I am at home in Regina and usually with something on the go. I work a full-time job leading a team of thirty plus people in sales execution. I am also the Race Director for the Saskatchewan Motosport Association Inc. (SMA) handling membership inquiries, advancement, results, training and scheduling officials, scoring staff, preparing race day packages for clubs prior to the race season, and being a go-to guy for anything Saskatchewan Moto needs.

Aside from Motocross, I am a CFL fan and bleed green for my team as a season’s ticket holder to the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club and take in as many games as possible during the season.

The rest of my time is spent with family and friends as they are a huge part of my life. I’m rarely ever just sitting around, but when that does happen it’s usually me watching a movie, stand-up comedy or a series on Netflix. Currently I am watching Shameless.

SHAMELESS IS AN EXCELLENT SHOW. TELL US, WHAT IS MORE STRESSFUL, THE WEEKENDS AT THE TRACK OR YOUR DAY JOB? Had you asked this question a year ago, I would have said motocross, but with starting a new leadership role at work, I would have to say both. The nice part in a way is that they complement each other because I am able to leave one to do the other. My “stress” is about wanting more for everyone, including myself, while trying to help ensure things are as best as they can be, and that’s why I would say they are equal. Nothing is more stressful than things not going to plan and finding a way to make it better because everyone is counting on you or the team you work with to make things happen to get the job done.

EVERYONE IN THIS INDUSTRY HAVE A LONG BACKGROUND AND A DEEP LOVE FOR MOTOCROSS, CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH YOUR HISTORY?

Where does one begin, and how much room do we have? (laughs) Well, I guess we will start with how I even started in the sport. Like most I started racing when I was about fiveyears-old and raced until about 1998 before taking a few years hiatus from the sport. I was wanting to try other sports and ended up choosing soccer.

After a few years of soccer, it was sort of like this itch to try motocross again and forget about soccer because it

MXP CHATTER With

DARYL MURPHY

BY CHRIS POMEROY • PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

just did not have the same atmosphere like being at the track…that or I was just not very good!

I remember choosing my home track, Moto Valley Raceway, for my return to motocross in September of 2000. When I went to register I was given a choice to make because of my age and when my birthdate was. I could have raced 80cc 7-11 or I could have chosen to go in the 12-16 class.

It was a clear choice to go in the older class to see where I stood after coming back and what it might look like in the class the next year.

I raced that day and came away with a third place, which was shocking to me. I started to realize that this racing motocross stuff never really leaves your system. The adrenaline, excitement and fun I had that day was enough to keep me going for years to come, and of course my parents.

It wasn’t until late 2004 that things started to change the course of my career within Motocross. It was the night of the Annual General Meeting for the Regina Motocross Club. Discussions were being held, questioning if the club had enough left in the tank let alone the people in main positions to continue hosting the Pro Nationals.

Listening to those around the table discuss the mere idea of not hosting another national caliber race was hard to swallow knowing that the future of the pro event in your own backyard has the potential to come to an end right then and there. I remember raising my hand and waiting to be acknowledged to begin speaking. The words I spoke next made the room pause for a second when I asked, “What can I do to help?” It seemed to create a spark in the room and start a discussion on how a sixteen-year-old would be able to help manage this event. Our Event Manager for the club at the

Daryl Murphy is the type of person that our sport just cannot seem to do without. For the past number of years, “Murp,” as he’s known in the paddock, has been Head Referee Paul Kingsley’s faithful assistant at the Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Series. He is a fair and honest person, and away from the stress of making sure everything runs smoothly at our most important motocross events, Daryl Murphy is a very funny person.

To find out even more about him, we caught with Daryl for this month’s MXP Chatter. time, Darwin Janz, offered to hold the position while mentoring me as a comanager until I was able to handle the role myself. From that point forward, on behalf of the club and under the guidance and mentorship of Darwin, I started working with Mark Stallybrass on items pertaining to Regina’s national race.

In 2006, I was nominated and elected to the Vice President position on the SMA board. It honestly was a shock to me. As they mentioned my name, I made a joke saying I would have to ask my Mom as chuckles ensued. I turned to accept my nomination, and my work with the region began. Now that I was on a provincial level my contacts and relationships started to grow, and my dealings with Mark Stallybrass expanded to include amateur moto.

In 2007, I was nominated to be the President to succeed Roland Giroux, after a full year of mentoring under this great man, and I served as the chair for three years.

I continued to race up until 2008, then decided to hang up the boots from the Intermediate class. I was not the most competitive, however my love for the sport continued with the desire to help in other ways outside of racing.

THE POURCEL INCIDENT WAS INTRIGUING IN ITSELF. WHEN ALL FACTS WERE PRESENTED, WITH OFFICIALS’ ACTIONS AND THE VERBIAGE IN THE RULEBOOK CONSIDERED, DISCRETIONARY CALLS WERE MADE. MXPMAG.COM · MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE // 57

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MXP CHATTER With

DARYL MURPHY

ASIDE FROM MOTOCROSS, I AM A CFL FAN AND BLEED GREEN FOR MY TEAM AS A SEASON’S TICKET HOLDER TO THE SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS FOOTBALL CLUB AND TAKE IN AS MANY GAMES AS POSSIBLE DURING THE SEASON. 58 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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THAT IS A VERY INTERESTING STORY. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MOST CHERISHED MEMORIES GROWING UP?

In 1996 when I won my 50cc 7-8 class championship. When it’s your only championship you cherish it to the bitter end (laughs).

One would be when both my brother and I lined up in Moose Jaw for the same Youth race. We started and both made it to the third corner, then both of our bikes just died. Were both trying to kick start the bikes when my brother yelled over, “Check the gas, Dad turned it off!” I mean, at the end of day it was one of our most laughable moments being together at the races.

Another would be how awesome it was when Dad started to race. We eventually were able to do that together in the same class the last year I competitively raced.

I wouldn’t be able to name them all but all the travel stories and places we have been with all of our friends and families are very much cherished and brought up from time to time when getting together.

WHAT IS THE BEST RACE YOU SAW AS A KID?

Easy! Everyone should remember this one back in 2002 from Regina Moto Valley Raceway. The second 250 Pro moto start to finish. Blair Morgan takes an early yet comfortable lead out front in his home province, as Jean Sebastian Roy battles his way up to challenge for the win. JSR makes a pass for the lead in a corner just prior to the triple section leading into the mechanics’ area. Blair then makes a pass back in the roller section using a fantastic line, and back and forth they would go. Lappers were in the way one lap for JSR and for Morgan the next until the final pass was made by JSR near the mechanics’ area to hold on and take the win. What an electric race it was!

THAT WAS AN AWESOME RACE AND A GREAT SEASON WITH THOSE TWO. DID YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE RIDER GROWING UP?

Well, I would have to say I had two.

First would be local Pro Dustin Pretty for being pretty awesome, for being one of Saskatchewan’s top riders at the time, and being with him traveling to do the western swing of the pro nationals. Being able to travel with the Prettys to races, getting to know the family and watching him race at some of the pro national events like Mission, Calgary or Regina is why Dustin would be on of my favourites growing up.

If it wasn’t for Dustin and his Dad, Lyle Pretty, I honestly don’t think I would have the same passion for Pro Motocross.

I also have to say K-Dub #14, Kevin Windham. His riding style to how he

treats his fans and his presence on the track makes him one of my favourites.

I mean, just look how he came out of retirement to race for Puerto Rico at the MXON, and that story about the fan who handed him an urn that contained his son’s ashes. The father’s wish was to have Kevin do a lap with the urn, so he taped it to his bars and rode with it in the morning. #Legend

WHEN AND HOW DID YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION TO BEING AN OFFICIAL?

It would be safe to say the transition started after I stopped racing and start officiating provincial motocross events in 2009 and also started to travel the western series as the finish line flagger. I started to learn both the amateur and pro rulebooks while working with Randy Hall and Jake Lee. From there it was all about opportunities that were given to me, as well how well I was able to handle the roles. In 2010, it was my first opportunity as the Safety Marshall/Assistant Referee in Regina, which made it a comfortable start to that role for me, and from there I handled those duties in 2011 for the western swing of the tour. It wasn’t until about 2012 that I started to travel the entire series and become a mainstay.

YOU’RE FAMOUS FOR YOUR BLUE FLAG WAVING ABILITIES. DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU EVER WAVED A BLUE FLAG?

I don’t recall the very first time but it would be safe to say around 2009 at a Saskatchewan provincial race or maybe even finish line flagging at one of the national events.

Quite frankly, blue flags were just blue flags back then. They barely got any movement in the air. (laughs) Having something visible for the lappers to see, well Palms, it’s all in the wrist and shoulder. I felt I could make sure people were well aware of what was happening around them so the race wouldn’t be impeded as much, and also remembering it’s as much of a safety thing as it is for the race itself.

We are their eyes and ears out there, and at this level we need to be as animated and visible as possible, in my opinion. Some may disagree if they have ever come close to the “Blue Love” as I call it. Rare as it is may seem, only team manager Kevin Tyler has ever got caught in motion by accident. That was 2018...odds are good it won’t happen again, eh KT?

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF BEING AN OFFICIAL AT THE NATIONALS?

Should there be a favourite part being an official, Palms? (Laughs) I would say I have many favourite parts in general. One is when we have great racing without incident that I have a front row seat to, while help-

ing call out the race to the team on the headsets.

Also, working with my partner in crime, Head Referee Paul Kingsley, Clerk of the Course Wendy Snelgrove, and her assistants Susan Harris, Chelsea and Dawna Stevens, who I have had the pleasure and honour to work with that have always had my back. To working on race days with Lisa Snider, Gauldy, Brett Lee, Dave Little, James Andrew, Ver-B, Chad Irwin, Tokley, Roodz, Balake, Jeff Whaling, Andrew Fountain, Mcfly, Kevin Eadie, John Tuk, Matt Koeleman, Mckenna Kameka, Darren Havrelock, Keanna Nikole, and the Thompson family!

I miss working with some of our old team too, like Marc Travers and Brian Koster. Those guys knew how to create excitement and memorable moments you just can’t forget. “What do you mean what do I mean?” (That one is for you Travs) Other than being an official, I would say we are all ambassadors of this great sport regardless of the positions we hold, and the best part is just being with a group of people I can easily call my family.

the verbiage in the rulebook considered, discretionary calls were made.

THAT IS THE MOST PROFESSIONAL ANSWER I’VE EVER HEARD, WELL DONE! THIS PAST YEAR WE TRANSITIONED INTO A NEW SERIES WITH SOME OF THE RACES TAKING PLACE INDOORS. HOW HAVE THE INDOOR EVENTS BEEN?

Well, the indoor events are newer to me, and I had not really had much experience with them as others on the team, but everyone has to learn some time. To start the AX tour, I mean we could talk dirt all day long, and for my first indoor...crazy to say the least. What did I get myself into? But we do what we do best... make it work and make it happen! It was some of the softest dirt I’ve walked on for well over 15 hours plus. I can tell you my legs literally hurt for two days after it was said and done.

Calgary and Sarnia were my favourites, and how could you forget the crazy ice storm in Barrie.

The start of the SX Tour with Montreal

OVER THE YEARS YOU’VE DEALT WITH A LOT OF TOP RIDERS. OF THOSE RIDERS, WHICH ONES HAVE BEEN EASY TO DEAL WITH AND WHICH ONES HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT? I’ve only had really one “Most” difficult and that would have to be CP377. I don’t wish to throw too much shade so let’s just call a spade a spade.

I understand how intense and emotional this sport is, so having riders or team managers potentially coming at you frustrated and upset does not mean I would classify them as difficult as much as I would say the situation being difficult.

Everyone is relatively good as they all know they can come and hold a conversation with us on whatever topic or issue.

We will listen, discuss and eventually come to make an unbiased and impartial decision based on information gathered, facts presented and our interpretation or intent of the rules.

OKAY, I’M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. GIVE US YOUR MOST DIFFICULT SITUATION YOU’VE HAD AS AN OFFICIAL?

Dealing with circumstances that may arise where you haven’t had a specific issue before, to where the rulebook may have grey areas or is just completely absurd. Making discretionary decisions when you have championships on the line, and top contenders making poor decisions whether on or off the track make for the most difficult situations.

For example, last year’s event in Pleasant Valley was probably one of the most difficult to deal with in recent memory, leaving many unhappy or questioning the decisions made. The Pourcel incident was intriguing in itself, and when all facts were presented, official’s actions and

Supercross was a whole new experience as well, and I was happy to have Kinger there with me! Delaware was also an experience outdoors at night. The lighting was certainly a challenge, and that clay... oh boy! In general, they were okay, but I think as we continue to gel as a team we will only continue to get better as an entire crew delivering a high-quality product. It takes time and we should all be supportive because negativity does not do much of anything to help or progress things.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, ARE THE RIDERS AND TEAMS EASIER TO DEAL WITH AT THE INDOOR EVENTS?

No, not at all! I think it is way more of a challenge. One may think because you are in a confined space that it may be easier, however things can happen quickly. The program moves so damn fast it can force you to make quick decisions.

As a head official you need to be on your game, because once you waver everyone smells blood in the water and feeds off of it to potentially use it against you. They were some of the most intense and challenging moments of my life, but luckily enough I was graced with some really

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MXP CHATTER With

HOW LONG DO YOU SEE YOURSELF BEING A PART OF THIS CRAZY CIRCUS?

DARYL MURPHY

Another tough question Palms! You know, I honestly think about this quite a lot, but unfortunately, I don’t know that answer just yet.

Sometimes you think to yourself, wow that’s all I do during the summer! What would I be doing if I wasn’t at the track?

Well, that reality set in when CMRC was being sold and Justin Thompson took the helm. There was little to no visibility at the beginning as to what staff from CMRC he may want to employ, if at all. I didn’t know what to think other than there was a real possibility I wouldn’t be a part of the series. Luckily enough Justin called me to discuss me being a part of the Triple Crown series.

I have always told myself and others like Justin, I will always be there for the sport if it needed me in some way. Being that I am only thirty-years-old, it would be safe to say I would be around a while if it was in the best interest of the series and the sport.

FINAL QUESTION, WHEN YOU’RE ALL DONE BEING AN OFFICIAL, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED AT THE TRACK?

I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO NAME THEM ALL BUT ALL THE TRAVEL STORIES AND PLACES WE HAVE BEEN WITH ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES ARE VERY MUCH CHERISHED AND BROUGHT UP FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN GETTING TOGETHER. great people behind me in AX to manage it, as there were times I needed it. There are no words I could possibly use other than many heartfelt thanks to people in our industry who supported me mentally after those events. With that being said, it is such a great opportunity for me to learn and grow as an official in the sport.

HOW HAS IT BEEN WORKING WITH SIR PAUL KINGSLEY. YOU TWO ARE QUITE THE DUO.

Working with Kinger has been nothing short of amazing. Paul and I starting working together when he rejoined the series as the Head Referee in 2011 for Round 1 in Kamloops.

It was definitely interesting to meet Paul for the first time as he brought a wealth of knowledge and history from prior years of officiating nationals, while I brought current knowledge of the series and what the riders and teams were accustomed to seeing at an event. From

there we worked seamlessly as a team, and helped each other in every aspect of the race weekends.

Fast forward to present day, Paul is one of the calmest level-headed guys out there. He has and still is teaching me a lot with regards to remaining calm, making decisions and managing the race. At the same time, I am his trustee side kick with in depth knowledge of the verbiage in the rulebook and when called upon, providing him with answers he needs, as well taking care of all safety personnel and training.

Kinger and I have always worked very well together, in my opinion, because we do it for the love of the sport, and it’s never a political battle in any way.

We know and trust each other’s abilities on and off the track, and the respect we have for each other, to listen and challenge one another when it comes to rules or decisions while each of us

brings a different perspective to the table has helped us be successful.

I honestly do not know if I would want to work without the man we call Sir Paul!

Thank you for everything you do and I sincerely hope we can continue working together for as long as your knees can take it. Much love and mad respect!

ARE YOU STILL ENJOYING GOING TO THE TRACK EACH WEEKEND?

I would say yes, absolutely. This year was a big year for me personally with regards to my work at home, Saskatchewan motocross, and the Triple Crown Series, so it was a bit overwhelming when all put together. I still enjoy being part of the scene, and being with my moto family away from home.

Next year will be another growth year and I suspect I will be busy helping with that in some way, and I look forward to being at the track!

A monument next to Daryl Murphy’s famous Moto-X Van atop Regina Moto Valley? (laughs) Honestly, I would love to be remembered at the track for someone who had good character, integrity, passion, and someone who cared deeply about all the competitors and their safety.

To be remembered as a familiar face to everyone, and for those who may have ever been in a vulnerable position on the track, to have them know that I did whatever possible to be in a position to take control of a situation and to help keep everyone as safe as possible.

Also, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to say thanks to you Palms and MXP Mag for this opportunity to do this interview.

I would also like to thank my parents, Roxanne and Dean Murphy, for always sticking behind me and supporting me in my dreams to do more for the sport, starting at such a young age. My Brother Michael, Sister In-law Kendra, my Nephew Kaine and Niece Jordyn Murphy, thank you for the love and support you all give to me while I am away.

The Regina Motocross Club, Saskatchewan Motosport Association and all of its membership for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to lead our province! To Mark and Jan Stallybrass who gave me opportunities to learn, grow, and become a part of such a great family.

I cannot say thank you enough for everything, and how much you treated me like family! Much Love!

Thank you to anyone that has ever helped me be where I am today. As a reminder to everyone, even if you are younger, you can always help in some way and know it will make a difference. Ask yourself, “What can I do?”

60 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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2018-10-17 11:25 AM

RIDING BLU CRU

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62 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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2019 Yamaha MX Media Ride Day OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES, THE FINE PEOPLE AT YAMAHA MOTOR CANADA HAVE ALWAYS HELD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY MOTOCROSS HEART. NOT ONLY WERE THEY MY FIRST OEM SPONSOR BACK IN 1989, BUT THIS ICONIC BRAND HAS INTRODUCED MANY ROOKIE RIDERS TO THE PRO CLASS OVER THE YEARS, MOST RECENTLY MARCO CANNELLA AND JAKE TRICCO. OH SURE, SOME NAMES AT THE YAMAHA CANADA OFFICES HAVE CHANGED DURING THE PAST THIRTY YEARS, BUT THIS BRAND’S COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND OUR SPORT’S GRASSROOT RIDERS HAS NEVER WAVERED.

A

s they have for the past few years, the fine folks at Yamaha Canada invited all of the Canadian motocross media up to Moto Park for their annual MX model release.

During these entertaining ride days, we all spend time riding each bike on the perfectly prepared Moto Park track. In between rides, there is the usual bench racing and sometimes some trash talking as we’re all quite familiar with each other. By the end of day, we’re usually all tired but incredibly grateful that Yamaha Canada has given us this memorable day of riding.

With minor changes made to the 2019 YZ450F, the bike that Yamaha really wanted us to test was the new 2019 YZ250F. Back in 2014, the YZ250F went through a lot of changes that helped put this bike at or near the top of its class. Since then, the YZ250F has seen a few engine, chassis and suspension revisions that made it a favourite among riders. As we’ve witnessed both in the USA and Canada, the YZ250F has

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more championships in the past two years than any other 250F machine.

With so much early success, many wondered what Yamaha could do to improve their YZ250F machine.

For 2019, Yamaha made incredible strides so the bike is now better than before. Beginning with the engine, Yamaha has been very busy revising this new model. They kept the forward slanted engine, introduced in 2014, but for next year the angle of engine’s slant has been increased one degree. The exhaust port and head pipe shape have been changed slightly to increase the flow and power. Also, in the head, Yamaha increased the intake valve lift and slightly changed the event angle of the exhaust cam.

The final changes to the new head are larger lifter buckets and slightly stiffer valve springs. Underneath the head, the piston crown has been increased, which has bumped the compression from 13.5:1 to 13.8:1.

With the increased flow, the bike needs as much fuel as it can get. To accomplish this, Yamaha changed the throttle body from a Keihan

to a 44mm Mikuni with a 12-hole injector. Finally, Yamaha changed the ECU settings, added a new spark plug with a holder to keep it firmly in place, and a new, stronger clutch and transmission have been added for 2019. This new engine package has increased power and is more reliable, a combination in which Yamaha is very excited.

Also new for next year is the long-awaited electric start. Yamaha is now the second Japanese OEM to offer e-start on their 250F motocross bikes. This e-start is compact, sits behind the cylinder and runs the clutch basket directly. The 1.5 lithium battery is located under the seat and produces 13.2 volts of power to start the powerful engine. Like most of today’s riders, I love electric start on these new four-strokes and I was happy to see Yamaha make this addition on the new YZ250F.

“FOR 2019, YAMAHA MADE INCREDIBLE STRIDES SO THE BIKE IS NOW BETTER THAN BEFORE. BEGINNING WITH THE ENGINE, YAMAHA HAS BEEN VERY BUSY REVISING THIS NEW MODEL.”

2018-10-16 4:15 PM

RIDING BLU CRU

WITH THE

The frame on the 2019 has also been changed to make the bike feel agile on the track. The frame rails that go around the gas tank/air box are now straight where last year had more of an S shape. Other parts of the frame have been changed from forged pieces to extrusion aluminum, and the engine mounts have been changed from steel to aluminum. The steering head has also been moved forward 6mm to help with stability. Yamaha now offers a flatter seat and has made the area where your knees grip the rad shrouds thinner. Add in suspension updates to the already solid KYB coil-spring front forks and KYB rear shock, and you now have a YZ250F that is a nimble, lighter model than any prior version. After hearing about all of these exciting changes, I couldn’t wait to take it for a spin.

As with any good bike, I felt really comfortable the moment I hit the track.

The chassis changes and the flatter seat instantly make you feel like you’re sitting on top of the bike and in perfect control. Even being a heavier than normal 250F rider, the updated KYB suspension felt well sprung for my weight and in perfect unison with the chassis. These new suspension settings are a welcome change as the previous models have always felt a little dicey. On this 2019 model, I was able to charge into corners with the travel in the front forks staying up.

This made the transition from standing to sitting to turning that much easier. As I reached the apex of each corner, the 2019 felt completely connected to the ground and very balanced.

As I exited each corner and applied the throttle, the bike really came alive. The engine package on the 2019 YZ250F is incredible. The power is smooth and strong off the bottom and pulls right through the entire range. Whether you’re a rider who likes to short shift your bike or you like to rev bikes out, this engine will work for you. On the fast and jumpy Moto Park track, the 2019 YZ250F was easy to ride and very easy to go fast on. From the engine, to the suspension, as well as the new chassis, this bike is one great package.

During this Yamaha ride day, I also spent time riding the new 2019 YZ450F. With a few subtle changes, the new YZ450F feels vastly improved over last year’s model. It feels lighter and thinner, and has a much smoother power delivery than the 2018 model. Like the new YZ250F, the YZ450F felt very connected to the ground and was also extremely predictable in the air. It’s amazing what a few small changes can make to these modern day four-strokes.

Throughout the morning we rode many laps around the Moto Park track. With a quick stop for lunch and some hydration, it was back on this famous circuit for more riding. Yamaha also had a 2019 YZ85 on hand, and they were gracious enough to allow my son to come up and also ride some laps. There we were, father and son out riding blue bikes together along with Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha rider Dillan Epstein and young Yamaha speedsters Marco Cannella and Jake Tricco. The weather was perfect, the track was perfect, and the bikes were ... almost perfect. It was a great day of riding, and once again it made me appreciate what OEMs like Yamaha continue to do for our sport. In fact, the following day, Yamaha Canada and its Blu Cru amateur program held their annual Yamaha rider appreciation day where any rider could come out to try the new 2019 Yamaha models. For the media, as well as the general public, this weekend at Moto Park was a great bookend to 2018, and it left us all looking forward to 2019. I would like to thank Yamaha Motor Canada for the invite to ride their new 2019 models, and also congratulations on all of their racing success during this past season.

“WITH A FEW SUBTLE CHANGES, THE NEW YZ450F FEELS VASTLY IMPROVED OVER LAST YEAR’S MODEL.”

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CATCHING UP WITH

PHIL NICOLETTI B Y A N DY W H I T E / P H O T O S B Y J A M E S L I S S I M O R E

The 2018 season is not even complete and the factory Yamaha OTSFF is already making changes to their program. This past year the OTSFF team struggled with no wins under their tent. In previous years, Matt Goerke has been their “mister consistent.” The team had the opportunity to sign Phil Nicoletti from the US so they pulled something together for him. He will be up here in Canada racing in the Triple Crown series on a YZ450. It is uncertain if the team will have an all-new squad for 2019 or if they will be adding a third rider to their program for the future. One thing for certain is that Nicoletti will be cemented in his deal for two years and he seems pretty happy with that.

P

hil Nicoletti is no stranger to Canada. He has raced up here in the past. I think Phil will be a great addition to the program and has proven he can be a threat for a win. This past year, Phil was a replacement rider for Dean Wilson on the US Factory Husqvarna Rockstar 450 team. If you look at his results from this past year you can see why Andre signed the New York native.

I have always said if you can find a good, solid 450 rider that grew up on the east coast, you probably will have a good chance of winning a championship. I feel this is a great fit for both parties and I look forward to seeing Phil competing in Canada for the next two years and possibly more.

“I believe it takes a full year to get comfortable on our tracks and the surroundings. By the time year two rolls around you will know what to expect at each track.”

IT’S PRETTY COOL TO SEE A RIDER OF YOUR LEVEL COMMIT TO A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT WITH OTSFF YAMAHA TO RACE IN CANADA. WHY NOW, AND WAS IT JUST TIMING?

Phil Nicoletti: There was no particular timing to coming to Canada. It was more the fact that it made sense.

I bust my ass to be a competitive guy in the states, and when a better opportunity comes up, I am going to pursue it.

HOW DID YOU CONNECT WITH ANDRE AND HIS TEAM?

I came in contact with Andre through my agent, Lucas Mirtl. They had some talks at this past year’s Winter X games about me potentially coming up there to race for him. Naturally, it took a couple months to get things pieced together but it worked out great for both sides.

I LIKE THAT YOU HAVE A TWOYEAR CONTRACT. YOU HAVE NEVER RACED ANY OF THESE OUTDOOR TRACKS, CORRECT?

I believe it takes a full year to get comfortable on our tracks and the surroundings. By the time year two rolls around you will know what to expect at each track. I’m very excited to have a two-year deal with the team. Obviously, like you said, it’ll take some time to get used to the surroundings and the way the series operates. That’s why I am here at the moment, racing the supercross series to try to get acclimated as quickly as possible. For me,

I’ve already been watching and doing my homework on the tracks so I’m not caught off guard.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU HAVE RACED IN CANADA. YOU RACED THE MONTREAL SUPERCROSS BACK IN 2011, I BELIEVE, ON A KTM 350SX. YOU ALMOST WON THAT RACE.

No, this is not the first time I have raced in Canada. My first race here was Walton in 2007. To this day I still tell people how cool of a track that Walton was when I was there. At that point in my amateur career I had never really raced a track with that many ruts. Also, I did do Montreal in 2011, and I believe that was the first time I had ever met you, Andy. That was the first race the KTM 350 had ever been entered in a race as well.

That should’ve been a good night, because I was leading most of the event until I was taken out in the closing laps of the main event. I think I ended up fifth.

I THINK YOU WERE RACING FOR KTM USA AT THAT TIME, CORRECT? YOU WERE A FILL-IN RIDER FOR THE FACTORY TEAM.

Yes, I was riding for factory KTM at the time. I had filled in most of the summer for Tommy Searle because he was injured. It was actually really cool because towards the end of the year KTM let me race their linkage bike when it first came out.

Man, that feels like a long time ago. [laughs]

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LOOKING BACK AT YOUR CAREER YOU HAVE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD RIDES. WHAT TEAM REALLY STICKS OUT AS THE TEAM THAT REALLY MADE YOU THINK, “WOW, THIS IS AWESOME!”?

Looking back in my career I think I have done pretty well. I still think I was a bit underrated for what I was delivering in results for the past four or five years. Obviously, everyone knows I had spent five years with JGR, so I’d have to say them.

I learned so much about suspension, motors and how things work. I also made lifelong friends there.

LAST YEAR YOU WENT FROM THE JGR TEAM FOR SUPERCROSS TO FACTORY HUSKY WHERE YOU FILLED IN FOR DEAN WILSON. YOUR RESULTS WERE REALLY GOOD, AND YOU LOOKED REALLY COMFORTABLE ON THEIR BIKES. DID YOU HAVE TO DO A LOT OF TESTING OR DID YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AS SOON AS YOU RODE THE BIKE?

I felt really comfortable on the Rockstar Husky right away. Obviously, I didn’t have much time on the bike when I made the switch between the Colorado National and the High Point National but I felt like I really excelled well with the motorcycle.

I’m glad they gave me the opportunity to be with them for the year and to experience the success of a podium finish.

As far as the team itself, they were all awesome. It’s always hard to jump in mid-season and be comfortable; they did their best for me. They also understand my personality and demeanor, which helps a lot as well. [laughs]

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR YEAR ONE IN CANADA? IT’S A LITTLE DIFFERENT UP HERE. THERE IS ONE OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP BUT THERE ARE THREE SEGMENTS THAT EQUAL A CHAMPIONSHIP. HOW ARE YOUR AX SKILLS? My expectations in Canada are set high. I’m not going to underestimate the other top 5 guys up here at all, though, I can guarantee you that.

They know the tracks and the system and I will make sure I’m on point. As far as AX, it’s the same as anything else we do that has a gate drop.

Holeshot and hammer down.

THIS IS A QUESTION THAT COMES UP ALL THE TIME - WE KNOW WHEN A GOOD US RIDER COMES TO CANADA, HE BATTLES WITH RIDERS THAT HE MIGHT LAP IF YOU WERE RACING THEM AT RED BUD OR HANGTOWN. WHY IS THAT?

Obviously the talent in the states runs a little deeper, but when the talent isn’t as deep, it makes the separation that much harder, which in turn makes it harder with points and makes things a lot closer.

DO YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE GUYS YOU’RE RACING IN CANADA NOW?

I know quite a few of the Canadians.

I grew up racing Medaglia as a kid and I raced Benoit a handful of times as well. Facciotti is the only one that I have limited time racing with other than him coming to the states, which I find weird because we are almost the same age.

RACING UP IN CANADA IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT TO THE US. WE HEAR FROM RIDERS LIKE METTY OR MILLSAPS THAT IT’S PRETTY LOW KEY. THERE IS NO REAL TENSION BETWEEN RIDERS. I THINK I HEARD A TOP US RIDER SAY ONCE, “IT’S PRETTY COOL WHEN YOU CAN WALK UNDER ANOTHER TEAM’S AWNING AND JUST HANG OUT. THIS IS NOT THE CASE DOWN SOUTH.” Everything does seem a little more low-key here. The states is low key as well. There are more teams in the states so it’s hard to get to know everyone on a first name basis. I’m not saying I’ll get along with everyone up here because I sure as hell don’t in the states, but I’ll try. [laughs]

I BELIEVE YOU LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. NOW THAT YOU’RE COMMITTED TO RACE IN CANADA FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WHERE WILL YOU MOVE TO? I’ll being staying in Charlotte, NC. I’ve been here so long riding at Clubmx and being a part of JGR, it’s like a home away from home.

THE LAST ROUND OF THE TRIPLE CROWN SERIES IS IN NOVEMBER. WHAT’S THE PLANS FOR YOUR OFF-SEASON?

The off-season plans are to prepare as if I’m racing A1 or preparing for Hangtown. Same goal, different country!

WITH YOUR LONG LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHAT RACE OR SERIES STICKS OUT THE MOST? My biggest accomplishment is obviously my podium at my hometown race in Unadilla. I do the AMA motocross series because it’s gnarly and brutal, but I’m looking forward to making new accomplishments and memories in the Great White North!

YOUR MUD SKILLS ARE VERY IMPRESSIVE. LAST YEAR AT UNADILLA AND IRONMAN YOU LOOKED GREAT. USUALLY RIDERS ARE NOT THAT COMFORTABLE IN THE MUD. DOES GROWING UP IN NEW YORK HELP?

I do love the mud. I believe being in NY as a kid helped out a lot but the biggest thing about riding in the mud is that you actually have to practice in it. As a kid growing up I had a special bike just for the mud to practice on. It was a complete beater bike and I wasn’t allowed to jump it. My Dad used to have me pound motos in the rain on it while he watched from his truck with the windshield wipers on. When mud is your friend it’s a huge benefit, when it isn’t it’s a nightmare. Make mud your friend. [laughs]

“I do love the mud.

I believe being in NY as a kid helped out a lot but the biggest thing about riding in the mud is that you actually have to practice in it.”

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CATCHING UP WITH

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GAMBA HANGING IN JAPAN B Y L AWA R E N C E H A C K I N G A N D L E X I P E C H O U T / P H O T O S B Y H I R O H ATA K E YA M A

In between rides, we found some very cool walking trails.

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If you haven’t been to Japan, you should go and go with a purpose; do something motorcycle related like the Hidaka Two Day Enduro or HTDE is the best. This way you will meet all sorts of like-minded people and they will make your trip much more enjoyable.

T

his past September was the second time I have been honoured to attend the HTDE and this year it was more fun than ever mainly because the 21-year-old Canadian whiz kid Lexi Pechout also went. Anytime you can ride an enduro, visit your friends at their place in a foreign country - things are bound to be fun. Add in some fresh, youthful energy, hang with a bonafide enduro super star and you have a recipe for some epic shenanigans.

This was Lexi’s second time to the HTDE as well as mine; my buddy, Steve Park, tagged along for kicks. This year the Hidaka Motorcyclist Club supported Lexi’s trip, as they are the event organizer. The local Husqvarna dealer, called Cyclone in the nearby city of Sapporo, supplied her with a Husky FE 250. The Cyclone people have a beautiful shop that also sells KTM and BMW motorcycles. Lexi’s dad, Siggi, chauffeured us around in the rent-a-van, so we could pre-walk the four special tests prior to the event to get an idea what to expect when we attacked the tests on the bikes the next day. More accurately, Lexi attacked and Steve and I addressed the tests as best we could. The trail loop was 120 kilometers and we did one lap each of the two days. The class I was in (National A) then did three of the four tests on a shortened lap for a total of about 145 kms per day.

I was loaned a new Beta 250RR provided by Beta Japan. It turned out to be an excellent choice for the classic style of enduro like the HTDE. The Northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido has been home to the HTDE for the past 34 years, and it is the longest running and

2018-10-16 2:17 PM

ATIE!!!!

R No stranger to International events, Lawrence listens intently during the riders meeting.

“This past September was the second time I have been honoured to attend the HTDE and this year it was more fun than ever mainly because the 21-year-old Canadian whiz kid Lexi Pechout also went.”

most important off-road event of their season. Over 160 competitors make the long trek that requires a ferry crossing to Hokkaido.

Ripping the tight trails in the bamboo stands was my favourite part; the many steep, short hills were a challenge.

Fortunately, the Beta worked its magic and took good care of me. My race was cut short this time around, a few factors had me check into the local clinic for rehydration. It may have been the jet lag, might have been too much time in the natural hot springs, or maybe over-exuberance on the bike. Either way, I was happy with the experience regardless of the outcome in the results.

The trail conditions are really interesting and varied in Hidaka. There were some really wet sections, and we spent some good distance riding in a rocky but shallow river. The area is hilly; the race HQ is based at the bottom of the Kougensen ski hill and resort. The entire trail was extremely fun to ride and always held my interest.

This is without a doubt the most important piece of literature a rider had to read in Japan.

Lexi had a great ride the first day. She was ahead of all the other females in her class by about 5 minutes, which is insurmountable in an enduro.

Ever the gracious winner, she spent the day encouraging her fellow competitors and posing for hundreds of photos. Lexi is one of Canada’s best ambassadors in the motorcycling community; she is polite, appreciative, friendly and always smiling or laughing.

We brought a ton of small gifts to give away to our hosts and the many townsfolk who came out to support the HTDE. Steve made up some ‘Ninja Beaver’ stickers featuring the Canadian and Japanese flags to give away that everyone seemed to appreciate.

Our friend Agui-san offered a beautiful ‘yakota’ or summer dress to Lexi. Agui is an older gentleman who rides enduros and sets up an entire restaurant in the paddock and welcomes everyone to share his food.

It was obvious the gift was a symbolic gesture that Lexi took in stride, she proudly wore it to the opening ceremonies. Agui-san seemed very pleased when we sat in his makeshift ‘restaurant’ every evening telling stories and making universal jokes that everyone understood.

Being invited back to Japan is saying something about how you conduct yourself; a visit to Japan is very different than most other countries in a good way. I usually recommend ‘turning off’ your ‘North American’ and try to go with the flow of how things are done over there. Mindfulness of others and respect are ‘ichiban’ or number one.

For example, I rode with two other competitors during the endure. The rider on my

S Lawrence, Lexi and their Japanese crew. minute, who was also on a Beta, always looked back to make sure I got through any tricky sections and checked my fuel level at the fuel stops. He seemed genuinely concerned for my well-being.

The norm in Japan is punctuality. If a rendezvous is arranged, parties arrive on time, everything seems to work. The escalators, the clocks, the door latches and windows all run smoothly, service is unparalleled, and everyone seems to excel and take pride in doing their job regardless of how simple or basic that job is.

People are dressed well, they’re polite and respectful. For example, on one of the busiest shopping streets in Tokyo, no one bumps into you or forces you off your walking line.

Driving is the same. People don’t tailgate, and people walk the same speed. When entering a store you are greeted with a lyrical “simosei” or ‘if you please.’

Trust is excepted and reciprocated, theft is rare, and doing what you say you will do is completely normal.

Rarely do you see litter. In

the cities, smokers are confined to designated outdoor locations. At first glance Japan is an eye opening, pleasant experience.

We had a great time with our Japanese hosts. Even though a recent earthquake rocked a nearby village causing massive damage and loss of life, the event persevered.

In typical Japanese fashion, their ‘get-it-done’ attitude prevailed and the event went on without a hitch.

I won’t pull any punches, everyone, and I mean everyone, should visit Japan once in their lifetime, preferably before they are 25-years-old, but any age will do. Why, you ask? If you spend time in Japan, meet the people and open your eyes and ears, you will come back changed for the better. The way things are done at a level of perfection with such attention to detail is a marvel to observe.

Even if a little ‘Japan’ rubs off on every visitor, the world would be a better place.

Any way you slice it, a motorcycling vacation in the land of the rising sun with some ‘Ninja Beavers’ is a true privilege and a treat.

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GAMBATIE!!!!

A call from Lawrence Hacking started with the expectation of a quick catch up, but I soon realized that was not the only reason. As we continued to chat, Lawrence asks casually, “What would you think about returning to Japan in September?” I just about spit out my coffee and screamed with excitement. And the best part, Lawrence and another Canadian rider, Steve Park, would be joining me! I quickly accepted and started the three-month countdown to the renowned FIM International Hidaka Two Day Enduro in Hidaka, Hokkaido, Japan.

S Part of the course sits in the early morning dew.

S Lexi Pechout didn't just look great in her riding gear while in Japan.

S Lexi felt right at home aboard her Husqvarna.

National or International travelers typically have an array of check lists, schedules, reservations, researched bucket list attractions etc. prior to departure. That person is not me.

I knew two things: first, the race date, and secondly, my departure date. From past experience, I discovered the most incredible sights, people, and amazing, unexpected adventures cannot be found via Google or any travel agent, so why not just wing it!

September 2018 was my second excursion to Japan. Last year’s trip was shorter as I had just started my first year of college and did not want to miss too much school. However, my boyfriend and I had the opportunity

to visit the local Narita MX and EX track as well as five days on foot in Tokyo. Last year was my first time in Japan and first time racing the H.T.D.E. The race was phenomenal and everyone involved was very welcoming to us Canadians despite not knowing a word of Japanese and that we were just trying to figure the entire place out.

We made a ton of new friends, enjoyed sightseeing, and did our best to stay connected after returning home.

This year was a completely different experience. I had the best trip of my life. Not trying to brag but I experienced some of the most breathtaking views, gained a new family, and had countless, never to be forgotten adventures. So, without writing a novel, because I could, I will share a few of the greatest highlights of this trip.

After the first day in Japan I knew this trip was going to be one I would never forget.

Communicating back and forth with the organizer of the event was a challenge in itself.

While Haruki spoke English, our emails were short and you had to “read between the lines.” Day one started as, “My friend, insert name I cannot pronounce, will pick you up at 7:00am and take you to Sapporo.” My first thought was ‘okay,

S The night before the race began, the officials go over the rules. cool, road trip!’ As we walked into the hotel lobby not one minute late, two Japanese men and their moto van awaited us.

These two men were employees of Cyclone Motorcycle Shop, and were sent to help with testing and set up of my Husqvarna FE250. We drove about three hours to the top of a mountain where we rode into the early afternoon. The entire Husqvarna enduro team, staff, and a few customers of Cyclone joined my Dad and I on the completely private track.

As for true Japanese hospitality, a full lunch was eaten followed by fresh, hot coffee on a real table and chairs AT A MOTOCROSS TRACK. We could not get enough of their contagious personalities, so immediately after, dinner plans were made for later that evening. It’s fantastic to discover that motorcycles really are a universal language.

To keep things short, we spent many nights dining in the best restaurants; we knew they were good because the locals were regulars haha.

Family style meals were served on long tables with no less than fifteen people. With only one dish served at a time, eating and visiting lasted as much as three hours. I loved this part so much as we were

72 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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2018-10-03 1:03 PM

S There was definitely some great scenery in Japan.

Lawrence blasts down one of the many trails.

able to hang out and chat, learn a few new words, laugh till our bellies hurt and really enjoy one another’s company. The first night, the owner of Cyclone asked if we would like to come to his motorcycle shop. I, being a full-on motorcycle enthusiast and working in the industry, was really excited to check out their location.

While visiting Cyclone, owner Homma-San and his daughter invited Dad and I to go sightseeing with him.

“Wow” we thought, “how generous of them,” however after chatting further, Homma-san decided that we should go sightseeing on street bikes! We were absolutely shocked and over the top excited. Let me remind you that they drive on the “wrong side” of the road in Japan. We could hardly wait for the next day. Is there any way to explore a country better then on a motorcycle?! – Nope!

As we were completely unprepared for this ride, they loaned us their personal gear. Big white bubble-style helmets are very popular in Japan, it was exciting to be able to wear one. The ride started as we weaved in and out of tiny roads and what felt like thousands of cars. After about 10 minutes, we stopped for breakfast where we met seven other riders! This was a complete surprise to us; everyone greeted us with so much enthusiasm. A quick bite to eat and off we went, following a map of Hokkaido and a giant squiggly line that circled a large section of the island. From what we got from hand

Test walking, road trips, late night dining at Agui’s, and just walking around the pits was so enjoyable.

As opening ceremonies approached, a man named Agui, whom I had met the previous year, had a surprise for me. Agui is basically the grandfather of H.T.D.E. and 2018 marked his 30th year of involvement. As he is older now, he just comes as support and cooks for everyone all weekend. There was food cooking 24-7. As we were chatting, Agui and many racers that were with him greeted us with a bow and introduced each other. Agui quickly ran to the back of the van and pulled out a pink and purple package. It was a beautiful yukata (traditional Japanese gown). I immediately pulled it out and tried it on with assistance to ensure I put on the right way. They even pulled out a tarp and put it on the ground so I wouldn’t get it dirty. Later that day I wore it to opening ceremonies where my speech was translated to Japanese and I was able to thank everyone as this was a complete honour.

“I was fortunate enough to ride the Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen and could hardly wait to get it up to speed on these beautiful roads.” gestures, we were about to go on a long ride! I was fortunate enough to ride the Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen and could hardly wait to get it up to speed on these beautiful roads.

The first half of the ride followed the coast line, complete with twisty roads, tunnels, breathtaking views, and the best travel companions. I was feeling so full of life; I could not take the smile off of my face! 100km/hr. in motorcycle formation with ten people along the coastline was the most perfect day.

I screamed with excitement in my helmet and dreamed of the day never coming to an end. Traveling with locals really made the trip. We stopped at many of their favourite scenic sites, all without tourists I’d like to note. We ate amazing food, raced through the hills and enjoyed every second.

There were many days that followed, with similar experiences. We were very well taken care of throughout the entire trip. It’s hard to explain how we were included, but to say the least, it was nothing short of amazing.

The race itself is a story for another day, however the interactions that I had with people left an even bigger impact on me than this extremely well organized and likely the most enjoyable race I’ve ever attended. I finished first in the HTDE alongside some extremely talented women racers from Japan. Motorcycles were our universal language during our stay in Hidaka and it was a pleasure to meet so many extremely friendly individuals that wanted to say hello.

While the whole event has a strong family feel, competition on the track was a different story. Everyone was sharing stories and eating from our lunch boxes with Beta, Yamaha, and KTM riders congregated under the Husqvarna tent and vice versa.

We were quickly taught Japanese words that would make it easy for us to communicate your typical, Hello (Kon’nichiwa), Thank you (Arigatogozaimas), etc., but my personal favourite Gambatte, the translation means to fight or to go after it. Everyone said this to each other as we would leave each check point. It was fun and everyone’s excitement knowing that I actually knew a Japanese word put a smile on my face every time.

I left Japan with an overwhelming feeling of appreciation. They are some of the most welcoming, grateful, generous people in the world. I brought many small gifts from Canada to share with everyone I had met, and apparently, they had the same idea as I nearly required another suit case to take home their many gifts. As I left to return home, it was a very emotional time as so many great friendships were made and I was not ready to leave.

If you're going to ride events like this, you have to know how to change tires on the fly.

74 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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2018-10-17 10:09 AM

YOU GOT THIS

2018 NITRO CIRCUS TOUR HEADS TO TORONTO B Y C H R I S P O M E R OY / P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F N I T R O C I R C U S

A few days before the Nitro Circus Show in Toronto, I sat down for an interview with Josh Sheehan. In case you haven’t heard of Josh, he’s the Australian FMX rider who completed the first triple back-flip on a dirt bike back in 2015. During this interview, Josh spoke very eloquently about his childhood back in Australia and how he found the sport of freestyle motocross. He also told me about the long and windy road that led to the moment he left a 25-foot high ramp at Travis Pastrana’s house to begin the three rotations needed to complete the most insane dirt bike trick we’ve seen since the days of Evel Knievel. Josh said that he was obviously very nervous about the jump, and one of the only things that got him to commit were Travis’s words of encouragement before he began his 82 km/h run at the ramp. According to Josh, Travis patted him on the back and said, “You got this.”

I

ronically, here we are three years later and that is the name of this new Nitro Circus Tour. The good news for us is that this tour includes five Canadian dates and features two of our legendary FMX stars, Kyle Demelo and Bruce Cook. Both of these BC riders are no strangers to the inherent danger of the FMX scene. Demelo is a massively talented rider from the Kelowna area who has unfortunately had his fair share of injuries in his career. As for Bruce Cook, who could forget his life altering crash at the Nitro Circus Show in Hamilton a few years ago? It was a crash that broke Bruce’s back and left him without the use of his legs. Since then, he’s refused to give in to his disability and remains a member of the Nitro Circus crew, even performing a back flip at each show during this new and exciting tour. It’s great seeing some Canadian athletes involved with this Global Enterprise that is Nitro Circus.

With shows now in almost every part of the world, the Nitro Circus tours have become something bigger than even they could imagine. I asked Kyle Demelo about what it was like to be part of this Nitro Circus show. The BC rider said, “It really feels like a childhood dream come true. Riding with this level of riders is what I’ve always wanted to do. Touring with Travis, someone who has been my idol since the beginning,

is incredible. Everyone on tour is pretty tight and it definitely feels like you’re part of a special team.”

If you have never been to a Nitro Circus show then you’re really missing out on something incredible. Regardless of your age, sex, or how much excitement you want in an evening, a Nitro Circus show has a little something for everyone. To the average eye, the stunts and tricks are breathtaking.

To us motocross people, who see extreme riding every weekend, what the Nitro Circus performers do is equally amazing. The amount of non-stop entertainment packed into two hours is really unlike any show I’ve ever seen.

Just imagine an NHL hockey game with no breaks, or a concert with all of your favourite singers belting out your favourite songs for two hours straight.

As they say in show business, you may buy your entire seat, however you only need the edge. This pretty much sums up the Nitro Circus shows.

For the Toronto show, the Nitro Circus crew was gracious enough to invite my family and I to Scotiabank Arena early for a backstage tour. During this 45-minute tour we were able to meet a few of the Nitro Circus athletes, including the famous RWilly and of course the man himself, Travis Pastrana.

Travis was great to talk with, and he explained to us some of the cool things we’d be seeing with this new show.

Travis wasn’t performing at the Toronto show as he was saving himself for the MXoN the following weekend. Travis then invited my son and his friend to climb the 92 steps to the top of the “Giganta” ramp to slide down it on a large blanket. My son instantly agreed (even though he’s scared of heights).

His mom and I looked at each other and both wondered if it was at all safe.

Then within a few moments, the three of them were five stories up waving at us. They made it back down the ramp in one piece and with a very cool story to tell for a long time. After I asked my son what Travis said to them before he let the blanket go, y son said, “He

looked at them and said, ‘You Got This!’ I get the feeling that when Travis says these words you begin to feel invincible. With a few new athletes and some new tricks to entertain the fans, the Nitro Circus crew continues to reinvent themselves. As they make their way through North America on this current tour, and then head Down Under in the winter, fans can expect the unexpected when it comes to these shows. There is something for everyone at a Nitro Circus show. As my family and I drove home from the Toronto show, those three little words seemed to stick with all of us...You Got This!.

“THE GOOD NEWS FOR US IS THAT THIS TOUR INCLUDES FIVE CANADIAN DATES AND FEATURES TWO OF OUR LEGENDARY FMX STARS, KYLE DEMELO AND BRUCE COOK.” 76 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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YOUNG PRESENTS

AND ON THE

RISE E IS R JOSH WITH

BRYAN

JOSH BRYAN IS AN EXTREMELY HARD-WORKING ONTARIO KID WHO APPEARS TO BE IMPROVING EVERY TIME HE RACES. JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO JOSH WAS A MID-PACK 85CC RIDER WHO WAS BATTLING TO KEEP THE LEADERS IN SIGHT. NOW, AFTER A LOT OF EFFORT AND HARD TRAINING, JOSH IS WINNING RACES, AND MOST RECENTLY COMPETED AT THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AMATEUR EVENT ON THE PLANET, THE LORETTA LYNN’S AMATEUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. THE FUTURE IS VERY BRIGHT FOR JOSH AND HE’S LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT 2019 HOLDS. WE CAUGHT UP WITH THIS FRIENDLY, UP AND COMING AMATEUR STAR FOR THIS MONTH’S YOUNG AND ON THE RISE. FIRST OFF JOSH, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW OLD YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CALL HOME? Hi Chris, I’m 14-years-old right now, but will be 15 on October 28th. I live in Mulmur, ON, which is located between Shelburne and Alliston.

B Y C H R I S P O M E R OY / P H O T O S B Y M X P S TA F F

CAN YOU TELL US SOMETHING COOL ABOUT YOUR HOMETOWN? Mulmur is a popular place for private dirt bike tracks. There are a lot of natural rolling hills that make it great for making jumps. Also, the Niagara Escarpment runs very close to our house so you can imagine how beautiful the area is.

THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT, THE BRUCE TRAIL, THAT AREA OF ONTARIO IS REALLY NICE. SO, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING A DIRT BIKE, JOSH? JB: I started riding dirt bikes when I was 10-years-old so I haven’t really been at it that long.

THAT’S AMAZING THAT YOU’VE PROGRESSED SO FAST. DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST RACE AND HOW YOU DID? JB: My first race was on a Kawasaki 65 in the B class on the mini track at Gopher Dunes. I finished third and fell in almost every corner. It was a memorable first race, that’s for sure.

WELL, YOU HAD TO START SOMEWHERE. DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE RIDER? JB: My favourite rider is Eli Tomac, I love his hard charging style and his work ethic.

BEING FROM ONTARIO DO ANY OF YOUR FELLOW ONTARIO RIDERS GIVE YOU ADVICE? JB: Yes, some of my friends that ride big bikes give me advice from time to time. I try to take what everyone tells me and put it into my program.

ADVICE FROM THE RIGHT PEOPLE IS NEVER A BAD THING. WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE RACING TO GO THIS YEAR, BUT SO FAR HOW HAS YOUR SEASON BEEN? I’ve had a great season so far.

I achieved my goal of qualifying for the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championship in the USA. I also finished Top 5 overall in the Supermini Class and 4th overall in the 85 12-16 class at the Walton TransCan.

YES, YOU RODE GREAT AT WALTON, EVEN IN THE MUD. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WAS YOUR BEST RACE IN 2018?

My best race was a Regional Qualifier at Muddy Creek Raceway in Tennessee in the mud. There were 42 kids on the gate, I was third around the first turn and managed to hold 3rd place until the last lap, 20 feet before the finish line I swapped out but still ended up 4th.

78 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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UNFORTUNATELY, YOU WERE INJURED RECENTLY. CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED AND HOW LONG YOU’LL BE OUT FOR? I was practicing at my friend’s house on a supercross track, getting ready for the Delaware Supercross race.

I over jumped a double, landed on the flat, went over the berm and landed on my shoulder, breaking my collarbone. The doctor said not to ride for 12 weeks, but I think I will be ready in 5-6 weeks.

YEAH, 12 WEEKS SOUNDS LIKE A LONG TIME FOR A COLLARBONE, BUT YOU SHOULD PROBABLY LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR. MOTOCROSS RACERS AND WINTER USUALLY DON’T GET ALONG. WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO IN WINTER TO STAY ACTIVE AND ENTERTAINED? JB: I like to ski and do stuff outdoors.

Sometimes I play video games but as I’m getting older I think I have to spend this winter training more.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING TO DO OTHER THAN RIDE DIRT BIKES? My other favourite sport is downhill skiing at Blue Mountain and skiing in the terrain park.

HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE YET TO GO DOWN SOUTH IN THE

“I’VE HAD A GREAT SEASON SO FAR. I ACHIEVED MY GOAL OF QUALIFYING FOR THE LORETTA LYNN’S AMATEUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE USA.” WINTER AND TRAIN. IF SO, WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TRAINING FACILITY IN THE SOUTH AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT? Yes, I’ve been very lucky and had a chance to train at Clubmx in South Carolina in the winter. It’s a really good training facility. They have 6-7 tracks, a gym, a service shop and a huge pond where you can go wakeboarding after training. I also like Taco Tuesdays at the Mexican restaurant in town.

LOOKING BACK AT YOUR RACING RESULTS, WHICH ONE ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? I am most proud of qualifying for Loretta’s, I think. Obviously, with the number of riders that are trying to get in, it’s really hard to qualify.

That, and I was really happy with how I rode at Walton this summer.

My speed and my fitness were really good.

I THINK YOU HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF JOSH. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TRACK TO RIDE? JB: Good question. There are a few tracks that stand out, actually. If I had to pick one I would say Area51 in NY. I like the dirt and the layout.

I’M SURE YOU SPEND MANY HOURS DRIVING TO RACES. WHAT IS YOUR FUNNIEST OR SCARIEST ROAD TRIP STORY? We got a flat tire on a busy interstate in Ohio and my Dad had to change the tire while the traffic was flying by. That was pretty scary, but it all worked out in the end.

WHAT GRADE ARE YOU IN AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECT? I’m in grade 10 and my favourite subject this semester is math.

MATH IS GOOD. FOR SOME REASON A LOT OF RIDERS SEEM TO LIKE MATH. WHAT ARE YOUR RACING PLANS FOR 2019?

I want to try and qualify for Loretta Lynn’s in the Supermini 1 and 2 classes. I also plan on racing our Provincial Series in Ontario and qualifying for the Walton TranCan. I don’t know, I’m sure I’ll do more races next year and hopefully everything goes well.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? I’d like to turn pro by the time I’m 17 and hope to be riding Supercross when I’m 20 years old. As we said at the beginning of this interview, I’ve progressed pretty quickly already, so hopefully I can keep learning and keep improving.

THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT JOSH. FINAL QUESTION, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO THANK? I want to thank my Mom and Dad, FXR Racing, MCR, all my friends and family, everyone at ClubMX, and you Chris for your training, advice, and support.

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 79

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MENTAL SIDE

BY SEAN POITRAS • PHOTO BY JAMES LISSMORE

W

hat most may not realize is that coaches have a stronger impact on the cognitive development of their athletes than they do on the physical. This development can be summarized by looking at four crucial components: Leadership, communication, motivation and attitude.

LEADERSHIP There is an obvious connection between coaching and leadership. Providing guidance, structure and discipline are examples of some of the responsibilities many coaches and leaders must adhere to. However, there is a component of coaching that should not only provide leadership but also inspire it amongst the group members. We call this style of leadership transformational. The aim is to facilitate leadership qualities and transform followers into leaders, creating

Coaching For Success

Championship performances are not always the product of a single athlete’s or even team’s efforts. Those behind the scenes can be instrumental in the preparation and development of the physical, technical and mental performance of their athletes. I am of course referring to the coaches and trainers who are on the front line working hard each day to help each individual and team reach and exceed their performance potential. Coaching is a truly important aspect of most sports and is quickly becoming a large part of the growth development of motocross athletes of all ages and competitive levels. opportunities and experiences that encourage individuals to flex their leadership muscles and practice these skills the same way they may practice the physical and technical skills in their sport. This style of leadership helps to strengthen two very different cognitive skillsets, independence and interdependence. There is a reliance on our own independent ability to organize and coordinate our ideas and intentions. It is also necessary to rely on and have trust in the efforts and abilities of our team members and support systems. There is a fine balance between these two factors, and recognizing this balance is what makes an effective leader.

COMMUNICATION Communication is a necessary tool for any successful group dynamic. How we speak to a group or individual and

“COACHES ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKED AT FOR MOTIVATION. SOME CAN DO A GREAT JOB OF SAYING THE RIGHT THINGS OR CREATING A SENSE OF DRIVE IN THEIR ATHLETES.

what we say is crucial to the success of the entire process. The primary focus for coaches is to be aware of the language used when addressing the team or individual. The content should maintain a positive action-oriented consistency.

When providing instruction, it is to inform them of what they should have done rather than what they shouldn’t do. Far too often I listen to coaches eager to point out the negative aspects they have observed with the intention of fixing it.

This is a unique style of communication that I tend to see most in two facets of competitive performances. The first is with coaches, and the second facet of performance that I see with this type of language is our own self-talk. In every other road of life, we seldom communicate by expressing what we do not want. Coaches should be aware of this phenomenon and do their very best to maintain a positive action-oriented approach to communication. The second part to building effective communication within a group or with an individual can be summed up in one word… Listen.

MOTIVATION Coaches are constantly looked at for motivation. Some can do a great job of saying the right things or creating a sense of drive in their athletes. For this example, we will be looking more at the latter. It is the coach’s job to inspire a desire to learn, develop and compete.

This can be achieved through several very different and creative measures, however many of them will have a common theme

involved; a learning approach that is challenging, thought provoking and rewarding. These three ingredients are a part of the recipe for a more intrinsically motivated team or individual.

ATTITUDE It is my belief that one of the most important factors behind every great coach or leader is the attitude they bring to every practice, training session, competition, race, game, performance, etc.

Your attitude is ultimately the only tool you can work with that is entirely in your control. When I refer to attitude, I am referring to three components. How you as a coach choose to respond or react to both positive and negative situations with team members or individuals, and the consistency of your effort, intensity and passion from day to day. Finally, the ego and personal connection to the performance of the team or individual and how you see it reflects on you as a coach. We are always in control of these three pillars of our coaching attitude. Awareness and control of these factors can lead to an overall increase in the leadership experience you can provide.

Work towards understanding how these four concepts apply to your unique coaching style, and at the very least becoming more aware of how they each are helping or hindering your current approach to leadership. These concepts have been found to facilitate existing coaching skill sets, and can lead to a stronger rapport with group members or individuals alike.

20 8 8 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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THE INSIDE LINE

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Canadian Pride

I

f you were lucky enough to attend Red Bud this past weekend you are probably still cleaning your boots or your car or both, and possibly suffering from somewhat of a headache. Probably a good thing that Monday was a holiday here in Canada for those weary Canadian fans heading back home. I wasn’t able to go as I had another event I had verbally committed to 6 months prior. Was I upset that I was not going to Red Bud? Well, I was until I heard that 60,000+ fans were going to make their way to that race. The closer we got to the date the more I heard that it was going to be a mudder! Man, that sucks! I attended the MXdN at Unadilla back in 1987 when team USA smoked the world. That was one unreal event I will never forget, and just so happened, it was super muddy too. The factory teams worked out of box vans in those days. I remember watching the Factory Suzuki box van pulling into the pit area and park right in the mud. The mechanic set up a weird looking awning and then pulled out the factory RM125 for Bob Hannah and parked it on a box in the middle of a mud hole. No factory semi trucks back then. How times have changed!

The only thing that has changed, in my opinion, is the riders’ devotion.

You hear every year that riders turn down the chance to represent their country. I know there is a ton of pressure to win that event if you’re an American today. The event at Red Bud was kind of a head start for the US team. The US riders have riddent there for many years, and this past national was a bit of a mudder too.

What could possibly go wrong? They had Tomac, Barcia and Plessinger.

Quite possibly the best three riders to have for the event. Tomac just won the outdoor championship. Barcia is on fire and is one heck of a good mud rider too. Plessinger hands down is the best the US has today. What went wrong? The million-dollar question, “What happened?”

The three US riders rode well and they had some good results. Plessinger was really the one off the pace on Sunday. The word was he hurt his shoulder on Saturday’s qualifier. With an 18-19 you’re not going to be on the

“GREAT JOB BY THE TEAM TO FINISH ELEVENTH OVERALL. I CAN’T REMEMBER SEEING THAT MANY CANADIAN FLAGS AT A RACE IN A LONG TIME.” podium. It’s too bad it rained. I think that really helped the European riders. These GP guys are the real deal. If you watch the GPs you know they race in all different conditions, from super hard pack to the sandiest track on the planet. I think it’s going to be a while until we see the red white and blue back on the box. I really don’t think the US should even send a team to the Netherlands next year as the track is inside a stadium where they truck in 1000 loads of beach sand. The only way I would send a team over is if you can get John Dowd, Ricky Carmichael and Bubba back out of retirement.

The euro riders will be on a different playing field as they say.

Shifting things over to the Team Canada camp, we had the team that could easily finish top ten but when bikes blow up and riders get hurt during qualifying your results will suffer. Jess Pettis put in a great ride for his first ever MXON. I am sure he could hear the fans yelling and cheering every lap. Colton is one tough dude. We know he was in major pain but he still went out and did his best. Tyler was asked to

replace the injured Benoit at the last minute; I think that was a good call.

Tyler has looked great this year at the Canadian nationals. Great job by the team to finish eleventh overall.

I can’t remember seeing that many Canadian flags at a race in a long time. These were true hardcore fans.

I know the US fans were disappointed but by the fifth beer all their problems were behind them. I saw quite a few videos on social media where there were grown men sliding head first down the muddy hills into a dark brown pond. One super cool highlight was team Puerto Rico.

They had three true American riders competing for the fans and more importantly for the Puerto Rico hurricane relief effort. Kevin Windham looked awesome on his Honda 450.

Teammate and showman Travis Pastrana pulled out his Suzuki RM250 two-stroke for this special event.

Ryan Sipes was their third rider on his Husky 250. The team on paper looked great if we were back in say 2007 or so. Believe it or not the team transferred from the B final win on Sunday morning to the A main event.

I bet Windham was thinking, “Are you kidding me? Two more full-on motos in this wet condition?!” I bet Travis didn’t care and Ryan was probably looking forward to it. I think the backflip Travis attempted was what the American fans needed on a crappy day at Red Bud. Fans will remember this one for a long time.

For the fifth consecutive year the Chamberlain Trophy was awarded to France with riders Paulin, Ferrandis and Tixier putting on another consistent ride at Red Bud. Congratulations go out to the French team.

Even without Marvin they were still able to take the win. Italy was a really close second and the team I thought would have won the event was team Netherlands. You have to give it up for Herlings and his teammate Glenn Coldenhoff. They completely dominated the weekend with wins. Their Lites rider, Calvin Viaanderen, was the weak link for the team. If these three riders are healthy next year, watch out. Next year’s event will be held in Assen, Netherlands and looks like we will then head back to France for 2020.

82 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM

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