2017 CMRC2 Program

2017 OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAM

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ATTENTION ALL MOTO FANS!

his year will mark the 25th Anniversary of the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan. The series started off in 1993 with a single national event where the legendary Ross “Rollerball” Pederson took the win, expanded into four events, limited to Ontario and Quebec, then in 1997 expanded west in BC and Alberta.

Over the years, the CMRC Nationals grew in the number of rounds, the level of talent that came from all corners of the world, the television coverage and exposure worldwide, and the number of fans that came out to witness the best motocross racing the country had to offer.

What you will be witnessing could very well be the best ever. There is a very good chance the racing will be the closest and most competitive in both the MX1 and MX2 classes, because there seems to be more parity in each class. In the MX1 class, a good six riders could win a race. We won’t have last year’s champion, Davi Millsaps, back to try to reclaim his title so the number one plate is up for grabs. We have multiple National Champions competing in the class including Colton Facciotti, Matt Goerke, Kaven Benoit, and Tyler Medaglia, but they will have their hands full with the popular and blazing fast American Mike Alessi, as well the World Champion from France, who is new to the series, Christophe Pourcel. Every one of them has their sight set at the top, but they know consistency will win them a title and it will be a grind right down to the last wave of the checkers.

The 2016 MX2 Champion, Cole Thompson, seemed to dominate last year but I don’t think he’ll have as easy a go this time around. Jacob Hayes from North Carolina will be at the front giving him a hard time, but there are a number of Canadian boys, like Dylan Wright and Jess Pettis, that have matured in the sport and might just surprise a lot of people with their newfound speed. One can never tell but that’s what makes the summer of racing so attractive. From the perspective of people that follow the series, we just want the racing to be close with no runaways in either class. This could be the year we see just that.

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MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE FOR SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES CALL SUBSCRIPTIONS: 416-635-MXP1 PUBLISHER: Charles Stancer/Mark Stallybrass V.P. OF SALES AND MARKETING: Charles Stancer EDITOR: Chris Pomeroy SALES MANAGER: Al Jaggard SENIOR WRITERS: Brian Koster, Andy White, Mike McGill STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: James Lissimore SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR: Blake Breton

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Brent Worrall, James Lissimore, Drew Robertson, Brian Koster, Leticia Cline, Matt Wellumson, Mike Alessi CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Randy Wiebe, David Pinkman, Clayton Racicot, James Lissimore, Steve Dutcheshen, Frank Hoppen, Bill Petro, Matt Wellumson, Dan Stenning, Tyler Spikman COVER PHOTO: James Lissimore

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

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‘17 The behind the scenes work to make it easier for you to follow the series has taken another step forward. At the top of the list, the MX1 class will be broadcast on TSN throughout July and August with ten half hour shows that will recap the racing from each round, and the MX2 class will be aired on Fox Sports Racing with ten half hour programs as well. For fans in Quebec, RDS2 will have the MX1 class on their network, so from coast to coast you’ll be able to enjoy the racing in the comforts of home.

Each round will be available via live streaming video with over five hours of coverage per race. Just download the Conx2share app, look for the CMRC Racing group, and enjoy the commentary by the most entertaining duo, Brian Koster and Marc Travers. Our Facebook page (/CMRCMX) is one of the best in the motocross world, regular updates will be found on Instagram (/CMRCMX) and Twitter (@cmrcracing), live timing will continue (mobile.cmrcracing.com), plus our website (www.mxnationals.ca) will have race reports, results, and series standings updated every week. We’ve got it covered so it will be simple to track what’s going on from the first gate drop in Kamloops to the final checkered flag in Barrie.

The number of staff that make the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan run like clockwork keeps growing every year. Each and every one of them is the best in the business at what they do and their dedication to their job has never been matched. Our staff, the teams and riders, manufacturers and sponsors, and you the fans are the reason why the series continues to grow and improve each and every year. Follow along to see who lands on the box and who will be raising the number one plate when it all winds down in August.

I would like to thank everyone involved in the series and you the fans that make the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals one of the most prestigious motocross championships in the world.

Mark Stallybrass CMRC/ SPI President

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‘17 ROCKSTAR PERFORMANCE Photo by James Lissimore

Matt Goerke put on quite a show during the first four rounds of the 2017 MX1 Series.

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‘17 2017 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MOTOCROSS NATIONALS – SERIES SCHEDULE

SERIES CHANGES FOR 2017 The Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented

by Motovan, sanctioned by CMRC, is entering its 25th year and it gets bigger and better every year. Our motto from the beginning is “Change for the Better” and that’s exactly what we’ve done…again.

Last season the series returned to popular tracks in Pleasant Valley Motorsport Park in Truro, Nova Scotia, and RJ Motosport Park in Barrie, Ontario. The mandate for each round is location, location, location. The Truro and Barrie rounds moved us closer to major centers, which attracted even more spectators to the series, and are outstanding, national caliber venues with tracks that provided some incredible racing in 2016. This summer, the series will venture to a new location in beautiful Prince George, BC for Round 2 of the tour.

With Prince George being a vibrant motorsports town, this new event will be an incredible success and a great addition to the series.

More exciting news this year is the return of Live Streaming Video through our partner Conx2share.

Download their app on your mobile phone or visit their website (www. conx2share.com) to view live televised coverage of each round of the series. The best motocross announcers in the business, Brian Koster and Marc Travers, will host

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each show along with a special guest to give you live, lap by lap coverage that you won’t want to miss. There’s nothing like watching the Pro Nationals live, but if you can’t make it or want to follow what’s going on in another province, download the app and get ready for a great show.

Not only will Canadians have the opportunity to follow every lap, now the world will be tuning in to see what the excitement is all about. Another way to follow the action on your mobile phone is to watch our live lap times at mobile.cmrcracing.com.

Our social media following is continuing to go through the roof!

The national series Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CMRCMX) has over 240,000 followers and keeps growing by the day. You can also follow us on Instagram – www. instagram.com/CMRCMX - as well as Twitter – cmrcracing. Add that to our dedicated website to the nationals, www.mxnationals.ca, and there’s no way you won’t be able to follow the series from start to finish.

The biggest news we have in the TV world is every round of the MX1 class will be broadcast on TSN, with half hour shows summarizing each round of the premier class. For the MX2 coverage, half hour shows will air on Fox Sports Racing throughout the country. For fans in Quebec, each round of the MX1 series will be repackaged into French and will be available on RDS2. Wait, we’re not done! The series is also available in

the United States, with both the MX1 and MX2 classes found on MAVTV. It’s the best television package we’ve secured in many years, so we hope you will love the racing action we catch and be completely entertained.

Rockstar Energy Drink continues to be our valued title sponsor and Motovan Corporation our presenter, and Motovan has added one new partner, Blade Barz, to the many OEMs that have participated with the series for many years: Dunlop, Motul, EBC Brakes, Scott Goggles, Zox Helmets, Pro Circuit, TCX Boots, Bolt, All Balls Bearings. FXR, Canada’s homegrown motocross and snowmobile apparel producer, continues to support the series as has Royal Distributing, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, KTM and Marin Bikes. Without our sponsors we wouldn’t be able to continue taking steps forward to give you the best, all-round package we can. And if you don’t have a subscription yet, be sure to pick up a copy of MXP Magazine (www.mxpmag.com), Canada’s number one source for motocross and off-road racing news. New events, a new all-star line-up of riders, live streaming video, improved social media offerings, and the best televised motocross coverage you can find, the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented

by Motovan continues to lead the way to make Canadian motocross enthusiasts proud.

SUNDAY, JUNE 4 Whispering Pines Raceway, Kamloops, British Columbia

SUNDAY, JUNE 11 Blackwater MX Track, Prince George, British Columbia

SUNDAY, JUNE 18 Wild Rose MX Park, Calgary, Alberta

SUNDAY, JUNE 25 Moto Valley Raceway, Regina, Saskatchewan

SUNDAY, JULY 9 Gopher Dunes, Courtland, Ontario

SUNDAY, JULY 16 Motocross Bon-Conseli Notre-Dame-du-BonCeseil, Quebec

SUNDAY, JULY 23 Pleasant Valley Motorsport Park, Truro, Nova Scotia

SUNDAY, JULY 30 Riverglade MX Park, Moncton, New Brunswick

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6 Motocross Deschambault, Deschambault, Quebec

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 RJ Motosport Park, Barrie, Ontario

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‘17 LIVE STREAMING VIDEO COVERAGE OF NATIONALS THROUGH CONX2SHARE Our partnership with Conx2share will allow us to continue offering FREE live streaming video coverage of each round of the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan. By downloading the Conx2share app, you can see the remaining six rounds of the national series on your mobile phone. This also automatically registers you as a member of Conx2share with access to view the races on your computer. Just log in on their website – www.conx2share.com and look for the CMRC Racing group.

For each round, the live streaming video coverage on Conx2share will tentatively begin at 11:45am local time with the gate dropping at 12:10pm. You will now be able to watch the racing as it unfolds. New for 2017, Marc Travers will join Brian Koster to announce the race for the streaming coverage. Podium and pre and post-race interviews will give you up-to-the minute coverage of each round.

The best part is it’s free! All you have to do is download the Conx2share app on your mobile phone. Once downloaded from the App or Google Play store the app will open on the “Discover” tab on the menu. Tap “Groups” to search for “CMRC Racing” and follow us. This will be the platform to view the live streaming coverage throughout the summer. You will receive notifications on your phone when the live stream begins. Missed the race live? Not a problem, each respective event will be archived the following week on the app.

We’ve taken steps to make the live streaming video coverage even more entertaining, from start to finish, plus Conx2share has developed their app to make it more user friendly. Not only will this allow Canadians to follow each lap of each race, motocross fans worldwide can now watch what the excitement is all about at Canada’s pro motocross series.

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12:00pm

MX2 Hot Lap

8:35am

MX1 Pro Practice- Group 1

12:10pm

MX2 Moto #1

8:52am

MX1 Pro Practice - Group 2

12:45pm

Track Maintenance

9:10am

Track Maintenance

1:10pm

MX1 Pro Hot Lap

9:20am

MX2 Pro Timed Qualifier - Group 1

1:20pm

MX1 Pro Moto #1

9:40am

MX2 Pro Timed Qualifier – Group 2

2:00pm

Track Maintenance

10:00am

MX1 Pro Timed Qualifier – Group 1

2:30pm

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11:05am

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FAN GUIDE

WHAT ARE THE CLASSES?

The 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan are split into two classes; MX1 Pro and MX2 ProAm. The MX1 Pro class competes on the bigger 450cc machines; this class consists of riders that are considered to be the premier riders in the series. In this class, you will find riders like Kaven Benoit, Colton Facciotti, Matt Goerke, Mike Alessi and Tyler Medaglia. The MX1 Pro class motos are 30 minutes plus 2 laps in length.

The MX2 ProAm class competes on the smaller 250F (four-stroke) or 250 two-stroke machines. These riders are generally younger and less experienced than the MX1 Pro riders, although there are exceptions. The MX2 ProAm motos are a little shorter at only 25 minutes plus 2 laps, but given the lesser experience of these riders, the racing is quite intense and a little more unpredictable.

WHAT BRAND OF BIKES DO THESE RIDERS RACE?

There are six main brands of motocross bikes — Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, KTM,

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Husqvarna and Suzuki. Even though a sponsor may dictate the colour of a rider’s bike, the general rule is that Kawasakis are green, Hondas are red, Yamahas are blue, KTMs are orange, Husqvarnas are white and Suzukis are yellow. Although there might be a few subtle differences between the bikes, they are all very similar in power and performance. They all use a five-speed transmission, the clutch is always located on the left side of the handlebars, the front brake is on the right, the rear brake pedal is located by their right foot and the gear shifter is by their left foot. They all use a kick starter with the exception of KTM and Husqvarna, which have electric start.

WHY DO THE NUMBER PLATES HAVE DIFFERENT COLOURS?

This determines what class you’re riding. The MX1 Pro class uses black numbers on white backgrounds and the MX2 ProAm class uses white numbers on a black background.

Occasionally you will see bikes that have black numbers on yellow backgrounds in the MX2 ProAm class. These riders normally

compete in the amateur Intermediate class but are allowed to try to qualify for the MX2 ProAm class. A rider with a white number on a red background is the series leader in their respective class. All these colours make it very easy for the lap scorers and the fans to distinguish the class in which the riders race.

WHAT DOES THE BIG 30 SECOND BOARD ON THE STARTING LINE MEAN? This is how a motocross race begins. After the riders are given a parade lap to inspect the track, they return back to the starting gates.

The starting line official pans the line to see if the riders and their machines are ready to go.

This is a rider’s last chance to delay the start.

Once all riders are ready, the official hands the board over to the 30 second girl, who holds up it up for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds she flips the board to display the 5 second board,

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the top 100 the previous year can choose any three digit number on a first-come first-serve basis.

HOW DO THE RIDERS CHOOSE THEIR STARTING GATE?

then after 5 seconds she turns the board sideways.

At this point the gate will fall within the next 5 seconds. This may sound complicated but for these experienced riders it is all pretty simple.

WHAT DO ALL THE FLAGS MEAN?

The officials use a series of flags to indicate to the riders the different situations that may arise during a race.

The green flag, displayed at the finish line at the end of the first lap, means that the track is clear and the race is a go. However, if the red flag is waved, this means there has been an accident that needs the attention of all the officials and ambulance personnel, and the race will be stopped.

If the red flag is given past the halfway point of a moto, the race will be declared complete and the riders will be scored as they were when the red flag was displayed.

The yellow flag is a caution flag, which lets the

rider know that there is a rider down ahead. A red cross flag means that not only is a rider down but that the rider requires medical attention. When a rider sees a red cross flag they know that there is medical staff on the track and they have to use extreme caution; they are not allowed to have their wheels leave the ground over a jump. The white flag is given at the finish line indicating that the race has one lap remaining. A black flag means either the rider has done something wrong and the referee wants to see him, or there is something hanging off of his bike that is dangerous. The checkered flag means the race is over. With the long, tiring motos that these riders have to endure, this is a welcomed sight.

DO THE RIDERS CHOOSE THEIR NUMBERS?

The numbers from 1 to 99 are assigned to riders based on their overall points from the previous year.

Newcomers to the series and those finishing outside

For each round of the series, the gate pick for the opening moto is given by the order in which the rider qualified the morning of the race. Each rider has a transponder attached to their bike to time their laps. In the morning of the race a timed qualifying session is held and the rider with the fastest lap time from that session gets the first pick on the gate, and the remaining riders then choose according to their qualifying lap time. For the second moto of the day, gate pick is determined by how the rider finished in the first moto. This is a very fair way of staging riders as it rewards them for their first moto performance.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A RIDER GETS THE HOLESHOT?

The holeshot goes to the rider that reaches the marked holeshot line past the first turn after the start. This brave, crafty rider gets the prestigious job of leading the pack around the track for as long as he can hold the position, plus he receives the Royal Distributing Holeshot Award. In the MX1 Pro class, the rider is rewarded $300 for the holeshot, and $200 in the MX2 ProAm class. If that same rider gets the holeshot in the second moto then he wins the Royal Distributing Triple Crown Holeshot Award and doubles his money. For instance, in the MX1 Pro class, they would earn $300 per holeshot plus a $600 bonus.

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EASTERN TRACK PREVIEWS ROUND 5

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Courtland, ON Gopher Dunes Raceway July 8/9, 2017

Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, QC Motocross Bon-Conseil July 15/16, 2017

ROUND 6

ROUND 7

When you arrive in the morning the track is unnaturally smooth and tame, inviting even. However, the track is much like a wolf in sheep’s clothing as by the end of practice the flat sand turns into large rolling whoops that keep getting deeper and deeper, leaving riders feeling exhausted both physically and mentally.

The round at Gopher Dunes falls in the heat of summer in Ontario when the temperature and humidity are usually high. Mixed with a brutally rough track, riders are tested to their limits. It’s breathtaking to watch riders still charging in the final laps, and for the pure enthusiast who understands the demands of motocross, you cannot help but give a nod of respect to each rider on the track. It’s been a very wet spring in Ontario, so the Gopher Dunes track will be soft, rough, and rutted.

Just like Round 2 in Prince George, the MX Bon-Conseil track represents a new stop for this 25year-old series. Anytime a series makes a trip to a new track, there is always a lot of excitement surrounding a new venue.

The track in Notre-Dame-du-BonConseil is located just on the outskirts of Drummonville, and with its sandy and technical design, the racing should be superb. Whenever this series travels to Quebec it is always well received with large and very vocal crowds. Round 7 should be no different as fans will be very excited to watch hometown riders Kaven Benoit and Tim Tremblay battle in the MX1 class. With its urban location and cool layout, this could be one of the most entertaining rounds on the series.

Everyone in Canadian motocross was extremely happy that this track returned last year to the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals after a 14-year hiatus. The Pleasant Valley circuit is nestled in the rolling hills near Truro, NS, and it will definitely present the riders with a very unique battleground for Round 7. This race marks the first of two back-to-back stops on the East Coast, and both are sure to be exciting.

Last year, we saw eventual MX1 series champion Davi Millsaps simply dominate on this slippery track. This year the racing will be even more exciting as the 2017 series boasts a talented lineup of riders from all corners of the globe. So, sit back and enjoy the racing on one of this country’s best tracks while you enjoy a little east coast hospitality.

Truro, NS Pleasant Valley Raceway July 22/23, 2017

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ROUND 8

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Moncton, NB Riverglade MX Park July 29/30, 2017

Deschambault, QC Motocross Deschambault August 5/6, 2017

ROUND 9

ROUND 10

For decades, the Moncton National has been one of the favourite stops of the series.

The welcome riders and teams get on this East Coast stop is what makes this event so special. Riverglade MX Park, which sits just 30 minutes from Moncton’s city center, is a track full of history as it has hosted Canadian Motocross Nationals longer than any other track in the country.

The track weaves around the property and is usually lined with shirt-waving fans. There are a few unique sections on the Riverglade circuit that help make it an absolute fan favourite. Whether it’s the 100km/hr main straightaway that runs parallel to the TransCanada Highway or the massive “Klatt-APult” jump, there is always something cool to watch. With this round now being the second in the Maritimes, it will be sure to attract fans from all over.

Round 9 of the series travels to Quebec and the well-liked Deschambault circuit. The track is full of large rolling hills, deep sand and of course passionate Quebec motocross fans. As the legend JSR can attest to, hometown heroes are a-plenty in Quebec.

For many years, thousands of motocross fans would do whatever they had to do to be at the Quebec round to personally cheer on Jean Sebastian Roy. These days they will be cheering for the likes of Kaven Benoit and Tim Tremblay as they race in front of their hometown fans.

Located 30 minutes west of Quebec City, the Deschambault facility hopes to build on the success of the last two years with a few track improvements and property updates to help accommodate the mass of spectators that plan to attend. This weekend will also host the CMRC ECAN (Eastern Canadian Amateur Nationals), which will run from Thursday to Saturday.

With a great track and a terrific facility, this is one event that you don’t want to miss.

Once again for 2017, the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will wrap up at the rough and extremely challenging RJ Motosport Park circuit located just north of Barrie, ON. This track will give the riders a tough track for their final two motos of the 2017 season when anything is possible. Last season, fans were able to watch KTM riders Cole Thompson and Davi Millsaps hoist their #1 plate as they were crowned champions.

This Ontario track has a lot of history associated with it as it used to hold National races during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

During those years, we watched Canadian legends like Blair Morgan and Marco Dubé battle on its sandy terrain. RJ’s is not only a rider favourite but it’s also a fan’s dream as the track is littered with massive jumps and high-speed corners. Fans can also get very close to the action as the spectator viewing is unreal. This circuit provided some incredible racing last year, and 2017 should be no different.

Barrie, ON RJ Motosport Park August 12/13, 2017

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28/06/2017 6:37:54 PM 2017-06-29 10:27 AM

HOW IT ALL BEGAN! as it been twenty-five years since the first CMRC Pro National Motocross Series race took place?

Apparently, it has. That’s what they tell me anyways. That’s really kind of amusing to me, as personally, I still think of the CMRC Nationals as the NEW series in Canadian motocross, but I guess all that does is tell me that I’m getting old. The year was 1993, the grunge scene was in its heyday, Kim Campbell became Canada’s first female prime minister, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup and the average cost of gasoline in Canada was 58.4 cents/litre. I guess when you look at it that way it does seem like a long time ago. The location for the inaugural event was the iconic Walton Raceway in the heart of Southwestern, Ontario. It was just a one day event at that time and, after a storied career that spanned the better part of three decades, that race just so happened to be the swan song for Canada’s greatest

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ever motocross racer, Ross “Rollerball” Pederson. Pederson, as he had done so many times before, swept the pro classes one last time and then retired. It was the start of something big, however, and the series has grown through the years to unprecedented levels in this country.

While the series has undergone a few growing pains and makeovers along the way, throughout the years many feel that last season’s version of the Nationals was quite possibly the best ever. There really can be no doubt now that the once fledgling series has finally come into its own and is now one of the premiere and most coveted National Motocross Championships in the world.

The CMRC National Series was the brain child of Mark Stallybrass whose official title these days is President of the CMRC. Back in the early ‘90s, however, it would have been more like “Jackof-all-Trades” as Stallybrass, almost singlehandedly, brought the sport back to a healthy level after a crippling economic

recession and years of mismanagement on the part of the old sanctioning body, the CMA, had pretty much wiped out the competition side of the sport in many parts of the country, specifically in Ontario. Stallybrass, a graduate from the Business Administration program at Seneca College, and avid motocross racer in his own right, decided he wanted to put his hard-earned degree to use within the motorcycle industry. An opportunity arose and in 1987, at the age of twentythree, he landed a job with Yamaha Motor Canada in their Parts and Accessories Department, then nine months later moved up to the Marketing Department.

He soon found himself in charge of the struggling motocross program and developed several innovative concepts and programs that allowed Yamaha riders in Canada to receive some much-needed support.

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Of course, nothing great happens overnight. In ’93, the CMRC Nationals consisted of just one event, which took place in conjunction with the Amateur National Championships, which Stallybrass copromoted with the Lee family in August at Walton Raceway. As mentioned previously, Ross Pederson took the honours in ’93, then the series expanded to four races in ’94, with two in Ontario and two in Quebec. The series and CMRC were starting to gain some traction within the industry in general as manufacturers and teams began to slowly support Stallybrass’ vision. Fortunately, the CMRC did make it through those rough, early days, however, and by 1995 the designation of a National Championship Series could accurately be applied for the first time.

The series was dominated by a trio of French Canadian riders that season as a fresh-faced youngster by the name of Jean Sebastien Roy won the first of his many CMRC National Championships that year, taking the honours in the 125 class, even though he didn’t race every round. Veteran Carl Vaillancourt clinched the final title of his illustrious career at the season finale in the 250 class after an epic duel with long-time Ontario privateer Marty Burr, who pulled off a legendary performance at the season finale where he swept the pro classes, winning all four motos on the day. Interestingly enough, the runner-up that season in the 250 class was another French-Canadian racer. Hailing from Rivière-du-Loup and riding a Suzuki for the Morgan Racing Team that year was a rookie pro named Marco Dube. A name most enthusiasts would of course recognize as Marco would go on to have a long and successful career in Canadian motocross. While 1996 did not offer any more in terms of rounds, it was a “turning point year for the series” according to Stallybrass. “The economy was starting to bounce back a bit and that was the year that the manufacturers really started getting involved with the CMRC Nationals.”

As the 1990s came to an end and the new millennium was upon us, the CMRC Nationals took an even bigger step in 2000. Thanks, in part, to the increased support from the Canadian based motorcycle manufacturers, as well as new title sponsor Export “A”, the series began to draw much larger teams and more riders from outside of Canada. There was also a format change where the MX1 class was now considered to be the premier class with longer motos and a deeper field.

For the first time in Canadian motocross history, riders were not required to race both the MX1 and the MX2 classes to determine their overall series ranking. The year 2000 was definitely another ground-breaking year in the series as fans from across the globe watched legendary American racer Doug

‘17 Dubach win his one and only pro outdoor national title in Canada.

From there, the series continued to grow throughout the 2000s as Canadian fans were elated to watch one of their own, Jean Sebastien Roy, dominate the series for five straight seasons. His winning run from 2001-2005 was something that no one has been able to do since. Just as the economy and the entire action sport world did in those years, the CMRC Pro Nationals was like a runaway freight train growing in popularity.

With major sponsorship from energy drink companies like Monster and now Rockstar Energy Drinks, the current Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals is recognized as one of the top action sport series on the planet. With ten rounds of exciting racing right across Canada, fans in every part of this great country can watch their favourite riders compete. With another talented lineup of riders in 2017, this season will be one for the record books.

So, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 25 years of this incredible series. What will the next 25 years hold in Canadian National Motocross? Only time will tell, and the future is always unpredictable. However, one thing that we do know is that the gate will drop on the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals in Kamloops, BC with a line up of some of the best riders in the world.

The CMRC Canadian Pro MX Nationals has come so far in the past quarter century, but as Walt Disney once said, “This is only the beginning.”

MARCO DUBE WAS ONE OF THE FASTEST AND MOST STYLISH RIDERS FROM THE ‘90S.

IN 1997, THE MOST POPULAR TEAM IN CANADA WAS THE MACHINE RACING HONDA TEAM, AND THEY HAD THE BESTLOOKING BIKES TO PROVE IT.

THE FINAL START OF THE ‘90S DECADE DIVES INTO THE FIRST TURN. AFTER BUILDING A TON OF MOMENTUM THROUGHOUT THE 1990S, THE CMRC NATIONAL SERIES WAS READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.

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SPONSORS: ROCKSTAR ENERGY, OTSFF, YAMAHA, BLU CRU, FLY RACING, BELL HELMETS , MOTUL, PIRELLI

ROCKSTAR ENERGY OTSFF YAMAHA BLU CRU TEAM MANAGER: STEVE SIMMS RIDERS: MATT GOERKE - #1 MX1 TIM TREMBLAY - #38 MX1

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TEAM PROFILES

HONDA CANADA GDR FOX RACING TEAM

TEAM MANAGER: DEREK SCHUSTER RIDERS: COLTON FACCIOTTI - #10 MX1 DYLAN WRIGHT - #14 MX2

SPONSORS: HONDA CANADA, FOX, THE HUMBERVIEW GROUP, OAKLEY, ATLAS BRACE, MARIN BIKES

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TEAM PROFILES

SPONSORS: MONSTER ENERGY, ALPINESTARS, PARTS CANADA, PRO CIRCUIT, KAWASAKI

MONSTER ENERGY ALPINESTARS KAWASAKI TEAM MANAGER: JASON HUGHES RIDERS: MIKE ALESSI - #5 MX1 JACOB HAYES - #100 MX2

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KTM THOR RACING TEAM TEAM MANAGER: JEAN SEBASTIEN ROY RIDERS: KAVEN BENOIT - #3 MX1 COLE THOMPSON - #1 MX2 TANNER WARD - #184 MX2

SPONSORS: THOR, PARTS CANADA, DUNLOP, MOTOREX, FACTORY CONNECTION

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TEAM PROFILES

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ROYAL DISTRIBUTING/ MOTOVAN/ PILLER’S RACING PRESENTED BY HUBER MOTORSPORTS TEAM MANAGER: ADAM ROBINSON

RIDERS: TYLER MEDAGLIA - #6 MX1 KYLE CHISHOLM - #111 MX1 NATHAN BLES - #77 MX1

SPONSORS: ZOX, SHOT, TCX, DUNLOP, FMF, MARIN BIKES, LIQUI-MOLY

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The Royal Distributing, Motovan and Piller’s race team, by Huber Motorsports, would like to thank all of our amazing sponsors!

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TEAM PROFILES

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GP BIKES REDEMPTION RACING TEAM

SPONSORS: GP BIKES, KTM CANADA, JEFFERY HOMES, BOOT TRUCKING, WESTWOOD’S CONTRACTING, MANALCO CONTRACTING, ALL WEATHER WINDOWS

TEAM MANAGER: JOSH SNIDER RIDERS: CADE CLASON - #7 MX1 JOSH OSBY - #787 MX2 ERIC JEFFERY - #32 MX2 ALEX JEFFERY - #48 MX2

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TEAM PROFILES

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ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA TEAM MANAGER: BOBBY HEWITT

RIDERS: CHRISTOPHE POURCEL - #377 MX1

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SPONSORS: MX101, FXR RACING, YAMAHA

MX101/ FXR RACING/ YAMAHA TEAM MANAGER: KEVIN TYLER RIDERS: JESS PETTIS - #16 MX2 SHAWN MAFFENBEIER - #12 MX2 HAYDEN HALSTEAD - #19 MX2 C A N A D I A N M O T O S P O R T R A C I N G C O R P.

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2017 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MOTOCROSS NATIONALS MX1 PREVIEW WORDS BY RYAN LOCKHART

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PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

n the months leading up to the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented

by Motovan, fans and media alike were very excited at the thought of the MX1 class this summer. With riders like Colton Facciotti, Dillan Epstein, Matt Goerke and new addition Christophe Pourcel on the starting line at Round 1, there were at least six riders capable of winning. From Kamloops to Regina, these MX1 riders were tested as they never have been before in the opening four rounds.

Unfortunately, the MX1 series lost one of its title favourites, Kaven Benoit, just after Round 1 with an ankle injury. Benoit hopes to be back for the eastern rounds where he will be very fast on these difficult tracks. With riders like Benoit, Facciotti, Alessi and Epstein all playing catch up in the points standings, up front Matt Goerke and Christophe Pourcel have been waging an allout war during the first four rounds of the MX1 class.

As the series now moves to the softer and more challenging tracks of the east, it will be interesting to see if Goerke and Pourcel can maintain their dominance. If they can, this will be one of the greatest battles we’ve seen in some time between two completely different riders. Also, when you add in some of the other names we’ve mentioned, these final six rounds are going to be very exciting.

Here are Ryan Lockhart’s picks for the riders that might be your final top five overall in the MX1 class.

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MATT GOERKE

Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha Team

Coming into 2017 I had no idea how Matt Goerke would stack up against the other top MX1 riders. Obviously with his past results, I knew that he would be very fast but I didn’t think he would be as good as he’s been up to this point. Even on tracks like Calgary and Regina, where in the past he’s struggled, this year he won 3 out of the 4 motos and almost took both overall victories. Now we’re on to the eastern tracks where Goerke has had some of his best rides. His main

2

competition appears to be Christophe Pourcel as they had more than a few battles out west. These two riders have completely different approaches to riding, so their upcoming battles on the sandy east tracks are going to be very interesting to watch. If the first four rounds have taught me anything, it’s been to never count out Matt Goerke again. This guy is a beast and I’m picking him to win the 2017 MX1 title by only a few points over Pourcel.

CHRISTOPHE POURCEL Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Team

During the first four rounds of this series, Christophe Pourcel has done nothing but impress me with his riding and with his obvious enjoyment of being in Canada. I knew that he would be very fast on our national tracks, but I had no idea that he would stay in Canada between rounds and take in the sights and hospitality in which this country is so famous. However, he proved me wrong and I really think he is enjoying this new experience racing our nationals. On the track Pourcel has been brilliant, and watching him ride is pretty darn cool. He always seems to be in a

gear higher and taking a different line than every other MX1 rider on the track. I do think, however, that he’s been surprised at the speed and courage of Matt Goerke as they’ve had some incredible battles in the first eight motos. I’ve heard that he’s a great sand rider so he should have no trouble in the east. I have him finishing a very close second in this series, only because Matt Goerke has raced on almost all of these upcoming tracks before, so he may know them just a little better. I do think that this battle will go down to the final round in Barrie, ON.

3

COLTON FACCIOTTI

Honda Canada Racing GDR Fox Racing Team

I can’t believe we’ve been watching Colton Facciotti win motos in the MX1 class for a decade now. During these past ten years, Colton’s speed and style has remained constant as he’s always been a frontrunner.

Coming into this summer, I was very curious to see whether or not he would be able to win motos and establish himself as the rider to beat. While there were a few motos out west where Colton was the fastest rider on the track, he still has yet to start up front and win a race yet. At Round 4 in Regina, Colton was very sick and could barely finish both motos. This

has put him in a deep hole in the points race and I don’t think he’ll be able to climb all the way out of it. However, if he can win a moto or two at Gopher Dunes and then build momentum from there, I can see him moving up and challenging for this title. Until he does that, though, I have him finishing 2017 in a distant third overall in the MX1 class.

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What can you say about Tyler Medaglia that hasn’t already been said one hundred times before. This guy is an absolute beast on a race track, and like Goerke, he can never be counted out. I believe he

5

Royal Distributing Motovan Piller’s Racing Team

will win a moto before this series is over, and when he does, the Canadian fans are going to go crazy.

So far in 2017, he looks very comfortable on his new Honda and together they were fast out west.

Tyler is capable of just about anything and I think that’s one reason why everyone loves him.

Another reason is that he doesn’t seem to have a problem riding outside of his comfort zone. He is a very strong individual and he’s not afraid to rise to the occasion and do whatever it takes to win. If he could find just a little more consistency, then I believe he could challenge for a podium finish this summer in the MX1 class. For now, though, I think he’s a safe fourth overall, which is two spots better than he was in 2016.

DILLAN EPSTEIN Nut Up Shift Racing Kawasaki

What a great addition Dillan Epstein has been to the MX1 class this summer.

This California kid has not only been fast, he’s also been great to deal with off the track and he always seems to be smiling. Maybe he’s smiling because he’s already won two motos and he knows he can win more. The reason I have him finishing in fifth is simply because I feel like he may struggle a little on the eastern tracks. I’m not sure how much sand experience Dillan has had in his career, but I’m assuming that it isn’t as much as his competition.

If he can get through the deep sand of Gopher Dunes in one piece and learn the rest of the eastern tracks quickly, then he may be able to win more motos

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TYLER MEDAGLIA

and finish higher than fifth.

Regardless, he will no doubt be back in 2018 as every team is going to want this rider under their tent. As I said above, Dylan is a great addition to the 2017 series and I wish him the best during the final six rounds.

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2017 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MOTOCROSS NATIONALS MX2 PREVIEW

BY CHRIS POMEROY

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PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

Coming into the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan, the MX2 class was perhaps the most anticipated one to watch. With a host of young and aggressive riders from Canada and the USA, guessing who might come out on top was a certain mystery. However, as the first four rounds of the series unfolded in the west, it has become clear that this 2017 title will definitely go through the defending MX2 Champion, Cole Thompson. Other than at Round 4 in Regina, Thompson wasn’t the

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faster MX2 rider on the track, that honour went to Shawn Maffenbeier. However, Thompson remained a consistent podium finisher and took advantage of the mistakes and the bad luck suffered by his competition. As the 2017 MX2 Series now heads east to some of the toughest tracks this country has to offer, all of the riders, including points leader Cole Thompson, must prepare for the most gruelling six rounds of the summer. Here are my predictions on who might finish in the top five when the series wraps up at RJ Motosport Park in Barrie, ON.

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1 With the first four rounds now a part of Canadian moto history, one has to feel sorry for Shawn Maffenbeier. During the first eight motos of the 2017 series, Shawn pretty much did everything he could to win and to be the points leader. Unfortunately for him, a DNF in Prince George because of a rock hitting his water pump, and a strange crash in Regina, which left him with a lonely 16th place moto finish, Shawn is definitely in a hole entering the eastern rounds.

The good news for him and for his team is that from now on

COLE THOMPSON KTM Thor Racing

they only have one goal and that is to win races. There is no strategy, no playing it safe, or no overthinking involved, all they have to focus on is winning and trying to get back into this points race. However, we think that when all is said and done, Shawn will do everything he can to win this title but he will come up just a few points shy of his first ever CMRC Pro MX2 Championship. With such a massive challenge ahead for one of Canada’s favourite riders, watching Shawn for the final six rounds is sure going to be fun!

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JOSH OSBY

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After the first four rounds of the series, Cole Thompson has a commanding 33-point lead over the rest of the MX2 riders.

With the exception of the Regina round, Cole wasn’t the fastest MX2 rider. At times, Cole appeared to be playing the waiting game and didn’t want to push too hard too soon. Well, whatever his strategy was, it worked as one by one his competition suffered mishap after mishap. Finally, at Round 4, Cole put it all together and dominated both MX2 motos.

With the series now heading to tracks at which he has historically done very well, we look for Cole to continue his strong riding during the remaining twelve motos.

Although there may be a little adversity still to come for Cole, we think that when the series comes to its conclusion at Round 10, Cole Thompson will once again be your MX2 Champion.

SHAWN MAFFENBEIER MX101 Yamaha FXR Racing

GP Bikes Redemption Racing Team

So far in 2017, Josh Osby has been one of the biggest surprises of the MX2 series.

During the first four rounds out west, Osby got great starts and always seemed to put himself in a position to do well. His performances have been great considering that he has never raced on any of these Canadian tracks before. Now that the MX2 series is moving east to the extreme conditions that come with some of these rounds, Osby will have to

continue to get good starts and ride strong. Heading into Round 5, Osby is sitting in second in the overall points standings. We find this remarkable considering this is the first time he has raced in the Canadian series. As new riders find out, the east is much more difficult on a rider’s body as well as on their equipment.

Osby will have to be that much better if he wants to remain in the top five in this 2017 MX2 series.

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4

DYLAN WRIGHT Honda Canada GDR Fox Racing

After having to sit out the entire series last year with an injury suffered in Moto 1 in Kamloops, Jacob Hayes has been riding very well in 2017. He has had the lead a few times and his speed has been very good. Like Dylan Wright, Hayes has at times been guilty of trying too hard and because of this has spent a little time on the ground. At Round 4 in Regina, Hayes had a bad crash and originally thought he broke his lower leg. But, after sitting out the second moto, Hayes felt better and instantly set his sights on the eastern rounds.

With him calling hot and humid North Carolina home during the week, Hayes will relish the conditions in the next six rounds, so look for him to be even better than he was out west. The issue, though, is that with his second moto DNS in Regina, he has now put himself well behind in the MX2 points standings. Hopefully Hayes is healthy for the east.

If he is good to go then look for him to be part of this five rider battle right until Round 10 in Barrie.

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5

Prior to the opening round, Dylan Wright was one of the favourites to win this Championship. But, after tough rounds in Kamloops and Prince George, Dylan quickly found himself well back in the points chase. Whether it was a case of bad luck or simply trying too hard, Dylan suffered over ten crashes in the first six motos. This is certainly not the way to win a championship and no one knows that better than Dylan Wright.

However, after such a disastrous start, Dylan turned things around in Regina and finally found his way onto the podium. Now, with a dozen motos remaining in the MX2 series, Dylan will have to pull out all of the stops and start winning races. Can he do it? Of course he can but he will need to ride with the perfect combination of aggression and smarts. If Dylan can win a moto or two at the first rounds in the east, look out because he may just get on a roll and be able to make this MX2 series even more interesting. For now, though, I feel he so far back in points and will finish up in 4th overall.

JACOB HAYES

Monster Energy Alpinestars Kawasaki

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2017 CMRC EASTERN CANADIAN WOMEN’S NATIONAL PREVIEW

BY LEAH CLARKE

•

PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

he 2016 CMRC Eastern Canadian Women’s Nationals was a huge success with a full gate of ladies at each round and tough competition.

Last year, two new faces showed up and wowed us all: Shannon Fleming and Brittany Gagne battled hard against Eve Brodeur for the top spot!

T

Last year, the results were: 1. Eve Brodeur #1 (200) 2. Shannon Fleming #68 (157) 3. Brittany Gagne #265 (154) 4. Kim Normandin #2 (131) 5. Kassie Boone #3 (121) 6. Madison Seguin #4 (107) 7. Jaqueline Ross #734 (84) 8. Robin Hutchinson #927 (83) 9. Isabelle Thibault #192 (72) 10. Emilie-Jade Leveilie #43 (68)

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For 2017, I expect to see some new ladies show up and mix up the results, and hopefully lots of new faces! I think that the addition of a new track, MXBon-Conseil, will be an exciting round because none of the girls are very familiar with this track. I am not sure what sort of terrain this track is, but we know that Gopher Dunes, Deschambeault and RJ’s are challenging tracks with lots of sand and soft dirt.

This year the CMRC Eastern Canadian Women’s Nationals will consist of four rounds at Gopher Dunes, Ulverton, MX-Bon-Conseil and RJ’s. CMRC will be giving 100% payback from all the race entries, so the more girls that race, the bigger the payback!

The full schedule is as follows: 2017 CMRC EASTERN CANADIAN WOMEN’S NATIONALS Saturday, July 8 Gopher Dunes, Courtland, Ontario Saturday, July 15 MX-Bon-Conseil, Quebec Saturday, August 5 Motocross Deschambault, Deschambault, Quebec Saturday, August 12 RJ Motosport Park, Barrie, Ontario

CMRC couldn’t make this happen without the help of our sponsors. This year, Motovan Corporation will be our title sponsor with a significant contribution to our series. Motovan is Canada’s ultimate source of powersports parts and accessories, and they are supporting the series with some amazing products like ZOX helmets, Dunlop tires, Ogio products, Leatt products and EVS products. Mongoose Machine will be providing awards for the girls who get 4th and 5th overall at each round. The girl who gets 4th overall will receive a $250 gift certificate towards a Rekluse clutch and 5th overall will receive a $100 gift certificate towards an InnTeck Oversize Front Rotor kit. KTM Canada is providing awards and product for the girls as well. Podium awards will be from MXTrophies at every round.

This year, EVERY lady rider who signs up and races will have a chance to go home with some awesome prizes. We will have a draw table set up at every round of the series! We will have products from M9Graphics, Insane and Reckless Clothing, MICA Sports, Atlas Brace, Evans Cooling, and Motovan. A series cash purse will also be provided to the top 10 finishers of the series.

Money raised by Breanna Rose, Kassie Boone, Shandell Przybilla and Kenzie Hennessy from the moto camp at Gopher Dunes last fall will go towards the series purse as well! Women’s Moto t-shirt sales have also contributed to the series purse. (Amount to be determined)

C A N A D I A N M O T O S P O R T R A C I N G C O R P.

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‘17

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2017 CMRC TOP 100 NATIONAL NUMBERS

#

First Name

Last Name

#

First Name

Last Name

#

First Name

Last Name

1

DAVI

MILLSAPS

35

JASON

BENNY

68

JOEY

PETERS

2

MATT

GOERKE

36

AUSTIN

KOUBA

69

JOHN

PAUK

3

KAVEN

BENOIT

37

ALEX

HARVILL

70

TODD

MINNIE

4

BRETT

METCALFE

38

TIM

TREMBLAY

71

TEDDY

MAIER

5

MIKE

ALESSI

39

VINCE

FRIESE

72

GRAHAM

SCOTT

6

TYLER

MEDAGLIA

40

TAYLOR

CIAMMPICHINI

73

SAMUEL

LAVOIE

7

CADE

CLASON

41

MICHAEL

FOWLER

74

GUILLAUME

ST CYR

8

KEYLAN

MESTON

42

GABRIEL

TREMBLAY

75

DYLAN

KIRCHNER

9

MORGAN

BURGER

43

MARCUS

NILSEN

76

DANIEL

MATHE

10

COLTON

FACCIOTTI

44

JASON

BURKE

77

NATHAN

BLES

11

COLE

THOMPSON

45

DYLAN

DELAPLACE

78

AARON

ZIELFELDER

12

SHAWN

MAFFENBEIER

46

MASON

WHARTON

79

JASON

ABERNETHY

14

DYLAN

WRIGHT

47

TALLON

LA FOUNTAINE

80

TALLON

NEWMAN

15

BRAD

NAUDITT

48

ALEX

JEFFERY

81

RYLAN

POZDNEKOFF

16

JESSE

PETTIS

49

DYLAN

KAELIN

82

BAILEY

KOUBA

17

MARK

WORTH

50

KYLE

SPRINGMAN

83

TRAVIS

OUIMET

18

DAKOTA

ALIX

51

DANIEL

MILLS

84

JOSH

PRIOR

19

HAYDEN

HALSTEAD

52

JOEY

PAUL

85

BRADEN

BURY

20

KYLE

SWANSON

53

BROC

LOFTUS

86

JARED

STOCK

21

DAVEY

FRASER

54

MAX

TANNENBAUM

87

CHEYENNE

HARMON

22

RILEY

BROUGH

55

KYLE

BIRO

88

JACKSON

NICKOLET

23

RYELEY

GALLUP

56

BROCK

LEITNER

89

MICHAEL

THACKER

24

RYAN

LALONDE

57

DEREK

OUIMET

90

JESSE

BURY

25

TAYLOR

ARSENAULT

58

JEREMY

MEDAGLIA

91

WILLY

SHATRAU

26

MC COY

BROUGH

59

DJ

BURMEY

92

DYLAN

HANSEN

27

WESTEN

WROZYNA

60

RYAN

GRANTON

93

BRANDON

HARTRANFT

28

SHAWN

ROBINSON

61

ERIC

GRONDAHL

94

MAXIME

PEPIN

29

JEAN CHRISTOPHE

BUJOLD

62

JARETT

PESCI

95

RYAN

PETERS

30

BRANDAN

LEITH

63

TODD

SEWELL

96

BROCK

HOYER

31

DUSTY

HUMPHRIES

64

LOGAN

KARNOW

97

JOSH

CLARK

32

ERIC

JEFFERY

65

MICHAEL

DA SILVA

98

GRAHAM

KLASSEN

33

CASEY

KEAST

66

CODY

MATECHUK

99

COLLIN

JURIN

34

VINCENT

LAUZON

67

CEDRIC

MOORE

C A N A D I A N M O T O S P O R T R A C I N G C O R P.

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