C A N A D A’ S S O U R C E F O R M O T O C R O S S A N D O F F - R O A D
D R OP T H E G A T E AUGUST 2020 $4.95
MXP2020_20.02_Cover.indd 1
2020-07-22 4:17 PM
-
STORES NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! SHOP ONLINE! FAST, FREE SHIPPING
ACROSS CANADA ON ORDERS OVER $39*
ROYAL STOCKS 1000s OF PARTS AT THE GUARANTEED BEST PRICES! We have all the parts & gear you need right now!
SAVE OVER 65%
1488 FOX RACING WOMEN’S SWITCH JERSEY A61-0325Sizes XS, S
SAVE 70%
89
SAVE OVER 60%
44
88
FOX RACING LEGION DOWNPOUR JACKET A60-04630Sizes S-XL
88
FOX RACING AIRFRAME PRO SLEEVE PROTECTOR A70-8019Sizes S/M, L/XL
SAVE 70%
1988 FOX RACING TITAN SPORT SHORT A60-04561Sizes M-XL
SAVE 75%
3888
SAVE OVER 25%
13988
FOX RACING WOMEN’S SWITCH PANT A61-0364Sizes 2-12
SAVE OVER 45%
5488 OGIO THROTTLE BACKPACK 18-0394
OGIO MACH 3 NO DRAG PACK 18-0325
SAVE OVER 45%
8488 OGIO ALL ELEMENTS BACKPACK 18-0401
SAVE 40%
19
SAVE 40%
14988
88
FOX RACING DIRTPAW GLOVE A55-4443Sizes XL, 2XL
SAVE 45%
14988
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $39* MXP_2020_20.02_RoyalDistributing.indd 1
OGIO BIG MOUTH ROLLER BAG 18-41112
MAIL ORDER:
OGIO MACH 5 MOTORCYCLE BACKPACK 18-0518
1-800-265-2970 M-F 8AM-6PM EST EN/FR 2020-07-16 3:59 PM
SH
FR
ONLY
19
ONLY
3499
99
ACCEL SPOKE SKINS M90-001021 - White M90-001022 - Red M90-001023 - Pink M90-001024 - Orange M90-001025 - Green M90-001026 - Yellow M90-001027 - Blue M90-001028 - Black
ACCEL HANDGUARDS WITH MOUNT 06-447031 - Black 06-447032 - Blue 06-447033 - Orange 06-447034 - Green 06-447035 - Yellow 06-447036 - Red
TOP QUALITY PARTS & ACCESSORIES AT LOW PRICES! ONLY
9
ONLY
6999
99
GAS CAP VENT CAP M07-191608 - Silver M07-191609 - Gold M07-191610 - Blue M07-191611 - Red M07-191612 - Black M07-191722 - Green
ACCEL BLACK LAUNCH CONTROL M12-0600362 - For Honda M12-0600363 - For Kawasaki M12-0600364 - For KTM M12-0600365 - For Yamaha M12-0600366 - For Suzuki
ONLY
4999 ACCEL HANDLEBAR Carry several bends and styles to fit most machines
HOOSIER OFFROAD TIRES - MADE FOR CHAMPIONS!
12999
11999 HOOSIER ATV MX 150 REAR TIRE A96-0002 - 18/10-8
HOOSIER MOTOCROSS REAR TIRE M92-000001 - IMX20 - 110/90-19 M92-000002 - IMX25 - 110/90-19 M92-000005 - IMX20 - 120/80-19 M92-000008 - IMX25 - 120/90-18 M92-000010 - IMX25 - 110/90-18 REAR
REAR
11499 HOOSIER ATV MX 150 FRONT TIRE A96-0001 - 20.5/6-10
12499 HOOSIER MOTOCROSS FRONT TIRE (STIFF) M92-000006 - MX25S - 80/100-21
FRONT
ROYALDISTRIBUTING.COM
SHOP ONLINE 24/7: WWW.
FRONT
*We do our best to ensure accuracy; however, errors may occur in our prices. We are not responsible for typographical or printing errors. Prices may change without notice. MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 000
MXP_2020_20.02_RoyalDistributing.indd 2
2020-07-16 4:00 PM
RIDEAU
SA
MSRP
MS
1699
$
$
ALL SEASON FAT TIRE Foldable Alloy Frame for Easy Storage. Available in White, Black or Green.
M Av
T
COLUMBUS MSRP
1699
$
ALL SEASON FAT TIRE Foldable Alloy Frame for Easy Storage. Available in Black.
VICTORIA MSRP
1199
$
CRUISER Available in Grey, Silver, White or Green. AVAILABLE AT: ROYAL DISTRIBUTING
BIKE FACE
WATERLOO BIKE SHOP
WINDSOR ELECTRIC BICYCLES
MOTODUROY
RE
GUELPH, INNISFIL, WHITBY, ON 1-800-265-2970
OWEN SOUND, ON 519-376-9777
WATERLOO, ON 226-336-7400
WINDSOR, ON 519-969-8139
MERCIER, QC 450-692-6222
BEA 45
MXP_2020_20.02_O2RIDE Jagg.indd 1
2020-07-17 10:30 AM
OY
SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO FAT
MSRP
MSRP
1999
2099
$
$
MOUNTAIN BIKE Available in Black.
ALL SEASON FAT TIRE Available in Black.
THE FUTURE IS E-LECTRIC! CYNTHIA MSRP
1399
$
CRUISER Available in Dark Grey or Silver.
AJAX
MSRP
1799
$
MOUNTAIN BIKE Available in Silver or Black.
Distributors of bicycles & e-bikes
REPARATION DUBUC
ESTAR RIDE
O2RIDE
BEAUHARNOIS, QC 450-395-1747
ORANGEVILLE, ON 519-215-3641
BELFOUNTAIN, ON 416-201-1187
For Fun & Fitness ©
SLANE E-BIKES DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME! O2RIDE.CA (Website Coming Soon!)
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 000
MXP_2020_20.02_O2RIDE Jagg.indd 2
2020-07-17 10:30 AM
M O T O C R O S S
P E R F O R M A N C E
V O L U M E
FEATURES
34
2
FOR SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES CALL:
416-633-1202
PUBLISHER: Charles Stancer, Mark Stallybrass V.P. OF SALES AND MARKETING: Charles Stancer
24 MXP CHATTER WITH MATT GOERKE Palms catches up with the multi-time champion
SENIOR WRITERS: Andy White, Mike McGill
34 INDUSTRY PROFILE WITH BRADY SHEREN We sit down with the one of most innovative men in Canadian moto
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: James Lissimore, Drew Robertson, Leticia Cline, Andy White, Matt Wellumson, Sean Poitras, Lawrence Hacking, Kate McKerroll
52 CATCHING UP WITH JESS PETTIS Everyone loves a good comeback 54 THE NEW PRODUCT GUIDE We talk a look at some of the newest products 58 A TRIP OF A LIFETIME Tallon Unger writes about his fun trip to ClubMX
SPECIALS
52
I S S U E
EDITOR: Chris Pomeroy
46 FIRST RIDE: 2021 YAMAHA TENERE Lawrence Hacking fires up the newest Yamaha
46
/
18 THE COVER STORY Finally, it’s time to drop the gate
40 CROWDED HOUSE Mike McGill tells the story of the 2000 Two-Wheel Kawasaki Team
18
2 0
12 EXPOSED 14 CAUGHT ON CAMERA
SALES MANAGER: Al Jaggard SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR: Shelby Mahon STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: James Lissimore
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Virgil Knapp, Clayton Racicot, Bill Petro, Matt Wellumson, Frank Hoppen, Summer Denzler, Mike Vizer 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
COLUMNS
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION GROUP PUBLISHER & CEO: Tim Rutledge SENIOR ART DIRECTORS: Patrick Beltijar, Patrick Dinglasan, Queue Gonzalez, Edward Shintani PRODUCTION: Richard Robles
8
FAMOUS LAST WORDS by Chris Pomeroy
10
GUEST COLUMN by Dylan Wright
62
THE BICYCLE PAGES with Allan Jaggard
64
FEMALE PERSPECTIVE with Shelby Mahone
65
THE MENTAL SIDE with Sean Poitras
66 INSIDE LINE by Andy White
MX PERFORMANCE IS PRINTED IN CANADA
6 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_TOC.indd 1
2020-07-22 4:22 PM
40.5 kg
saturday / 10:00 am
Seat height 550 – 665 mm
Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes. Always wear protective safety gear and ride in a responsible manner. The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and may feature optional equipment available at additional cost.
Photos: R. Schedl, KISKA GmbH
friday / 4:00 pm
sunday / 2:00 pm
more adjustability - 3 adjustable chassis sizes More control - 6 power modes (beginner to expert) more places to ride - low-noise, no emission 5kw motor More Control - parental settings options more action - low running costs & minimal maintenance
Adjustable WP suspension
husqvarna-motorcycles.com
Charged up for more possibilities.
EE 5
The all-new EE 5: same high-end chassis as the Husqvarna Motorcycles motocross range, with the added versatility and benefits of cutting-edge electric-powered technology.
HQV_20_0120 HQV – CAN_AD_Print_MY21 EE 5 | MXP.indd 1 MXP_2020_20.02_Husqvarna.indd 1
6/18/20 8:55 AM 2020-07-07 1:50 PM
FAMOUS LAST WORDS WITH CHRIS POMEROY
P H O T O S B Y M X P S TA F F
THE GREAT OUTDOORS I REMEMBER WALKING THROUGH THE ANAHEIM SUPERCROSS PADDOCK BACK IN LATE JANUARY LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. THE SUN WAS SHINING, THE TEMPERATURE WAS A PERFECT 22 DEGREES CELSIUS, AND THE TANTALIZING SCENT OF RACE GAS HUNG IN THE DEWY CALIFORNIA AIR. IF YOU WERE A FAN OF SUPERCROSS AND ALSO A MEDIA GUY LIKE ME, IT WAS A DREAM AFTERNOON AT ANGEL STADIUM. OF COURSE, LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT WHEN I LANDED BACK IN TORONTO THE NEXT DAY THAT ALL HELL WOULD BREAK LOOSE A MONTH LATER. THAT TRIP WOUND UP BEING MY LAST AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WOULD ENGULF THE PLANET SOON AFTER. WHAT FOLLOWED WERE STORE CLOSURES, LOCKDOWNS AND, OF COURSE, NO TRAVEL. IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING WE’D NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE, AND AT THE TIME IT APPEARED THAT THERE WAS NO END IN SIGHT. FOR SOMEONE WHO LOVES THEIR JOB AS MUCH AS I DO AND LOVES TRAVELLING (YES, EVEN THE AIRPORTS), THESE PAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY LIFE-ALTERING. I SUPPOSE IT’S BEEN THE SAME FOR EVERYONE AND, TRUST ME, I’M NOT COMPLAINING. THROUGH ALL OF IT, MY FAMILY AND I HAVE REMAINED HEALTHY AND COVID-FREE.
W
ell, here we are now four months into the ‘new’ normal we’re all living through and a few interesting things have transpired. The first is that slowly but surely our lives have returned to at least a similar version of what they used to be, which is a big positive. As I compose this, Ontario is entering into stage three of its reopening. Of course, as the government
loosens the reins on certain aspects of our lives, they’re still keeping a tight lid on things in other areas with mandatory masks (when indoors at a public space), and the U.S.-Canada border will remain shut until the end of August at least. But the virus numbers are improving and as a human race we should be proud of ourselves for being able to adapt to an incredibly challenging situation. Yes, we’re most certainly living in interesting times and if you’re sitting at home trying to find a positive in all
of this Covid-19 mess, here is one we can all hang our hats on. It seems a lot of us have found ways to reconnect with the outdoors through this pandemic. If you look at retail sales of items such as pools, outdoor furniture, bicycles, and even off-road motorcycles, business has never been better. As we speak, it’s difficult to find a new 2020 dirt bike in Canada, and it’s even tougher if you’re looking for a bicycle. Also, I have a friend who is a Canadian Tire manager, and he told me that anything to do with the outdoors sells as soon as it arrives. This is amazing and something that few could have predicted. In fact, I can remember back in late March when news coverage made it seem like the world was coming to an end, that if you dared to go outside and stepped within 10 feet of someone, you could die. Thankfully, those dire early predictions proved false. After bike sales skyrocketed throughout May, we were finally able to return to racing in mid-June as AMO Racing hosted Ontario Provincial events at Gopher Dunes and Walton Raceway. I’m sure everyone will agree with me when I say it was great to hear the metallic clink of the starting gate dropping for the first time in 2020. It felt like home and that our gloomy grey skies were finally giving way to sunshine. Since that opening gate drop at Gopher Dunes in June,
IF YOU LOOK AT RETAIL SALES OF ITEMS SUCH AS POOLS, OUTDOOR FURNITURE, BICYCLES, AND EVEN OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLES, BUSINESS HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER.” other Regions across Canada have been able to host events and racing has never felt more therapeutic than it does so far in 2020. Next on the calendar is the opening round of the 2020 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown MXTour Series, which kicks off at Gopher Dunes on July 25-26. Due to everything that has happened, I think there should be feeling of gratitude that we even have racing this summer. However, due to the hard work of JetWerx, the teams, and the series sponsors, we’re going racing and it should be as exciting as ever. With a new three-moto format over Saturday and Sunday, there will be plenty of opportunity for riders to showcase their speed and skill. Unfortunately, like almost every major sporting event so far in our new Covid world, there won’t be any fans in attendance at any of the five rounds, but you will be able to watch all of the races on live television. The lack of fans really hurts, though, as outdoor motocross has always been a grassroots-driven ‘win on Sunday buy on Monday’ sport, but for this crazy year that’s the way it has to be. Wow, how many times have we uttered those words during the past few months? As for this issue of MXP Magazine, I can tell you that putting it together was most certainly a challenge, likely more difficult than any previous issue. Finding story lines and photos to go with them without any professional racing (other than SX) going on was not easy. Thankfully, I have a great team of contributors and with the incredible photographic skills of James Lissimore, Bill Petro, Mike Vizer, and Allison Kennedy, our stories look great. Yes, during the past few months, life has been more challenging than ever before. But as I said at the outset, it’s made us appreciate a few of the simpler things in life, like being outside more... or the sound of a starting gate dropping. I hope this issue of MXP Magazine finds you happy and healthy, and I thank you for reading. See you at the track!
8 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_Column-Editor.indd 1
2020-07-22 4:23 PM
TRAIN LIKE THE
CHAMPIONS!
OFFICIAL BICYCLE OF THE ROCKSTAR TRIPLE CROWN SERIES
MOD EL S H OW N : MOUN T V I S I ON 8 @M ARIN BIKE SCA N A DA
MXP_2020_20.02_Marin_Vision_FP.indd 1
V ISIT WWW.MA R IN BIKES.COM F O R THE F U L L R A N GE O F B I CYCL E S
2020-07-17 1:54 PM
GUEST COLUMN WITH DYLAN WRIGHT
P H O T O S B Y M X P S TA F F
A FOCUS ON POTENTIAL AS I WRITE THIS ARTICLE, WE ARE ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY FROM THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2020 ROCKSTAR ENERGY TRIPLE CROWN SERIES AT GOPHER DUNES ON JULY 25. THIS MAY BE THE MOST ANTICIPATED SERIES TO DATE GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME OFF FROM RACING WE HAVE HAD DUE TO COVID-19 AND THE CHANGES THE SERIES HAS MADE TO ACCOMMODATE NEW RULES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED ACROSS THE COUNTRY DURING THE PANDEMIC.
T
o be honest, with all that was happening in the world in late March and early April, I was skeptical about whether or not there would even be a national series this year. With basically the whole world shutting down, tracks closed, and many businesses shut down for a long period of time, a racing season seemed doubtful. The first glimmer of hope since the pandemic started was seeing the first AMO provincial race move forward flawlessly at Gopher Dunes with over 600 entries. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one eager to get some racing in! This is when I started to believe a pro national series might become a reality, albeit in an altered format. I commend the guys at Triple Crown for the efforts they put in to make sure a series could happen, thus giving the racers and the fans what they want ... some racing! I was starting to feel really anxious for putting in all the hard work preparing for a race season that might not happen and wouldn’t allow me to reap the rewards for all my efforts. Think
about it – I have been training my butt off on the bike since early January to get ready for a season opener that kept getting pushed back by days, then weeks, and then months. It was a massive bummer, but I guess this anticipation will just make things that much more special when we do finally drop the gate. From my perspective, the delayed start to the 2020 season wasn’t all bad, though. As a rookie in the MX1 class, these extra weeks have given me the chance to get more seat time on my Honda CRF450R, as well as more time for testing than I originally would have had. The new schedule has also changed what the series will look like. Due to extraordinary circumstances, the series is now going to entirely take place on the East coast. This is another plus for me. The West has not always been kind to me. Historically, I tend to perform better on the East coast tracks. With the series starting at Gopher Dunes, it will be extra nice to kick things off at our team’s home track, where our shop is based. While my indoor racing skills have
“BASED ON MY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IN THESE PRELIMINARY RACES, I MUST ADMIT THAT I AM FEELING EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE ON THAT BIG CRF450R.”
been improving, I would be lying if I didn’t say that I am happy the series is kicking off with the outdoor portion first. I believe it will be beneficial for me to line up and compete against the top 450 racers in our Canadian pro series in the MX portion first, where I believe I am particularly strong. The experience I gain in the MX races will undoubtedly serve me well as we enter the SX portion of the series later this year, hopefully. Then there’s the new 3-race format that will be used on most race weekends. I believe this is a really innovative way to try and fit as many gate-drops in as possible within a significantly shortened timeframe. When I heard the news, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the many years I competed in the Walton Transcan amateur championships which adopts this type of race format. So, all in all, I think this upcoming season has the potential to be a very positive one for me. There is no doubt that the preparation for this upcoming season has been a little bit weird. We have always started racing the outdoor nationals at around the same time each year. This meant that my training program was tailored in such a way that I would peak at the start of the season. As the timing and order of the Rockstar Triple Crown series legs (AX, MX and SX) evolved and changed, so did my training program. This statement may surprise many of you who may not be aware that our training is based a great deal on the race schedule. I thank my trainer Rob Mouland for changing my training routine multiple times to make sure I didn’t peak at the wrong time or burn out before the season starts. He was understanding, flexible and always there when I needed him. Thanks for working with me to make the changes necessary so that when we do drop the gate, I will be 100 percent ready to go!
As I mentioned earlier, the AMO received approval to kick-off the dirt bike race season, providing me and many others with a great opportunity to get out and race a couple of rounds. What a great prep for the pro nationals! No amount of training can simulate or replace the value of getting some gate drops in, against some great racers on tracks we will be racing on during the pro series. Based on my training and experience in these preliminary races, I must admit that I am feeling extremely comfortable on that big CRF450R. With only a few days left until the gate drops, the focus shifts to the last few small adjustments to be made in terms of my riding and the bike setup. I may be new to the 450 class, but I can guarantee you that my team and I have absolutely done all the work necessary to prepare me for the season ahead. We believe in my potential to be a championship contender. As a young racer, the dream is to be selected to represent a race team in the premiere class. That moment has arrived for me and I am very excited to go racing!
10 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_Column-Guest.indd 1
2020-07-22 5:12 PM
ALL THE GAIN WITHOUT THE PAIN
DISCOVER THE BENEFITS OF E-LECTRIC PEDAL ASSIST
MOD EL S H OW N : E1- N AI L TR AI L AVAI LAB LE I N E1 OR E2 MOD ELS @M ARIN BIKE SCA N A DA
MXP_2020_20.02_Marin_FP.indd 1
V ISIT WWW.MA R IN BIKES.COM F O R THE F U L L R A N GE O F B I CYCL E S
2020-07-17 10:36 AM
CAUGHT ON CAMERA
S Eve Brodeur wishes that FXR Racing made hair
A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNAL FROM RACES AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
S Palms and Pettis chat about his first race back.
ties. .
S Gaudly once again explains the rules of the starting
S JSR is lucky that KTM is in the mask business.
line.
S Frank Schuster still loves when people come to ride
S Maff and Gaynor talk about how they plan to
S This could be Kyle Thompson, or it could be anyone
S Nathan Bles is always talking pre-mix and two-
at Gopher Dunes.
conquer the deep sand.
really.
strokes.
S JSR was happy to be out of the lockdown and back
S It is just us or does Jess Pettis look older?
S Cole wants to win so badly that he can taste it.
S Dawn is always at the races keeping an eye on
at the races.
young FXR Racing talent.
S Mrs. Cannella was happy to see her son back on
S This father-son duo is looking forward to a
S Perhaps becoming a father was what Tomac needed
the racetrack.
successful summer.
to get the SX job done?
S The fans in SLC were a stiff bunch!
S The boys get ready for their final practice session
S When you’re as good as Sexton, you don’t need
of 2020.
a bike.
S No wonder Kenny had trouble breathing in SLC.
S Thanks for all of the incredible memories CR22.
12 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_COC_V03.indd 12
2020-07-23 10:12 AM
so me d re am s D O c o m e true
MXP_2020_20.01_Fox.indd 1
2020-07-13 10:31 AM
PHOTO BY JAM E S LISSIMOR E
PAST BATTLES As we get ready to kick off the 2020 Triple Crown Series, let’s hope we get to witness more battles like this one.
000 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_Exposed.indd 1
2020-07-22 4:40 PM
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 000
MXP_2020_20.02_Exposed.indd 2
2020-07-22 4:40 PM
000 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_Exposed.indd 3
2020-07-22 4:40 PM
PHOTO BY MIKE VIZE R
READY TO LEAD Cole Thompson appears ready to take the torch as the top Canadian rider and run with it.
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 000
MXP_2020_20.02_Exposed.indd 4
2020-07-22 4:40 PM
GATE COVE R S TO RY
DROP THE
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
18 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_20.02_Cover Story - Drop the Gate.indd 18
2020-07-23 10:11 AM
“IN FACT, MMIC NUMBERS RELEASED IN EARLY JUNE REVEALED OFF-ROAD AND MOTOCROSS BIKE SALES IN MAY WERE UP 100 PERCENT OVER THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.”
MXP_20.02_Cover Story - Drop the Gate.indd 19
2020-07-23 10:11 AM
“THEN, JUST AS IT LOOKED LIKE THERE MIGHT NOT BE A SERIES AT ALL IN 2020, JETWERX PULLED A RABBIT OUT OF ITS HAT AND ANNOUNCED THE OPENING ROUND WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AT GOPHER DUNES ON JULY 25-26.”
STEVE BEATTIE AND JSR ARE HOPING COLE THOMPSON CAN BRING HOME HIS FIRST EVER 450MX TITLE.
20
DYLAN WRIGHT IS READY FOR HIS FIRST SEASON IN THE 450MX CLASS.
// MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_20.02_Cover Story - Drop the Gate.indd 20
2020-07-23 10:11 AM
GATE COV E R STO RY
DROP THE
W
hen we turned the calendar over to 2020 back in January, optimism was high that we were getting ready to have another successful year for both motocross and supercross. After all, just a few months prior, Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha rider Phil Nicoletti had celebrated his first Canadian Triple Crown Championship, and we watched GDR Fox Racing Honda rider Colton Facciotti retire from racing after winning his sixth 450MX National Championship. Colton’s GDR Honda teammate Dylan Wright was also victorious in 2019, as he took home his first Canadian Pro National Championship after winning the 250AX Title, the 250MX Title, as well as the overall 250 Triple Crown Title. As an industry, we were doing well with steady bike sales and the number of people riding on the rise. Yes, as we said goodbye to 2019 and welcomed a new year and new decade, the future looked so bright that we all needed tinted goggles. But the joy of 2020 didn’t last long when in late January news broke that NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his
THE GREAT OUTDOORS IS ALL ABOUT SWEATING AND SUFFERING.
daughter were killed in a helicopter crash while flying to one of her basketball games. Whether it was the nature of this needless accident, the status of Kobe, the fact that the crash also took the life of his little girl, or perhaps all of the above, the news that fateful Sunday was shocking. Not long after Kobe’s death, the first bit of news regarding a mysterious and concerning virus in China started to trickle out. Soon Covid-19 was all over the news and with it was one of the most confusing information paths we’ve ever seen. Throughout February the news of this new Virus began to snowball, and by early March it became clear that both as an industry and a society, we were in trouble. By mid-March, the NBA, NHL, as well as the Monster Energy Supercross Series had suspended their seasons. At the time, we were all in uncharted territory and if you dared to turn on the news, the reports made us feel like if you went outside you had a good chance of contracting the virus and perhaps even dying. Yes, the second half of March and the early part of April was a scary time for our world and hopefully we never have to go through that again. However, with the chaos and uncertainty going on around us a very strange thing happened in May. As local tracks began to open for practice across Canada consumers began to go out and buy motorcycles and the accessories to go with them. In fact, MMIC numbers released in early June revealed off-road and motocross bike sales in May were up 100 percent over the same time last year. No one saw it coming during the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, and even if the numbers decline, it was still good for our industry heading into the summer. With people buying bikes and going riding at their favourite practice tracks, the final piece of the puzzle was the long-awaited announcement regarding when the 2020 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Series was going to begin. Like every sport, this series was on hold as Jetwerx had to
CHAD GOODWIN IS NEW TO THE MONSTER ENERGY THOR KAWASAKI TEAM. wait and see when and if restrictions would be eased enough to hold pro races. First, the AXTour portion of the series was postponed, then it was the opening western rounds which were scheduled for the early part of June. Then, just as it looked like there might not be a series at all in 2020, Jetwerx pulled a rabbit out of its hat and announced the opening round was going to take place at Gopher Dunes on July 25-26. From there, the MXTour Series will take a week off before resuming at Walton Raceway for the second round. Round 3 will also be at Walton Raceway in conjunction with the Walton TransCan again, so it will be back-to-back races at Walton Raceway in 2020. Two weeks after Walton, the series heads to Sand Del Lee for Round 4 before concluding
in Deschambault, Quebec on Labour Day weekend. At first glance, it’s obvious that the 2020 MXTour Series is shorter with only five rounds taking place just in Ontario and Quebec. However, given the current situation we’re all dealing with, it wasn’t possible to travel out West this summer as going from province to province is too risky. Also, the series will be using a first-time three-moto format at each round, so the 250MX and 450MX classes will have a 15-moto series, which is just three motos shy of last year. We haven’t seen an Eastern-only national series since 1996, so some might view the 2020 MXTour might as a step backwards for our sport. But all things considered and taking the Covid-19 pandemic into account, we think it’s amazing that there a series will even be happening this
CAN COLE THOMPSON TAKE OVER FROM THE NEWLY RETIRED COLTON FACCIOTTI AS OUR TOP CANADIAN RIDER?
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 21
MXP_20.02_Cover Story - Drop the Gate.indd 21
2020-07-23 10:12 AM
PHIL NICOLETTI AND STEVE SIMMS WANT TO PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF IN 2019.
GATE COVER S TO RY
DROP THE
summer. Five rounds and 15 motos is better than the alternative. The only drawback is, as of press time, fans will not be allowed at any of the rounds. However, with all the race crews and families of the amateur riders in attendance, there will be at least some ‘fans’ lining the track watching their favourite pro riders. As we said, with everything that’s happened over the past few months, you take what you get, and be grateful for what you have. So, once we all arrive at Gopher Dunes for the opening round of the 2020 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown MXTour Series, what will the two days of racing look like? Well, it will be a busy two days of racing as Saturday morning will begin with pro practice and qualifying, followed by their opening moto around 11 a.m. By having the first 250MX and 450MX moto earlier in the day, it will give riders and crews the entire afternoon to recover and prepare for their second and third moto on Sunday. Saturday afternoon will see a selected number of amateur classes take to the track for their motos. It’s going to be very cool for the amateur riders to be able to watch their favourite pro rider race on the same track, on the same day and then be able to go out and race themselves. We haven’t seen this
since the mid-2000s when the pro riders had Saturday qualifying races along with a large amateur program. Sunday will feel more like a normal national race day schedule with pro practice in the morning followed by their final two motos. Mixed in with that are Pre-mix motos as well as the Women’s National motos. As I said, each round will be an exciting jampacked weekend of racing with riders of all ages and skill levels. It might not be an ideal series given that only two provinces are represented and there won’t be any fans, but the important thing is there is a series and we will be crowning National Champions. So, that is the 2020 MXTour in a nutshell. As you can see, it will still be exciting and there will be great racing. In the 250MX class, a few of the championship favourites will be Jess Pettis, Luke Renzland, Marshal Weltin, Marco Cannella and Tanner Ward. The racing will be fierce and if we had to give a slight edge to one of these riders, Pettis is the only former outdoor champion in this class. This class is always exciting to watch as the 250MX riders never hold back. In the 450MX class, with six-time champion Colton Facciotti now retired, the door is open for riders like Cole Thompson, Matt Goerke and Phil Nicoletti to step-up. All three won motos in 2019 and they will be hungry to start the shorter series off strong. New to the 450MX class in 2020 is GDR Honda Fox rider Dylan Wright. He enters his rookie year after dominating the 250 class last year. Dylan is fast, fit and very aggressive, and even though he’s new to the 450MX class, he believes he can win. It’s going to be incredible to watch these riders battle this summer and we don’t think
it’s going to be too long before they develop a fierce rivalry. Also, throw in series veterans Shawn Maffernbeier and Tyler Medaglia, and you have six riders who can win motos on any given weekend. The racing this summer is going to be entertaining without a doubt and given where we were a few months ago, it is amazing we even have a series. Covid-19 doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon so it’s something we’re going to have to manage for at least the remainder of 2020. Hopefully our lives and racing will return to normal next year, but in the meantime, we just have to make the best of it. As we said at the outset, the important thing is that we’re going racing and we’re going to have champions in 2020. Now, let’s drop the gate and go racing.
TURN THE BOARD SIDEWAYS, IT’S TIME TO GO RACING.
WALTON RACEWAY WILL HOST THE SECOND AND THIRD ROUND OF THE 2020 MXTOUR SERIES.
PAUL KINGSLEY WILL ONCE AGAIN KEEP THE RIDERS IN LINE THIS SUMMER.
22 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_20.02_Cover Story - Drop the Gate.indd 22
2020-07-23 10:12 AM
AS THE MAIN RIDER NOW AT THE MX101 YAMAHA TEAM, THIS IS A BIG YEAR FOR MARCO CANNELLA.
THE BEAUTIFUL PADDOCK AT SAND DEL LEE IS READY TO HOST ROUND 4 OF THE 2020 MXTOUR SERIES.
COMING BACK TO THE 450 CLASS FOR 2020, CAPTAIN CANADA TYLER MEDAGLIA WILL BE READY.
IT’S ANYONE’S GUESS WHO THE CHAMPIONS WILL BE WHEN THE SERIES CONCLUDES IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 23
MXP_20.02_Cover Story - Drop the Gate.indd 23
2020-07-23 10:13 AM
MXP CHATTER WITH
MATT GOERKE
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
MXP_2020_20.02_Matt Goerke Interview.indd 24
2020-07-22 4:46 PM
E
ven though Matt Goerke was not born in Canada, he is still a favourite among Canadian race fans. Since his first race here almost a decade ago, Goerke has won multiple 450MX Championships and he has proven he can win in any type of race condition. Over the years, Goerke’s performances in both the sand at Gopher Dunes as well as the ruts at Walton Raceway have been legendary. After a challenging season in 2019 which saw him place 9th overall in 450 MXTour Series and then suffer a very serious injury during an off-season Supercross in Germany, Goerke is now fully recovered and ready to battle for wins in the 450MX class. For the 2020 race season Goerke will once again be under the Monster Energy Alpinestar Piller’s Kawasaki tent and together with his Team Green teammates, they should be a force all summer long. To celebrate Matt Goerke’s incredible career thus far in Canada, as well as his future success, we decided to put this honorary Canadian on the cover our summer issue.
Hey Matt, it’s great to talk to you. When we decided to put you on the cover of this issue, it got me thinking about all of your years in Canada. It’s been a long time and it’s certainly gone by fast. MG: Thanks! Yeah, it has. I’ve been racing up there since 2011. I came back to the U.S. for 2013 and 2014, but then went back to Canada in 2015 and have been racing there since. I’ve had a great time racing up there and really like all the people in the racing community.
Well, we have enjoyed having you here. Do you remember your first race in Canada? MG: My first one would have been Kamloops 2011. I didn’t do well. I was recovering from a broken wrist from a crash I had in Supercross that year. I actually came up to Kamloops a month early and Jason Hughes and his wife let me stay with them and work with Greg Kozoris and some other people
in Kamloops to try and heal faster. I learned a lot from Greg about training and it really paid off the next year when I was healthy. We won all but two motos in 2012.
Yes, 2012 was very dominant for you and it was fun to watch. What made you decide to come up to Canada and race? MG: In 2011, I was on Ti Lube Kawasaki for Supercross only. So, Jason called me and offered me a ride for outdoors in Canada. After winning in 2012 I went back to the USA for 2013 & 2014, I was doing well but had I two injuries which took me out of Top 10 in points in Supercross. I didn’t get to ride outdoors healthy those two years which is a bummer because I feel I really would have done well there. So, when 2015 came around I was weighing out my options and I really enjoyed my time in Canada, so I reached out to some Canadian teams and it just made sense. I wanted to win again!
Well you’ve certainly had a lot of success on Canadian soil. Between a plethora of moto wins and multiple MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 25
MXP_2020_20.02_Matt Goerke Interview.indd 25
2020-07-22 4:46 PM
MXP CHATTER WITH
MATT GOERKE
championships, Canada has been really good to you. What are some of your best racing moments up here? MG: Definitely crossing the finish line for all three Championships, of course. Each one was obviously difficult and that moment when you finally get it done is always a great feeling. My first win at Gopher 2011 was special. That was my first time at Gopher and man that was brutal. I was about to pass out the last few laps. The opening round in 2012 was also memorable, I was confident and in the best shape I had ever been in up to that point and came out and won both motos. I beat Colton [Facciotti] straight up on a track other than Gopher, which not many people had done at that point. Most of the races in 2017 against Pourcel. We had some great battles. It is a little different feeling when you don’t really like the person you’re racing [laughs], I kinda liked it though. Finally, last year in Minnedosa. I had broken my front brake finger the week before, so I didn’t think I was going to race. I almost didn’t even come to the race. But I wanted to attempt it because at that point I still had a shot at the championship. Even though it was muddy I still can’t believe I was able to win that. It hurt so bad and I couldn’t really use my front brake.
You have obviously had some incredible success in Canada. Those were all great races, and I
“My first win at Gopher 2011 was special. That was my first time at Gopher and man that was brutal. I was about to pass out the last few laps.” know I’ve asked you this before, but what is (or has been) your favourite track in Canada? MG: I guess I’m most confident going into Gopher each year, although the last few have not been good for me because of bike issues. So, I like Gopher, but it’s not that fun by the end of the second moto when it’s just brutal. Prince George and Riverglade are also two tracks that I’ve enjoyed over the years. It’s too bad we won’t be visiting them this summer.
We’re living in some very interesting and challenging times in 2020. How have you and Erin been coping since all of this pandemic stuff began? MG: Yeah, this has been crazy. During the lockdown we just did a lot of house projects and went to my track and rode. We also live in a golf cart community so everyone just drove around because there was nothing to do [laughs]. We were so bored, but it obviously could’ve been a lot worse. We managed to stay healthy and, so far, we’ve made it through everything.
So other than driving around in a golf cart and working on the house, you just kept training and waiting? MG: Yes, pretty much! I kept training and riding waiting for our final race schedule was going to get announced. At one point, I thought we weren’t going to race, and I started getting prepared for the apocalypse. I actually went out and bought a gun and some other stuff to get prepared for that. It has definitely been some strange times.
Well it sounds as though you made the most of your time stuck at home. What are your thoughts on the Triple Crown Series which is going to be three motos shorter than last year? MG: I’m just pumped we’re racing. Any schedule is better than not racing. Yes, it’s a little shorter than previous years but it’s still going to be tough and it’s going to be a grind.
26 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_Matt Goerke Interview.indd 26
2020-07-22 4:46 PM
RIDE IN A COMPANY OF LEGENDS From James Stewart and Ricky Carmichael, to Ryan Villopoto and Adam Cianciarulo, the greatest racers laid the foundations for their careers on Kawasaki Team Green. Leading the way with innovative performance technologies and racer support programs, KX riders roll up to the starting gate with conďŹ dence, knowing that they’re following in the footsteps and saddles of Team Green legends before them. #Levelup with Kawasaki. 2020 Canadian Kawasaki Motors Inc. Always ride responsibly. Always ride within the limits of your skills, your experience and your machine. Wear an approved helmet and protective clothing. The actions depicted here took place under controlled conditions with professional riders.
MXP_2020_20.02_Kawasaki.indd 1
KAWASAKI.CA
2020-07-17 10:26 AM
I don’t want to bring this up, but I have to. This season almost didn’t happen as I heard you came pretty close to retiring after your crash in Germany late last year. I don’t want to talk about your crash and how serious your injuries were, I’d The series kicks off at rather talk about your Gopher Dunes, a track incredible recovery. you’ve been very good How did you come back at over the years. Is the physically and mentally plan to come out and from it? It’s fine. Yeah it was a bad injury. It win and set the tone? MG: was a burst fracture of my L2, so I have
MXP CHATTER WITH
MATT GOERKE
MG: Yep, that’s the plan! The team has worked really hard and made a lot of changes for this year so I think the bike will be awesome! Having the opening round at a track like Gopher Dunes when you know it’s going to be rough and hot, that is going to be challenging. You’re definitely going to know quick who is prepared and who isn’t. I cannot wait, it’s going to be fun.
Travelling has definitely changed with this pandemic. Will you be coming to Canada in the weeks prior to Round 1 and then staying until the series is over? MG: Yes, that’s what it looks like we will have to do. We’re planning all of that right now. The plan is to drive up with my truck and camper and stay for all of the rounds. It’s going to be different than in years past with no flying back and forth in between each race, but I think it’s going to fun. Like I said, it’s been a long wait and I cannot wait for the gate to drop.
two rods in my back. I also re-broken my collarbone that I broke at Walton, so they had to re-plate that. I healed really fast for a couple of reasons. The hospital therapist in Germany came only once a day to help me walk. But I got up by myself when they were gone and would walk like every hour. They were going to keep me for a month or more, but I wanted to go home. So, I stopped taking all my pain medicine for a few days and said I felt fine. I wanted to go home very badly. I was stubborn, but it worked. I was really in crazy pain – I don’t recommend anyone else do this. Finally, they released me but told me it would be dangerous if I sat for more than 30 minutes so I shouldn’t travel home just yet. But I was really ready to get back home and start healing. So I just set an alarm and got up every 30 minutes and walked on the train for the first five-hour trip to the airport, and then the same thing on the plane for the entire 11-hour flight to Atlanta. Once I landed in Atlanta, I was able to lay down before the last short flight to Panama City Beach. It was brutal, especially without pain medicine, but by the time I got home I was already so far ahead of most people with this injury because of all that moving, and I was off pain meds. When I got home, I started working with Dr. Edwards (docedwardsfitness. com) and began my therapy program. The spine doctor here couldn’t believe my progress. I was really motivated to be
able to race this year, even though most people thought that wouldn’t be possible.
I have one more question you. Where do you You’re a beast, Matt and for see yourself in say ten all of your fans are years? happy you recovered MG: As an entrepreneur of some sort. Hopefully owning some successful and decided to race businesses and enjoying life after racing. again. We’re pumped to hear that you’re Thanks for doing this. motivated and excited to All the best and we’ll race this summer. see you at Gopher Dunes. MG: Thanks!
MG: Thanks, Palms – see you there!
28 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_Matt Goerke Interview.indd 28
2020-07-22 4:46 PM
MXP_2020_20.02_FXR.indd 1
2020-07-16 3:56 PM
Y D A R N B ERE H THE S : E L I F O PR Y R T S INDU
INNOVATOR
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
Back when Brady Sheren raced at the top level of our sport, he was fast, methodical, and always looking for ways to be better. Sometimes this approach worked and sometimes it didn’t, but the important thing was that he was always open to trying new things. When Brady retired in 2010, he carried this way of thinking into business and his post-racing life. Well, here we are a decade later and Brady is one of main people behind one of the most successful companies in our industry. Matrix Concepts and Atlas Braces are a household name in motocross, and they are not only responsible for bringing us products like Mobius Braces, 100% and Renthal, but they also give our riders the best protection possible. To get his thoughts on racing, business and family, we sat down with Brady for an in-depth conversation. HEY BRADY! I’M PRETTY EXCITED THAT WE COULD FINALLY NAIL DOWN THIS INTERVIEW FOR THE MAGAZINE. IT’S DEFINITELY BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING OUT IN B.C.?
Things are really good, Palms. We’re just taking things day by day while we deal with everything that’s been going on. We’re a small company and we don’t really sit close together in the office, so the whole pandemic thing hasn’t really altered how we work. Yeah, we’ve washed our hands more, a few of us worked from home for a few weeks, and obviously we’ve been more careful, but life goes on and we’ll get through it. We don’t have any retail here at this office so it’s not like we have people in and out of here everyday
WELL, IT’S DEFINITELY BEEN A CRAZY TIME FOR EVERYONE AND IT’S NOT EVEN OVER YET. OBVIOUSLY, I DON’T LIVE OUT IN B.C. BUT BY THE SOUNDS OF IT YOU WEREN’T HIT AS HARD AS SOME AREAS BY COVID-19. No, I think B.C. did okay with it and really, we haven’t had that many cases. It’s obviously a terrible situation and it’s ruined a lot of people lives, but we have to keep on living and serving our customers. Also, shockingly from a sales point of view the past few months have been some of our best numbers ever. So, it’s definitely a crazy time!
30 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_20.02_Brady Sheren.indd 30
2020-07-22 4:22 PM
YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT. I GUESS TIME WILL TELL. SO, LET’S TALK ABOUT YOU AND WHAT YOUR LIFE IS LIKE THESE DAYS. TAKE US THROUGH HOW YOUR LIFE IS THESE DAYS AND WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY.
YOU BRING UP A GREAT POINT AND YOU’RE CORRECT, THE BEST WORD IS ‘SHOCKING’ AS WHO WOULD’VE PREDICTED THAT. I THINK THROUGHOUT OUR INDUSTRY THE SALES NUMBERS SINCE APRIL HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE.
It’s the same with the bicycle industry as you cannot find a bike out here to buy. Anything to do with the outdoors seems to sell really well right now. This is what happens when you keep people locked inside for a while and give them some extra money. Once they get out, they’re going to go on a shopping spree.
I SUPPOSE THAT IS TRUE. I GUESS SOME GOOD HAS TO COME FROM BAD SITUATIONS LIKE THIS ONE. Exactly, it’s nice to see this industry come out on the good end of one of financial crisis. Usually we come out
on the bad end and it takes years to rebuild. We’ll see what next year brings, but for now, I’ll take it.
WE COULDN’T AGREE MORE, BRADY. BEFORE WE GET INTO YOUR CAREER, WERE YOU ABLE TO WATCH ANY OF THE FINAL SEVEN SUPERCROSS RACES AND WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE FORMAT?
I watched a few of the races and I thought they were good. I enjoyed the Wednesday races more than the Sunday races, only because the track appeared to be better for the mid-week events. I’ve actually raced a SX in Salt Lake City and the dirt has always been awful. So, it was no surprise to see that it was still bad. But yeah, the ones I did watch were good and I’m glad Feld was able to get the series completed and award three deserving champions.
I AGREE WITH YOU, I REALLY ENJOYED THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACES AND I FOUND MYSELF MISSING THEM WHEN THE SERIES WAS OVER. DO YOU THINK THAT PERHAPS FELD STUMBLED UPON A NEW FORMAT THAT MIGHT WORK? DO YOU THINK WE’LL SEE WEDNESDAY NIGHT SX RACES IN THE FUTURE?
I think it’s something that could be looked at for sure in the future. I think it would be great to maybe have more races in a shorter amount of time and then give the riders more time off. That is what is really needed in the future is more time off for the riders, especially between the end of the SX series and the opening round of the outdoor nationals. Not much is happening on Wednesday nights through the early part of the year so maybe some SX races would fit nicely on television. The only drawback that I could see is it might be hard to get fans to attend if the race was on Wednesday night. Who knows? Maybe it’s worth trying a couple of them in 2021.
We have a few going and different things that keep me busy. Most of my time is centred around the Atlas Brace side of the business. I would say that Atlas takes up about 75% of my time. Then there’s the Matrix Concept side of the business which also keeps me busy. With Atlas, that is our own brand and we’re constantly trying to develop new products with that and also trying to fine tune what we have. Matrix Concepts is also a brand that has some cool products as you know, but it’s also a distributor with successful companies like Mobius Braces, 100%, we recently took on Works Connection and Renthal, so we’re really excited about those two iconic brands. Also, we distribute Strider Balance Bikes in Canada and that has been very successful for us. So yeah, we cover a lot of ground here and it definitely keeps me busy.
IT DEFINITELY SOUNDS LIKE YOU’RE BUSY, BRADY. I’VE PERSONALLY TRIED ALL OF THOSE BRANDS YOU JUST MENTIONED AND ALL THEM ARE GREAT. I EVEN BOUGHT MY SON A STRIDER BIKE EIGHT YEARS AGO WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT, AND HONESTLY IT TAUGHT HIM HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. HE SPENT A MONTH RIDING THE STRIDER THROUGH OUR KITCHEN AND LIVING ROOM DURING THE WINTER AND THEN WHEN THE SNOW MELTED, HE WENT OUTSIDE AND STARTED RIDING HIS BICYCLE FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH NO TRAINING WHEELS. THOSE THINGS ARE GREAT! They are and like we said, with this whole Covid thing we’ve struggled to keep them in stock.
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 31
MXP_20.02_Brady Sheren.indd 31
2020-07-22 4:22 PM
FIL E: RY PRO INDUST
Y D A BR EREN H THE S INNOVATOR
“EXACTLY, IT’S NICE TO SEE THIS INDUSTRY COME OUT ON THE GOOD END OF ONE OF FINANCIAL CRISIS. USUALLY WE COME OUT ON THE BAD END AND IT TAKES YEARS TO REBUILD.”
32 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_20.02_Brady Sheren.indd 32
2020-07-22 4:22 PM
YOUR WIFE ALSO HAS A COMPANY THAT YOU HELP HER WITH, CORRECT?
Yes, my wife started a jewelry company and it’s doing very well. She’s also written a book that will be released later this year, and she’s done some podcasts recently. She’s very busy and she’s very passionate and determined to help our veterans. We’re also parents to a very busy 4-year old so that sometimes is job all to itself [laughs]. As you know, at that age kids are into a wide range of things and it keep everyday exciting! Life is good and hopefully the best is yet to come.
THAT IS GREAT TO HEAR, BRADY. LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR RACING NOW. YOU COME FROM A RACING FAMILY AS YOUR DAD WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL RIDER IN HIS DAY. GROWING UP WAS IT JUST A NORMAL CHILDHOOD OF RIDING AND THEN RACING FOR YOU? Depends what you mean by normal [laughs]. I guess it was normal when you look at some other riders and how they grew up. I started riding at an early age and before I knew we were modifying a PW-50 to compete against some very fast kids. Once I started racing and we began travelling to races, things progressed pretty quickly from there.
YOU WERE ALSO A BMX KID WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG. DO YOU THINK THAT HELPED YOU WITH MOTO?
Yes, I rode a lot of BMX when I was young, and I definitely think it helped with my riding. It was fun to do for a while, but once I started to get serious in moto, that took over.
ONCE THE PW-50 DAYS WERE OVER, WHERE DID YOU GO FROM THERE?
From there I moved up to the 65cc class and we just kept racing and racing. My Dad and I would go down to California and ride and race down there, we went to Vegas and did the World Mini GP there. We did it all and it was a lot of fun.
THE WORLD MINI GP MUST HAVE BEEN A FUN EVENT. THAT RACE WAS MASSIVE BACK IN THE DAY.
For sure it was, back then it was part of the amateur circuit and all of the top riders would go. When we went there on 65s, we had just got a new bike from a dealership and went directly to the race. Once we got there and started talking to all of the other 65 parents, we quickly realized what we were up against. They began to tell us all about these mods they were doing and how to make these bikes fast. On the track I was definitely underpowered and at times I felt like I had paddle with my feet to go faster. Looking back, we were so new to everything, but it was fun and obviously it created some great memories.
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 33
MXP_20.02_Brady Sheren.indd 33
2020-07-22 4:22 PM
FIL E: RY PRO INDUST
Y D A BR EREN H THE S INNOVATOR SOMETIMES THOSE END UP BEING THE BEST MEMORIES. I HAVE A BUNCH OF THOSE WITH MY DAD FROM MY RACING DAYS. WHEN IT WAS JUST HIM AND I AND WE DIDN’T REALLY KNOW MUCH, WE JUST WENT RACING. BUT YOU AND YOUR DAD LEARNED QUICKLY AND OVER YOUR AMATEUR CAREER YOU HAD SOME REALLY GOOD RESULTS. Thanks, I mean I’d like to think they were. I’m certainly proud of some of my results. I was able to win a couple of Walton TransCan titles on the 85cc in 2001 and again 2003. Those races were a lot of fun as I had some great battles with some fast kids. One year at Loretta Lynn’s I finished third in a moto behind Ryan Villopoto and Mike Alessi, that was fun. I actually rode with Villopoto a lot in those days and it obviously helped my riding a lot. Unfortunately, I also had some serious injuries as an amateur and those really affected my confidence. It’s not easy when you’re young to have to keep coming back from injuries, you end up just sitting there wondering why these bad things are happening to you.
I AGREE, INJURIES AT A YOUNG AGE ARE VERY DIFFICULT AND THEY COST A YOUNG RIDER THEIR CAREER AS SOME JUST DON’T COME BACK FROM THEM. BUT YOU CAME BACK FROM THEM AND FOUND SUCCESS EARLY IN THE PRO CLASS. Yes, graduating to the pro class was pretty good, and I was able to race a lot of SX in the U.S. I was always a very technical rider so SX came fairly easy to me. Also, I enjoyed the atmosphere of SX with the fans and lights a lot more than a hot and dusty outdoor track. Everything about SX was cool to me and some of my best memoirs come from lining up in a stadium or arena.
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE MORE OF A TECHNICAL RIDER. I’VE SEEN YOU RIDE A LOT AND I WOULD MOST CERTAINLY AGREE. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER MY TRACK, BUT WHEN YOU CAME AND STAYED WITH ME IN 2009 YOU HAD MY TRACK DIALED IN. THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF GREAT RIDERS THERE OVER THE YEARS AND YOU HAD THE BEST LAP TIME. Really? That’s cool. I don’t remember being that good on your track, but if you say so then we’ll go with it. [laughs]
IT’S TRUE! I EVEN TOLD NEWF THAT STORY, BUT HE DOESN’T BELIEVE IT. SO, IN 2009 YOU RACED THE TORONTO SX IN THE SPRING AND THEN THE MONTREAL SX IN THE FALL, WHERE YOU FINISHED THIRD IN THE 250 CLASS. WAS THAT YOUR FINAL RACE?
After the Montreal SX I went to the US Open in Las Vegas when it was still at the MGM Grand and raced the 450 class. That race was so much fun when it was at the MGM, and what made it even cooler was that I had also raced there a few years prior on 85s. So, I was back there but this time on a big bike. It was very cool! I think that was my final race.
THOSE ARE MEMORIES THAT YOU NEVER FORGET! ONCE YOU WERE DONE RACING FULLTIME, WAS THE TRANSITION INTO BUSINESS FAIRLY SEAMLESS? My Dad was heavily involved in business once he finished racing, so he was always guiding me in that direction. The blueprint was laid out and I just followed it and slid into that role. It wasn’t seamless, but it wasn’t something completely new to me. Thinking about new products and designing new products has always been part of my thought process, it’s just how I am.
YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN A THINKER AND AN INNOVATIVE PERSON, CORRECT? I think so! As I said before, that is the way I rode a dirt bike and now it’s translated into business. I’m proud of the time I spent racing and travelling and now I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish in ten years of business.
“MY DAD AND I WOULD GO DOWN TO CALIFORNIA AND RIDE AND RACE DOWN THERE, WE WENT TO VEGAS AND DID THE WORLD MINI GP THERE. WE DID IT ALL AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.”
34 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_20.02_Brady Sheren.indd 34
2020-07-22 4:22 PM
YOU’VE DONE VERY WELL, AND IT’S BEEN GREAT TO SEE. YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM THERE AND YOU’RE ALL VERY RESPECTED INDUSTRY PEOPLE. I HOPE THE NEXT TEN YEARS ARE AS SUCCESSFUL AS THE FIRST TEN. I hope their even more successful [laughs].
WE’VE SEEN SO MUCH CHANGE AND SO MUCH INNOVATION IN THE PAST DECADE WITH BIKES, PRODUCTS AND GEAR. IT’S BEEN A WHIRLWIND OF DEVELOPMENT. WHERE DO YOU THINK WE GO FROM HERE?
Great question, I wish I knew exactly. Obviously, electric bikes are here and they’re only going to improve. Those are going to be cool as they get better, but with those it also going make other parts of our industry obsolete. So, companies are going to have to keep changing and adapting as we progress. Right now, I think we’re in a good spot with the sport and if we can continue to fine tune certain areas then we’re going to be even better. With Atlas, we’re working on some new products that we’re excited
about. I cannot talk about those right now, but later this year they will made available. I think we just keep improving what we have and keep doing what we’ve been doing with new products.
I AGREE, AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE WHEN I SAY THAT WE CAN’T WAIT FOR SOME NEW PRODUCTS FROM ATLAS. BRADY, IT’S BEEN GREAT TALKING TO YOU. ALL THE BEST TO YOUR FAMILY AND BUSINESS AND I HOPE YOU ALL STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY. Thanks, Palms! It has been a great chat.
I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU, THOUGH. IF BOTH YOU AND YOU DAD WERE IN YOUR PRIME AND ON EQUAL EQUIPMENT, WHO GETS THE HOLESHOT? For sure him [laughs]! I was never that good at starts, that was his strong point. Definitely, he would get the holeshot!
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 35
MXP_20.02_Brady Sheren.indd 35
2020-07-22 4:23 PM
the Real the Real
Dream
Team 36 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_2005 Diablo Story.indd 1
2020-07-22 4:43 PM
With no racing going on right now, I thought it would be fun to look back at when I managed a race team out of my Diablo Honda dealer in Montreal in 2004. B Y A N DY W H I T E / P H O T O S B Y A L L I S O N K E N N E DY
W
e sold just about everything Honda had to offer, from bikes to power equipment and marine engines. It was a good year and sales were solid with the CRF 250 and 450. I was focused on dirt side sales and supported riders and teams for many years, and we had a good percentage of sales coming right out of Quebec. My business partner Lee Tinkler was managing our suspension company (Pro Tech Suspension) in the same building and, because we had lots of riders stopping by daily, it was a perfect recipe for a race team or race support. Honda Canada really provided solid support with discounts and cash to help run the team. Our primary team sponsor, RPM Finance, was in internal department within Honda. It felt a bit strange to have that logo on the bikes, but I was not about to question it. Honda supported us in 2003 as well when Marco Dube and Doug DeHaan were on the team. We posted good results and Honda made some funding available for 2004. Every year riders get offers from other teams and it happened to our team. Both Marco and Doug got poached by new teams that offered them more money. It sucks but it is a fact of life in racing. For 2004, I decided to go in a different direction. A new gear sponsor offered the team good financial support and they wanted riders with recognizable names and established track records. After some discussion, we decided to hire American riders. I had picked two that would be easy to work with, Mike Treadwell and Keith Johnson. Both had raced in Canada before and understood the
Canadian national program. They worked well together and understood what was needed to run a medium budget team. The fact that both riders were attached to industry sponsors such as Pirelli, Pro Circuit and Rental was a huge help. Without support from these companies you are going to end up burning through your own money on these items. My contract with Honda was straightforward: discount on 10 units plus deferred payment until the end of the season, plus cash and a solid contingency program. Mike and Keith both have lots of fans, so it was easy to sell these units during the season without losing any money, especially when you leave some of the trick parts on the bikes. With the deal in place, I have two riders set up and the bikes are being built by Keith’s mechanic Dave Derosier in New England. Dave has been around for a long time and did a great job of preparing the race bikes. The next step was to get the transport set up and apply the sponsors logos on the trailer. It was a turnkey package. To this day, I still say it was one of the easiest teams I have ever managed. With the dream team in place, we are a few weeks away from loading the trailer and heading to the west coast for round one. Then one day I get a phone call from Mike Treadwell who said his buddy John would like to come up and race the series as well. “John who?”, I said. “John Dowd”, Treadwell replied. I then said we are racing Hondas and he rides a Suzuki, Mike! Does John want to race a Honda CRF450? Mike said no, but he wanted me to make some calls and get him a Suzuki deal.
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 37
MXP_2020_20.02_2005 Diablo Story.indd 2
2020-07-22 4:43 PM
Okay, the first problem is I don’t sell Suzuki. The second problem is John Dowd will need serious funding to bring him up to compete in the series. Nevertheless, I told Mike I would make some calls. Even though I wasn’t what I could do, I had a few ideas to make this work. In 2000, I managed the Factory Suzuki team when Dube was on the team. I also knew some of the managers at Suzuki Canada, so I made the call and they were quite interested. The larger problem was that the main manager at Suzuki was not a MX race guy. But he understood marketing and business and that’s all I needed. So, I called the manager in question, Mark Stallybrass, and explained this new opportunity. I knew if I could sell the idea to Mark, he would do his best to persuade Suzuki management. Mark seriously needed to bring John Dowd to Canada! I knew a big-name rider like Dowd would be an easy sell if I had the right people behind it. The next step was finding a gear deal that could put some cash in to the program. Timing is everything in motocross. Shot race gear had just opened in Montreal and I knew the person in charge. My Diablo riders were signed up to wear Shot that year too. One call was all it took to get Dowd signed to the program. The next step was how to get Dowd to all ten rounds. We are talking about John Dowd, the guy who almost beat RC at the Southwick national in 2003. The next day I called Andre at OTSFF and asked him if he had any extra trucks available. The timing was perfect.
38 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_2005 Diablo Story.indd 3
2020-07-22 4:44 PM
I think the only team in the pit that should be ready to race was the Blackfoot team. That was the team with the million-dollar budget. My Diablo team, on the other hand, had a budget for two top ten riders was approximately $100,000 for the full season, and Dowd’s program, including salary, was around $125,000. We ran a tight ship. At any rate, with both teams set up we went back to the hotel to clean up and head out for dinner. We all met in the lobby for 6 p.m. and went to a local restaurant. We all sat at a nice big table. I didn’t know Dowd’s mechanic, Ron Bushey that well. Mike Treadwell’s mechanic was a young guy from Toronto named Nick Di Cristofaro who was a super, nice guy, and a solid mechanic, but very shy. Poor Nick had no idea how this summer was would
“Then one day I get a phone call from Mike Treadwell who said his buddy John would like to come up and race the series as well.”
KTM Canada had worked with Andre in 2003, but for 2004 they put their own team together after KTM separated from Barrett Marketing. OTSFF was not connected to anyone for 2004, so I presented the program to them. Within a few days I had OTSFF as a main sponsor, and Suzuki Canada called back and agreed to everything I requested. I was ecstatic! I now have enough budget to make this work. I called Dowd and said we have the budget, transport and backing from Suzuki Canada. It’s time to get things rolling. At this point we are only a few weeks away from round one. The Diablo Honda and the OTSFF Suzuki race team are on their way to the west coast for the first race of the year. The easiest way to manage the riders was to give them a travel allowance and let them figure out how to get to the races. The average age of the three riders was 36, so I was confident they could handle it. Dowd was 39,
Treadwell was 36 and KJ was a young 34. They all lived within a few hours of each other in New England so they could work together and build a plan. I also gave the mechanics their own travel budgets, so they did not have to book anything through me either. In the past, I reserved hotels, bought airplane tickets and reserved rental cars. Most of the time I picked riders up at the airport as some were too young, as they were under the age of 25. This program would be way different. The only thing I really had to tell the riders was what hotel I wanted them at and when to be at the track and that was pretty much it. I took care of everything else. So, we met up at the track on Friday for set up day. Typical round one. Everyone received their bike graphics and new shiny, trick parts. Most teams were putting the finishing touches to their bikes and applying last minute sponsors logos to awnings and trailers.
change his life forever hanging out with these guys. If I remember correctly, that first night was Nick’s birthday. We told the waitress, and before you knew it, the staff came over and made Nick put this old smelly Viking helmet on that had massive horns sticking out on both sides. The birthday guest then must stand on their chair while the staff sings happy birthday, and the helmet stays on during the meal and for the rest of the evening. This was the first time Nick had met Dowd and his mechanic. I felt bad for Nick at the time, but I am sure he looks back on it now and just laughs. Back at the hotel later that night, I decided to stop by each of the riders’ rooms to let them know how pumped I was about the team. I knocked on Treadwell’s door, which was jarred open a little. I heard ‘come on in’ and saw four grown men snuggled into two queen size beds. “Uh… guys, what’s up with this picture?”, I asked. “We are pooling our money together, we all chip in on the hotel room and rental car. At the end of the day we save on the budget,” Mike said. I smiled, quickly turned around and said good night and see you in the morning. This is how the team rolled for the season. It was pretty cool to see three top ten riders share one hotel room – probably a first in Canadian motocross. John Dowd’s mechanic Ron Bushey was a real character too. He was not the friendliest guy when I first met him and came off very reserved. He told me he didn’t trust redheads. I explained that I was not sure what happened in the past but told him I have never burned anyone in the industry. He looked at me and said he didn’t get paid on last team he worked for. The team made big promises and told him the budget was solid. They strung him along for weeks until the team went bust and he got burned. I looked at him and said, “I don’t know what happened to that team, but I can tell you I am in for the season.” I said, “Here is a cheque for the full ten rounds, paid in full. Does this change things?” We have been friends from that day on. Funny how fast money can change things. That summer was probably the best one I ever had on the national tour. It was like a vacation really. The riders were always in good spirits and it was always pretty light under the team’s set up. The only time things didn’t work out was when a rider crashed or didn’t finish well, but that’s understandable. I remember having t-shirts made for
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 39
MXP_2020_20.02_2005 Diablo Story.indd 4
2020-07-22 4:44 PM
both teams. I did this to help fund the program. At the first couple of rounds they were completely sold out. That stock was supposed to make it to all ten rounds. I was not complaining one bit, the extra funds really helped us out. It was fun to hear what the fans would say as they stopped by the team to say hello to the guys. The three riders ticked off all the boxes that year and oh how I wish we had social media back then! How did we do it? The season ended well. Dowdy finished third overall with lots of podiums. Keith finished sixth, and Mike, who missed a few rounds due to a hand injury, was 11th. I caught up with the riders recently to ask them about their memories of that 2004 season, and here’s what they had to say.
When people ask you about that year what do you usually say?
KJ: Definitely my favourite season of racing! Travelling every weekend with my two best buds. Best of times! MT: It was the most fun I’ve ever had in all my years of racing. JD: What usually comes to mind first for me is, that it was one of funniest years in racing I’ve ever had. I’ve had lots of fun racing all those other years as well, but that year was just awesome for me. Hanging with my buddies.
“The season ended well. Dowdy finished third overall with lots of podiums. Keith finished sixth, and Mike, who missed a few rounds due to a hand injury, was 11th.”
40 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_2005 Diablo Story.indd 5
2020-07-22 4:44 PM
Best mechanic that season?
KJ: Dave Derosier of course! And he loved Canadians! MT: I think they were all great and they worked together well. JD: Oh, I definitely had the best mechanic. My friend Ron was friggin’ hilarious that whole year. He was responsible for some of the wildest moments that season for us. He was a pretty good mechanic also! [laughs]
Who forgot their wallet in the hotel the most?
KJ: Don’t recall anyone leaving wallets at hotels. I’m sure someone did, and it was probably JD. He was old even back then! MT: Probably me! JD: I’m pretty forgetful about stuff but I’m saying Treadwell!
Who was in charge when the three of you travelled?
Most memorable moments?
Canadians, but between the three of us, it’s Treadwell. You can’t keep that guy happy! MT: I can’t remember much complaining, really just a lot of laughs. Well maybe the mechanics and Andy were complaining because of all the parts we used! JD: I think I would have to say Tread complained the most. He would get grumpy sometimes. Then that became funny to KJ and me. So naturally we would keep jacking with him after that. [laughs]
KJ: Wow, so many memorable moments. For me personally it was crashing in Calgary on the last lap of the 2nd moto. Rode injured the rest of season. Hard to forget that! [laughs] MT: Ron Bushey standing in the middle of the start straight at Nanaimo refusing to move after the shit show, first moto red flag. JD: Honestly, I don’t even think I could pick one. There were so many funny little moments throughout that season. We somehow could make fun out of anything.
How cool was it that the three of you got to race together that year?
KJ: We talk about it all the time how cool and how lucky we were to race every weekend in Canada. Never a dull moment with this crowd that’s for sure. MT: It was just really cool to be able to put that deal together for that year. We have spent so much time together over the years that it was just a great summer. We still laugh about it today. JD: For me, it was awesome being back with my homies. [laughs] I was
Who is the better starter? very fortunate in racing and had some years racing at the factory level. I didn’t get to hang and race with Tread and KJ too much through some of those years, so for me it was kind of like a reunion. The other cool thing that year was we all wore the same gear.
So, who complained the most that year? KJ: Without a doubt, Ron Bushey (Dowdy’s mechanic). He hated
KJ: I’d go with JD on the best starter. Never Tread, he sucked and still does! MT: I plead the 5th – I know it’s not me! JD: I would probably say KJ. He’s always been like the little professor in racing.
Who had the best tricked-out bike that year?
KJ: I know my mechanic Dave spent hours on motors, wheels, ignitions, radiators, etc. I’d go with me. MT: KJ definitely had the trickiest bike. Dave was always building stuff. JD: I don’t have a guess on the trickedout bike thing. I was never too crazy about my bike bling.
KJ: I think everyone had their moments of taking control when we travelled. Probably depended on who had the best weekend. MT: If I remember correctly it was KJ. He was our travel agent. [laughs] He handled all the travel arrangements. JD: I don’t know if there was a kingpin. We debated about every little thing... whether the truck was level, where the sun was gonna be, how much mess Tread was gonna make. [laughs]
Would you ride for that manager again?
KJ: Andy White, of course! I still do at FXR! I’m the only one of these guys still with Andy. He was great to us even though we put him through hell! Love ya buddy! MT: Absolutely. We still talk about how well it went. Andy knew what it was like to race and what was needed. We didn’t have the big hospitality set-up, but we didn’t need that. We had everything we needed to go race. That was an epic year with my best friends that not many people can say they had the opportunity to do and I am forever grateful. JD: I would absolutely ride for that guy again. If he could only come up with a gear sponsor again. [winks]. I know I sound like a broken record, but I really did have a great time that year. I’ll never forget the effort you (Andy) and Andre and everyone else involved put in for us three to go racing that year. Thank you, guys, for all the great memories.
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 41
MXP_2020_20.02_2005 Diablo Story.indd 6
2020-07-22 4:44 PM
THE PLAYERS
CROWDED HOUSE
The Story of the 2000 Two-Wheel Kawasaki Team
BY M IKE MCG ILL
There have been many legendary teams throughout the history of Canadian Motocross. The powerhouse Kawasaki Canada Team of the mid-1970s is an example that immediately jumps to mind. Managed by Carl Bastedo, the team was led by Swedish import and multi-time Canadian National Champion Jan-Eric Salqvist, Californians Jeff Wecker and Eddie Cole (who went on to found Answer Products upon his return to California), along with Finnish immigrant Jorma Rautiainen. B.C.’s Bob Levy and Ontario riders Jay Kimber and Paul Duncan rounded out the massive squad. Armed with a $200,000 race budget, the Kawasaki boys dominated the competition in 1975. Later, Blackfoot Honda and, eventually, Blackfoot Yamaha with star riders such as JeanSebastien Roy, Blair Morgan and Dust Klatt set the bar for professionalism and success in Canadian motocross.
W
ay back in the mid1990s, however, a team was formed that led the way for the new generation of Canadian motocross. That outfit was the Two-Wheel Motorsport Team, based out of Guelph, Ontario and owned and operated by Pro-Action Suspension head honcho Ron Ashley. Ron saw something big on the horizon in Canadian motocross and jumped on board early. Two-Wheel was the first to have a big trailer and professional appearance in the pits back in the early years of the CMRC Pro Motocross Championship Series. And things really took off for Ashley’s fledgling team in 1996 when he signed Blair Morgan to his first pro contract.
Two-Wheel was a mainstay on the Canadian circuit for almost a decade, competing in the series from 1995 until 2003, winning several titles along the way. While every season had its highs and lows, the 2000 campaign was perhaps the most interesting during the team’s tenure in the sport. Two-Wheel was the biggest team in the paddock that season and each rider was, not only a talented athlete, but a real character as well. Ron, as anyone knows him will attest, has a strong personality, so the stage was set for some fireworks and the team did not disappoint. In the words of the participants themselves, here is the story of the 2000 season for the Two-Wheel Motorsport/ Pro-Action Suspension Team.
RON ASHLEY
Team Owner/Manager TwoWheel Motorsport Team. Current owner, Pro-Action Suspension
JOSH WOODS
125 East and 250. Current owner, GPF (Georgia Practice Facility)
RYAN LOCKHART
125 East and 250. Current Brand Manager, Atlas Brace and Matrix Concepts Canada
MITCH COOKE
125 East and 250. Current serial business entrepreneur and real estate mogul
CHRIS POMEROY
125 East and 250. Current editor of MXP magazine and moto dad
Ron Ashley: I had a great run with Blair (Morgan) from ‘96 through until ‘99. I signed him to do selected races in ‘96. He didn’t race the full schedule or win any titles in 96 but it was obvious to anyone watching that he was a star in the making. I also had Jason Thorne, Chris Lemmon and Bill Wallin on the team that year. So, we had a big squad even then. ‘96 was also the year I brought in Chicken for Walton. (American Factory Kawasaki star and fan favorite Jeff “Chicken” Matiasevich) It took a bit of the spotlight away from Blair, but it was pretty cool. Of course, Blair he went on to win a bunch of titles for us in ‘97, ‘98 and ‘99. In ‘98 and again in ‘99 I had Blair and Doug DeHaan so that was a great one-two punch. Both were winning a lot. After that ‘99 season, though they both went to Blackfoot Honda. Honda wanted to win, and they signed a cheque. That still bothers me to this day. I’m still bitter about it, to be honest. Not so much Dougie. I didn’t really care about that, but Blair and I were like brothers, and he left for the money. It was disappointing for sure. Mitch Cooke: Man, that was so long ago I’m going to have to think about it a bit. I know that Ron helped me out a bit in ‘99. He did my suspension for me and helped out with a few things. I was 15 at the time and I know Ron talked to my Dad quite a bit. I guess that’s how I ended up on the team in 2000. Ron saw something in me I guess and signed me for the 2000 season. So, I would have been 16. My second pro season. Ryan Lockhart: I signed with the Two-Wheel team when I was 15, right after the ‘99 season. I rode the full series in ‘99 on a private Suzuki and did well. I had some top 10 overalls and even a couple top 5 moto finishes. Unfortunately, I missed the last three rounds due to injury, but I met Ron when we were hanging out in Nanaimo. I guess he took a liking to me and started looking out for me a bit. That’s when we started talking about me possibly joining the team for the 2000 season. Chris Pomeroy: In ‘99 I was with John Nelson’s Machine Racing Team. I had been with them for the previous 5 or 6 years but I got hurt at a National Series race at R.J. in June (R.J. Motorsport Park in Barrie, Ontario), and I didn’t race anymore Nationals that year. I also broke my wrist in August
42 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_20.02_2000 Two Wheel Team (Mcgill).indd 42
2020-07-22 4:33 PM
at the final Ontario Provincial race, so the season was a write-off. To be honest I was kind of over it anyways. As one of the top riders at the time I was sick of paying to get to the Nationals and paying for my box van. I needed a change. And that’s when Ron approached me about possibly riding for him and Two-Wheel in 2000. Josh Woods: In ‘99 I was a Team Green Amateur rider. My goal was to win Loretta Lynn’s, but I came up a bit short. I finished second in the 125-mod class behind Ben Riddle, and I got third in 125 stock. Sean Hamblin won that one. So, after Loretta’s I came up to Walton and ended up winning both MX1 and MX2 Pro classes. That was huge for one of my first Pro rides and I think that’s when Ron got the idea of having me race for the Two-Wheel team in 2000. They were definitely a legit team and I was interested, for sure. Ashley: After Blair and Doug left, I was kind of left scrambling for 2000. I was blindsided, really. Here is how much of a surprise that whole thing was for me. Kawasaki sent me three tickets for their year-end dealer show out in Halifax. Flights, accommodations, everything for me, Doug and Blair. I talked to the guys, everything seemed fine and then I got there, and they never showed up, left me hanging. They had already signed or had decided that they were signing with Blackfoot and they left me high and dry. That was embarrassing. So, 2000 happened and I had to throw a lot of lines out. I already had Mitch and Newf (Ryan Lockhart) in the works and I made an offer to Palms (Pomeroy) as well. I really wanted to lock Josh Woods down, though. That was going to be the key but there were a lot of logistical issues at play with him. Woods: There was a real explosion in Canadian motocross in 2000. There were more top teams, more sponsorship dollars, everything was just elevated that year, so it was pretty cool. Over the winter, Ron called but it was going to be extremely complicated due to the conflicts with my American commitments and sponsors. I was a Team Green Sponsored amateur rider in the States and there were obviously a bunch of races that I had to attend. So, as I said, lots of conflicts. There were also a bunch of conflicts with my sponsors. I had to run Dunlop tires, Pro-Circuit did my motors and sus-
“Two-Wheel was a mainstay on the Canadian circuit for almost a decade, competing in the series from 1995 until 2003, winning several titles along the way.” pension and I had an AXO gear deal at the time which all conflicted with Ron’s team and his sponsors. But, to his credit, Ron let it all happen. We even put Pro-Action stickers over the Pro-Circuit stuff, but the U.S. side supported him, and it took a while, but we were able to work out all the details. And I was looking forward to making some money in Canada. Ashley: Woodsy was an interesting deal. He had the PC works stuff on his bike, and a few different sponsors so that took some juggling, but the PC guys were very helpful and I was confident that Josh was going to be a contender in the 125 class and maybe even make some noise on the 250. Guys were still riding both classes then. As far as the rest of the team went, it got a bit out of hand. Not only did we have Woods, Palms, Cooke and Lockhart but I also signed Ryan Huffman out of Washington. His family owned Washougal and he was fast. He had some real speed. And we also had ‘Donkey Dong’ Donald Upton. That’s what I called him. I let you figure that out. So, it was a huge team and as I said back then everybody still rode two classes so under the tent it was just ridiculous. Depending on the race there could be as many as 12 bikes under the awning. Kind of crazy.
and have fun. So, we had a lot of fun. Newf, myself and Boo Green also travelled with us. He was a character and a lot of fun. Lockhart: I don’t think the team was ever supposed to be that big. It could be a complete gong show at times. But what a great group of guys. I moved to Ontario and lived with Ron prior to the 2000 season. Ron would drop me off by myself at the practice track in the morning on his way to work with a sandwich and a gas can and leave me there for the day. He’d come back and pick me up around 4:30. After a bit I struck up a relationship with Palms and he would come and pick me up and we’d go riding together. So that was better. I had a good pre-season prior to the Nationals in 2000. There was a lot of top competition in Ontario at the time and the provincial races were like mini Nationals. The scene was great, and I was doing very well, until I smoked my shoulder at the Gopher Dunes Provincial two weeks before the first National. So, I was injured going into the first National in Nanaimo, and I was terrible for the first few rounds out west. Pomeroy: Ross (Pederson) called me on behalf of Blackfoot prior to 2000. They were going big too and
they offered me a deal. Then Ron called, and I had ridden the new KX250 and I really liked it. I’d been on the aluminum frame Honda for the past three seasons and I just couldn’t get used to that thing. They weren’t good. I consider myself to be a loyal person and I was still kind of waiting for Nelson to make me an offer as well. There was a huge rivalry between the Machine and Two-Wheel at the time and I knew Nelson would be pissed if I signed with Ron. I had told John what I was looking for moving forward but at the time he wasn’t even sure he’d be going to all of the National events in 2000. Ashley: Palms was very fast and consistent in Ontario. That’s a big reason why I signed him, because the Provincial Series was big in those days. He was the king at the Provincials, but when it came to the Nationals, he just couldn’t seem to put it together. Pomeroy: Blackfoot already had Morgan and DeHaan so I wasn’t sure how we’d all do under the same tent. I didn’t really want to be on a team with those guys. We were rivals back then. One of my stipulations for signing with Two-Wheel was that I receive travel expenses. Ron agreed to that, so I would be flying back and forth to
Cooke: Wow, it was so long ago it’s tough to remember how the season went. I was so young at the time and was just living in the moment. The first race was in Nanaimo and we just stayed out on the road. My Dad followed in the motorhome and we were just a bunch of young guys doing what we loved, and I seem to remember we had a lot of freedom. I know things were different back then. And I think motocross families are different. As long as you are hanging out with other motocross kids, they just let you go,
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 43
MXP_20.02_2000 Two Wheel Team (Mcgill).indd 43
2020-07-22 4:33 PM
CROWDED HOUSE the Nationals. I figured with Provincials, Nationals and Arena Crosses I would be racing about 35 times that season and I figured I could make a decent living. I think the bonus at the time for winning a Provincial was around $3,000, so there definitely was some money. I gave Nelson a chance to match the offer, but he didn’t. I knew he wouldn’t, so I was officially a member of the Two-Wheel Motorsport Team for 2000. Woods: I was just another guy at the beginning of the season. Huffman was supposed to be the guy in the 250 class and, Upton was an experienced 250 rider as well. I was supposed to be concentrating on the 125 but I was going to ride the 250 in the West, as my number one priority was supposed to be the 125 East Series. I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to make the first round because of Loretta Lynn’s qualifiers but it worked out and I rode the big bike in Nanaimo, and I won. I did well out West. Coming into the Eastern rounds I was sitting second in points in the 250 class behind Doug Dubach. Ashley: Huffman was fast. He was crazy fast. In practice at Nanaimo he looked twice as fast as anyone going through the whoops. He would just skim them. He got arm pump really bad though and he couldn’t last a moto. In Nanaimo he got a top-five start and I’m thinking, ‘okay, here we go’, and then by the 20-minute mark of the moto he’s back in 18th. Just going backwards. He couldn’t hang on. It was awful. It was embarrassing. And things just went from bad to worse with him. In fact, in Calgary he didn’t even show up for the race. He called me, told me what time his flight was coming in and when to pick him up at the airport. So, I showed up and he wasn’t there. No explanation, nothing. Then the next week he would be back. Never said anything. No explanation. I did feel bad for him
Treadwell and J.T. (Jason Thomas) were on the podium, so I was first Canadian. I probably got a fifth as well somewhere else. The 250 class wasn’t as good for me. Usually in the top 15, but no top 10s that year I don’t think. But we were just really having fun living at Ron’s place. He would give us shit all the time, but we looked up to him. You could always count on him as a friend.
though. He really struggled with that arm pump. He had the surgery and everything, but it just didn’t help. It was very frustrating, to say the least.
the series so I’m sure that played a part in it. But physically, and mentally I wasn’t ready and all of a sudden, I knew it would be an uphill battle.
Lockhart: Huffman was a different character. Very fast, but a strange dude. I remember a couple rounds when he just didn’t show up. Of course, we would all make jokes about it. We’d always be asking Ron if he wanted us to go and pick Huffman up at the airport. This did nothing to
Lockhart: The series had certainly elevated from the previous season. Looking back now I never should have gone out west with the bad shoulder, but I really wanted to be part of the team. I felt some pressure too. My parents had spent a lot of money to get me to that point and I didn’t want
“It was a lot of fun though. I was pretty serious and would be flying in and out every weekend, so I didn’t get into it as much as some of the other guys, but I loved hearing the stories.” improve Ron’s mood. He was a bit grouchy that year. Pomeroy: I was a bit surprised at how many guys were on the team. I wasn’t concerned though. My plan was that I was just going to concentrate on the 250 and I thought I was ready but looking back I will take full responsibility for it. I didn’t prepare properly. I worked at it, but the training that I did still focused on the fourmoto per day endurance type training rather than the 25-minute sprint, let it all hang out style of training. I quickly realized at the opening round in Nanaimo that I might be in some trouble. Suddenly, the pace had really picked up. It was way more intense. A bunch of new Americans had joined
to disappoint. It was a bit of a wakeup call though and I must admit my attention to detail was a little lacking. Hell, I was a 16-year old kid on the road with my buddies riding dirt bikes. There were a lot of new influences, a lot of new friends, new lady friends and a lot of good times. I can say one thing for sure: you couldn’t get away with any of stuff that we were doing back then today. Not with cell phones and social media the way it is now tracking your every move. Cooke: I remember the good times we had more than the racing that year. I do remember that I got a fourth overall that year at Riverglade. (Riverglade MX Park in Salisbury, N.B.) Woodsy won that day and I think (Mike)
Ashley: I’m a very serious guy, and I was under a lot of pressure. Not just from sponsors, but I put it on myself as well and sometimes those guys just behaved like dumb-ass, punk kids. It was maddening. I felt like I was busting my ass for those guys and it was totally unappreciated. They would abuse my Visa card when they were on the road. Stuff like that. Newf was out practicing at Gopher Dunes one day and he decided he was going to try to ride his race bike across a pond. Of course, he filled the thing with water. Never mentioned it to me. I found out about it later. I’m sure he doesn’t talk about that incident very much. Now, having said that. We also had a hell of a lot of fun that year. There was always something funny going on and we spent a lot of time together just laughing our asses off. Newf and Cooke were usually the ringleaders in that department. Boo Green also was a kid who hung around with us and was always good for a laugh. Upton was a great guy too. Really funny guy, so we had some good times. I can’t even imagine what went on during the week when those two (Lockhart and Cooke) were out on the road and I wasn’t around. Pomeroy: It got to be a bit stressful under the tent. Huffman was supposed to be the star, but he was so hit and miss. He’d get a hole-shot and then he’d fade. Sometimes he wouldn’t even show up. Ron was grumpy and rightfully so. Woods turned out to be the Golden Boy, but Dubach was killing everybody on the Factory Yamaha 4-stroke. I was having a hard time adjusting and I wasn’t really happy with the bike. When I would say something to Ron and he’d tell me there was nothing wrong with the bike. He’d just say twist the throttle and get your head out of your ass. And he was right. It was a tough year on the track though. I would do well in the shorter qualifiers but in the National motos I would hit the wall after 20 minutes. The low point had to have been in
44 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_20.02_2000 Two Wheel Team (Mcgill).indd 44
2020-07-22 4:33 PM
Lethbridge. It was muddy and on the sight lap I had slid out on the backside of a small blind downhill. Woods came over the hill, didn’t see and crashed into my bike. Both of our bikes were bent up as we headed back to the starting line for our moto. At the time, Woods was leading the 250 points and here he is was colliding with his teammate on the sight lap. Ron wasn’t happy, no one was happy! It wasn’t my fault, but I felt bad. And then halfway through that moto my crank went and I DNF’d (did not finish). The previous week I had finished 9th in Calgary so I had a little momentum coming into Lethbridge. From there I was pretty much out of the 250 points. Our relationship wasn’t great after that. I guess everybody had their own issues, but we kept it good under the tent. We all got along well and had a lot of fun. Team dinners, rental cars, we just had so much fun hanging around and we had some running jokes. Always asking Ron if he wanted us to go and pick up Huffman at the airport. That was always good for a laugh. Huffman was the source of a lot of the jokes actually and Upton was a funny guy. He always kept everyone laughing. Woods: I had a crazy schedule and was very busy that year. Between my amateur Team Green stuff in the States and racing in Canada it started to take its toll. I was fit but my diet and stuff at the time wasn’t great. I should have just raced the 125 in Canada but when the series moved East, I was second in the points, so I wanted to keep racing the 250. I ended up getting quite sick. I wasn’t replenishing my protein well enough and that caused me some difficulties. It was a lot of fun though. I was pretty serious and would be flying in and out every weekend, so I didn’t get into it as much as some of the other guys, but I loved hearing the stories. We had a lot of laughs. Probably the most memorable thing for me from that season was the race in Ulverton, Quebec. The race was Sunday obviously and I had to catch a flight out of Montreal late Sunday so I could make it to Tennessee for Loretta Lynn’s on Monday. It was going to be tight, but I was leading the 125 East points at the time and I was still in contention for the 250 as well. I won both 125 motos that day and I got second in the first 250 moto, so I got some good points. Ron arranged to have a helicopter fly me from the track to the Montreal
airport so I could make my flight. That was pretty cool. I ended up throwing a chain in the second 250 moto so I didn’t get any points there but the whole helicopter deal was quite the experience. Ashley: Man, I was stressed all weekend about that. The year before Blair and I had taken the helicopter tour with the guy though, so I knew him a bit. It was the same guy so I just asked him if he would be able to take my guy Josh and his Dad to the Dorval Airport right after the race. He said no problem, but it cost me $800 out of my own pocket. I was hoping Kawasaki was going to come through and help me out with that a bit but deep down I knew I was going to get screwed. And I did. It was cool though. What a Rockstar. Woods: 2000. That was going to be my year at Loretta’s. I was in the A class and I had the speed and fitness. I was just going to crush everyone but in the first moto I broke my finger. And I had to decide if I was going to try to ride through it or try to ride in Canada and win the 125 East title. I only needed a few points to clinch it. I wasn’t going to win Loretta’s with a broken finger. It made no sense to continue so I dropped out of Loretta’s that year (Woods won the 250 Open A class championship at Loretta Lynn’s in 2001). So, I did up this makeshift cast for the next weekend’s race in La Toque, Quebec. As I said, I only needed a few points to clinch the title and I was able to do it. I didn’t bother with the 250 class, or the final race at Walton. Lockhart: My shoulder was pretty much healed by the time we hit the East rounds. My bike was good, I was excited about the 125 East portion of the series. At the first East round at R.J.’s I pulled a hole-shot and then I crashed on the first lap and blew apart my ACL. The following week in Moncton I taped it all up and gave it a try, but I just couldn’t go. I had surgery the next week and that was it for my season. It was a tough year. I still went to the final rounds with the team to help out. I would go to the line with Palms. I just wanted to be part of the team. Even though the racing didn’t go that well I still had a great time, and I really appreciated the opportunity that Ron gave me, seeing as I was just a kid. He didn’t re-sign me for 2001, but Ron did still help me out with some things the following year.
Cooke: It was quite a team in 2000. I wish I had a photo of our pit area. Sometimes there would be 12 bikes under the tent. I actually raced for Ron and Two-Wheel again in 2001 and 2002. We were together for a long time. I haven’t spoken to him in years, but we always had fun. Those were good days. Pomeroy: When the series came East that year, I decided I was going to try for the 125 East Championship as I was out of the 250 points by that time. That was a mistake. I should have just concentrated on the 250. The 125 seemed really slow to me. I would get awful starts in every moto and then battle back to sixth or seventh. I passed so many riders in that short series, it was fun but frustrating at the same time. We had a Pro Fuels sponsor for the 125. The bike always seemed to lose horsepower as the race went on. I had a lot of disagreements with Ron about the bike not being right. Ron would say mine and Woodsy’s bike were identical, but I knew they weren’t. My suspicions were confirmed at Ulveraton when I borrowed Wood’s 125 to ride down to sign-up. Even on the short ride I could feel that his bike was so strong compared to mine. I told Josh and he said, “dude, our bikes are nothing alike.” We had a bone stock 125 in the truck just sitting there. I finally said just let me ride that thing and I thought it was way better. I rode that bike at the East/West 125 shootout at Walton and I liked it way better. I was doing well on it too but then I crashed and separated my shoulder. I don’t think I’ve ever been so mad or frustrated as I was that day. Walking back to the truck I just remember thinking, ‘I’m done, that’s it.’ I was so upset. By the final round I have to say my relationship with Ron was not great. But in his defense, he did put up with a lot of shit from me and the other guys on the team. I can see that more clearly now than I could then. The season was not great for me personally. I wasn’t correctly prepared and that was my own fault. Just being on that team with those guys was a huge positive though. The environment, the camaraderie was just great. So much fun. I’m still very close with those guys, Newf, Cooke and Woods, to this day. Ron did offer me a deal for 2001 just to do the Provincials, but I just didn’t have anything left mentally. I had started my pilot licence and was more into that at the time. I was
thinking about going back to Nelson and Machine Racing for the 2001 125 East Championship. He offered me a ride and when I agreed and called him about picking up some bikes, he said he was just joking. I think that was his way of getting back at me for signing with Two-Wheel the year before. Ron and I didn’t talk much for a few years after 2001 and I don’t think he even had a team after that. Looking back though, Ron was one of the pioneers of our sport in Canada and he should feel good about that. He was one of the first people to have a large team with a big trailer at the track. He had a lot of success with Blair Morgan and really, without Ron, you have to wonder if Blair would’ve come East to race in the late 1990s. Anyway, I hope looking back that Ron feels good about his place in the sport. Ashley: Ah yes, Princess Palms. That’s what I called him. He didn’t have great results that year. Never did get used to the bike. Although he always did well at the Provincials. That was kind of his thing. The next year I cut the team way back. I just went with three riders. Cooke and Woods were back, and I also signed Sean Hamblin. Which is another epic story altogether. 2000 was just ridiculous. Way too many guys, but you live and learn. I’d say just having two guys is ideal. I ran the team a couple more years and then got out of it. We had a good run though, and I truly considered myself to be an innovator back in the late ‘90s. We were the first real professionally set up team in the Canadian Series, and I was proud of that.
IN CLOSING
There is no denying that the TwoWheel Motorsport Team was a force to be reckoned with throughout the course of its existence in Canadian motocross. Numerous National Championships can attest to that. Several legendary riders, both Canadian and American called Two-Wheel home at some point during their careers. In an interesting side note, most of the major players involved in the 2000 Two-Wheel Motorsport story remain deeply involved in the sport today. Good times and great racing were what it was all about back in 2000. And the Two-Wheel Motorsports team led the way, in what can only be described as another colourful chapter in the history of Canadian motocross.
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 45
MXP_20.02_2000 Two Wheel Team (Mcgill).indd 45
2020-07-22 4:33 PM
F
I
R
S T
R
I
D
E
2021 YAMAHA
TENERE 700 B Y L AW R E N C E H A C K I N G / P H O T O S B Y B I L L P E T R O
MXP2020_20.02_Yamaha Test.indd 46
2020-07-22 4:27 PM
HERE’S THE SKINNY ON YAMAHA’S 2021 TENERE 700 ADVENTURE BIKE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. FIRST OFF, THE TENERE 700 HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A YEAR NOW IN OTHER MARKETS BUT THE NAME HAS BEEN ATTACHED TO YAMAHA ADVENTURE BIKES SINCE THE MID-1980S. THESE DAYS YOU CAN SPEND 24/7 WATCHING VIDEOS OR READING OTHER PEOPLE’S REPORTS ON WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THIS BIKE. IT WON’T DO YOU MUCH GOOD FOR ME TO WRITE AN IN-DEPTH STUDY ON THE INTRICACIES OF THIS BIKE, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE EXHAUSTIVELY.
“THE TENERE IS NOT A SOPHISTICATED BIKE LOADED WITH ELECTRONICS SUCH AS TRACTION CONTROL OR REMOTE SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENTS. IT IS A BASIC MOTORCYCLE KEPT SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE.”
I
nstead, I will give you a brief history lesson on how the Tenere landed on our shores and why you should have one in your garage. The name (pronounced Ten Ner Ray) comes from a formidable desert in North Africa and the reason Yamaha adopted the name is because of their involvement in the famed Paris Dakar rally since it began in 1978. Sonauto Yamaha, the French Yamaha importer at the time relied heavily on the marketing might of the Paris Dakar rally to sell thousands of XT 500 dual purpose bikes. The XT line sold like hot cakes for more than a decade; eventually Yamaha launched the XT 600 and subsequently an XT 600 Tenere which was a rally replica, allpurpose bike with a massive fuel tank and small headlight fairing. The XT600s were a major seller for the brand. Most of their customers rode the versatile bikes to and from work and around town however owning a 600 Tenere was a matter of prestige. In those days you could easily be mis-
taken for a bonafide rally racer if you were seen on a Yamaha Tenere. The natural progression was for Yamaha to build a Super Tenere, the XTZ750. This twin-cylinder engine bike was introduced in 1988 and that is when my experience in adventure bikes began. I worked for Yamaha Europe at the time and one of my first tasks was to organize the press launch for the Super Tenere in Egypt and in the city of Luxor where many famous landmark historical sites are located. We reasoned that the Super Tenere made adventure riding to exotic locations such as the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Luxor accessible. We thought the Super Tenere owner would be the type of person who traveled with a credit card and a toothbrush and stay in luxury hotels. We sent a fleet of brand new 750s to the Sahara deserts of Egypt and invited journalists from all over Europe to sample this important model for the Japanese manufacturer. The press launch was a major success; the Super Tenere wound up on the covers
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 47
MXP2020_20.02_Yamaha Test.indd 47
2020-07-22 4:27 PM
F
I R
S T
R
I D
E
2021 YAMAHA
TENERE 700
of magazines from the North Sea to the Mediterranean and sold well in most markets. The Yamaha Paris Dakar teams competed in the rally the following January on a version of the new Super Tenere and further marketed the adventure lifestyle to adoring Yamaha purists. Fast forwarding to recent times, Yamaha re-introduced the Super Tenere in 2010, a time when large adventure bikes were the rage and Yamaha’s venture into the market was a 1200cc land yacht capable of crossing the continent in one fell swoop. In the meantime, Yamaha became once again entrenched in the Dakar rally, the ‘Paris’ being dropped since the rally moved away from its origins in Europe. When you see a factory become involved in competition of any sort there is always a reason and it is business. Yamaha fielded a factory team to sell motorcycles and when they went back to the Dakar Rally, I figured something was up for a production bike. Sure enough, a few years later the Tenere 700 hits the ground in European markets and, as of April 2020, the production bikes are in Canadian dealer showrooms. We all caught wind of the new Tenere a few years ago and they announced they were going to do a video
“THE 700 WOULD BE A GREAT COMMUTER BIKE, A WEEKEND WARRIOR ADVENTURE BIKE THAT YOU COULD RIDE AROUND THE WORLD.” showing the new bike in each market. At the time I contacted the Yamaha people here in Canada and said when it arrives in Canada, I want to be the guy to ride it for the video. Last summer I got the call. They said, “we have the bike and we are going to do a video and we want you to ride it.” I replied, “I’m there!”, and in August 2019 we flew to the interior of British Columbia and, under super-secret conditions, we shot video footage to launch the Tenere to the Canadian public. When the Tenere was rolled out, the video premiered last September 25 at Yamaha’s annual dealer meeting. When the Early Deposit Programme launched, the response was remarkable, and nearly 500 people stepped up to buy the much-anticipated new bike. I told my friends, “just put down
48 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP2020_20.02_Yamaha Test.indd 48
2020-07-22 4:27 PM
a deposit, get in line as deliveries were on a first-come, first-served basis.” Now, on to the bike. Yamaha developed the Tenere 700 in their design facility in Milan, Italy. The result is a truly incredible motorcycle for a retail price of $12,399. It was $11,999 until December 31, 2019 that made it even more of a bargain. If you can believe what is said on social media the price in Canada is one of the least, if not the least, costly in the world. In a brilliant read on the adventure bike market, Yamaha deemed the void for a mid-sized motorcycle existed especially a bike that met an attractive price point. The Tenere is not a sophisticated bike loaded with electronics such as traction control or remote suspension adjustments. It is a basic motorcycle kept simple and affordable. Imagine being handed the parameters to design a motorcycle based on, ‘you must use this engine and it must sell for this amount of money’. It is obvious the Yamaha team is made up of some of the best in the business and that is a sign of the times. This is pure speculation of my part, but they must be well rounded, well-managed professionals that are on a clear path. Upon close inspection, you can tell immediately the design team – the engineers, test riders and production teams – really hit the right notes. The Tenere’s engine is a 689cc parallel twin that is used in another Yamaha model called the MT-07. The engine is proven and appears to be overbuilt, which is a good thing in my opinion. Personally, I would rather have a heavier, more solid motorcycle under me when you need to count on that bike to get you home. The service interval is a whopping 15,000 kms before the valve clearance needs checking and oil changes are a snap. Maintenance should be easy and possible for do-it-yourselfers like me. What has many excited about the Tenere 700 is how well it works and how much fun it is to ride. All credit is due to the chassis designers, as the 700 has excellent pavement manners and is very lithe off road. The slow speed handling and lightness of the front end combined with a tight turning radius make off-road and gravel road-riding a thrill and completely accessible. Riding the Tenere provides an exciting, very satisfying ride. It feels light for a 450-pound motorcycle and extremely maneuverable. It is very satisfying feel on pavement, one friend described the cornering feel on pavement as, ‘you can’t tell it has a 21-inch front wheel’. That is a good
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 49
MXP2020_20.02_Yamaha Test.indd 49
2020-07-22 4:27 PM
thing, as big-hooped bikes often have a slightly uncertain cornering feel on the road. The larger diameter fronts are needed for off-road performance, but you can give up some of the experience on the pavement which, if you are honest, is where you will spend most of your time. Off-road, the Tenere is much less intimidating than larger adventure bikes. If you really analyze why you are riding an adventure bike and where you envision riding, you should choose a bike that is suitable for intended use. The Tenere increases your adventure experience by broadening where and what you can access. Often on an adventure ride you can wind up doing something you didn’t plan, and it is usually far outside your comfort zone. That is why it is called an adventure. The Tenere plays this role better than most any other adventure bike in the way it carries itself and how its weight enhances your ride. If you ride the Tenere backto-back with other adventure bikes you can feel the advantages of a mid-sized dual purpose or adventure bike in the first kilometre. The 700 has such good performance, with very precise handling and ultra-crisp throttle response you are left feeling like there is no need to have larger, more powerful motorcycle in the real world. The 700 would be a great commuter bike, a weekend warrior adventure bike that you could ride around the world. Part of the overall enjoyment of owning a bike like the Tenere is personalizing it. There are a litany of aftermarket companies producing all sorts of parts and accessories to add to the Yamaha. In fact, Yamaha alone has a multi-page catalogue of items ready and waiting to make your Tenere something ready of your specific use. Some of the Yamaha parts available include lowering links, a lower seat, skid plate and various guards. Ultimately if I had only one bike in my garage it would have to be the Yamaha Tenere 700. It is an all-around, capable motorcycle that does everything it was intended to do very well.
THE ORIGINAL YAMAHA TENERE THE XTZ750 packed up and headed overseas to work at Yamaha Motor Europe in the fall of 1988. It was a bold and exciting time. Marketing budgets were flush with cash and racing of all sorts was strong in popularity and at an all-time high for sponsorship. Motorcycle sales were strong in European markets, and Yamaha Motor Europe had 16 separate importers, one for each country. Sonauto Yamaha was the French importer and they were one of the largest and most important markets. At the time Sonauto Yamaha was headed up by a larger-than-life CEO by the name of Jean Claude Oliver more commonly known as JCO. JCO was a racer and enthusiast who could ride a motorcycle and conduct business at the highest level. When the Paris Dakar Rally began in 1979 JCO not only fielded a multi-rider winning team he also rode himself finishing as high as second overall in the famed rally. Of the 25 motorcycles entered in the rally that first year 11 were Yamaha XT 500s and Cyril Neveu won the event overall on an XT, his first of 5 wins. The Paris Dakar captured the imagination of millions of people during these heady times. As result sales of dual-purpose bikes skyrocketed all over Europe. The Rally didn’t have much affect or impact here in North America largely because the media were more focused on the goings-on domestically or Grand Prix motocross or road racing.
I
The Yamaha factory took notice, listened to JCO and began building works race bikes for the Paris Dakar and funding factory backed teams. Sonauto Yamaha had its own race shop and team, and JCO hired some of the best rally riders at the time but his ace-in-the hole was a young French enduro rider by the name of Stephane Peterhansel. Stephane became the winningest Dakar competitor in history racking up a total of 13 victories on bikes and in cars with 6 wins on Yamaha XTZ-based motorcycles. Yamaha, among other manufacturers, produced rally replicas for the open market. The XT 600 Tenere was the first Yamaha built to address the demand for lightweight, versatile dual-purpose motorcycles that customers could ride around town or around the world, thus beginning the adventure motorcycle and the roots of adventure riding. In 1989, Yamaha released one of the most exciting new models to the international media in Luxor, Egypt called the Super Tenere or XTZ 750. The new model represented a massive investment and years of development for the brand. The intention was to use the Paris Dakar Rally to market the new bike around the World. The new engine featured 5-valves-per-cylinder technology and a 360-degree crankshaft. The liquid-cooled, twin cylinder engine produced enough torque and power to win the Paris Dakar rally and carry
the average rider anywhere he or she wanted to go. Yamaha sent 20 Super Teneres to Egypt the spring of 1989, and we enlisted the organizers of the Rally des Pharons to provide logistics and support for the many invited journalists and importer staff to Egypt. It was my job to put the entire package together and make sure the launch of the Super Tenere gave the kickstart it needed to succeed in a highly competitive market. While in Egypt prior to the launch taking place, we shot footage for a promotional video with JCO, Stephane Peterhansel and another Dakar competitor, Italian Franco Picco. I was the fourth rider in the video, and we spent several days in the deserts between the Nile and the Red Sea tearing up the countryside side by side for the cameras. This was well before Go Pros, so the production company made massive brackets to mount professional-sized video cameras at different angles on the bike. That was one of the first times I met and rode with top-level riders, which was thrilling, and I was honoured to be included in such esteemed company. The press launch was a resounding success. The Super Tenere was featured on many magazines covers and the journalists heaped praise on the new bike, and sales were strong as the Super Tenere’s attributes were reflected in the magazine articles. The secret to a successful press launch is to put the motorcycle in the correct context and in conditions that highlight its strong points and hide any weaknesses it may have. The Nile Valley was an incredible place to launch a new adventure motorcycle the photography was stunning which of course is key to instilling the dream of adventure riding to potential riders. Personally, the Super Tenere set me on a path of traveling the World, meeting incredible, like-minded riders and seeing parts of the World accessible only on two wheels.
50 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP2020_20.02_Yamaha Test.indd 50
2020-07-22 4:27 PM
DIRT
RACE LIKE A CHAMPION Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Editions YZ450F & YZ250F I Yamaha Supercross-Inspired Graphics I Legendary YZ Performance I Wireless Power Tuner App
Discover More Yamaha – Genuine Parts & Accessories, Service and Finance
MXP_2020_20.02_Yamaha2.indd 1
2020-07-16 3:36 PM
CATCHING UP
WITH JESS PETTIS B Y C H R I S P O M E R OY / P H O T O S B Y M I K E V I Z E R
Whether it’s in life or in sport, everyone loves a good comeback story. For Jess Pettis, he’s been involved in these types of stories too many times over his career as he’s had his share of injuries. His most recent occurred last September at the Montreal SX when a simple first turn crash resulted in a torn-up knee. Pettis would end up having surgery on his injured knee towards the end of 2019 and has spent most of his time in rehab since. Little by little Pettis rebuilt the strength in his knee and by March 2020 it was time to ride again. Since then, Pettis has been progressing nicely riding and training and on July 12 at Gopher Dunes, almost ten months to the day since his Montreal crash, he lined up behind a starting gate. With one race under his belt Pettis is ready to try to win back the 250MX Title that was his in 2018. We caught up with him moments after his first race day in almost a year wrapped up. MXP: Hey Jess, welcome back to racing and all that goes with it. It’s definitely been a long time since we’ve seen you on a starting line, too long in fact. How did you feel today?
I felt pretty good actually, better than I thought I would, considering how long it’s been. It was tough racing against those 450s, but I managed to get decent starts and run near the front anyway.
The Gopher Dunes start is a long and gnarly one. You most certainly have to commit if you want to get a good start. You hung in there and your KTM pulled strong. Yes, my bike is plenty fast. I almost came together with Dylan [Wright] as we both went into the first turn pretty hot. There isn’t much room in that first turn and you’re coming in so fast, it’s definitely challenging, and you have to stay on toes.
52 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.01_Jeff_Pettis.indd 52
2020-07-23 10:13 AM
“In May, I headed back to Prince George to training and I’ve been riding there since then. So, I’ve had a lot of time to prepare for the 250MX and I feel ready.”
It was also great for everyone here to have the opportunity to watch several top riders compete against one another. Between you, Cole, Dylan and Maff, that’s most of our top Canadian riders. We got lucky today!
All in all, though it was a pretty good day. You must feel good about your first race back?
Yes, I feel pretty good with how my first race back went. It’s been ten months since I last was on a starting gate, so it was great to get back out there. There is no racing back home in B.C. so I’m glad I was able to come out east a little early and get at least one day of racing under my belt.
Gate drops are always a good idea before the National Series begins. Not to mention that with Dylan, your teammate and Maffenbeier here, you had some good guys to battle with.
Yes, that part was great as there was some fast guys out there. Most were on 450s so it was tough in the sand to battle with them. But it was all good and it also gave me and my team some quality testing time at the track we’re going to be racing on in a few weeks.
How was the track today? In the past you’ve only raced here during a national round so I’m assuming it was a little different with all of the amateurs. For sure, anytime there’s a large group of amateur riders the tracks are different, and bumps are different spots. However, what was good about today was that with the rain they had during the past few days the track did get pretty gnarly. Those final two motos we had the track was really rough, so that made for some good testing.
Yeah, these days it’s hard to get all of the top riders together at a Provincial event. But with how things are this year it all worked out. It was fun to race here without the pressure of a national race and I think everyone enjoyed watching us.
The weather was great today, but it wasn’t as hot or humid as we’ve seen in recent years here. Coming from the West do you really feel the humidity when you’re here?
I agree, today was great and I hope it’s like this at the opening round in two weeks. This Gopher Dunes National is always a tough one and it always seems to be hot and humid when we’re here. It is hard coming from the cooler and dryer summer B.C. air but that is why I came out early. I’ve rented a house near the KTM factory in Quebec for a month, so I’ll be able to ride and train in the heat and be ready for the eastern rounds. This year all of the rounds are in the East so it’s even more important.
Let’s pretend for a second that you’re not coming off a serious injury, does your preparation feel like it’s right where it should be? Yes definitely, I feel really good and I feel as ready as I ever have to go racing. Once I got cleared to ride, I headed down to Florida to train and I was down there for March and April. In May, I headed back to Prince George to training and I’ve been riding there since then. So, I’ve had a lot of time to prepare for the 250MX and I feel ready.
Unfortunately, you’ve had a few injuries before. However, that does give you some experience with how to recover mentally and come back even stronger. We all know what a messedup season this has been thus far. However, with the start of the Triple Crown Series being delayed that kind of played into your favour a bit. It gave you a little more time to make sure you were fully prepared. For sure, the delay was good for me. I would’ve been ready in June if it had started then, but the extra time certainly didn’t hurt me. Now we’re all in the same boat and we’re all just chomping at the bit to go racing. It’s been a long off-season for everyone.
So, what is the plan from here?
No one ever wants to get injured obviously, but did you find that during the rehab process you were able to address other parts of your body that might have needed some attention? I think so! Obviously, the knee was the big issue and we had to rebuild that. But in doing that I was able to work my leg strength and hip flexibility. So yes, rehabbing my knee was also good for my balance and other muscles.
It was probably good also for your mental clarity and being off gives you a lot time to think. Oh yes, there was a lot of thinking done as I had a lot of down time [laughs].
That’s a good point, Palms. Yes, I have had some injuries before and each one has been tough in its own right. None have been as tough or as long as this one, so it was definitely tough. But yeah, I know how to come back and hopefully find success again. I don’t know, I’ve done the work and now it’s time to go racing.
Well, like I said I’ve rented a place again in Bromont so JSR and I will drive back to Quebec tonight. I get the place on Wednesday so that will be cool. Later this week we’re going to Sand Del Lee to test with the team so it will be fun to go and ride that track. I don’t think I’ll race the Provincial at Walton. I’ll probably stick with the sand tracks until the opening round at Gopher Dunes.
Well, congratulations on being back at the track. I recall being off for three months with a broken femur when I was 17, but I cannot imagine being off like you were for ten months. Enjoy the next week and we’ll see you at Gopher. Thanks for chatting with us! No problem! It’s always good to catch with you, especially when it’s been so long. I’m looking forward to the 250MX Series, I think it’s going to be fun.
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 53
MXP_2020_20.01_Jeff_Pettis.indd 53
2020-07-23 10:13 AM
GEARING
UP 1
3
2 4
1. Black Label G.I. Fro Jersey SHIFT // $64.95 Perhaps no other gear set represents old school Shift aesthetic than the GI Fro, first rocked by Fro Daddy himself Jeff Emig in the late 1990s. For MX20 the iconic jersey design, featuring the original Shift logo on chest, has been updated to our new 3LACK Label chassis. SHIFTMX.CA
2. Raceframe Roost 3. Main Goggle Fox Racing // $149.95 The all-new Raceframe Roost Guard is a versatile solution for chest and back roost protection. Its articulated design wraps the body for unparalleled protection, flexibility, and comfort. The straps are adjustable to fit all body types, and the lowprofile design can be worn over or under the jersey. F OX R AC I N G . C A
Fox Racing // $29.95 Ounce for ounce, the Main Race Goggles are arguably the best value on the market. With a feature set that rivals goggles twice its price, the performance is improved even more with the addition of the Fox VLS (Variable Lens System) which allows for easy upgrades via the transfer of both standard and injection molded lenses within this same frame. F OX R AC I N G . C A
4. Legion Off-road Jacket Fox Racing // $249.95 The all-new Legion off-road jacket converts into a riding vest for even more versatility. So, now you get off-road durability and functionality in two ways. Abrasion resistant fabric is used on the front, shoulders and outside arms, so you’re well protected from overhanging branches, brush and other obstructions you’ll encounter riding tight single track. F OX R AC I N G . C A
5
5. Leatt 5.5 GPX Flexlock Boots Leatt When it comes to choosing riding kit, a quality pair of boots is one thing you should invest in. As key points of contact to your bike, it’s essential that your feet, as well as your ankles and shins, stay comfortable and protected. When riding your bike hard, the superior durability and support provided by Leatt’s brand-new GPX 5.5 FlexLock boots will be evident. L E AT T. C O M
54 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_BuyersGuide.indd 54
2020-07-23 10:08 AM
1
1. 6D ATR2 Youth Helmet FXR Racing // $895.99 FXR joined 6D because they wanted to have the best possible brain injury protection helmet on the market. 6D’s ODS Technology provides an additional, patented full suspension system, essentially two helmets in one. To measurably reduce impact energy transfer to your brain at every impact speed, in every impact angle, and in every crash event. F X R R AC I N G . C O M
2
4
3
5
2. Youth Clutch Air
3. Podium MX Gear
FXR Racing // $146.98 Beat the heat in the FXR Youth Clutch Air gear. Lightweight polyester mesh jersey fabric for maximum breathability while the pants are made from a lightweight mesh fabric for full ventilation. The pant chassis is designed with precurved knees for a more positive fit along with a reinforced panel in the inner knee area.
FXR Racing // $138.99 FXR’s mid-level Podium gear looks and performs at a premium level. Slim fit polyester jersey fabric for maximum comfort while the pants use 4-way stretch panels incorporated with 600D fabric for added flexibility and comfort. Dual-layer knee fabric with full grain leather inner panels. Price: Jersey $41.99, Pants $141.99.
F X R R AC I N G . C O M
F X R R AC I N G . C O M
4. FXR Clutch Collection
5. Maxima SC1 High Gloss Coating
FXR Racing // $143.99 FXR’s entry level Clutch gear doesn’t break the bank and still gives you the features and benefits to hit the track or trails with confidence. Jersey features polyester knit construction with slim fit design. The pants feature 600D construction with reinforced inner knees for heat and abrasion protection. Jersey $41.99, Pants $101.99.
Maxima Racing Oils // $14.95 The original and unrivaled ‘New Bike in a Can’, SC1 truly restores that factory shine and lives up to the claim. SC1 high gloss coating is specifically formulated to protect and beautify multiple surfaces including plastic, vinyl, rubber and carbon fibre. Safe for use on gloss or matte finishes and makes the cleanup process quick and easy! MA XI MAU SA .COM
F X R R AC I N G . C O M
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 55
MXP_2020_20.02_BuyersGuide.indd 55
2020-07-23 10:09 AM
GEARING
UP 2 1
3
1. TORRENT Raincoat 100% // $49.95 Stay dry with our TORRENT raincoat. Made of 100% EVA fabric is ideal for when it’s really coming down. Features screen printed branding, snap closures, welded pockets and extra-long 3/4 length helps keep you dry in the wettest conditions. 1 0 0 P E R C E N T. C O M
5
4
2. Pro Launch – Start Device Works Connection // $179.99 The Works Connection Pro Launch Start Device is a step forward in holeshot tech that makes aggressive starts easier and more controlled than before. The Pro Launch device moves away from the button design you typically see, choosing instead a springless trigger design that gives you much easier operation, especially if you’re setting the device on your own.
3. Fatbar 36
4. Armega Goggle
Renthal // $289.95 Renthal has employed its 50-plus years of experience in handlebar design, testing and racing to develop the R-Works Fatbar36 the ultimate in lightweight motocross handlebars. Utilizing Renthal’s 36Tech handlebar standard and proprietary Zarilium material to give a high strength handlebar at the lowest possible weight.
100% // $159.95 Experience definition and subtlety never before viewed through the lens of a goggle. Add to that our proprietary HiPER contrast-enhancing lens technology and you’ll feel the depth of terrain as you’re commanding past it. This premium technology is injection-molded into a shatterproof lens that boasts an enhanced field of vision and impact protection.
RE NTHAL .COM
1 0 0 P E R C E N T. C O M
MATRIXCONCEPTS.CA
5. Maxima Pro Plus+ Maxima Racing Oils // $19.95 Full-synthetic, ester-fortified 4-stroke engine oil designed to ensure optimum protection, peak performance and positive clutch feel. Advanced, proprietary additive system keeps your engine running clean, trouble-free and extends the life of the machine. Exceeds the requirements of API SN PLUS / JASO MA2. Available in: 10W30, 10W40, 10W50 and 20W50. MA XI MAU SA .COM 56 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_BuyersGuide.indd 56
2020-07-23 10:09 AM
GO AHEAD
GET DIRTY TERRAMAX Meet the rugged Sailun Terramax family of high performance on and off road tires. Offered in both aggressive mud terrain and all terrain options, the Sailun Terramax M/T and A/T are designed to tackle tough terrain effortlessly with powerful grip, enhanced stability and thick shielded tire protection. Available now in most popular sizes.
SAILUNTIRE.CA
MXP19.02_SaliunTire.indd 1
2019-05-08 2:34 PM
TRIP OF A
LIFETIM Tallon Unger Goes To ClubMX B Y TA L L O N U N G E R / P H O T O S B Y M I K E V I Z E R
The 2019-20 winter season was much different for me this year compared to past years. Normally, I would go down to Southern California in the winter and ride a bunch of tracks, including Fox Raceway, Cahuilla Creek, Milestone, and many others. As nice as California is, the public tracks there are just not rough and grueling enough to really test your fitness and bike skills. After doing a lot of research on locations and training facilities, I chose to go with Club MX. It’s the perfect package: a cabin to live in, multiple different tracks to ride daily, two riding coaches, a gym coach, a big shop for my bikes and lots of fast riders to train with, all in one facility.
S
o, my Dad and I loaded up all my belongings into my little Nissan Frontier, which was literally stacked to the roof inside and out, and we set out for ClubMX. It was a long 40-hour drive to get to South Carolina from Alberta, but it was also exciting because we had never driven through the Eastern United States before. When we arrived, it was like moto dreamland. It is the coolest, most professional looking facility I have ever seen. It was soon the next day, and I was on the bike at 10 a.m. with my riding group in the pouring rain. And let me tell you, riding a bike I had never ridden in my life on gnarly track condi-
tions was not easy. But before I knew it, my first week was done and my Dad had flown home. I fit right in, made lots of new friends, knew all the riding/gym coaches, and had a set daily schedule. My two riding coaches were Ben Groves and Mike Evenson, and my gym trainer was Joey Rozyckie. A typical day at Club MX consisted of waking up at 6:30 a.m. to eat a small breakfast before arriving at the gym for 7 a.m. We did an hour of cardio and then had a full breakfast to be on the bike by 9:45 a.m. Once on track, we had a 15-minute warm-up practice before running through a variety of motos/drills organized by the coaches. By 2 p.m. the riding session was finished and were back into
000 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE ¡ MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_Tallon Unger.indd 58
2020-07-22 4:30 PM
ME
“AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ON LOCATIONS AND TRAINING FACILITIES, I CHOSE TO GO WITH CLUB MX. IT’S THE PERFECT PACKAGE.”
the gym by 3 p.m. for strength training with Joey. After the strength session wrapped up, we were free for the rest of the day. We also had weekly motivation, nutritional, and group meetings in between morning gym sessions and riding. My favourite meeting was with Justin Hill, who talked about obstacles he faced during his career and how he overcome them. We also worked with Mike Vizer, the media guy at ClubMX who would take photos and videos and send them to us daily, which was a huge help for posting on social media. About halfway through the trip, the U.S.-Canada border was closed after Covid-19 became more widespread. The town of Chesterfield, S.C. had only seven active cases at its peak, but we were restricted from leaving the facility unless it was for food, bike gas or other necessities. It was kind of cool because while everyone else was sitting at home I was still riding my bike and training every day. People were messaging me from Canada asking me if I was coming home and it felt kind of good to say, ‘no, I’m here for another month!’ The main sand track is very comparable to Gopher Dunes and it was great training for sharpening my sand skills for this year’s season opener. It could absorb a lot of rain, like 100 mm-plus overnight, and we would still
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 59
MXP_2020_20.02_Tallon Unger.indd 59
2020-07-22 4:30 PM
TRIP OF A
LIFETIME
be out there pounding motos. It’s just like Gopher Dunes but without the massive jumps. I made so many new friends and memories at ClubMX, and it was the best experience of my life. My favourite part of the trip was working with Joey in the gym every day because he is a super personal guy and truly will do anything to help a rider succeed and become faster and stronger. The riding coaches are also great! Both Ben and Mike have different coaching styles, so I got two different sets of perspectives and tips on my riding. Every day on the bike was motosimulated where we were performed motos or drills with other riders of similar speed and skill. It really sharpened my racing skills being there because it always felt like I was in a race with many other riders. That’s one of the biggest advantages of ClubMX over SoCal, because in SoCal I just did motos with whoever is at the track that day. There could be lots of fast guys, or none. But at ClubMX, there were always super-fast guys around. The track prep was always on point at Club MX also. There would be weeks where the track wouldn’t be touched just to keep it gnarly and demanding. The jumps were always touched up daily though just to keep it safe for ev-
“EVERY DAY ON THE BIKE WAS MOTOSIMULATED WHERE WE WERE PERFORMED MOTOS OR DRILLS WITH OTHER RIDERS OF SIMILAR SPEED AND SKILL.”
eryone. I loved waking up in the morning seeing the track perfectly prepped – it is one of the most satisfying views for a motocross racer. Soon enough my trip had come to an end, and it was time to head back to Alberta. My Dad was supposed to fly back during my last week to help with the drive home but because of Covid-19, he was unable to travel to the U.S. After overnighting in Wisconsin, I discovered the next morning that my truck was basically blown
up, but after a full day of repairs I was back on my way. Two days later, on the final stretch home, I was in Medicine Hat when the transmission gave out. I had to call my brother to come pick me up in a Sprinter van but by 10 p.m. that night the trip was complete, and I was home. This is an exciting season for me because I have all the knowledge gained from last year’s East Coast series and I am now on a YZ250F. I love riding the 4-stroke bike and have
all the corner speed from the 250 2-stroke. My plans this year are to race the full Triple Crown series once again and compete in the MX2 class. I am so pumped to get to round one because I have been training extremely hard in the gym since last September. I believe that with the right training program and the right bike, I am very capable of achieving great results this year. See you at the opening round of the 2020 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown MXTour!
60 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_Tallon Unger.indd 60
2020-07-22 4:30 PM
MAXIMA AD SC1 MXP Mar2020.qxp_Layout 1 3/10/20 10:52 AM Page 1
ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES RIDE, CLEAN AND SC1 YOUR RIDE TO KEEP IT WORKING AND LOOKING ITS BEST I RESTORES THAT FACTORY SHINE Made in the USA
Maxima MXP 20.01.indd 1
MaximaUSA.com
2020-07-22 5:17 PM
THE BICYCLE PAGE WITH ALLAN JAGGARD
SALES EXPLOSION THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 2020 WILL WITHOUT A DOUBT GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL SALES SEASONS FOR THE BICYCLE INDUSTRY …EVER!
A
lthough we’ve had to endure some of the most frustrating limitations in the business world due to Coronavirus with layoffs, store closures, lost jobs and new shopping rules in many towns and cities that are mandating social distancing and mask wearing, not everything is bleak. With extra time on our hands in most cases due to stay at home orders from public officials, people are itching to get outside and try to make life as normal as possible. A great revelation seems to have surged through the minds of people across the world that one way to easily overcome these restrictions was to get out on a bicycle or motorcycle in order to social distance, yet still get out and experience the great outdoors. I began noticing a shift in March when, as sales manager for Marin Bikes in Ontario, I witnessed a daily surge as we started to get bombarded by big orders from across our dealer network. Due to bicycle shops being deemed essential services, many shops across the country started getting creative in adapting during what is traditionally our busiest time of the year. Phone-in orders, curbside service, charging credit cards with little or no negotiation became the norm for a couple of months and by the end of
May inventories had been depleted and supply chains from ASIA had been disrupted as well. Now it became a quest of just finding anything on two wheels, a situation where the buyer was limited in terms of model choice. Some people chose to spend more, while others moved lower spending less. The result was overall the same: bicycles were quickly selling out! When one of Marin Bikes largest accounts, Royal Distributing, launched automated curbside pickup in early May and re-opened their retail stores on June 1, it was one of the few Ontario Marin dealers with remaining inventory. When Royal re-opened, the first thing it did was launch a Spring bicycle sale. Why put bikes on sale? Royal knows its customers look forward to its annual sale and Covid-19 wasn’t going to stop it. The inventory literally flew out the door and overall sales numbers were way up compared to last year. With the sales volume, available inventory became an issue. Retailers stripped of inventory them had to search to find replacement stock to buy. The situation wasn’t pretty, as I can tell you that at one point in June, Marin Bikes had confirmed back orders sitting on our sales desks that exceeded our 2020 year-to-date sales for North America. That was a very unusual position for Marin to be in and our attention was focused back onto the factory
to produce more. Fortunately for us we were in a great position as the factory that produces Marin actually owns the brand, so let’s just say we get preferential treatment. The story was the same for nearly everyone: Specialized, Trek, Kona, KHS, Giant were all in the same boat, pun intended, as everyone needed bicycles on those boats and heading to North American shorelines. The demand that was placed on the supply chain was also enormous as companies like Shimano and SRAM for example were bombarded by large orders from all factories. The usual wait times for a factory to obtain a drive train order from Shimano, for example, is about 4-5 weeks. Today, in mid-July, that wait time has risen to 12-15 weeks! Going forward, the next six months will all be about who has inventory and I believe that if you don’t have any priority at a factory, your season is essentially over and your inventory is likely isn’t going to be available until the snow flies. That scenario motivated dealers to start thinking about getting into the priority line for product, with Marin presenting our 2021 booking program a few weeks early than normal. Dealer bookings were completed within days without any pre-shows, no sample showings, nothing more than showing the booking program. My personal sales pitch was straightforward: don’t even look at
the price, just use your previous sales history reports and get in line. On top of this amazing result for a well-established brand like Marin Bikes and due to other unusual circumstances occurring in my business world, my wife and I expanded our bicycle business and began importing and distributing electric bicycles through our new company O2RIDE. The year of Covid-19 has caused major changes across the board, but in our case it was all for the good! What started out as a couple of available electric models shipped in from an import supplier in British Columbia, soon developed into a partnership and exclusive distribution agreement for Eastern Canada. With electric bikes just starting to gain some traction in the market from consumers that have experienced the benefits of electric assist, plus the lack of available regular bicycles, it’s no wonder we experienced immediate growth. As our Marin ad in MXP’s first issue of the year states: Experience All the Gain Without the Pain. Electric bikes are definitely a game changer and opening the doors to new consumers who, due to injury or the lack of physical conditioning, have discovered that they can participate in cycling and it’s so much fun! That’s also why my wife Anne even copyrighted our sub-slogan under O2RIDE…
FOR FUN & FITNESS
Overall statistics are showing that bicycles are becoming the new toilet paper of the Covid-19 era and with travel restrictions and social distancing likely to be a norm for a while to come, bicycles are the perfect form of recreation for this unprecedented time we’re all living through. Even from a basic transportation point of view, the bicycle and especially the electric assist bicycle will expand as some shy away from crowded public transportation. People are also becoming much more conscious of green technology that will help heal our Earth of the abuse we have imposed upon it over the past 100 years. In fact, Covid-19 has helped the healing process as pollution around the world has been cut drastically due to the shutdowns and restrictions. Overall, bicycles seem to have a very bright future, and with the growing trend toward electric assist bikes I believe we’ll be seeing a whole new demographic of participants joining our ranks! The excuses have now been abolished! Thanks, Covid-19!
62 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_Column-The Bicycle Pages.indd 1
2020-07-22 4:38 PM
THE FUTURE IS
E-LECTRIC!
Slane Victoria E-Bike B10-010448 - Grey B10-010450 - Green B10-010449 - White
Affordable, high-quality electric bikes for everyone.
1199
$
Slane Columbus E-Bike B10-010451 - Black
Specializing in mountain bikes and off-road e-bikes. Marin Pine Mountain E1 27.5” Electric Bike B10-916102
4199
$
99
1699
$
Slane Rideau E-Bike B10-010452 - Black B10-010454 - Army Green B10-010453 - White
1699
$
Electric powered push/stability bikes for kids. Royal is Ontario’s exclusive Stacyc dealer! STACYC 12eDRIVE B10-99600 Designed for 3 to 5-year-olds
899
$
STACYC 16EDRIVE B10-99601 Designed for 4 to 8-year-olds
1149
$
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $39* *Some exceptions apply such as remote addresses and oversized items. Bikes are classified as an oversized item.
MAIL ORDER:
1-800-265-2970 M-F 8AM-6PM EST EN/FR
MXP_2020_20.02_RoyalDistributing_FP.indd 1
ROYALDISTRIBUTING.COM
SHOP ONLINE 24/7: WWW.
2020-07-16 3:51 PM
FEMALE PERSPECTIVE BY SHELBY MAHON
LOCKED DOWN BUT NOT OUT
IT IS CRAZY TO THINK THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT INSANITY WOULD SHORTLY FOLLOW. WE STARTED JANUARY CONCENTRATING ON THE FIGHT FOR POINTS EVERY WEEKEND IN THE MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS SERIES AND THINKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING AX AND MX SEASONS. WE REALLY HAD NO IDEA THAT OUR ENTIRE PLANS FOR 2020 WOULD BE RUNOVER LIKE SOME POOR TURTLE THAT HAD WANDERED ONTO CORNER #1 AT THE START OF A WALTON TRANS CAN NATIONAL.
T
he real heartbreaks started rolling in during February after our first Canadian case was reported on January 25. Covid-19, Coronavirus, the “Rona”, or whatever you prefer to call it began showing its potential for affecting people we know and our beloved season ahead! The beginning of February was filled with news reports and social media posts that sent shockwaves around the globe as businesses and travel began shutting down. The shutdown of Monster Energy Supercross and the Rockstar Triple Crown AX season was imminent. Whether you believe that Covid-19 is real or not, we can all agree on one thing: WE LOVE RACING. You take away our ability to race, ride, practice or even watch others race then there is a problem. It was no longer just a physical pandemic, but a very emotional and psychological one as well. During peak practice season hundreds of our Canadian riders found themselves Stateside and having to make some tough decisions about
their race seasons. As March 14 arrived, we were greeted with the worst news to date: the 2020 Monster Energy Supercross series was postponed until further notice due to national, state and local governments in the United States prohibiting large group gatherings and travel restrictions. By March 18, Canadians were told to come home, and the Canada-U.S. border was shut down to all non-essential travel. Riders who were still Stateside had a tough decision to make and many chose to stay for practice in the hopes of the season restarting. Back in Canada, racers were getting a chance to practice at few tracks like Popkum and Gopher Dunes which allowed to open in early March. With a handful of tracks opening across the country and the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Champion-
ship series updating its schedule on March 20 with a June 13 start in Jacksonville, Florida, racers and fans were ecstatic at the good news. Just like any exciting race, however, there are ups and downs. The next 40 days were filled with series after series postponing or flat out canceling events across the country. These were unprecedented times that called for drastic measures that were not always welcomed by track owners and staff. Forced closures across the country have not only affected us as individuals, but also as members of businesses and communities. Yamaha Motor Canada and its dealers were affected on many levels. “The Covid-19 crisis put a lot of things into perspective and affected every aspect of business at Yamaha Motor Canada. At the corporate level, immediate action was taken to ensure the safety of staff via a mandatory work-from-home order. Our Toronto distribution centre closed for a brief period but reopened with strict safety measures in place so we could continue to fulfill dealer orders. Our dealers are the lifeline to the customer, and they were in a very difficult situation – some worse than others,” Marketing Coordinator Graeme Jones explained. Even large companies like Yamaha understood and sympathized with how Covid-19 was affecting everyone, not just businesses. “We prioritized both our dealers and our customers with things like deferred payments, relaxed finance rates, stronger retail sales programs and extra shifts in the distribution centre to mitigate delays caused by the shutdown,” said Jones. If we can’t race or practice at a track at least those with private tracks and local trails could get out to ride, and also get the parts to fix what they broke on those rides! As we rattled our way through May dazed, confused and with a substantial amount of toilet paper, good signs were beginning to show. Our Rockstar Triple Crown season was set to begin July 11 at Gopher Dunes and although the Western races were cancelled, we were just excited to have a start date nailed down! The Monster Energy Supercross series kicked back into high gear on May 31, and ended its season on time, with a few missing events and some crazy results! A few tracks
“THERE ARE A FEW TRACKS THAT HAVE DECIDED TO CLOSE FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2020 AND ALTHOUGH WE WILL MISS THEM THIS SEASON, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING THEM BACK IN 2021.
started reopening for private and public practice sessions in May and the first races of the amateur seasons started in mid-June. Motorcycle sales reports for May were coming in and they were fantastic! “After a tough start, motorcycles, scooters and ATVs are suddenly hot items recognized as the prescription for cabin fever and inexpensive travel. Motorcycles and scooters have always allowed riders to achieve physical distancing and, these days, that is a much higher consideration for many people. Some category sales were up over 100 percent in May versus 2019 and that have left dealers scrambling for stock. May sales have been so good that they have wiped out the decrease in sales from a horrible March and April,” the MMIC announced. Things are really looking good again! As we enter July, racetracks across the country have begun opening for practice and limited racing action. This is made possible only by the dedicated owners and staff who are implementing regulations and updating their facilities to meet strict guidelines set out local, provincial and federal governments. This is not cheap, nor easy to do and we should all be thankful. There are a few tracks that have decided to close for the remainder of 2020 and although we will miss them this season, we look forward to welcoming them back in 2021.
SOME OF THE STANDARD RULES ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDE: ∙ No spectators allowed outside of a limited number of support/family that will be permitted and this group must stay in their pits unless watching their racer during the day ∙ Overnight parking will only be available for a certain number of people in self-contained camper trailers or RV’s (Tent camping is not allowed) ∙ All vehicles entering venues will be parked 10-30 feet apart depending on regional rules ∙ Reduced gate and sign-in hours ∙ No onsite water, bonfires or social gatherings permitted ∙ Many locations with have increased security or staff on-site ensuring people are following social distancing measures outside of their pits ∙ Check your local track and series websites for more information and rules for your specific region ∙ The good news is we can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. Although we face threats of a second wave and potential postponements and cancellations, we need to remember we are all dealing with this from different perspectives and stages of life. We may not all agree with the rules and regulations set in place by the series, tracks, organizers or governments, but they are in place for a reason and should be respected for the simple fact that not following them will result in fines and track closures. Now is the time to come together as a community and to help where we can by following rules, registering ahead of time, purchasing products from those we know need the extra help and being respectful to the men and women who are running the events despite the craziness going on around us right now.
64 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_Column-Female.indd 1
2020-07-22 4:06 PM
THE MENTAL SIDE BY SEAN POITRAS PHOTOS BY JAM E S LISSIMOR E
STAYING FOCUSED
THESE PAST FIVE MONTHS HAVE TESTED THE MENTAL TOUGHNESS AND RESILIENCE OF ALL PEOPLE, SOME MUCH MORE THAN OTHERS. AS THE WORLD SLOWLY BEGINS TO REOPEN AND STABILIZE, MANY ATHLETES ARE FACED WITH THE CHALLENGE OF TRAINING AND PERFORMING IN RAPID TIME FOLLOWING THE BIGGEST GLOBAL PANDEMIC OF OUR GENERATION. THE PHYSICAL FATIGUE, OR RUST, IS ONE CONCERN, BUT THE MENTAL FATIGUE AND REBOOT IS SOMETHING THAT MANY ATHLETES ARE LOOKING TO OVERCOME AS WE RETURN TO THE TRACK. OUR TRAINING/ PERFORMANCE TIMELINE IS OFF. RIDERS WOULD USUALLY BE IN MID-SEASON FORM BY NOW WITH A HANDFUL OF RACES UNDER THEIR BELTS. FLEXIBILITY AND RESILIENCE ARE KEY FOR ALL PERFORMERS IN THESE TIMES AND THE BEST WAY TO STRENGTHEN THESE MENTAL SKILLS IS BY PUTTING YOUR ENTIRE FOCUS TOWARDS YOUR TRAINING AND ALLOWING YOURSELF TO TRUST IN THAT TRAINING ONCE THAT FIRST RACE DAY ARRIVES.
G
iven the circumstances, I welcomed the opportunity to hear some questions from readers this month to get a better idea of where our minds are at as we get back on the track.
Q. WITH THIS COVID-19 PANDEMIC, IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO REMAIN POSITIVE. ARE THERE ANY MENTAL EXERCISES I CAN DO OR THAT I CAN HAVE MY KIDS DO TO HELP THEM STAY POSITIVE?
Positivity is a mindset that can wear many different masks and is custom fit for each one of us. What may help one person think positively may not work for someone else. The key to positivity is excitement, interest and anticipation. This can also be the recipe for
good old-fashioned fun. To spark positive thinking in motocross, focus your attention on the things you enjoy about the sport without competing. For example, tune up or work on your bike, watch some MX videos and, my personal favorite, develop a MXspecific workout/training program for yourself with exercises that will specifically strengthen the muscle groups commonly used in MX. One last task that can spark a positive attitude is to reflect on what your core strengths are as a rider, and more importantly what are some skills you want to improve upon this season. Write them down or make a video journal and come up with ideas to develop and strengthen these skills and what it will feel like. Finally, the greatest way to spark a positive mindset is to practice gratitude.
Express how grateful you are for all the things in your life on paper or in your video journal. This is a proven strategy that can improve mood and perspective, so give it a shot.
Q. I WATCHED THE MICHAEL JORDAN DOCUMENTARY ON NETFLIX (THE LAST DANCE) AND IT OBVIOUSLY SHOWED WHAT A FIERCE COMPETITOR HE WAS. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE BORN WITH OR IT SOMETHING YOU CAN DEVELOP OVER TIME? This question is one that psychologists, geneticists and philosophers have pondered for centuries. Are our personalities, our skills, our strengths, our weaknesses and our attitudes a product of nature or nurture? In this specific context the question looks at whether the mental performance skills needed to be a champion can be learned and developed over time or if they are something we are born with and occur naturally when needed. For those who have not seen the documentary on the 1990s Chicago Bulls, it highlights not only some of the greatest moments and matchups that led to their multiple NBA championships, but also goes behind the scenes to reveal the leadership and mental processes of their superstar player Michael Jordan. Michael is shown to be a fierce competitor who was able to self-regulate his performance based on opponent. He could create a vicious rivalry with another team or individual player all in his own head just to give himself a competitive advantage. He would set nearly unrealistic expectations for his team and teammates performance and push them tirelessly to achieve them, all while surpassing and exceeding those same expectations himself. So far, what scientific research has suggested is the question should not be nature vs. nurture, but rather nature and nurture that examines which components may be learned, and which may be naturally occurring. We know that mental components of performance like confidence, motivation and emotional control can come naturally to some people. However, we have also seen these skills practiced and developed over time and through different experiences, suggesting that they can be learned or nurtured as well.
Q. WHEN I LINE UP ON THE STARTING LINE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF RIDERS, I SOMETIMES FEEL INTIMIDATED. WHAT TYPE OF THINGS CAN I DO TO HELP ME FEEL MORE CONFIDENT IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS?
Intimidation is a form of fear. Fear is often the result of uncertainty or self-doubt. These thoughts or feelings can be a result of our focus being placed on uncontrollable variables surrounding our performance. These could include things like equipment, officials, weather conditions and, more
THE KEY TO POSITIVITY IS EXCITEMENT, INTEREST AND ANTICIPATION. THIS CAN ALSO BE THE RECIPE FOR GOOD OLDFASHIONED FUN.” often, our opponents. The best way to overcome a sense of intimidation is to maintain your focus on factors you can control. Your training, your tactical plan, your goals, your attitude, your journey, and so on. These are all examples of factors of your performance that are both in your control and are productive focal points to help you be at your best.
Q. DURING THE FINAL LAPS OF CERTAIN TOUGH RACES I FEEL LIKE I’M SUFFERING. IT’S THE SAME WHEN I DO LONG BICYCLES RIDES OR RUNS. I KNOW SUFFERING IS PART OF ANY SPORT BUT WHAT THINGS CAN I TELL MYSELF DURING THESE CHALLENGING MOMENTS TO HELP ME GET THROUGH THEM BETTER? In any endurance sport this type of late game ‘suffering’ is sometimes referred to as ‘hitting the wall’. I have worked with marathon runners and Iron Man competitors on overcoming this occurrence and the best strategy is to have a strategy. Preparation for this psychophysical phenomenon is key, whether that means pushing yourself in your training to the point of hitting the wall and becoming familiar with the feeling, or developing a game plan for when your body gets to that point to help you stay task-oriented to find that sixth gear overdrive to propel you to the finish. I have found that your perspective of the wall is something that can be altered to help overcome its nasty symptoms. If you can view the wall as a check point or a cue signaling the end of the race is near and now is the time to empty the tank and leave it all on the track, the idea of the wall is welcomed and not feared. These strategies should be custom fit to you and will take some investigation and self-reflection into how you both perceive and respond to the wall in training and in competition. I really appreciate these great questions, and I hope we were able to highlight some points that may have been on your mind over these past few months. A great perspective I heard from an athlete regarding this Covid-19 lockdown is that we are responsible for our own attitudes towards this situation. You can get mad or frustrated or bored during downtime where you are not competing or training, or you can view it as a time to reflect and grow and renew your passion for the sport and eventually come back stronger and more motivated then you were before the lockdown began. You decide which attitude you want to adopt.
MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM // 65
MXP_2020_20.02_Column-The Mental Side.indd 1
2020-07-22 4:35 PM
THE INSIDE LINE
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
WITH ANDY WHITE
P H OTOS BY F X R R AC I N G E
THE NEW NORMAL
AS THE CALENDAR KEEPS TURNING, WE ARE NOW IN OUR FIFTH MONTH OF THE PANDEMIC! SAFETY MEASURES ARE ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT HEALTH AUTHORITIES GIVE US GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW, AND CIRCUMSTANCES KEEP CHANGING. WE ARE STILL PRACTICING SELF-ISOLATION, MASKS ARE MANDATORY ONE DAY, THEN OPTIONAL THE NEXT. ALL I KNOW IS I NEED TO WASH MAY HANDS EVERY TIME I HAVE CONTACT WITH OTHERS AND MUST STAND SIX FEET AWAY FROM THE NEXT PERSON EVEN IF I AM WEARING A MASK. I KNOW THESE ARE CRAZY TIMES, AND THE PANDEMIC IS AFFECTING ALL OF US ON SOME LEVEL. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS REPORTS DAILY AND THE WORLD IS A COMPLETE MESS THANKS TO COVID-19.
I
It’s a whole new world we are living in now. We are all adjusting to the ever-changing rules and there’s a learning curve for all of us. I still want to shake hands with friends, but I make sure I keep my distance as you never know who might be infected. As this virus dies out, we are being told that we can interact more with family and friends so long as we practice keeping our distance from each other as much as we can. That’s not easy if you’re a social person, but I guess you can continue to be social on Zoom calls. Personally, the video connections with colleagues has really helped me in my business. It feels like we are all in the same office. Over the past three weeks we saw Supercross announce a new modified schedule with plenty of restrictions.
No spectating means we all watch from our sofas. I was skeptical if we would see some SX races before the next season, but I guess I was wrong. I enjoyed watching races every Wednesday and Sunday but was not a big fan of watching them in the afternoon. Supercross needs to be run under the lights, in my opinion. The lights really brighten up the riders on the track, the dirt and banners really jump out with powerful stadium lights shining on them. Talking with some of my riders recently, I heard some likes and dislikes regarding seven rounds. They were not big fans of high altitude and then you throw in the extreme heat into the mix. If you live at, say, 4,000 feet above sea level, you will be fine, but if you’re at sea level you are going to feel it. The first round was tough on
a lot of riders. They had to deal with the heat plus a lack of air. It’s not easy when you’re racing for the first time in months. If you look back, some of the best riders were pulled off the track because they were affected. They said you felt like you were drunk. That’s not what you want to feel when you are lining up for a 15-whoop section. The riders also commented on how quiet the stadium was while racing with no fans present. That must have been strange. You’re sitting on the starting line and you look around and you see empty seats everywhere. The only fans were your team managers or you girlfriend. Tomac said it was a strange feeling when he was on the podium celebrating the championship
“IF YOU’RE NOT IN SHAPE, GOOD LUCK AND REMEMBER THE BLUE FLAG MEANS THERE IS A RACE GOING ON AND YOU’RE NOT IN IT, SO PLEASE MOVE OUT OF THE WAY SO THE FAST RIDERS CAN GET BY YOU.
win with little noise. The only people around were a few media guys and my team. No fireworks or loud music and no cheers from the fans. Very strange! However, the positive comments I heard from the guys really outweighed the bad by a long shot. The most common thing I heard was, “It was like we were on vacation!” and, “the mountain bike trails were awesome.” The mountain views and the fresh air were great, and every rider said they would go back in a heartbeat. The riders also enjoyed not having to practice during the week as they raced every three to four days. Traveling budget was cut way down, too. The team all lived together in houses they rented. The only real negative part was they were away from loved ones for about three weeks. Now it’s time for the outdoor season to get underway. Will it happen? Let’s hope so. It’s going to be a very long year if we can’t attend a national and watch our favourite riders compete. The real challenge will be if fans will be allowed. I really don’t think the promoters can afford to have no fans at the races. The fans and concession sales are where local promoters makes their money. As for the Canadian nationals, we are running out of time. Right now, we have cut the series down from eight rounds to five. The five rounds are scheduled for Ontario and Quebec only. If you’re living in the East, you are a lucky racer in my view. You can compete in all rounds and save a lot in travel costs. The MRC has made a few changes to the series, moving to a three-moto format, instead of a two-moto program. Practice and one moto on Saturday, plus two motos on Sunday. I sure hope you’re in shape for round one at the Gopher Dunes sand track! The riders that come in prepared will shine. If you’re not in shape, good luck and remember the blue flag means there is a race going on and you’re not in it, so please move out of the way so the fast riders can get by you. If you do plan to head out to your local track, please be careful. Don’t park on top of each other. Have respect and follow the new rules. We don’t want to jeopardize all of the hard work our tracks and promoters have done within their communities to get MX back up and running. If we can all work together, I think we will get past Covid-19 and return to our normal lives. I sure miss traveling to the races and seeing my riders and friends. I sure would like to take a vacation later this year when the weather starts to get cold, but it will all depend on how well we behave as a country. Stay safe, be responsible and see you at the races this summer.
66 // MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE · MXPMAG.COM
MXP_2020_20.02_Column-Andy White.indd 1
2020-07-22 4:36 PM
MXP_2020_20.02_100Percent.indd 1
2020-07-07 1:47 PM
Photo: R. Schedl
ELECTRIC RACING REVOLUTION KTM SX-E 5
The new age of motocross has arrived. The KTM SX-E 5 is a high-end, electric-powered mini crosser for young riders aiming to be the next motocross superhero. With adjustable power and seat height, this revolutionary model is perfect for pure beginners and experienced racers alike.
KTM wishes to make all motorcyclists aware that they need to wear the prescribed protective gear, only start the electric vehicle for the first time after receiving a high-voltage safety briefing from an authorised KTM dealer and always ride in a responsible manner in accordance with the relevant and applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations. The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.
19_CAN_AD_Resize_MY20_SXE5_MXP.indd 1 MXP_2020_20.02_XE5_KTM.indd 1
KTM Group Partner
11/6/19 8:18 AM 2020-07-07 1:54 PM