16 07 MXP Magazine

SEAMS DIFFERENT

Different to be better.

Born out of a desire for a higher level of comfort and feel, we designed the new Invert Glove with external seams for that “no-glove” feel.

Gloves rethought…for a reason.

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2016-12-02 1:51 PM 10/20/16 3:11 PM

More Holeshots. More Victories.

More power, more torque, higher rev limit...

The completely new CRF450R’s Unicam engine has been radically improved to get you out front right from the drop of the gate. And help keep you there.

Engine Mode Select Button

The new handlebar-mounted button lets you dial between Standard, Smooth and Aggressive, depending on track conditions.

New Showa® Spring Fork An all-new 49 mm Showa® fork features a conventional spring design that helps increase the CRF450R’s front-suspension precision, handling and feel.

The all-new

2017CRF450R

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Honda Motorcycles Canada

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2016-11-23 4:32 PM

Titanium Fuel Tank

The CRF450R’s new titanium fuel tank reduces high-mounted weight, thereby lowering centre of gravity and improving mass centralization.

Updated Twin-Muffler System

The CRF450R’s dual exhaust is even more compact for 2017 and positioned lower in the frame’s center to take weight off the rear end for improved handling.

New Cylinder Head Layout

Completely new Unicam cylinder head design uses finger rocker arms, oval cross-section valve springs, bigger intake valves, and increased valve lift to boost horsepower and allow a higher rev limit.

Riding a motorcycle can be hazardous. For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing whenever you ride. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Never engage in stunt riding. Inspect your vehicle before riding, read your owner’s manual, and Honda recommends that all riders take a rider training course. Always obey local laws, use common sense and respect the rights of others when you ride. Visit honda.ca for additional safety information.

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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 1 6 , I S S U E 7

MX P C O N T E N T S COLUMNS 16 FA M O U S L A S T W O R D S

with Chris Pomeroy

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JA MES LISSIMORE SPEAKS

2 2 U P S H I F T

with Brian Koster

9 8 A R T D E PA R T M E N T

with Mike Chan

F E AT U R E S 3 4 Y E A R I N R E V I E W

BY B R E N T W O R R A L L

Brent Worrall takes us round by round as he looks back on 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals.

4 6 Y E A R I N R E V I E W W I T H A N DY W H I T E

Andy White takes us coast to coast as he tells the story of everything that happened in 2016.

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T A B L E

O F

C O N T E N T S

Palms celebrates the best of the best in 2016 with his 4th Annual Golden Elbow Awards.

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PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

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MXP MAGAZINE

MOTOCROSS PERFORMANCE VOLUME 16 ISSUE 7

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: James Lissimore, Drew Robertson, Brian Koster, Virgil Knapp, Leticia Cline, Andy White CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Virgil Knapp, Clayton Racicot, James Lissimore, Bill Petro, Matt Wellumson, Frank Hoppen, Hoppenworld, Summer Denzler COVER PHOTO: James Lissimore

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

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

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

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

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Photos by Simon Cudby & Hoppenworld.com. Competitors shown are subject to change. © 2016 Feld Entertainment, Inc.

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R ESETTING THE CLOCK W ITH CHRIS POMEROY, PHOTOS BY JA ME S LISSIMORE hen you think back to 2016 and what an interesting year it was, both in motocross and the world in general, I think it’s safe to say that we’re living in very compelling times. With platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, information travels fast and people are free to say whatever they want. Most times this practice is great as we get news instantaneously and we’re always on top of things. Of course, there is always a downside to everything as sometimes people post false items or half-truths, without any real consequences. It’s just the times we live in and we have to adapt.

Right from the first big event of 2016 at the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto, our sport in Canada was truly amazing. After taking a year off, the Toronto SX was back in town and bigger than ever. With a record attendance inside Canada’s biggest stadium, I think it’s safe to say that this event is here to stay for a while. Over the years the Toronto SX has become more than just a race, it has transformed itself into a meeting place for almost everyone in our industry. In fact, Parts Canada even used a pre-race party to launch its new partnership with Alpinestar Racewear and the Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki Team. If you haven’t had a chance to make it to this race yet, I think you should try as it really is a great time.

With Cole Thompson and Kaven Benoit planning on racing Toronto in 2017, this year is as good a time as any to make the trek to this awesome event.

With the Toronto SX being held in March, the next item on the agenda for all of us die-hard moto heads was spring riding. After a long and restless winter break, we were all chopping at the bit to throw our leg over our bikes. In 2016, our spring riding went by very quickly and before we knew it was time for the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals to begin. For the past few years, Kamloops, BC has been the gracious host for Round 1 of the series. The Whispering Pines track sits about 30 minutes north of the city. With its deep sand, challenging layout, and sometimes desert-like heat, it’s the perfect place to kick-off a national outdoor series.

Of course, heading into the 2016 series, the chatter wasn’t about the tracks, the weather, or where it was to begin. All of the excitement was surrounding who would be lining up on the starting gate, particularly in the MX1 class. Prior to the opening round in Kamloops, the level of talent in the MX1 class read like a future Hall of Fame list,

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“IT WASN’T ALL ROSES AS THEY HAD TO FEND OFF ADVANCES FROM BOTH YAMAHA TEAMS, AS WELL AS THE REDEMPTION KTM TEAM, BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE 2016 SERIES BELONGED TO THE KTM THOR RACING TEAM.”

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with names like Metcalfe, Goerke, Facciotti, Benoit, Alessi, Friese, Medaglia, and of course, the newcomer to the field, Davi Millsaps. As part of a joint deal with KTM USA, the Canadian Orange Brigade team decided to bring Millsaps up to Canada to accomplish one thing and one thing only: win an MX1 title. With Cole Thompson already the championship favourite in the MX2 class, and Kaven Benoit not quite ready to win MX1 consistently, Millsaps had just one task when his plane touched down on Canadian soil. All summer long, KTM put their orange bikes up front and kept them there until the final flag fell in Barrie. It wasn’t all roses as they had to fend off advances from both Yamaha teams, as well as the Redemption KTM Team, but for the most part the 2016 series belonged to the KTM Thor Racing Team.

Once the nationals ended and the summer came to an end, it was time to move our racing indoors as the 2016 Canadian National AX Tour powered

by Rockstar Energy kicked off in October. However, before the gate dropped on that series, Canada was able to stand up and let out a massive cheer as Kourtney Lloyd took Team Canada over to Italy to compete in the Monster Energy MXoN. Our team of Kaven Benoit, Tyler Medaglia and Shawn Maffenbeier all rode brilliantly overseas and brought this country home its best finish in almost a decade.

Their tenth overall, while racing against the world’s best riders, was truly incredible.

Once everyone in Canada sobered up from celebrating our team’s glorious performance in Italy, it was time to move to indoor racing in Ontario, as well as out west. This time, Yamaha was the manufacturer to beat as Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha rider Chris Blose took home the AX Tour title, and MX101 Yamaha star Jess Pettis grabbed the Future West AX Championship.

Yes, 2016 was without a doubt one of the most exciting years of racing that we’ve ever seen in Canada. With a few new players added to the mix this coming year, one can only imagine what’s in store for us in 2017. As we saw back in December, the Honda Canada Fox GDR Team made a big commitment to winning the MX2 title this year by signing Dylan Wright to a multi-year contract.

This level of support by a company like Honda Canada is a good sign of their continuing support of our sport. It also shows the competitiveness that quietly exists between the manufacturers, as it is obvious that Honda wants to take the MX2 title from KTM. With a few months to go until the nationals begin, all of the riders, young and old, will be training as hard as they can so they’re prepared for battle.

Oh how I love this sport on so many different levels; the racing, the athletes, and just the process of everyone, on and off the track, trying to improve. As we roost into 2017, it’s clear that we’re definitely living in interesting times. But you know what, I don’t think I’d have it any other way. Happy New Year everyone!

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WE KNOW SNOW

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2016-12-14 11:20 AM

T HROUGH THE LENS WITH JAMES LISSIMORE s I put the finishing touches on selecting photos for another Photo Annual, it’s hard to believe another year has passed. Whittling through the thousands of images, to narrow things down to the select few that make up the contents of this magazine, has brought back so many memories from a year that brought some of the biggest adventures of my

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career. “Adventure” really sums up 2016 the best, and right from January till December 31st, my year was full of so many great memories, on the road, creating images.

Looking at the images reminds me of a now familiar road trip to Anaheim with Steve Matthes for another Supercross opener in January.

Images from February remind me of cruising the Georgia swamps, surrounded by alliga-

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“AS ALWAYS, THE SUMMER WAS FULL OF FAMILIAR IMAGES OF LIFE ON THE ROAD, CROSSING THE COUNTRY WHILE COVERING THE CMRC ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MOTOCROSS NATIONALS.”

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tors, with Fox Racing’s Jay Moore, while we were down for a shoot with the Honda Canada/GDR/Fox Racing team. April brings me back to cruising the Pacific Coast highway in California with the KTM Canada crew, en route from San Francisco to the team shoot in SoCal. Other images from the spring remind me of back-to-back trips to Ottawa, wandering through deer with the Medaglia family, and shooting freestyle in the heart of BC Wine Country with Kyle Demelo.

As always, the summer was full of familiar images of life on the road, crossing the country while covering the CMRC Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals. There are ferry rides, camping in the Rockies, and exploring the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia with Billy Rainford. The images continue to flash across my screen. Fall brings the most exciting trip yet, getting the chance to head to Italy with our MXoN team to document them as they took on the world. I’m reminded of our amazing apartment overlooking Lake Maggiore and an incredible trip to Switzerland. The images bring back the sheer craziness of the Maggiora fans and I can hear the deafening noise once again.

Even aside from motocross, there were a lot of adventures. A mountain bike shoot, deep into the heart of the Chilcoltin Mountains in BC, reminded me of what an incredible place we live in and how many spots are still out there to explore. The day before I flew down to Anaheim to get this new year started, I returned from a weeklong trip to the rugged West Coast of Vancouver Island, full of whales, bald eagles and crashing surf. I look at all these images and can only imagine what kind of adventures 2017 will bring. I hope you enjoy.

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O FF THE GRID WITH BRIAN KOSTER here’s not a ton going on motowise at this time of year in Canada, so it’s a good time to reflect on the past season and look ahead to 2017. As I write this, it is only a few days till the gate drop of Anaheim 1, and as usual the anticipation in overwhelming! The Supercross seasons have been so awesome these past few years but with the same old Rogers/Fox Sports Racing thing, much like the Canadian Nationals, it only reaches a limited number of homes here in Canada. I know where I just moved this past May, Rogers only comes a few kilometers from my home and Bell is the only decent TV option. I got so mad off that I made a decision to not even get TV at the new house. Though at times I miss it, I don’t miss the $140 bill that goes with it every month.

Plus, I only really watched a few channels anyway, and I don’t miss all the stupid commercials and news networks that repeatedly spew endless propaganda and half-truths. One of these days I might break down and get Netflix or Crave TV, but for now it’s virtually zero screen time, which is refreshing. I can probably count on one hand how many DVDs I’ve watched since moving, and that’s saying something since I acquired quite the home theatre set up a couple of years ago. I wrote a little about it here in my column. I got it specifically to host Supercross parties, and then just like that Fox Sports Racing became unavailable just before the final race in Vegas and the dream died.

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“SUPERCROSS HAS A HUGE FOLLOWING AND IS ONLY GETTING MORE AND MORE MAINSTREAM AS WELL. THERE IS NO DENYING THE ALLURE THAT THE INDOOR VERSION OF “REAL” MOTOCROSS BRINGS TO THE TABLE.”

For A1 it’s the first motorcycle show weekend so I will be watching it at one of the host hotels, but after that I will be mooching around to see where I can invite myself to watch. I don’t like watching it online as much, and going to a sports bar kinda sucks too because you can’t hear very well, and usually there are too many goons running around making a racket, which can be distracting for my low attention span to handle. Oh, serenity now! Lol So last season, the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals had record breaking attendance numbers, which was really nice. It truly was visible at certain rounds, and all in all it was a great year of racing. It was also really nice to hear that title sponsor Rockstar has signed on for another three years, so that gives the series some well-deserved stability to grow even further. Rockstar has established themselves as the beverage of choice around the MX community, and have done an amazing job of stepping up their presence with each passing year.

That said, there are still a lot of unanswered questions as far as teams and riders go, but as always, no matter who or who doesn’t show up, the racing will be awesome.

Previous Champions Colton Facciotti and Matt Goerke have signed on the dotted line, and Kaven Benoit has too, so just those three alone will make a helluva show. Factor in a big probably is the “T-Factor,” Tyler Medaglia on his familiar Husqvarna, who was bustin’ moves big time once he switched to the 450. I’m already getting pumped for MX1 outdoor action!

Of course there will be a whole host of other speedsters, up and comers and wild cards before the gate drops in Kamloops, so no doubt the fans will be getting more than their

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money’s worth! MX2 is no joke either, and with Cole “Tommy Gun” Thompson signed on to defend his #1 plate with KTM, it could well be a race for #2. But I’m sure last month’s cover boy, Dylan Wright, will have a thing or two to say about that on his new Honda ride, and the omni present Shawn Maffenbeier will be throwing punches left, right and center too. And you know there is always some hot shot Intermediate rider that comes out of nowhere to wrestle with the big factory boys, so just talking about it gets me all revved up for the season opener at ‘The Loops!’

Supercross has a huge following and is only getting more and more mainstream as well.

There is no denying the allure that the indoor version of “real” motocross brings to the table.

You can sit in one place and pretty much take in all the action near a major city center. I still prefer the loose and wild style of the outdoors, but as the indoor tracks evolve along with the motorcycles, it’s the next best thing. It seems three riders are snaring the majority of the headlines as the first gate drop nears. Of course by the time you read this it will be in the history books, but as it stands all the hype is surrounding defending Champ Ryan Dungey, Monster Cup winner Eli Tomac and newly signed Red Rider Ken Roczen. Yes, these riders are very viable choices, so it’s no wonder the pundits are placing their

focus on these three top guys. I like all three of those guys but how about Marvin Musquin or Jason Anderson? Remember, Musquin took top honours at Red Bull Straight Rhythm and Anderson cleaned house at the MX of Nations in his first moto before getting kamikazed after the checkers by that Japanese dude. An accident for sure but none the less devastating for Team USA and one of my current favourite US riders.

So I was asked to make a 2017 SX Championship prediction, which by the way I always suck at. My heart wants last year’s A1 winner Jason Anderson

to take the title, and I have a bit of a soft spot for Eli Tomac since his brutal shoulder injury a few years ago, but I think Ken Roczen just has too much raw talent and speed, and has a ton to prove to the world. That’s the key for my prediction of Kenny winning it; he has a lot to prove to Honda, to his nemesis Aldon Baker and to himself. Remember, Kenny is another year older and another year wiser, and I think if he can harness all these emotions, keep a level head and stay out of harms way, he will be a deserving champion…but on the other hand, go El Hombre 21 go!!

Tickets Tickets Start Start at at $15! $15!

Restrictions, Restrictions, Restrictions, exclusions exclusions exclusions andand additional andadditional additional charges charges charges may may may apply. apply. apply.

Subject Subject Subject to availability. totoavailability. availability.

Tickets Tickets Tickets at market atatmarket market pricing. pricing. pricing.

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Competitors Competitors Competitors are are subject are subject subject to change. to to change. change. © 2016 ©© 2016 2016 FEI.FEI. FEI.

MonsterJam.com MonsterJam.com MonsterJam.com MonsterJam.com 2017-01-13 11:32 AM

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Arenacross is fun to shoot because I can set up my flashes wherever I want and get some unique looks. Here, Jess Pettis out-runs Collin Jurin (476) and Noah McConahay (59) through the whoops at Chilliwack.

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Just before the start of the Nationals, I got out to spend a day shooting with top Intermediate rider Casey Keast in Oliver, BC.

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Kyle Demelo spends a lot of time “hanging” out at his FMX compound in Oliver, BC.

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Being ready for the Nationals means putting in the work in the off-season. Jeremy Medaglia logs some road miles while down in Georgia in February.

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Austin Watling blasts a berm while the last rays of sunlight fade at the Gopher Dunes track in November.

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C O A S T T O C O A S T M A G I C - A Y E A R I N R E V I E W B Y B R E N T W O R R A L , P H O T O S B Y J A M E S L I S S I M O R E

COAST TO

he 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan was one of the most exciting and entertaining series I have ever witnessed. If memory serves me correctly, have media folks like myself, race fans and industry types not been repeating statements like this year after year as of late? Let’s face it friends, no matter how you slice it or look at it, the national scene in Canadian Motocross is as strong as it has ever been. Things have almost gotten to the point now that when a rider is rumoured to be headed our way for the summer, prognosticators and pundits alike no longer discredit the possibility. Once again, 2016 saw not only more ‘Big Fish’ added to our ontrack talent pool in the MX1 class, but it came in the form of a ‘Great White Shark.’ I met Davi Millsaps last winter face to face on the podium at the conclusion of the Phoenix Supercross. He had just finished a main event that saw him leading early, getting a holeshot and showing signs of regaining the form that had him as an AMA Supercross premier class winner. After a brief interview with him and getting a firsthand sense of who Davi Millsaps was, if I told you I had even the slightest clue that we would see him lined up here this past summer, it would be an outright lie! KTM Racing, Thor and Parts Canada

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COAST

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BY BRENT WORRAL // PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

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somehow managed to barter and ink Davi to a deal that would see him lined up at Round 1 in Kamloops, BC on June 6th.

For the second straight year, the CMRC Canadian Nationals kicked off in Kamloops, BC at the familiar Whispering Pines Raceway. The opening round would see many of the usual suspects when it comes to a who’s who of Canadian Motocross. The opener also saw a good mix of fresh faces to go along with many seasoned veterans. The Pines can usually be relied upon for an opening round of action under sunny skies and generally good, all-around conditions. This year, however, saw Mother Nature deal a scorching hand that would give us a pretty good look as to who would be ready to contest for the titles in both classes. I am not sure exactly how hot it got at the opener but when Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki’s Mike Alessi looked at me and said ‘Brent, I’m from Florida and this is even hot for me’ I knew it was hot. It should also be noted that there was a major change this year in

Kamloops and that was the sand based track direction was reversed. When the gate dropped for the season’s first MX2 moto, it was MX101 Yamaha’s Dylan Wright getting a massive holeshot; so big in fact I heard some claim he cheated. I am not sure how that was possible but I think a better explanation was that he was fired up and ready. Dylan had not traditionally been the best starter since reaching the top level of his career, but quickly showed everyone that he had put in the needed work. Wright could not have picked a better time to get an early lead as just out of turn one in MX2 Moto 1, things got ugly quickly. Gopher Dunes Honda rider Jeremy Medaglia’s power slide seemed to cause some confusion in an ugly pileup that saw many on the ground early, the likes of which included title contenders KTM Racing Canada’s Cole Thompson and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jacob Hayes. Thompson would remount his charge and do his best to minimize the damage by pushing forward to a 4th place Moto 1 finish. Hayes would not be as fortunate as he was forced

" This coast to coast series can at times be a bit of a chess match when it comes to managing attrition and deploying foresight."

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to pull off the track with an opening round, season ending knee injury. The MX101 charge of Wright would get the job done in Moto 1, followed by Redemption Racing KTM rider Shawn Maffenbeier. Jess Pettis put his MX101 Yamaha on the podium for the first time in his young professional career. The overall at the opener in the MX2 class would go to Shawn Maffenbeier with 2-2 moto scores. Cole Thompson would take 2nd overall with his top step score in Moto 2. Salt Lake City, Utah’s Brandon Leith, who would only contest the Western rounds, finished 3rd.

On to the big bike class and the question that seemed to be asked by many, how would Davi Millsaps stack up in Canada? Was he fit? In hindsight, I am not sure exactly what the reason is but Davi’s fitness and commitment was questioned by some prior to the opening round of the series. In the first moto, Davi did not get the best jump and even told me after the race ‘When the gate dropped there was one point where I could almost see the back of every single rider’s jersey.’ Millsaps would take second in the opener in what may have been considered the best ever moto in Canada for Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha’s Matt Goerke that was not at Gopher Dunes.

Top: Kaven Benoit gets a big hug from his mom after winning his first MX1 moto. Middle: Your top three MX2 riders in 2016.

Bottom: It was great to see pro racing back at the historic RJ’s track in Barrie.

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Matt was very fast and looked great in Kamloops.

Colton Facciotti, on the Gopher Dunes Honda Canada bike, would also look to be fit to fight for the title as he scored a third in the opening moto. Davi Millsaps quickly put any questions to rest about his fitness in the blistering heat in Moto 2 as he would solidify the overall win with a brilliant score over Colton Facciotti. In Moto 2, Colton crossed the finish line not far behind Davi but Millsaps was in full control of the outcome. Goerke would struggle to match his first moto result, but there was a reason and a darn good one. I remember about four laps from the end of Moto 2 seeing Goerke launch front wheel high and miss the downside of a landing. I could not believe my eyes and wondered what the reason was as it was very uncharacteristic and looked sketchy. It turns out that Goerke had blistered so bad that his palms were raw and he could barely hang on. After seeing Matt on the podium, I wondered how in the world the 2015 Champ would even be able to line up at Round 2 in a week’s time. The overall at the opener in Kamloops in the MX1 class would be Millsaps with the win, Goerke 2nd and Facciotti 3rd.

With three rounds remaining in the West before the series would head East, we were still nine weeks away from 2016 Champions being crowned. This coast to coast series can at times be a bit of a chess match when it comes to managing attrition and deploying foresight. From seasoned veterans who have paid their dues, to rookies and sophomores who

Top: After starting the series strong in 2016, Colton Facciotti struggled to stay with the lead pack.

Below: Rookie MX2 rider Dakota Alix rode well in the East and got his first win in Moncton.

acclimate in the moment, this series is never short on excitement or drama. Round 2 at the Wastelands would prove that and come at the expense of some, both physically and financially. In the MX2 class it was GDR Honda’s Jeremy Medaglia who would pay the price of an untimely get off. Jeremy would suffer an injury that would see him sidelined and forced to withdraw from the championship. KTM Canada’s Cole Thompson had perfect one and one moto scores at The Wastelands, which would see him add another Nanaimo Pro National win to his rapidly growing resume. Shawn Maffenbeier would repeat his result of Kamloops by going 2-2 on the day for the midpodium position. The Western based S&G Powersports rider, for the West anyway, Brad Nauditt, would collect the Nanaimo bronze in the MX2 class. The MX1 class would see some drama play out as two of the championship contenders, Davi Millsaps and Matt Goerke, would be docked ten positions for a flag infraction in Moto 1. Even though Millsaps would win Moto 2 convincingly, he would have to settle for fourth overall on the day. Colton Facciotti, who has always made the best of the scenic trip in his home province, would score the Round 2 overall victory.

Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Mike Alessi would get second overall. The rider who was most notably improved on the new-look Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha at this round, Brett Metcalfe would finish 3rd. Metcalfe, who had not traditionally got great starts the previous season, went a perfect two for two, capturing

" As the series moved on to hills of Ulverton, Quebec, it was Matt Goerke and Brett Metcalfe keeping the momentum going and repeating as the 1-2 overall finishers in the MX1 class."

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the Royal Distributing Holeshot Triple Crown Award.

The back half of the West would play out in the prairie portion of our great country. The first stop was in beautiful downtown Calgary, Alberta at the Wild Rose Motocross Park. This track has been a staple on the tour and hopefully will remain that way for many years to come. It is always fun to see riders who have been around for a long time at the top level get to experience racing action in the middle of a Canadian Metropolis. I can think to many of conversations I have had with some of the best racers to line up there and each of them have gone out of their way to state how lucky our series is to have this centrally located race. The track in Calgary, this year clad with its traditional concrete start pad, saw a similar change to the Kamloops round. You guessed it, once again the Calgary track would see the direction changed on a good portion of the layout. The infield was changed considerably, and a good start was imperative to have any kind of a chance at the podium. I would like to add that when the gate dropped on Moto 1 it was very impressive to see how many race fans were in attendance. I have been to this round many years in a row and this year the crowd was the biggest I have ever seen. Nice work Calgary! In the MX2 class, the Thompson / Maffenbeier train would breeze through town just as they did the previous round - Cole with the win and Shawn with second overall. It was, however, a newcomer to the series that had replaced injured Jacob Hayes on the Monster Energy Kawasaki, Mark Worth that would grab third. In the MX1 class, once again the class of the field was Davi Millsaps. Mike Alessi was second best on this day as he looked to be getting faster and faster on his Monster Energy Kawasaki.

Brett Metcalfe would score another 3rd overall while his teammate, Matt Goerke, would have to fight from dead last in Moto 2 as the result of a first turn yard sale-type pile up. To add insult to injury, Goerke’s bike was at the bottom of the pile. The rider with the #1 on his bike now had his work cut out for him to recapture the title, but we still had seven rounds remaining before anything would or could be settled.

The West concluded in Regina, Saskatchewan and once again we had something shake down that not everyone was happy with. In the MX2 class in Moto 1, Minnesota native Nolan Heppner would go down, which had caution flags up in a hurry. There was also a Red Cross flag hoisted that was not seen and heeded by all. Without getting into too much detail and beating what is in hindsight a non-issue that cannot or will not be changed, a number of riders were penalized and not happy about it. One of them was home province hero Shawn Maffenbeier.

Maffenbeier would also have his bike expire in Moto 2, prematurely throwing a serious monkey wrench into his 2016 title chase hopes. Cole Thompson continued on his winning ways followed by the Honda Canada bike of Brad Nauditt and Kawasaki mounted Mark Worth. As for the big bike battle this day at the Moto Valley track, it was once again Davi Millsaps proving that he was the guy that was going to have to be beat to win this title. Once again, for the third round in a row, it was Mike Alessi finishing second ahead of Matt Goerke, who was happy to be back on the podium. I am not sure what made Matt happier

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on this day, hitting the podium or knowing that the series’ next stop would be at one of his favourite tracks, Gopher Dunes!

With a new look this year in the East with the addition of two different venues, Pleasant Valley Motorsport Park in Truro, Nova Scotia and RJ Motosport Park in Barrie, Ontario, 2016 had six rounds remaining. Would six rounds be enough to overcome early series adversity for some?

Would Red Plate holders Cole Thompson and Davi Millsaps continue to dominate their respective classes? There were many questions that remained to be answered, and what a better place to start the Eastern portion of the series than the gruelling sands of Gopher Dunes. This year’s sand separator round would also see some pretty significant track changes to the layout. What would remain the same, however, is just how physically and technically demanding this round can be! On this day in the MX2 class, Shawn Maffenbeier would ride one of his best races ever as a professional. A bold statement, yes. I asked Shawn and he too agreed. He would, however, not be rewarded with an overall win for his efforts on this day. That honour would belong to Cole Thompson who made up an incredible amount of ground on his way to stamping the victory. It was at the conclusion of this round that one could almost sense that it was going to be very tough for anyone to deny Cole Thompson the title. In the MX1 class, Gopher Dunes would see KTM Canada’s Kaven Benoit live up to the promise he has, as well as overcome some of the seriously bad luck he experienced in the West. I do not really believe Kaven’s results at the Dunes do justice to just how well he rode there on this weekend. He did run with the frontrunners but his setbacks would see him settle for 5-4 moto scores on the day. Fortunately for Kaven, I believe the positive momentum really started to build for him on this day with his best yet still to come. Gopher would also see other top MX1 riders victimized by inconsistency. At his home race, Colton Facciotti was 2-6 for a 4th overall. Matt Goerke, who would look to make up some ground on points leader Millsaps by winning Moto 1, would also take a spill while leading Moto 2. Davi Millsaps, who came in a little banged up, would also be somewhat humbled by the Dunes’ sand and conditions, and went 3-2 for 3rd overall. Brett Metcalfe on the Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha would capture his first moto win of the series in Moto 2, and his 4-1 would give him second overall.

Matt Goerke would win the battle of the sand box but not really in a way he would have liked. If it was not for his second moto crash, he could have inched closer to Millsaps in the championship hunt. On the efforts of his 1-3 moto scores, he collected his first overall victory of the series and it had him smiling at day’s end with five rounds left. I should also mention that Matt Goerke and Brett Metcalfe had a planes, trains and automobiles-type experience, which saw their plane land in Philadelphia instead of Toronto.

This warranted the teammates a long commute to the Southwestern Ontario town of Courtland. The way these two seasoned veterans went about their business on race day, no one was none the wiser.

As the series moved on to hills of Ulverton, Quebec, it was Matt Goerke and Brett Metcalfe keeping the momentum going and repeating as the 1-2

Above: Journeymen Tyler Medaglia and Brett Metcalfe battle in Moncton.

overall finishers in the MX1 class. The home province hero, 2015 MX2 Champ Kaven Benoit, would hit the podium for KTM going 4-3 in front of many loyal followers. Davi Milsaps would have a spill at the bottom of a technical section and score 2-8 on the day for 4th. Colton Facciotti and Mike Alessi would finish 5th and 6th overall respectively. In the MX2 class, MX101’s Dylan Wright would ride his best race of the series to date and get the overall victory. Wright got passed very late in Moto 2 by Cole Thompson, but Thompson would go off the track and be penalized for his point of re-entry. This would give Dylan Wright the first overall victory of his top level career. Wright made the best of the moment taking the opportunity to greet the Quebec fans with a podium speech in their native language of French. Dylan, who is a well-educated young man, made it pay off as I really believe he now has many more fans in the province of Quebec. Dylan is also proof to me that home schooling is not always a necessity to be a winner in Motocross. Shawn Maffenbeier, at day’s end on a track where he scored an MX2 overall victory in 2014, would finish 2nd overall. With the series headed for the first time since 2002 to Pleasant Valley, Nova Scotia, KTM’s Cole Thompson continued his MX2 class domination. KTM would be well represented on the podium this day in front of the many patriotic Maritimers that cheered from the crowded sidelines. The ‘Race Ready’ brand would be represented at this round with Dakota Alix scoring 2nd overall and Shawn Maffenbeier 3rd. In the MX1 class, Davi Millsaps once again looked unbeatable, regaining his top step form going a perfect 1-1 on the rich, colourful soil of PV. Rockstar OTSFF’s Brett Metcalfe was second best going a hard charging and consistent 2-2. The biggest cheers of the day were saved for local hero, Truro, Nova Scotia’s Tyler Medaglia. Medaglia rode up front early and harnessed every ounce of his heart of a champion drive to achieve his best

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being rewarded with a 2nd overall for his 3-2 efforts.

In the MX1 class, it was once again Millsaps for the second straight week proving he had his KTM once again flying the flags at full mast towards the title with a perfect 1-1 victory. His teammate, Kaven Benoit, would get 2nd overall with a brilliant season bestto-date ride for him. Matt Goerke would have a tough first moto result but 7-2 would be good for a podium overall finish. Mike Alessi and Tyler Medaglia would add 4th and 5th place overall values to their title hopes with only two rounds remaining.

The Deschambault track for 2016 would have to be ranked up there as one of the roughest rounds of the series. The sand of Deschambault just seemed to have a little bit of a nastier edged type of roughness to it on this weekend that we had not seen in the past, the kind of terrain that produced many kickers in places that saw some out of character, hard crashes for top level riders. Mike Alessi, Brett Metcalfe, Tyler Medaglia, Shawn Robinson and Westen Wrozyna were a few of the unfortunate. Unfortunately, Brett Metcalfe would have his season come to an abrupt halt as the result of a concussion in his second moto. Alessi would fracture ribs, and Medaglia would have one his scariest get offs in years on the final lap of Moto 2! This race week-

It was a definite feel good moment on the podium for Medaglia, his family and Canadian race fans as his 4-3 placed him 3rd overall.

end would also see our first 2016 season champion crowned as Cole Thompson’s 1-4 moto point totals would see him become the 2016 CMRC MX2 Canadian National Champion.

Cole was full value for the victory and was the fastest rider throughout most of this series. You also have to think back to how he made the best of a bad situation after ending up on the ground in the horrific first turn pile up in Moto 1 at the opening round in Kamloops. His competitor Jacob Hayes was not so fortunate. If they say champions win titles by minimizing the damage on their worst days, I believe that particular moto would get a two hands up vote from Cole and his connections. Congratulations Cole Thompson on your first CMRC Canadian National title. Dylan Wright would get another opportunity to endear himself to his growing Quebec fan base by winning Moto 2 and collecting 2nd overall. The MX1 class would not see a champion crowned quite yet as Davi Millsaps still had some work to do to close out the 2016 series. The glory on the day would belong to Quebec rider Kaven Benoit. Kaven rode masterfully and the hometown crowd went absolutely crazy for him. Benoit’s 2-1 motos bested his teammate Davi Millsaps. Matt Goerke would finish the day 3rd overall to round out the podium. One of the highlights of the podium presentation was seeing Kaven’s former mechanic, Jerome, red lining the rpm meter of a chain saw, which only added fuel to the celebration frenzy!

Benoit, who showed the speed to compete for wins all season, finally put it together at home; no one was

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2016 series result to date. It was a definite feel good moment on the podium for Medaglia, his family and Canadian race fans as his 4-3 placed him 3rd overall.

On the flip side, a not so feel good moment came in Moto 2 of the MX1 class when shortly after the start, Honda Canada’s Colton Facciotti went down hard and was landed on by Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Mike Alessi. It was not the best of days for either rider but Facciotti’s setback would see him out for the balance of the series.

For the first year ever, the series would see back to back races in the Maritimes. Round 8 at the hard pack surface of Riverglade would see more orange on the top step of the podium in the MX2 class. It was a new face, however, in the form of American rider Dakota Alix getting the win. Dakota, who now had a few rounds under his belt on our soil, looked good taking home top step honours. The round also saw a scare for points leader Cole Thompson early in Moto 1, a moment that I might add could have been a whole lot worse than it ended up. In this sport there is no doubt that luck and things going your way can be a game changer. Cole would minimize the damage going 6-1 at ‘The Glade’ for 3rd overall. Dylan Wright, on the MX101 Yamaha, would fight hard all day, making up much ground and

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going to deny Kaven Benoit on this day. I would also add that Kaven’s raceworn jersey and pants were auctioned off on the podium to raise money for the 2016 MXoN team. The winning bid of $2,000 went to Neil Bradbury, the father of up and coming BLK RDR Motovan Vernon Motorsports rider Mitchell Bradbury.

The finale of the 2016 series was set for RJ Motosport Park just outside of Barrie, Ontario. With the notable change in the schedule from Walton Raceway, I, like many race fans, was curious as to how the final round at the newly added venue would play out. Being a Westerner, this was my first trek ever to RJ’s. The day before the final national of the season it poured rain and it was downright nasty. I can remember being hunkered down under the Rockstar OTSFF tent Saturday afternoon watching fiords open in the sand in front of me as the water raged through!

Things looked bleak at best for Sunday, and just when it looked like we would get through a season without a mudder, we looked to be on the verge of one. The rain did, however, stop and the sand based circuit was perfect for racing when the gate dropped for the final round of action on Sunday. In the MX2 class, Cole Thomson, with the title in hand, continued on his winning ways. Thompson closed out the series with exclamation mark-like 1-1 moto wins. Cole chose his battles and moved forward methodically in each of the two motos just as you would expect a true champion to do. MX101 rider Dylan Wright would play second fiddle to Thompson and was already looking forward to next season when I spoke to him at day’s

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end. His teammate, Jess Pettis, would finish off the season on a high note with a 3rd overall. Pettis was followed by Dakota Alix and Shawn Maffenbeier.

Maffenbeier would also finish 2nd in the MX2 title chase for the series. Dylan Wright would finish 3rd overall followed by Brad Nauditt and Jess Pettis in 4th and 5th respectively.

When the gate dropped at RJ’s in the MX1 class, Davi Millsaps only needed to finish inside the top 15 in Moto 1 to close out the title. Millsaps, however, did not get the best start in Moto 1. It was Husqvarna Canada rider Tyler Medaglia with the holeshot, leading Rockstar OTSFF’s Matt Goerke early. Goerke did work his way around Medaglia, soldiering on to the Moto 1 victory. Tyler, who rode as well as he had all season, scored an impressive season best 2nd in Moto 1 ahead of Kaven Benoit. What about Davi Millsaps? Yes, Davi finished 6th and would lock up the 2016 CMRC MX1 title by doing so. It was, however, an eventful moto for Millsaps as just after the mechanics area sweeping left hand corner, he made a minor error on a triple jump. The KTM of Millsaps launched wide right and landed on the far exterior of the track, bottoming out hard in the dozer fluff. It happened right in front of me! He did manage to stay on the motorcycle but immediately I could see that he was in pain. Not sure exactly whether it was an ankle, a wrist or both, but I knew he was definitely feeling that one. I could also see by how he gingerly proceeded forward that he was in distress of some kind. Within a couple of laps Davi was riding back on pace and the points

collected for the 6th place moto finish would secure him the 2016 title. I also sensed that after seeing what I saw, Davi may likely not even race Moto 2! In fact, as the parade lap cruised out onto the track, I noticed Davi was not out there. Within a moment of having that thought, Davi was right beside me on the infield in the same spot he had the hard Moto 1 landing. He was in his city clothes and it was obvious that he was not going to contest the final moto of the season. I asked him about Moto 1 and the miscue and he acknowledged what went awry. In his own words, Davi stated, “I knew I was not going to crash, but I knew it was going to be a hard landing.” Davi also cited that his wrist was sore but he felt like it would be fine, and was not keen on lining up and taking any extra chances on further injury. Matt Goerke would once again win Moto 2 at the finale followed by Tyler Medaglia who was 2nd in the moto. Medaglia would make a pass late in the moto on Kaven Benoit who would be 3rd overall at the final round. After the points were tallied at the conclusion of Moto 20, it was Davi Millsaps your 2016 CMRC MX1 National Campion, Matt Goerke 2nd and Kaven Benoit 3rd.

Congratulations to KTM Canada’s Davi Millsaps and Cole Thompson and their connections on their 2016 championships. Also, congratulations to all others who hit their marks of personal bests in 2016. The CMRC Nationals was a lot of fun for all involved this past season. With 2017 on deck, the future of our sport has never been brighter. I am very much looking forward to seeing you all at the races in 2017!

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This is one of my favourite outtakes from our recent cover shoot with Dylan Wright. It didn’t take long to look comfortable on his new Honda.

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There’s just something about a pair of freshly prepped Factory bikes, in front on a freshly prepped SX track as the first rays of sunshine hit them. Shot at the KTM test track in California.

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Year in Review

BY ANDY WHITE | PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

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ow that 2017 is here, it’s a perfect time to look back at what happened in at the 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals.

There were plenty of rumours floating around on who was coming up for the 2016 series. I would have to say the biggest rumour was Davi Millsaps coming up and riding for KTM Canada.

I heard about it when I was attending the San Diego Supercross when Tony Alessi pulled me aside and told me Davi was going to be racing the Canadian Nationals. I told him that was pretty hard to believe, a rider with that much talent coming north for the summer. Anything is possible, but there were a few things that just didn’t make sense.

First of all, why would Millsaps need or want to go north for the summer? Davi is one of the most talented riders on two wheels. Was he washed up? Not in my books, because he still has the speed and the fire to race. I was under the impression he was more of a supercross rider and was looking forward to the cottage by the lake for the summer.

Question 2: If he was coming up he would need to be paid big dollars. That’s US dollars too! He would want to race a full-on factory service KTM and he would request a top mechanic from the US as well.

You add all this up and you are talking some serious money. The number I heard before he even stepped into Canada was $150-$200K. Question 3: Is it worth paying that kind of money to a rider to compete in Canada? Well, as we all know, I guess so. KTM Canada had Davi lined up at Round 1 in Kamloops on a fully prepared, factory service KTM450SXF. This race bike was close to being a full-on Ryan Dungey replica factory race bike right from “The Man” himself, Roger DeCoster. If you were a team manager for another race team in Canada you were pretty well screwed. There was no way that you could prepare a race bike that was better than that KTM450! How on earth could you compete against the full-on America factory US team? Millsaps’ program was a complete turn-key - make the payment and you are supplied a championship. If Davi could stay on two wheels and keep focused, it was a championship in the bag. Does money buy championships? If you don’t know, keep on reading. Another team that usually hires US riders is Monster Thor Kawasaki. Team Manager Jason Hughes was rumoured to have hired two riders that were questionable: Mike Alessi and Vince Friese. I don’t think we need to go into depth about these two riders. Yes, they are extremely fast. Yes, the media loves to follow them.

I can tell you that the media was excited on the two picks. This pretty well guaranteed that the media would have lots to write about each weekend. I was a little shocked on the two choices but when you look

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" I was watching the race with two-time Canadian Champion Marco DubE. He was even shaking his head at how fast these guys go today." at the list of riders available, it kind of made sense.

Like I said, the speed is there if the equipment is set up to deliver. We saw Mike a few years ago almost win the series on his MCR Smarttop Suzuki. If it wasn’t for a few strange DNFs, Mike would have been the Champ. In 2015, Vince Friese came up with the same team to Calgary and pretty much walked away with the win. So looking back, these two riders made sense. The Honda program had multi-time Canadian National Champion Colton Facciotti on his CRF450.

We knew Colton had it in him to win the championship. The factory KTM team had 2015 Canadian MX2 Champ Kaven Benoit on a 450. This would be Benoit’s first year competing in the MX1 class as he can no longer compete in the MX2 class after winning two championships. How would he do? I heard lots of talk that he would finish anywhere from third to sixth overall for the series. As I have worked with Kaven in the past, I had a feeling he would be a threat, but only when the series hit the east coast. Kaven is one rider that takes his racing very seriously. He puts the time in, and he tests until he is happy. Does he know the eastern tracks? Take a look at the results for the

past three plus years, that will answer your question.

The Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha team had two riders that could have easily won races and championships. Matt Goerke showed us in the past that he has the skills to do it. He is a two-time CMRC Canadian MX1 Champion. His teammate, Brett Metcalfe, has a Canadian Championship to his name as well. Would either one have the speed to beat Millsaps? We saw that Metty was competing down under in Australia on a factory Husky 450. Would Brett have some momentum leading into Round 1? Looking at the MX2 class, there was one rider that seemed to be the favourite before the series even started. KTM Canada re-signed Cole Thompson to the team, but in 2016 the team wanted him to compete in the MX2 class.

This was what we heard a few months before the series started. Could this be true? In my view this is like asking Barcia or Canard to go back to the Lites class.

The MX2 class in Canada is a proam class for up and coming riders. Yes, he qualified for the class in the rulebook, but was it right? The factory Honda team had Jeremy Medaglia who came off a pretty good 2015 season. Could Jeremy put the pieces together

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and find that extra speed to win? Anther rider that looked like he had the speed to win races and maybe the series was Ottawa resident Dylan Wright who was competing for the MX101 Yamaha FXR team. Dylan and team owner Kevin Tyler had been working with each other for many years. Teammate to Dylan was Jess Pettis from Prince George, BC. Jess had some solid results last year. I believed that with the right set up and confidence he would be a podium rider in 2016. The third rider on the program was Hayden Halstead from Waterford, Ontario. Hayden came off a pretty good 2015 MX1 series. This year he moved to the 250F class. I expected top 10 results. The Monster Thor Kawasaki team signed the Canadian Arenacross Champ, Jacob Hayes. We knew Jacob had the speed and the talent to finish on the box. The question was, would he have the endurance to put in two 25 minute motos? Coming off a big win in the AX series, Jacob had lots of confidence. Having Cole Thompson and Jacob in the same class for 10 rounds would equal some exciting racing. Team Redemption Racing had two familiar riders, Cade Clason on the 450 and Shawn Maffenbeier on a 250, who has the speed to win on any weekend. We knew who was racing the 2016 series, so let’s look at some of the highs and lows.

Kamloops was the first round of the ten round series. The promoter decided to change the direction of the track, so the direction was the other way around. I think it was a big mistake as there was no flow to the race. Kamloops is by far one of the roughest tracks on the circuit, and you could see that by

" Round 8 has always been one of my favourites on the circuit. The track is fun and the Riverglade fans are awesome. You can always count on a good turnout at this round." the time the first motos were underway. Some of the highlights from this round: Davi Millsaps was the real deal. I have to admit, I was expecting Davi to finish on or close to the podium but he was by far the most consistent rider in the MX1 class. Matt Goerke won the first moto, but in the second moto he just didn’t have the speed to stay with Davi. Another rider who I expected to finish right up there was Brett Metcalfe, but with a 5-5 for a sixth, that doesn’t get you on the box. Mike Alessi went 4-6, and his teammate, Vince Friese, finished with a 726; not what the team was looking for, I bet. Top rookie went to Kaven Benoit who looked like he had been racing the MX1 class for years; he finished a solid 5th overall. Four-time Canadian Champion Colton Facciotti had a pretty good day with a third overall.

The MX2 guys had some great battles. How about MX101 Yamaha rider Dylan Wright winning the first

moto? I was so pumped for him. Then his teammate Pettis finished a few seconds later in third; nice way to start the series off. Moto 2 didn’t go that well for Dylan as he jumped the start and was about sixty feet down the start straight before the gate fell. I don’t think I have ever seen this before. CMRC’s Head Referee Paul Kingsley stopped the race and put them back on the gate for a restart. Dylan was penalized for jumping. Once the race got going it was KTM 12 with Thompson and Maffenbeier out front, but Jess Pettis was making time on the leaders until a mechanical issue happened with only a lap to go. The good news was Pettis looked like he could podium and he proved it at Round 1. Team Honda’s factory rider Jeremy Medaglia looked like he struggled on the rough track. I’m was hoping he would bounce back.

Maybe it was the first round jitters. Kawasaki MX2 rider Jacob Hayes had a day he would like to forget completely as he tweaked his knee, which put him out of the series. Round 2 in Nanaimo was a week later on a track that most riders don’t really enjoy.

The name of the track speaks for itself - they call this track ‘The Wastelands.’ The location is beautiful but that’s about it for this location. This event was a crazy one. Top riders were caught jumping on red crosses, and the two riders, Goerke and Millsaps, were moved back 10 spots for that moto. It sounds harsh but the riders all voted for this rule to keep it safe. I can tell you Davi was not a happy camper after winning that moto. He was told about it as he was working his way back to his pit area. Matt Goerke was also pissed at the decision but those are the

2016 YEAR IN REVIEW WITH ANDY WHITE, PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

Left: Dylan Wright brought his strong work ethic to the MX2 class in 2016. Middle: Jess Pettis stayed healthy throughout 2016 and was one of the top MX2 riders. Right: Davi Millsaps used his trademark aggressive style to win the MX1 Championship.

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day finishing third overall. Round 4 was located in the prairies. The track location is about 20 minutes just outside Regina. This was the weekend that Kaven Benoit really impressed me. In Moto 1, Kaven was on the gas, he was pushing Davi most of the race. I was looking forward to the second moto but bad luck hit the French Canadian. The rear sprocket ripped off the hub and derailed the chain. That was it for Kaven.

This gave Alessi second in Moto 2 and second overall for the day. Millsaps once again took the overall. This weekend, third went to Goerke and his teammate Metty finished fourth.

The MX2 class had it’s share of fireworks happen in the first moto yet again. Points were taken away from Dylan Wright and a bunch of riders in the first moto as they all jumped on a red cross flag. Nolan Heppner crashed hard while leading the race on lap two. I believe there were approximately 10 plus riders that were moved back in the points by ten spots. This really screwed up the overalls for the day. One rider who didn’t jump was Cole Thompson. His performance gave him the overall for the day. Finishing on the box for the first time in the series was Brad Nauditt with a second overall. Third went to Mark Worth on his Monster Thor Kawasaki. Round 5 was back at the number one sand track in North America. This has been debated a few times but when you hear it from John Dowd you know it’s one tough sand track. Sand specialists Georke and Metty had a great day by going one-two. Davi had an off weekend by finishing third overall. Millsaps cruised in for a third overall and had a pretty big points lead. Facciotti looked like his old self in the first moto finishing second. In the second moto he had a pretty good get-off that pushed him back in the results.

Benoit looked sharp as well until he threw it away in the second moto. That slowed him down. Mike Alessi struggled and was only able to get a sixth for the day. Surprisingly, only a couple of years ago Mike was untouchable in the sand.

The MX2 class had some great battles. Dylan Wright and newcomer to the series Dakota Alix from Vermont swapped positions. The overall went to Cole Thompson, Wright finished second and third went to Dakota Alix. Round 6 was located in the hills of Ulverton, just a few miles from where JSR and Carl Vaillancourt grew up. This track is pretty unique as it’s all very natural with nice big drop-offs. I would have to say it’s one of my favourite tracks on the series. You can sit on one of the many hills and get a good vantage point of the entire track. The starting line straight is fifth gear, wide open into a nice 180°, and down a whooped sand hill.

You need lots of confidence when you hold it wide open here. I was watching the race with two-time Canadian Champion Marco Dubé. He was even shaking his head at how fast these guys go today. Matt Goerke and his teammate Metty had their Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha 450 dialled in. They swapped moto wins. It’s nice to see different overall winners on the podium. Finishing third was local hero Kaven Benoit.

The fans were cheering for him on every lap. Teammate Millsaps had another off weekend, Davi cruised in for fourth. I think Millsaps started to figure out that it’s more important to focus on the championship than the weekend overalls.

The MX2 class had more penalties handed out for breaking the rules. This time it went to MX2 points leader Cole Thompson for cutting the track in the sec-

2016 YEAR IN REVIEW WITH ANDY WHITE, PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

rules. With those penalties in place, this changed the results for the day. This gave the overall to Colton Facciotti, second went to Mike Alessi and rounding the top three was Brett Metcalfe. The one rider that had a terrible weekend was Vince Friese, who had set the fastest practice lap times. Vince went down hard in the first moto and he didn’t make it to the gate for the second moto.

The MX2 guys had a strange day too. It all started with the first moto when Jeremy Medaglia pulled a great start but crashed on the downside of the table top just after the first turn. As Jeremy slid out, he took with him both MX101 riders, Pettis and Wright.

This was a big blow to the Yamaha teammates; they both DNFd that race. Jeremy was out as well with injuries. The second moto was pretty straight forward with the win going to Thompson, and not far off the pace was Maffenbeier. What was interesting was that both Jess and Dylan climbed back from mid pack starts to finish 3-4 respectively. Round 3 was in Calgary. This track is pretty cool, because you can see the city from the track. Davi Milsaps had this track absolutely wired! That’s all I really have to say about that weekend. Oh wait, Mike Alessi looked way better, but I’m not really sure what was up with Colton Facciotti finishing 7th overall for the day. Davi had the overall, Mike went 2-2 and third overall was Metcalfe. The big news in the MX2 class was that Jeremy Medaglia was out due to a concussion from the crash in Nanaimo. That was a big blow to the Honda team. Racing was pretty predictable with Thompson winning the overall, and Redemption Racing’s Maffenbeier finishing a close second again.

Kawasaki replacement rider Mark Worth had a solid

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ond moto with just a few laps to go. Cole was battling with Dylan Wright when Cole over jumped a double and rode straight in to the field. Instead of turning around, he went straight ahead and jumped in behind Wright. Was that the right move? Well, CMRC Head Ref fittingly felt that Cole could have turned around and entered the track where he exited. With these points removed form Cole, this gave the overall to Dylan Wright. This was Dylan’s first overall for 2016. Finishing second was “Mr. Consistent” Shawn Maffenbeier, and third went to points leader Cole Thompson. Round 7 was a new track on the circuit in the town of Truro, NS. This track was on the schedule way back in the early 2000s. It’s now owned by former pro racer Mitch Cooke, who raced the series for many years and had some great results. The rumour was that Mitch was coming out to compete in the 450 class. Unfortunately for Mitch, in the timed practice he went down hard and injured himself. The track looked awesome when we pulled in, lined with a white fence as far as you could see. The dirt was like chocolate cake, as they call it, but as the track broke in, the dirt under the top soil was a little greasy. This caused havoc for most of the riders. There were only two riders that looked comfortable on it. That was points leader Millsaps and local pro Tyler Medaglia. Tyler lives no more that ten minutes down the road; Tyler knows this track like the back of his hand. There was a huge turnout of fans to watch the event. They were not disappointed as Tyler finished a solid third for the day. That was Tyler’s first time on the box in 2016. Finishing second was Brett Metcalfe and the overall went to Millsaps, who said it was one super technical track.

The MX2 class had a few good battles between Dylan

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Wright and Cole Thompson. The track was not that easy to pass on. You needed a good start and then you had to deal with lappers. At the end of the day it was a KTM podium sweep with Thompson getting the overall. Dakota Alix was second and Maffenbeier finished third. Round 8 has always been one of my favourites on the circuit. The track is fun and the Riverglade fans are awesome. You can always count on a good turnout at this round. Larry Northrup and his team always put in the extra hours to make sure the riders have a good race track. The MX1 racing was pretty solid. Millsaps apparently liked this track the best so far. Davi cruised to an easy win but it was Benoit who looked really impressive again on his factory KTM. Kaven finished second overall and Matt Goerke was third.

The MX2 class had a new overall winner. Dakota Alix had a great weekend and captured the overall.

Dylan Wright rode extremely well too and captured second, and points leader Cole Thompson finished third. Round 9 was located back in the province of Quebec. The track is about 30 minutes west of Quebec City in a really small town named Deschambault.

This track is one of the toughest ones on the schedule. Most riders use rear paddle tires as 95% of the track is pretty soft sand. The start is very important.

If you don’t get out front you, are going to get sand blasted. Local hero Benoit rode his best 450 race to date. In front of his fans, he was able to capture the overall. Benoit and Millsaps had a great battle on the track. Benoit had that little bit extra. Davi did say on the podium that he had nothing left in the tank and that Benoit rode awesome. The top three results were Benoit, Millsaps and Goerke. Not a good day for Brett Metcalfe who crashed hard in the second moto

and was taken to hospital. Mike Alessi crashed out as well on a big downhill.

The MX2 riders had some good battles as well.

Cole Thompson won the overall and clinched the overall for the championship, but Dylan Wright didn’t make it easy for the champ. The two banged bars most of the second moto with the win going to Wright. There were a few words after the race but the two riders are both very competitive. Round 10 was held at RJ Motosport Park just a few minutes north of Barrie, Ontario. This was the final round of the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals. The fan turn out was unreal. They lined the upper fence and were four deep. The racing was pretty good.

Thank goodness it rained the day before because this kept the track conditions perfect. The MX1 guys put on a pretty good show. Millsaps had a few issues in the first moto when he over jumped a double and tweaked his wrist. This put him out and made him a no-show for Moto 2. Metty was a no-show after his big crash in Deschambault. This opened the door for some of the riders that didn’t typically make the top five. The one rider that was really impressive was Tyler Medaglia, who finished just behind the overall winner Matt Goerke. Third for the day was Benoit. Not a bad way to finish up the year on the box. That finish pushed Benoit to third overall in the series.

The MX2 motos were pretty exciting. Thompson walked away with both moto wins. The MX101 riders Dylan Wright and Jess Pettis had solid rides and finished second and third overall.

Those are the highlights of the series in 2016.

Looking back I would have to say that was one awesome race series. I can hardly wait for 2017!

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Motocross is a great sport and a lot of fun, but sometimes it’s just not your day. This unidentified Junior rider is having one of those days.

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Early morning practice at Gopher Dunes is one of my favourite times to shoot. The nice, warm light combined with the sand flying everywhere makes for some great photo opportunities. Brett Metcalfe demonstrates with a textbook berm blast.

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There’s railing a berm and then there’s the full-fledged bar drag. Dylan Wright demonstrates the latter at the MX101 Yamaha team shoot at Sand Del Lee in May.

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The opening lap of a Supercross race is a crazy affair. Ryan Dungey navigates some crowded airspace during the start of the Santa Clara SX.

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It’s always great to see one of our own racing Supercross. Cole Thompson flies the Canadian flag in practice at San Diego.

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PALMS 4TH ANNUAL GOLDEN ELBOW AWARDS

By Chris Pomeroy, Photos by James Lissimore

’ S L M A L U A P H ANN 4T

L A S’ NNU M L HA A P 4T

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FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, I’VE SAT DOWN AND COME UP WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST FROM THE PAST YEAR OF RACING. I CALL IT MY ANNUAL GOLDEN ELBOW AWARDS, AND EACH TIME IT’S BEEN A LOT OF FUN TO LOOK BACK AT EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN CANADIAN MOTOCROSS.

F

STORY BY CHRIS POMEROY PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

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or 2016, there were so many great performances and so many interesting things to witness at every event I attended. From Davi Millsaps’ incredible march towards his MX1 title, to Cole Thompson’s smooth and precise riding at each round of the MX2 series, there were many great story lines in 2016.

With 2016 now in the rear view mirror, it’s time to celebrate

some pretty amazing accomplishments. For this year’s Golden Elbow Awards we take a look at everything from the Rider of the Year all the way to the Best Pass of the Year. As we look back at last year and all that was great in Canadian motocross, it makes me equally excited to see what our sport has in store for 2017. For now, however, let’s sit back and find out who are your 2016 Golden Elbow Award winners.

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Rider

of the

year

team

of the

year

PALMS 4TH ANNUAL GOLDEN ELBOW AWARDS

By Chris Pomeroy, Photos by James Lissimore

Davi Millsaps

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When we look back on Davi Millsaps’s 2016 season in Canada, I’m sure that few people will argue with him being named Rider of the Year. Right from the first moment he set foot on Canadian soil in Kamloops, the KTM rider was dominant. During the first four rounds of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, Millsaps only lost two motos and one of those was because of a penalty. With his early series success, Millsaps definitely made hay while the sun was shinning.

Through those moto wins and the MX1 Championship, one of the things that stood out this past summer with Millsaps was his high level of aggression. Regardless of the start he got in each moto, he never wasted time in getting to the front. In the opening rounds, I’m sure this caught most riders by surprise, but when he did it time after time, this practice became even more impressive. Over the years Millsaps has been a very good SX rider, so the fact that he knew how to make passes quickly made perfect sense. From Kamloops to Barrie, Millsaps set the pace in the MX1 class, and in doing so, he made the riders around him better. Sadly, he will not be back here in 2017, but we can all be thankful that he was in Canada for at least one season and he was able to help keep our series in the global spotlight

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KTM Thor Racing Team

It’s pretty hard not to be named Team of the Year when you win both the MX1 and MX2 Championships in the same season. When KTM Canada invited the Canadian media to California in April to introduce their 2016 team, Team Manager JSR told me that their goal was to win both titles. With Cole Thompson moving back down to the MX2 class and Kaven Benoit and Davi Millsaps handling the team’s MX1 duties, few could argue that the Orange Brigade weren’t the favourites in both classes.

However, this is motocross and anything can happen, especially when you enter a season with the pressure of being the odds on favourites. Under the guidance of five-time MX1 Champion JSR, the KTM Thor Racing team was able to get off to a good start in the opening rounds of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, and from there they never looked back. Throughout the ten round series, all three riders made frequent trips to the top step of the podium, and when all was said and done, this talented team did exactly what they set out to do. Heading into 2017, the big question is, will they be able to do it again? With no Davi Millsaps under the tent, it will be up to Benoit to put his #3 KTM up front. As they say, winning a title is tough, repeating is even tougher. Something tells me, though, that with the talent of Benoit and Thompson, this team will be just fine in 2017.

Gopher Dunes National event

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This is perhaps the toughest category as there were so many great events in 2016. There was the Moto Park Cup events at the famous track in Chatsworth, ON, and there was the Deschambault GNAC, which was a hit for every rider that attended. However, of all the events I attended in 2016, the one that stands out was the National at Gopher Dunes. I don’t know what it is about racing in the deep sand that makes racing so exciting. Maybe it’s the fact that every single person in attendance knows that each rider is suffering as they circulate the rough track? With this event being held in July,

hot and humid conditions are almost guaranteed each year.

When you factor in the heat and the extreme conditions that the riders and their machines have to go through, this race is more than just a National, it’s a battle of attrition and endurance. To sit near the podium at the end of the day and see just how drained our top riders are is truly inspiring. To me, that moment really solidifies just how much hard work and determination it takes to be the best. With the Gopher Dunes crew always looking for ways to change up the track, we can’t wait to see what’s in store in 2017.

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Moto

of the

PALMS 4TH ANNUAL GOLDEN ELBOW AWARDS

By Chris Pomeroy, Photos by James Lissimore

year

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most stylish rider

Davi Millsaps There are many factors that go into a rider’s style on a motorcycle. There is their body position of course, there’s the technique they use in different situations on the track, there’s line choice, flow, and numerous other things. However, at the end of the day, for me, it’s simply how a rider looks as they get from point A to point B on the track.

With this criteria in mind, my favourite rider to watch in 2016 was the MX1 Champion Davi Millsaps. Right from the opening practice in Kamloops, I enjoyed watching his attacking, elbows up style.

When the gate dropped for the first moto of the year, I was instantly

a fan of his get to the front, aggressive style, a style that throughout the series obviously served him well. For those of us that are familiar with SX, we all know the aggression it takes to be successful. You have to make decisions very quickly and there is little or no time for error. With most of Millsaps’s success coming from SX, it wasn’t surprising to see this type of riding from him in Canada, and I believe it caught most of his competitors off-guard in the opening rounds of the series. Whatever it was, Davi Millsaps was a thing of beauty to watch on almost every track he raced on in Canada, and he definitely gets my vote as the Most Stylish Rider from 2016.

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MX1 Moto 2

Shelby Turner

D E S C H A M B A U LT

This was obviously another tough choice as I witnessed so many great motos in 2016. One that stuck out in my mind was the second MX1 moto in Kamloops, where Colton Facciotti came from way back in the pack to almost pass Davi Millsaps on the final lap. The temperatures were scorching hot that day so I don’t know where Colton found the energy in the second half of that moto. Another exciting moto from this past summer was at Gopher Dunes when Cole Thompson went from dead last to first in a matter of laps. We all knew that Cole was a very good sand rider, however that performance definitely ranks up there with some of the best sand rides in Canadian history.

So with those motos in mind, the best of the best had to be the opening MX1 moto from Round 9 in Deschambault. The battle for the lead between Davi Millsaps and hometown hero Kaven Benoit was the most exciting of the series. On the track that Benoit knew very well, he dogged Millsaps for 35 minutes, never letting him get more than a few bike lengths ahead. They were both held up by lappers at times and they both made their share of small mistakes, but for the most part their incredible pace never wavered. As you can imagine, the Quebec fans were in a frenzy as they cheered on Benoit in every section of the track. In the end, Millsaps dug deep to hold Benoit off to take the moto win. It was a great display of riding by both superstars, and it also showed everyone in attendance that Benoit had come a long way in his first MX1 season.

ROOKIE

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What a dream the 2016 season was for the very likeable Shelby Turner as she did nothing but occupy the top step of almost every podium she saw. From the opening moto of the CMRC Western Canadian Women’s Nationals, Shelby let it be known that she was going to be very tough to beat. With a dominant win in Kamloops and another one in Calgary, Shelby took home her first Canadian national title.

Later in the year she continued her winning ways by bringing home the highly coveted AMA Endurocross title. And as if that wasn’t enough, in September she headed overseas to compete at the International Six Days event. After a gruelling week, Shelby was able to win a gold medal to cap off her amazing 2016 season. Shelby Turner was not only the best Canadian female rider in 2016 but you could make an argument that she is the best Canadian rider period! After such a successful season last year, we can’t wait to see what she does as an encore in 2017.

Female RIDER

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year

Ryeley Gallup 10 T H O V ER A L L M X 2 CL A S S

Ryeley Gallup was first brought to our attention by the host of the Canadian Moto Show, Brent Worrall. He said that Ryeley was a mustwatch kid who was on the verge of being a star. With his long hair, Ryeley definitely looks like a star, maybe more like a rock star, however.

Either way, this kid is very fast, and because of Worrall’s bold prediction regarding Ryeley, I kept a close eye on him during the Western rounds of the Nationals. Riding a KTM 250 two-stroke, he appeared to struggle a little on the hard pack tracks of Nanaimo and Calgary. However, when the series arrived in Regina and the sticky, dark clay of Moto Valley Raceway, Ryeley made everyone stand up and take notice. His very impressive fourth overall that day was backed up by two more great rides in Ulverton and then again in Moncton. In fact, before getting injured at Round 9 in Quebec, Ryeley might have been able to finish as high as 8th in the MX2 series.

Still, even with scoring no points in the final two rounds, he was able to finish 10th overall, and for that, Ryeley Gallup is my Rookie of the Year for 2016. With such an impressive first full year under his belt, it’s going to be interesting to see how he does in 2017.

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Top

Amateur

Rider

Cole Thompson

PALMS 4TH ANNUAL GOLDEN ELBOW AWARDS

By Chris Pomeroy, Photos by James Lissimore

MX2 CHAMPION

The winner of this award came down to either Cole Thompson, Kaven Benoit or the aforementioned Shelby Turner. It all came down to the level of consistency and success that Cole Thompson demonstrated, not just in the Nationals but also in the Monster Energy SX Series earlier in the year. After racing his brother’s Canadian National AX Tour in the fall of 2015, Cole came into last season fit and ready to race. Throughout the West Coast 250SX series, Cole remained steady, and I believe that if he’d been riding his Canadian race bike, he more than likely would’ve broken into the top 5.

From there, he moved on to the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals where he was the odds on favourite to win the MX2 title. With this enormous pressure resting on his shoulders from the very first gate drop in Kamloops, Cole performed with excellence all summer long. From the hard packed tracks in the West to the rough, sandy tracks in the East, Cole won on all types of surfaces. Yes, along the way he did face a few challenges from riders like Shawn Maffenbeier, Dylan Wright and Dakota Alix, however those challenges were few and far between. With a little SX racing planned this winter, Cole will be ready to defend his title when the 2017 MX2 series kicks off in June.

Casey Keast

When looking through the list of amateur riders and their achievements in 2016, a few definitely stood out as we have such a long list of fast kids. However, when it got right down to it I decided to pick young BC rider Casey Keast. Last season was not only his final season as an amateur rider but it was also one of his most successful. Not only did he moonlight in the MX2 Pro Nationals in the West, but he also travelled East to compete against his arch rivals Marco Cannella and Tanner Ward at the Parts Canada TransCan, an event that saw him win both the MX1 Intermediate and the MX3 Intermediate Championships.

In my opinion, though, what really set Keast apart from the competition was his results in the MX2 Pro class back in June. Smooth and precise riders like Keast really have a hard time getting out of their comfort zone, especially when they’re young. During their amateur days, these type of riders are usually accustomed to winning and having every part of racing come very easy to them. Because of this, some have a very hard time when they turn Pro as they just haven’t learned how to ‘work’ yet. Casey’s results in the first four rounds of the MX2 Pro Nationals definitely showcased his raw speed, as he was a consistent visitor to the top ten. His best moto finish was a fifth in Nanaimo, and he backed that up with multiple eighth place finishes in Calgary and Regina. Moving forward, Keast will have to continue to find that balance between working hard and having fun.

The next two seasons will be very important for Keast as he must decide whether he wants to be full-time pro rider or just another talented kid who struggles with the amount of effort it takes to be successful.

However, for now, Casey Keast is my pick for Amateur Rider of the Year.

Top Canadian Rider

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Cole Thompson GOPHER DUNES MOTO 1

PASS

of the

year

PALMS 4TH ANNUAL GOLDEN ELBOW AWARDS

By Chris Pomeroy, Photos by James Lissimore

Kamloops National

Each year this is one of the toughest award to give out as every National is tough, and each track gives the riders something different and challenging. For 2016, my pick for the toughest national of the year goes to the opening round in Kamloops, BC. Not only was Whispering Pines Raceway running backwards in 2016, but it was also as rough as we’ve ever seen it. To make things even more interesting, the temperatures that day hovered around 35°C all day long. For the riders to have to deal with these

Just like in 2015, the winner of this award in 2016 is a rider who didn’t just make one pass but in fact made multiple passes in one moto. When the MX2 points leader, Cole Thompson, went down in the first turn of Moto 1 at the Gopher Dunes National, I’m sure there weren’t too many people there who could’ve predicted what might happen next. Covered in wet sand, Cole remounted, pulled a tear-off and turned his throttle to wide open. As he crossed the finish line on lap one, the electronic scoring had him in 34th place and more than half a lap behind the leader. With an already decent points lead at the time, most would’ve forgiven Cole if he just rode smart anda aimed for somewhere inside the top ten. After all, it was a hot day of racing on the roughest track of the series, and he still had another moto to go. But this was a different Cole Thompson than we’ve seen the past few years. So with his team and his family watching, Cole rode the wheels off his KTM as he raced to the front. Lap after lap, Cole found new lines as he passed the series’ best MX2 riders. With a few laps to go and with the crowd on its feet, Cole made his final pass of the moto, but this time it was a pass for the lead and the moto win.

In thirty short minutes, Cole had passed everyone in the field and in the process had raced perhaps his best race ever on Canadian soil.

conditions at the opening round of the series was almost criminal. During this difficult day of racing it wasn’t hard to tell which riders had been training hard and which riders had been hoping to ease into the series. It was one of those days where all of the riders were glad it was over. With the rough track and the blaring heat, the Kamloops National was without a doubt the toughest national of 2016.

toughest national of the

year

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The wash bay setup they use at the GPs and MXoN is pretty sweet. Here, Josh Snider gives Shawn Maffenbeier’s bike a bath between practices in Italy.

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It was a pretty successful year for the KTM Canada team this season. Big thanks to Davi Millsaps for gutting it out to shoot a few photos with his new Number One plate with what later would be diagnosed as a broken wrist.

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If you ever get a chance to attend a Motocross of Nations race in Europe, take it. There’s nothing like hearing the crowd when a packed house of crazy European fans are cheering for Jeffrey Herlings and Antonio Cairoli as they battle their way around the iconic Maggioria track.

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It was a successful return to the Women’s Nationals for Shelby Turner this season, with a West title and plenty of chances to spray the champagne.

EVERY RIDER. EVERY STYLE. EVS HAS YOU COVERED.

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Team Belgium’s Jeremy VanHorebeek gets styled out during practice at this year’s Motocross of Nations race in Maggiora, Italy.

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Tyler Medaglia absolutely obliterates a berm at the track at his parent’s house, in Kemptville, Ontario, during pre-season practice.

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There was some great racing in MX2 this summer between these two. Cole Thompson (4) and Dylan Wright almost touch wheels at Ulverton.

FROM THE SHORE TO THE SHIELD, I AM ONE EPIC RIDE.

#DISCOVERON

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The Ulverton track is hands down the most scenic track on the National circuit. I love watching 40 bikes blast up the uphill start straight and around the big sweeper.

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I’m always trying pan shots, though there’s a pretty low percentage that they’ll work out. Once in a while I’ll get one like this start in Moncton and all the failures will have been worth it.

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It’s a Rockstar girl and the Calgary skyline. What more can you say?

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Italian moto fans are insane. Chainsaws, smoke bombs and a serious love for their hometown star, Antonio Cairoli. My favourite image of 2016.

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I love getting a chance to make portraits when I’m on the road. Jeremy Medaglia and Colton Facciotti hang out inside Jeremy’s workshop at the Georgia Practice Facility.

Tickets Start at $15!

Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Subject to availability.

FORD FIELD

MAR 25

376724

Photos by Simon Cudby & Hoppenworld.com. Competitors shown are subject to change. Š 2016 Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

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This is what happens when you combine a 450 and the hard, rocky, Nanaimo track surface.

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C R AWLING OUT FROM THE CAVE WITH MIKE CHAN, PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA GLURA he shift occurred in early 2014 when internet usage on mobile devices eclipsed desktop usage, and there was no going back. I had my reasons for avoiding cell phones, but after a while, I conceded that I was being more stubborn than practical.

In 2014, I decided to dip my toes into the mobile waters and got an iPad mini. I tell myself I got it because my office noticed the shift in the industry and picked up some mobile centric work. However, in reality, I used it primarily for video games, surfing and social media. Last year I got an Android phone, and now for the past six months, my iPad sits uncharged on my side table.

After a while the novelty of the games wore off, and now I find the phone is used primarily for texting and social media. Having a phone is definitely a luxury more than a necessity, but the value for me is that it allows me to stay familiar with the apps and operating systems. At the beginning it was fun to explore and find apps to make almost every facet of my life easier, but what I noticed before anything else was how terribly the apps were designed. Everything from the fonts to the overall user experience seemed to make me cringe, which is saying a lot because over the years I thought I had become fairly apathetic towards bad design. A lot of standards and rules that I was used to seemed to be thrown out the window. Jagged low resolution images, terrible font pairings, and icon designs that couldn’t be less intuitive even if they tried. Yeah, I’m looking at you, Snapchat.

I imagine people around my age and older reading this and relating with how crazy the way we digest information has changed when comparing it to the days before the internet and the proliferation of computers. On the other hand, I can imagine people younger than me rolling their eyes and laughing about how much effort I needed to put into catching

A R T

D E P A R T M E N T

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“THE MORE OF THESE LANDMARKS YOU DECIDE TO PASS UP, THE HARDER IT’S GOING TO BE FOR YOU TO STAY RELEVANT AND CONNECTED GOING FORWARD.

up with modern technology. If you fall into that last category, remember this: at some point in the very near future, you are going to hear about a new app or technology trend that slipped past you, and you’ll think to yourself… “This is ridiculous. Why would anyone want to use this?” I think it’s important to at least consider those things, especially as a designer, because each generation has that moment. For my parents it was deciding if they wanted computers, for me it was cell phones, and professionally, it was the decision to learn how to use both QuarkXPress and Adobe InDesign. For my daughter it’s Instagram and Snapchat. The more of these landmarks you decide to pass up, the harder it’s going to be for you to stay relevant and connected going forward. Believe me, it happens faster than you think.

Let’s try to focus on the positive things, though.

There has never been a time when it has been so easy to access media and niche groups of likeminded people. What used to be hard to find is now searchable on Facebook and Pintrest, or found with hashtags on Instagram or Twitter. One of the biggest shifts I’ve noticed from when I was in school looking for design inspiration to now, is that today I can do it from my couch. I can save, pin or repost whatever I find interesting so that when I want to come back for ideas, they are easy to find from almost anywhere in the world! Whereas before, I had to go to the library or book store, sift through piles of books and magazines, and then if I’m lucky I’ll find a handful of designs I liked. Then I would have been faced with a the big question: How do I save this for later? It usually came down to one of three things. I’d either sketch what I saw in a notepad, I’d try to find a quiet corner of the store to take pictures of pages with my digital camera, or as a last resort I’d buy the book.

Hey man, what little money I had was usually beer or snowboarding money. What I’m getting at is if you’re into design or photography, it’s never been easier to surround yourself with great inspiration or to put your own work out into the world. I’m not saying the library and book store are obsolete, because you will usually get a higher quality of curation in publications as well as reliable information. It’s just that now you have more and faster ways to get what you’re looking for. Moreover, I’ve found that now, your chances of actually starting a conversation with the designers and photographers you admire go from almost nil to very likely.

When I was in school it was clear that print and branding was the school’s bread and butter as social media was still in its infancy. Young designers that are attending art college now can still get their foundations in print but can decide to focus on things like interactive communication and motion graphics in their final years. While the big guns in the social media game have a decent user experience and design, the vast majority still have a long way to go. For designers, that’s a good thing! It means that if you’re able to stay on top of things by exposing yourself to as much as possible, and to never stop learning, your skills will always be in demand.

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