2017 CMRC Program

2017 OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAM

PRESENTED BY

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COOPER WEBB

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PREMIER CLASS PROGRESSION

Charging into the Premier Class this year, Cooper Webb and the FUSE Propel racewear. The progressive athletic cut and supreme durability take the FUSE racewear to the next level.

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ATTENTION ALL MOTO FANS!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mark Stallybrass CMRC/ SPI President

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NATHAN BLES ROYAL DISTRIBUTING, MOTOVAN, PILLER’S RACING presented by HUBER MOTORSPORTS

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‘17 RED RIDERS Photo by James Lissimore

Team Honda is ready to blast off the gate in Kamloops.

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IT’S TOO BAD THAT WE WON’T SEE DAVI MILLSAPS AND HIS FAMILY IN CANADA THIS SUMMER.

BILLY FROM DMX APPEARS TO BE GETTING A KICK OUT OF ONE OF PALMS’ TWEETS.

DISCO STU NEVER STOPS WORKING.

COLTON AND HIS SON GO FOR A DIP IN BETWEEN MOTOS.

BIG CALE KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON HIS RIDER’S MACHINE

THESE TWO KTM GIRLS COULDN’T HAVE BEEN HAPPIER WHEN COLE THOMPSON WON HIS TITLE.

PALMS AND NEWF JR. GET ACQUAINTED LAST SUMMER IN KAMLOOPS.

GDR HONDA TEAM MANAGER DEREK SCHUSTER MAKES SURE HIS CREW GETS FED.

DONK ALWAYS HAS TIME FOR A BIG SMILE.

DOUG PETTIS GETS A LITTLE LIFE ADVICE FROM BRETT METCALFE.

THE THOMPSON FAMILY POSES WITH THEIR CHAMP.

DAVEY FRASER IS ALL BUSINESS AT THE TRACK.

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FRENCHIE WILL BE HELPING TWO FAST AMERICANS ON THE SIDE

ONE OF THE FEW TIMES THAT HALSTEAD ISN’T SMILING.

THIS GREY FOX HAS DRIVEN A LOT OF MILES.

KTM BOSS FLORIAN BURGUET MAKES SURE THAT MILLSAPS’ CREW IS READY TO RACE.

KOSTER GETS GOERKE TO TELL HIM HOW TO RIDE SAND.

MARC TRAVERS GETS THE CROWD PUMPED UP ON THE PODIUM.

LOOK OUT FOR MIKE ALESSI IN 2017.

JACOB HAYES IS READY FOR REDEMPTION.

JASON HUGHES DESERVES A LITTLE BETTER LUCK IN 2017.

JAY BURKE IS ACTUALLY HAPPY HERE.

KEVIN TYLER KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE.

JOSH SNIDER IS NEVER FAR FROM THE PODIUM.

JSR MAKES SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE FIELD GOAL WAS GOOD.

SSS SUSPENSION GURU JOE SKIDD HAS JESS PETTIS COVERED.

THIS YEAR MARKS 25 YEARS OF STALLY GIVING AWAY THE #1 PLATE. WILL MAFF AND BLUE GO WELL TOGETHER THIS SUMMER?

ONE COULD SAY THAT THERE’S A BIT OF A BABY BOOM GOING AT THE CMRC NATIONALS

THE LINE-UP OF TALENT THAT EVERYONE COMES TO SEE.

AFTER A TOUGH SEASON, TYLER MEDAGLIA ISN’T LETTING ANYONE TOUCH HIS ICE CREAM.

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‘17 2017 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MOTOCROSS NATIONALS – SERIES SCHEDULE

SERIES CHANGES FOR 2017 The Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SUNDAY, JUNE 25 Moto Valley Raceway, Regina, Saskatchewan

SUNDAY, JULY 9 Gopher Dunes, Courtland, Ontario

SUNDAY, JULY 16 Motocross Ulverton, Ulverton, Quebec

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

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

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6 Motocross Deschambault, Deschambault, Quebec

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 RJ Motosport Park, Barrie, Ontario

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‘17 LIVE STREAMING VIDEO COVERAGE OF NATIONALS THROUGH CONX2SHARE Our partnership with Conx2share will allow us to continue offering FREE live streaming video coverage of each round of Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented

by Motovan. By downloading the Conx2share app, you can now see all ten rounds of the national series on your mobile phone. This also automatically registers you as a member of Conx2share with access to view the races on your computer. Just log in on their website – www.conx2share.com and look for the CMRC Racing group.

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

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

We’ve taken steps to make the live streaming video coverage even more entertaining, from start to finish, plus Conx2share has developed their app to make it more user friendly.

Not only will this allow Canadians to follow each lap of each race, motocross fans worldwide can now watch what the excitement is all about at Canada’s pro motocross series.

NATIONAL DAY SCHEDULE 7:30am 8:00am 8:17am 8:35am 8:52am 9:10am 9:20am 9:40am 10:00am 10:20am 10:40am 10:50am 11:05am 11:20am 11:50am 12:00pm 12:10pm 12:45pm 1:10pm 1:20pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:40pm 3:15pm 3:45pm 3:55pm

Pro Riders Meeting MX2 Pro Practice - Group 1 MX2 Pro Practice- Group 2 MX1 Pro Practice- Group 1 MX1 Pro Practice - Group 2 Track Maintenance MX2 Pro Timed Qualifier - Group 1 MX2 Pro Timed Qualifier – Group 2 MX1 Pro Timed Qualifier – Group 1 MX1 Pro Timed Qualifier – Group 2 Track Maintenance MX2 Pro Timed LCQ MX1 Pro Timed LCQ Track Maintenance Opening Ceremonies MX2 Hot Lap MX2 Moto #1 Track Maintenance MX1 Pro Hot Lap MX1 Pro Moto #1 Track Maintenance MX2 Pro Hot Lap MX2 Pro Moto #2 Track Maintenance MX1 Pro Hot Lap MX1 Moto #2

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THREE

IN A ROW CONGRATULATIONS RYAN DUNGEY

Championships don’t just happen by chance. They require preparation, training, teamwork and the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. Congratulations Ryan Dungey and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team for claiming the 450 SX Championship three seasons in a row; 2015, 2016 and 2017.

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

Photo: S. Cudby

»www.ktm.com

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FAN GUIDE

WHAT ARE THE CLASSES?

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

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

WHAT BRAND OF BIKES DO THESE RIDERS RACE?

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

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

WHY DO THE NUMBER PLATES HAVE DIFFERENT COLOURS?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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‘17

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

HOW DO THE RIDERS CHOOSE THEIR STARTING GATE?

then after 5 seconds she turns the board sideways.

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

WHAT DO ALL THE FLAGS MEAN?

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

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

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

The yellow flag is a caution flag, which lets the

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

DO THE RIDERS CHOOSE THEIR NUMBERS?

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

Newcomers to the series and those finishing outside

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

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A RIDER GETS THE HOLESHOT?

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

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WESTERN TRACK PREVIEWS ROUND 1

ROUND 2

Kamloops, BC Whispering Pines Raceway June 3,4, 2017

As we kick off the 2017 season in style, the series once again travels to beautiful Kamloops, BC for the opening round. Every rider in the series loves the Whispering Pines track with its sandy soil and challenging layout. This circuit will definitely provide everyone with a tough track to begin the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals.

The Whispering Pines track itself is on flat ground with some man made rolling sections. Prior to last year the track has gone through a few changes, which lengthened the lap times to well over two minutes.

The new track uses fresh dirt and is much more spectator friendly.

The soil is sandy on top but has a hard base. This means that it will

Prince George, BC Blackwater MX Track June 10,11, 2017

get really rough like sand tracks typically do, but will also form hard, sharp-edged holes that is hard on a rider’s upper body. There are some really fast straights where the riders must remain focused, especially on the larger and more powerful 450 machines where speeds can reach over 80KPH. Sometimes riders like to ease into a series and not have to face a really tough track until they feel comfortable, but this will not be the case in 2017 as Whispering Pines Raceway will test each and every rider from the moment the gate drops. Also, with the potential for warm temperatures in the Kamloops area, this opening round could be one of the toughest in history.

One of the most exciting changes for the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals is the series heading to Prince George, BC for round two. The Prince George area is a powersports mecca with many different activities, from boating and riding in the summer, to skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.

The Blackwater track is the gem of the PGMA, it sits proudly on the side of a large hill and provides numerous elevation changes.

Riders will enjoy the loamy soil and the cool layout that makes up the this cool track. With lap times that

will exceed two minutes in length, there will be plenty of opportunity for fans to enjoy watching their favourite riders. With the long uphills and downhills, the riders braking and accelerating skills will no doubt be put on display. Also, this first time event will certainly be a popular one with race fans in the Prince George area. Look for local boy Jess Pettis to be very fast at round two as he knows this track very well. We can’t wait to see what this new location has in store for the riders and the fans.

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ROUND 3

ROUND 4

Calgary, AB Wild Rose Motocross Park June 17,18, 2017

The Wild Rose Motocross Association, that runs the track in Calgary, are fortunate to have a track that is unique in the motocross world. The track is located minutes from downtown Calgary, a city of a million people!

The location is so rare for newcomers to the track because it feels odd driving into a motocross oasis in the middle of a city.

This track is a rider favourite as the loamy soil and huge jumps make it a lot of fun to ride. Maybe this is one of the reasons why the Wild Rose track has provided some

Regina, SK Moto Valley Raceway June 24,25, 2017

of the best battles that we’ve ever seen over the years. Every time the series visits Calgary something exciting always seems to happen.

If we think back to a year ago, the fans in attendance got to witness Davi Millsaps go from outside the top ten to first in moto two of the MX1 class.

With great spectator viewing and the skyscrapers of Calgary in the background, this round of the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals is sure to be one of the most entertaining of the series.

Moto Valley Raceway is a unique one for the riders because of its elevation changes and breathtaking jumps. Located just northeast of Regina, this track returned to the series two seasons ago after a brief hiatus, however Mother Nature didn’t co-operate as it rained for most of the weekend. This track, when dry, is not only fun for the riders but it’s also terrific for spectating as there are a number of great vantage points.

The soil is prime, dark topsoil that holds moisture and presents a challenge to riders once ruts form in the fast straightaways.

The corners form lots of long ruts, which again are tricky with the high speeds. Riders definitely need to stay focused on this fast circuit as

one mistake could spell disaster.

Regina is the last western round before the series travels east. All of the riders want to head into the short break with a lot of momentum and positive results before they have to face the rough and sandy tracks of the second half of the series. For those of you who were lucky enough to attend last year’s race, you’ll remember the absolute epic battle between Kaven Benoit and Davi Millsaps in moto two of the MX1 class. For the entire length of the 35 minute moto, these two top riders were so close that you could’ve thrown a blanket over them. Hopefully the fans will get to witness the same type of intense racing in 2017.

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

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

H

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

C A N A D I A N M O T O S P O R T R A C I N G C O R P. 2 7

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

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

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

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‘17

TEAM PROFILES

HONDA CANADA GDR FOX RACING TEAM

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

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

C A N A D I A N M O T O S P O R T R A C I N G C O R P . 29

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TEAM PROFILES

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

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

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

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‘17

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

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

C A N A D I A N M O T O S P O R T R A C I N G C O R P . 31

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TEAM PROFILES

‘17

GP BIKES REDEMPTION RACING TEAM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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TEAM PROFILES

‘17

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA TEAM MANAGER: BOBBY HEWITT

RIDERS: CHRISTOPHE POURCEL - #377 MX1

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

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SPONSORS: MX101, FXR RACING, YAMAHA

MX101/ FXR RACING/ YAMAHA TEAM MANAGER: KEVIN TYLER RIDERS: JESS PETTIS - #16 MX2 SHAWN MAFFENBEIER - #12 MX2 HAYDEN HALSTEAD - #19 MX2 C A N A D I A N M O T O S P O R T R A C I N G C O R P . 3 5

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‘17

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

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

by Motovan, fans and media alike have been excited at the thought of the MX1 class this summer. With riders like Colton Facciotti, Kaven Benoit, Matt Goerke and new addition Christophe Pourcel on the starting line at Round 1, there will be at least six riders capable of winning. From Kamloops to Regina, these MX1 riders will be tested as they never have before in the opening four rounds of the 2017 series.

As well as seasoned MX1 veterans like Goerke, Facciotti, Medaglia and Alessi, this class will also

I

feature former World MXGP Champion Christophe Pourcel. Pourcel will have to adapt very quickly to these Canadian tracks that he has never seen before. He will also have to get used to his new competition, as well as his new Canadian surroundings. When the gate drops in Kamloops for Round 1, the ground will be shaking as one of the most talented group of MX1 riders ever to line up in Canada blasts off.

Another item that all of the MX1 riders will have to deal with is the diversity of track conditions at the western rounds. At Round 1 in Kamloops, the riders will be tested with a very rough, sandy track, which will test their endurance right from the first gate drop.

At Round 2 in Prince George, the race is a new addition to the series that everyone is excited about. This hilly and harder packed track will be sure to challenge every rider. At the third round in Calgary, the riders will have to navigate severe elevation changes and massive jumps before the western swing concludes at the high-speed track in Regina. If the MX1 riders want to have successful rounds in the west of the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan then they’ll have to be focused and prepared to adapt quickly to changing track conditions. As we’ve done for the past three years, we called upon Ryan Lockhart to give us his predictions as to who might take the top five positions during the opening four rounds of the MX1 class.

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

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1

COLTON FACCIOTTI

Honda Canada Racing GDR Fox Racing Team

With the deep field of riders that will be lining up at Round 1 in Kamloops, it was obviously very hard to pick who will be the champion by summer’s end. Although our last year’s champ, Davi Millsaps, will not be racing in Canada in 2017, there is still a great list of fast riders just waiting to take his place on the top step. This year I’m going with one of our Canadian heroes, Colton Facciotti, to win the 2017 MX1 Championship. After a sub-par season last year, which saw

2

him get injured with a few rounds remaining, I feel he will be back with a vengeance this summer. Not only is he coming into this season 100% healthy for the first time in a long time, but he’s also armed with the all-new 2017 CRF450R Honda.

This new Honda is much improved over past models, so look for Colton and his new bike to be best friends the moment the gate drops. Also, I know it’s hard to believe, but Colton is now considered one of the oldest riders in the MX1 class, so he brings a wealth

of experience to this year’s series and I think that will help, especially in the second half of the season when the tracks get rough and the weather can be extreme. As I said,

KAVEN BENOIT KTM Thor Racing Team

In keeping with my love for Canadian riders, I’m picking Kaven Benoit to finish second in this year’s MX1 title chase. This was another tough decision as I do believe that Benoit will battle for the championship in 2017. We all witnessed what he could do last year when he held off Millsaps to win his first MX1 National at the Deschambault round in Quebec.

Benoit rode great that day in front of his hometown fans, and trust me when I say this, good things always seem to happen at the Deschambault track. Benoit’s biggest challenge in 2017 will be to get off to a good start in the series on the western tracks.

History has proven that Benoit is much better in the east. This has served him well in the past, but if he wants to win this title he will have to be better in the west. Although Benoit got injured back in January at a German SX event, he has now healed and has been training very hard for the 2017 series. With virtually the same KTM450SX-F as last year, as well as the confidence gained from his incredible MXoN ride in Italy last fall, Benoit is going to be very tough to beat this summer. Even with all of these pros, I still believe Benoit will come up just short in 2017 and will finish in second.

3

Colton isn’t getting any younger, so I think the time is now and 2017 will be his year to win another MX1 title!

MIKE ALESSI

Monster Energy Alpinestars Kawasaki Team

I know what you’re thinking, how could I think that Mike Alessi is capable of finishing 2017 in third place when he was so far off the pace last year? Well, let me explain to you as this is my preview. First off, there is no doubt in my mind that Alessi will be much better this summer. If you remember, last year was Alessi’s first time ever racing a Kawasaki so it took him a long time to adjust to the new bike. Judging by his results in 2016, he never really did and struggled all season long. However, for 2017, Alessi has been testing quite a bit and I believe that his confidence has never been

higher coming into a series. Not only will Alessi and his team be much more prepared, but he also knows our tracks very well. Mike Alessi is also getting older and I think he’s becoming more appreciative of his opportunities. When you factor in all of these things, I think he will be very good this summer. If Alessi can get off to a quick start to the series in the west then look out. A moto win early will give him even more confidence, and we’ve all seen how good and confident Mike Alessi can be. I’m very excited to see how Mike Alessi does in 2017 as I’ve always loved watching him ride.

C A N A D I A N M O T O S P O R T R A C I N G C O R P . 37

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‘17 4

To put one of my favourite riders in fourth place in the 2017 series was a very tough decision for me. We all know how good Goerke will be at the opening round in Kamloops on the sandy and rough Whispering Pines

It seems like each year in Canada there are always one or two riders that come into a series with a lot of mystery surrounding them.

Last year it was Davi Millsaps and we all saw how things played out for him. Right from the drop of the gate at Round 1, Millsaps was unreal and he carried that speed right on to the 2016 MX1 title. Coming into this season I believe the mystery rider is Christophe Pourcel.

The Husqvarna rider began the 2017 season racing the Supercross series in the USA before deciding that it just wasn’t working out.

After breaking his neck twice last year, yes, I just said twice, Pourcel just wasn’t physically ready to race SX in January. After taking a few months off to heal, Pourcel comes to Canada this summer as the rider who will more than likely show

track, and we all know how great he’ll be at Gopher Dunes and the two Quebec rounds. Goerke loves sand, and quite honestly, I think he’s one of the best sand riders in the world. However, that still leaves the rest of

5

MATT GOERKE

Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha Team

the tracks that are more hard-packed and out of Goerke’s comfort zone.

Now, I’m not saying that he won’t be fast on these hard packed tracks, I’m just saying that his competition might be a little better. After

a very difficult AX series this past winter, Goerke is coming into 2017 healthy and very motivated to win his third MX1 title. It will also be interesting to see what happens this season with Goerke being the true leader

of the Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha Team. Last year, he had Brett Metcalfe to measure himself against, and the year before he had Bobby Kiniry. For 2017, Goerke’s teammate will be Tim Tremblay, who will no doubt be fast but more than likely not challenge for the top five in the MX1 class. I’m looking forward to seeing how Goerke does this summer. He’s healthy, he’s fit, and he has everything he needs to be a champion.

When all is said and done and the ten round MX1 series is complete, I have Goerke finishing in fourth due to a few inconsistent moto finishes on the tracks that don’t suit him.

CHRISTOPHE POURCEL Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Team

the most raw speed. With two World Championships and a Supercross Lites title to his credit, not to mention numerous top five finishes in the 2016 AMA Outdoor Series, Pourcel knows how to go fast. He is also a master at dissecting

a difficult track in order to find the smoothest and most efficient way around it. These God given skills will serve him very well this summer, as the moment he steps off the plane for Round 1, everything will be new. He will also be armed with his

trusty factory Husqvarna 450, so he will definitely have one of the best machines in the paddock. I can honestly see Pourcel winning the 2017 MX1 Championship and I cannot wait to watch him ride in Canada, but I think he will struggle with

consistency and finish up in fifth overall. If Pourcel wins this title, you heard it here first. If he finishes fifth, I called that as well. The MX1 line-up will once again be incredible in 2017 and I’m pumped for the gate to drop in Kamloops!

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

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2017 250SX WEST CHAMPION

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‘17

2017 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MOTOCROSS NATIONALS MX2 PREVIEW WORDS BY BRENT WORRALL

he MX2 Pro class at the 2017 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals promises to be one of the most competitive and entertaining series we have seen in recent years, if not ever. For evidence of this we need look no further than last year’s twenty moto MX2 saga, which saw KTM Racing’s Cole Thompson best all challengers by over 100 points. Being one who followed this series like a hawk, both on and off the track, I can tell you, that points difference may not be a true indication of how fiercely this series was fought throughout. The action was fast and furious

T

right from the gate drop at Round 1 in Kamloops, where MX101 Yamaha’s Dylan Wright got his first ever Pro moto victory, right to the final flag wave at RJ’s where Cole Thompson was officially awarded his first ever Canadian National MX2 crown. In similar fashion to previous years, this year’s 2017 CMRC Canadian National MX2 lineup will resemble a who’s who of upcoming talent in the 250 class. At press time, it was still uncertain exactly who will be on the line in Kamloops in the heart of the Thompson River region. Using history as our guide along with my trusty telephone, I am happy to announce that most of the major players will be back on Cana-

dian soil this summer as well as a few last-minute surprises. So how will the series shake down, and which riders and their deeply invested connections will be rewarded for their many sacrifices? In this regard, history will likely pay itself forward to those who have made the cross-country trek before.

Let’s also not discount or undersell the talent and skills possessed by some of our current Canadian upcoming bumper crop of talented Intermediates.

I honestly believe that it is possible we could see one on the podium again here in 2017. So without further adieu, here are my top five picks for the 2017 MX2 class.

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

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DYLAN WRIGHT GDR Honda Canada

One of the biggest changes in the Canadian MX2 landscape in the off-season was Gopher Dunes Racing Honda Canada signing up and coming Canadian prodigy Dylan Wright.

I must say, in a sport where absolutely nothing really surprises me, this one did a little.

Dylan can probably hit a golf ball from his doorstep of his home just outside of Ottawa

to the MX101 facility where he cut his racing teeth. I am sure I was not the only who has pondered how this move will enhance his 2017 title hopes.

I do know that he left a great

Brigden, Ontario’s Cole Thompson won the 2016 MX2 National series by more than a hundred points over Shawn Maffenbeier.

I made a point of seeking Cole out prior to the opener in Kamloops last season and told him point blank that I felt the series was his for the taking. He agreed in a very professional and courteous manner and the rest is pretty much history. Thompson would prevail a unanimous winner last season; he just seemed a step ahead of the rest when it mattered most.

When he was not, he was methodically choosing his battles and seemed to know when to push with what was at stake. The title is the big picture and Cole’s vision last year was crystal clear long before the flash went off.

Thompson was also very busy this winter racing Supercross as well as the Costa Rica National Series. Cole will once again saddle up the race ready branded bike again this season that will have a target on it - the big #1 of all Moto Marksmen. Cole knows this field of current contenders

as well as anyone, which will be a huge asset throughout the series. I believe Cole will likely manage 2017 in similar fashion in his efforts to duplicate last year’s success.

With the KTM Racing Team winning both the MX1 and MX2 classes last season, there may or may not be some pressure. None of which will come from within. Cole Thompson is a winner teamed up with some of the greatest talent Canadian moto has seen. Will that equal a title in 2017? Good luck in 2017 to our own Cole Thompson!

3

SHAWN MAFFENBEIER MX101 Yamaha FXR Racing

bunch behind at MX101 that he will always hold in the highest personal regard. I am also confident that Wright’s new home at Gopher Dunes Honda is a great fit for him. Derek Schuster also has an amazing crew and knows a thing or two about winning. Let’s face it, as this series wore down last year, Dylan just kept getting better and better. Dylan pocketed his first overall win on the very physically demanding Ulverton race track. There were also a few rounds where he and some of the others he will get to know even better this season traded paint and unpleasantries. Dylan showed us last year that he has what it takes to get the great starts.

I believe this year Dylan will possess the speed needed to try to break away from his competitors early. Breakaway speed has historically been a

2

huge asset in the MX2 class, allowing the leader to deploy different types of racing strategies. Wright showed us at the final AMA Iron Man National in Crawfordsville, Indiana last fall, that he has that and then some. At that race, Dylan qualified third, right behind Cooper Webb and Austin Forkner, and just ahead of Mitch Oldenburg. He also had a 16th place moto finish and was 19th overall.

Dylan has trained hard all winter in California and looks very good on the Gopher Dunes ‘Ride Red’ Honda Canada bike. Can Dylan Wright win this Championship? You bet he can, but I know 40 other racers who will do their best to prevent it at any given round.

Good luck to Dylan Wright and each and every other racer in quest of a championship and personal bests.

COLE THOMPSON KTM THOR Racing Team

The pride of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Shawn Maffenbeier will saddle up an MX101 FXR Racing Yamaha for 2017 in the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals. Maffenbeier has developed into one of Canada’s best all around riders, and will look to 2017 to pocket his first Pro title. Maffenbeier is set to be aboard the Blu-Cru branded bike when the battles unfold. The MX101 Yamaha Team has an incredible meat and potatoes-like work ethic, and Maffenbeier’s comedic charm is a great fit. The other fit of note, and most important, is that Shawn Maffenbeier is a past overall winner in this class. The winning formula,

that has eluded many, is a mystery that Maffenbeier has mastered first hand.

Shawn Maffenbeier won the opener last year in Kamloops on what was likely the hottest day of the series. Shawn also parlayed his outdoor success into an opportunity to represent Canada at the MXoN in Italy last fall. The type of experience that event provided Maffenbeier will be evident this summer. For a Western boy, Shawn also accounts himself very well in the sand and the rugged humidity of the east. If picking Shawn in the number three spot is the only added fuel needed to get the overall job done, you’re welcome Shawn Maffenbeier.

C A N A D I A N M O T O S P O R T R A C I N G C O R P . 41

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4

JESS PETTIS

‘17

MX101 Yamaha FXR Racing

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Jess Pettis, who hails from Prince George, British Columbia, once again comes into 2017 under the MX101 Yamaha tent. Pettis had a personal best, top level season in 2016 with a 5th overall finish, and got a lot more than great results last year. Pettis has managed to put the past where it belongs, and last season continued to lay solid brick and mortar-like results in his racing foundation. Moto one of last year’s opener saw Pettis with his first ever, pro podium finish of a third. A feel-good moment for the team and the family, who has long backed his championship dreams.

Jess Pettis was also on the podium at the final round in Barrie, Ontario, putting positive bookends on the 2016 campaign. Jess was fifth overall in a field of contenders that he grew more acclimated and comfortable banging bars with as the season wore on. It should also be noted that Jess won his first ever Pro Arenacross title this past fall. Pettis had

hopes of lining up for some AMA Supercross action this winter but elected to stay focussed on the 2017 outdoor nationals. Knowing that his hometown of Prince George will play host to Round 2 of the series, this may prove to have been a wise chess move. Pettis has trained in Southern California all winter, will certainly be ready for the opener, and will build strong momentum in the west. This will help Jess, in my opinion, because in recent years in the MX2 class, breakaway momentum has been imperative.

I believe Jess Pettis has everything it takes to be the champion that he inevitably will be one day. Will this be the year Jess wins a Canadian National title and lands a highly-coveted spot on Team Canada’s Motocross of Nations Team? Friends, this is motocross and it is possible only because Jess Pettis is a winner. Good luck to you and your connections this season Jess, we are looking forward to seeing you at the races.

JACOB HAYES

Monster Energy Alpinestars Kawasaki

First off, I know I am likely to take some heat for this one, but right or wrong, this is what I see and why. Jacob, who hails from North Carolina, will once again be on the line thanks to Monster Energy Alpinestars Kawasaki’s base out of Kamloops, BC. Having much success as an amateur, Hayes made his outdoor professional racing debut at 18-years of age at Budd’s Creek in 2012. Since then he has continued to increase the list of hardware in his growing legacy. This includes winning the 2015 Canadian National Arenacross title in which he was full value. This series was highlighted by many on-track confrontations with KTM Racing’s Cole Thompson.

In the truest of professional manners, he harnessed everything he had in the way of skill, composure and common sense to get the job done! Hayes was also signed and on the line at last year’s Canadian National opener for the same Monster Energy Kawasaki connections. Last year’s opening moto in Kamloops would be Jacob’s last of the series as he suffered a serious knee injury trying to avoid a rider that had made a mistake in front of him. I was under the

Monster Energy Kawasaki tent at day’s end when the news was officially announced.

Team Manager Jason Hughes verbalized his disappointment and will look to this season to show everyone what he believed then. Hughes has been around this game for a long time at the top level, and knows he has signed a winner in Jacob Hayes.

Nothing would make this top shelf staple operation in our sport happier than a Jacob Hayes Championship. The team who seemed to make winning a habit for many years has had some tough race day luck the last couple of seasons. I also believe that Hayes, who flows very naturally on the bike outdoors, will not have any problems with any of this series’ race tracks and their conditions. Jacob Hayes is a very genuine individual and as fierce a competitor as this series has seen. In regards to Jacob Hayes’ 2017 Canadian National title hopes, the work and time has been put in, and the talent and resources are there. Should ‘Lady Luck’ decide to not jump out of Jacob’s Side Car like she did at last season’s opener, I will likely be eating some crow! Good luck in 2017, Jacob Hayes.

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

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‘17

2017 CMRC WESTERN CANADIAN WOMEN’S NATIONAL PREVIEW

WORDS BY DOMINIQUE DAFFE • PHOTOS BY JAMES LISSIMORE

he 2017 National series is sneaking up on us very quickly and I cannot believe how soon racing begins.

I mean soon as in this weekend, as I am currently riding shotgun to Raymond, AB for the first AMSA (Southern Alberta) race of the year. Winter felt exceptionally long this year after being spoiled by Mother Nature the last couple of years, and I’m sure I’m not alone when I say the “Moto-itch” has been very real. It seems like we’ve only just started riding and all of a sudden we are four weeks away from Round 1 of the CMRC Western Canadian Women’s Nationals that kicks off in Kamloops, BC. Every year at around this time, which I call “crunch time”, we start wondering how racing is going to pan out this season, talking about who is and isn’t racing the series, and reminiscing on how the racing was last season. In 2016, we were fortunate enough to have a fourth round added to the series and thankfully that is going to continue for 2017. Firstly, I have to mention a few highlights from 2016. Last season was Shelby Turner’s return to the series after a couple seasons off

T

as she focused on endurocross and travelling to the ISDE Six Days. Although she took back the 1W plate from Sara King, she did not walk away with it easily. Sara, Shelby and 2016’s biggest surprise, former AMA Endurocross Champ Lexi Pechout, pushed each other’s limits, which made for some great racing. Lexi Pechout showed us all that the old saying “ jumps for show, corners for dough” is in fact very true as she jumped almost nothing and still hung on to Shelby and Sara. Her corner speed is unreal, and for her first year of racing motocross, she absolutely killed it. She headed to Southern California this past winter to get more comfortable on a motocross track and I am impressed with her improvements, so definitely watch out for her this year.

Unfortunately for 2017, Sara King will not be returning back to the series, which is a bummer.

She has been racing the series for years so she will be missed. I’m unsure if we will see Shelby Turner on the line this year, but if she does show up, I think we are going to see some intense racing action from her and Lexi. Another face to look out for is Kennedy Lutz. I have not heard whether or

not she is going to be racing the series, but I do know she’s been down south training for a while, so she will come back even faster than last year.

Maybe she will surprise us in Regina like she did last year where she dominated. This year we have another change to the schedule with the second round being in Prince George, BC as opposed to Nanaimo, BC. I’m assuming a lot of riders are happy to see The Wastelands off of the schedule, and I think this change will make racing somewhat more affordable. With that being said, the 2017 schedule starts in Kamloops, BC, goes to Prince George, BC, then to Calgary, AB, and ends in Regina, SK, all in the month of June.

The top ten are ranked as follows: Shelby Turner, Sara King, Lexi Pechout, Dominique Daffe, Brittany Danyluk, Madi Watt, Kate Lees, Courtney Stelter, Kristin Tse, and Danika White. I know a few of these faces will be absent at the races but I am expecting riders like Madi, Kate, Kristin and Danika to be pushing hard to work their way higher in the top ten. Another standout rider to look out for is Tamala Whiteside. She earned the “Sportsmanship” award last season for being one of the most positive, smiling faces on the line even after being forced to the sidelines with a mechanical failure at Round 4. She missed the top ten by 11 points and I think she stands a very high chance of making it in this year. Rachel Springman may or may not be returning to the series. She has always been a speedy addition to the top ten and it would be awesome to have her back on the line, so watch out for her! There are a lot of up and comers in the series, and I am starting to notice a shift as the older riders are starting to move forward in life and the younger riders are beginning to take racing more seriously and charge harder. Even though I won’t be on the sidelines spectating, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the races and I hope to see familiar and new faces. See you at the races!!

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

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‘17

2017 CMRC TOP 100 NATIONAL NUMBERS

#

First Name

Last Name

#

First Name

Last Name

#

First Name

Last Name

1

DAVI

MILLSAPS

35

JASON

BENNY

68

JOEY

PETERS

2

MATT

GOERKE

36

AUSTIN

KOUBA

69

JOHN

PAUK

3

KAVEN

BENOIT

37

ALEX

HARVILL

70

TODD

MINNIE

4

BRETT

METCALFE

38

TIM

TREMBLAY

71

TEDDY

MAIER

5

MIKE

ALESSI

39

VINCE

FRIESE

72

GRAHAM

SCOTT

6

TYLER

MEDAGLIA

40

TAYLOR

CIAMMPICHINI

73

SAMUEL

LAVOIE

7

CADE

CLASON

41

MICHAEL

FOWLER

74

GUILLAUME

ST CYR

8

KEYLAN

MESTON

42

GABRIEL

TREMBLAY

75

DYLAN

KIRCHNER

9

MORGAN

BURGER

43

MARCUS

NILSEN

76

DANIEL

MATHE

10

COLTON

FACCIOTTI

44

JASON

BURKE

77

NATHAN

BLES

11

COLE

THOMPSON

45

DYLAN

DELAPLACE

78

AARON

ZIELFELDER

12

SHAWN

MAFFENBEIER

46

MASON

WHARTON

79

JASON

ABERNETHY

14

DYLAN

WRIGHT

47

TALLON

LA FOUNTAINE

80

TALLON

NEWMAN

15

BRAD

NAUDITT

48

ALEX

JEFFERY

81

RYLAN

POZDNEKOFF

16

JESSE

PETTIS

49

DYLAN

KAELIN

82

BAILEY

KOUBA

17

MARK

WORTH

50

KYLE

SPRINGMAN

83

TRAVIS

OUIMET

18

DAKOTA

ALIX

51

DANIEL

MILLS

84

JOSH

PRIOR

19

HAYDEN

HALSTEAD

52

JOEY

PAUL

85

BRADEN

BURY

20

KYLE

SWANSON

53

BROC

LOFTUS

86

JARED

STOCK

21

DAVEY

FRASER

54

MAX

TANNENBAUM

87

CHEYENNE

HARMON

22

RILEY

BROUGH

55

KYLE

BIRO

88

JACKSON

NICKOLET

23

RYELEY

GALLUP

56

BROCK

LEITNER

89

MICHAEL

THACKER

24

RYAN

LALONDE

57

DEREK

OUIMET

90

JESSE

BURY

25

TAYLOR

ARSENAULT

58

JEREMY

MEDAGLIA

91

WILLY

SHATRAU

26

MC COY

BROUGH

59

DJ

BURMEY

92

DYLAN

HANSEN

27

WESTEN

WROZYNA

60

RYAN

GRANTON

93

BRANDON

HARTRANFT

28

SHAWN

ROBINSON

61

ERIC

GRONDAHL

94

MAXIME

PEPIN

29

JEAN CHRISTOPHE

BUJOLD

62

JARETT

PESCI

95

RYAN

PETERS

30

BRANDAN

LEITH

63

TODD

SEWELL

96

BROCK

HOYER

31

DUSTY

HUMPHRIES

64

LOGAN

KARNOW

97

JOSH

CLARK

32

ERIC

JEFFERY

65

MICHAEL

DA SILVA

98

GRAHAM

KLASSEN

33

CASEY

KEAST

66

CODY

MATECHUK

99

COLLIN

JURIN

34

VINCENT

LAUZON

67

CEDRIC

MOORE

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

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