5 Lap Sprint – Clason, Davenport, Meston, Burke, DaSilva, and Halstead
By Jeff McConkey
What was the best National of 2015 and why?
Cade Clason
Calgary, I mean the track is so cool to race, amazing setting, good amount of fans, good weather. Plus, I killed it there so it has to be my favourite.
Cade Clason thinks the Calgary National was tops last year.
Matthew Davenport
The best national for me was Regina. I managed to get an 8th and it was my dad’s birthday so it was an overall great day!
Keylan Meston
Ulverton, because the track is comparable to the states. And is in my opinion a textbook national. Because of layout, dirt, race action, turnout, fans, vendors, etc.
Jason Burke
Best national that I attended was Gopher Dunes. From a rider perspective, the weekend starts when you pull in the gate. Appearance is everything and they kill it . Dunes has the best pits and is was actually organized parking. And the track looks groomed to perfection – banners are up, not being done while you practice. Weather was great and lots of people smiling.
Michael Dasilva
I believe that the best national of 2015 would have to go to Deschambault. Once again, the crowds of spectators were enormous, the track got rough, and no matter where you watched on the track there was always a battle going on.
Hayden Halstead
Round one – Kamloops. The excitement, the nerves, the new and familiar faces and the sweet smell of race gas. It was my first time ever experiencing the west coast and racing all the nationals. Was a crazy trip starting with Michael Dasilva picking me up and driving non-stop out to Kamloops. It was so awesome the amount of people that helped with places to stay and ride at while we were traveling. I couldn’t be more grateful for some of the people we met and supported me! Along with all the other first times it was my first MX1 race. Although I wasn’t that nervous, I felt really ready and prepared. That weekend pretty much summed up my summer: First turn crashes, couple freak mechanical DNF’s, first lap pile ups (if there was something going on I was probably stuck in the middle of it). But I feel like it was one of my best rides. After getting in a big first turn crash in both moto’s I fought really hard to salvage a good result. I sure did learn a lot that weekend on and off the track. I cant wait to go back west and race Kamloops. The first race hype is the best and hopefully I will have some of my own!
What was the biggest surprise of the season?
Cade Clason
There was no true mud race. Coming to Canada, I was prepared to race in a mud bog at least once, and besides the little rain at Regina we had a perfect season!
Matthew Davenport
The biggest surprise of the year was probably watching (Matt) Goerke and (Colton) Facciotti go down together in turn 1 in that final moto at Walton. It made for a tense race.
Watching Goerke and Facciotti fall together in the final moto of the year was the biggest surprise for Matthew Davenport.
Keylan Meston
Biggest surprise was I think when I realized Shawn Maffenbeier‘s hair line stopped receding and now he has a perfect cul-de-sac. I’m probably next.
Jason Burke
Biggest surprise is how much deeper the field of racers got. I had some rides this year that in previous years would be top tens, but at the checkers it was an 18th.
Michael Dasilva
To me, the biggest surprise of the whole 2015 season would have to be Vince Friese coming out to Calgary and taking the overall ahead of all our top guys.
Hayden Halstead
Biggest surprise for me was battling it out with John Dowd at Gopher Dunes this year. I’ve looked up to the guy ever since I started riding. Probably because my amateur number was also 160 and the mans a bad-ass sand specialist. I had a chat with him in staging before the first moto and it was totally cool hearing him reminisce about winning Canadian nationals “back in the day.”
After trying to start in third gear and actually starting in 4th gear, I figured I was one of the last riders at the beginning of the first moto. I was making quick work of the pack feeling really good when out of no where I got passed. I was pretty confused who passed me and didn’t want them to get away from me. I saw he had a 16 on his back and I wanted the spot back. I was eating his roost pretty good when I noticed the 160 on the side number plate and that is when I clued in it was The Junk Yard Dog. I had a ‘holy shit’ moment.
The real surprise to me was watching him for a few laps right in front of me. I feel like I have some good lines at Gopher (it’s my home track), but John’s riding was so impressive to me. He was the most fluent and smooth rider I’ve ever seen. It was pretty funny we both passed our way up to John’s son Ryan and had a three way battle for 11th with me in 13th.
A couple laps from the end, John’s rear tire started coming off the rim and he couldn’t do much. I remember being right on Ryan for a lap and we got the white flag. I made a move, made it stick and finished 11th. Riding back to the pit I couldn’t believe I just battled it out with a guy I was just tapping my dad on the shoulder going, “Dad, Dad, it’s John Dowd” 35 minutes prior. We had a good chat before the second moto and I ended up having to pass him twice to finish 8th that moto. It was kind of funny, I giggled inside both times thinking about him think about us not being able to get away from each other all day. To me, it was so much fun it was like duking it out with a buddy on a practice day. I think I forgot it was a national in the second moto.
Who was the most improved rider in 2015?
Cade Clason
Kyle Swanson. Guy was having a rough go and with a little help he turned it around and started killing it.
Matthew Davenport
Most improved definitely has to go to a Canadian boy, but it’s probably up in the air between guys like Meston, (Shawn) Robinson, (Jake) Streichert.
Keylan Meston
I would say Jess Pettis. He has come a long way from laying on the ground in the pre-season to making passes for the lead at Deschambault.
Jason Burke
To be honest, I do not pay much attention to other racers and who does what. I have too much to worry about, from racing, to bike work, to hanging with my family.
In classic Jay Burke fashion, he doesn’t pay attention to the other riders and so doesn’t have an answer for most improved.
Michael Dasilva
For the most improved rider, I would have to say Kyle Swanson. He went from being outside the top 10 at the beginning of the season in 250 to switching to the 450 halfway through and battling near the top five almost every race. That was really impressive and this is why he was the most improved.
Hayden Halstead
Cade Clason. Not technically the most improved rider, because I am sure he was this fast in 2014, but he was the fastest dude I didn’t know starting the 2015 season. Cade only had one moto all year outside of the top 10. Pretty impressive stuff considering I had no clue prior to.
Who was the most dominant rider in 2015?
Cade Clason
Kaven Benoit. I don’t really need to explain why. He was just a bad dude all year.
Matthew Davenport
Most dominant rider has to go to Metty (Brett Metcalfe) in the west and Facciotti in the east. When those guys turned it up they were mad fast, but Goerke was the smartest rider, and on the best team. It’s obviously why he won the championship!
Keylan Meston
Benoit and I would also say, in a way, Kyle Keast. The man is a savage. Makes me feel a little squeamish on the track.
Jason Burke
Who was the most dominant rider in 2015? Hard to say because there was a streak for a few guys. Goerke and Colton had some nice runs, and Metty was there too but all those costly bike issues killed his hopes.
Michael Dasilva
Now, as for the most dominant rider, this question would be easy if we were speaking about the MX2 class as Kaven won 7/10 overall rounds. However, in the 450 class, Metcalfe won 3, Facciotti won 3 and Goerke won 3. The three title contenders all won 3 rounds each. So if I were to pick a more dominant rider I would have to go with Goerke simply because his consistency at every single round lead him to winning the championship.
Hayden Halstead
I’m going to have to go with Matt Goerke and Colton Facciotti. Yes, I know that is two but these guy had the rest of the pack taken care of. A few other riders might have been on the same level but Matt and Colton had some serious consistency. This definitely left for some nail biting at the end of the season I enjoyed following!
Hayden Halstead picked Matt Goerke and Colton Facciotti as most dominant riders of 2015. – Allison Davies photo
Who will be the breakout rider in 2016?
Cade Clason
Shhhh, I’m trying to keep it a surprise.
Matthew Davenport
I want to say the breakout rider in 2016 will be myself, but that’s just because I always head into a season wanting to do big things and have great results, but it will probably be some new fast American rider who comes up and surprises people by challenging for podiums. The MX1 class is going to be DEEP next year.
Keylan Meston
I want to say myself but that might be a little too much juice for my ego. This kid and I have been clashing a little at the races recently, but still think Ryeley Gallup will be turning some heads next year. Wicked fast, smooth and talented. He has come a long way in a short period. Once he gains a little maturity and experience, he will be in the mix. I’m going to have to lay off the pie if I want to stay ahead of him.
Keylan Meston picked Ryeley Gallup as next year’s breakout rider.
Jason Burke
No idea, but someone always seems to step up every year. Whether it be a Canadian or an outsider there will be new faces for media guys to attack.
Michael Dasilva
The MX1 class this year was so stacked that the breakout rider in 2016 can really go to anybody. It’s all going to be about who puts in the work in the off season, who has the most heart and cuts the bullshit and gets straight down to business. To prepare for next season you have to start now. There are about 5 or 6 riders I could name to be breakout riders in 2016, but it’s going to all come down to the first gate drop of 2016 to see who actually put in the work this off season.
Michael DaSilva thinks the MX1 class is so stacked next year that anyone could be the breakout rider.
Hayden Halstead
Heard about Hayden Halstead, some Ontario kid driving truck down in a steel mill. My cousin’s uncle says he is gonna win MX2 and MX1 in 2016. Crazy stuff. Cole Thompson seems like it could be his year. Now that he has a full season under his belt, I could see him doing some serious damage on the championship chase. I’d also like to see how Kaven Benoit does in MX1. It’s going to be interesting. He has the potential to do really well but we will see if he can come out swinging and dominate like he has the past two seasons next year in Mx1.
