A Few Photos from Monday Practice at Gopher Dunes

Photos and captions by Billy Rainford

While we were at RedBud last Saturday, we were told that several of our traveling Pro riders were going to be at Gopher Dunes on Monday to get in some testing on the famed sand track just outside Tillsonburg, Ontario. With a 96-hour rule in place, the national tracks can only be ridden 5 days prior to an event if you’re racing. I was then told we may see 2015 Amsoil Arenacross champion, Kyle Regal, there as well as he was getting the chance to race a Husqvarna 250 2-stroke as #3 Tyler Medaglia‘s teammate on the Parts Canada Thor Husqvarna team. This we had to see!

The rumours were true and we had some fun snapping photos but mostly shooting video to post later. Here are a few shots from the afternoon in the heat and humidity of The Dunes…

It’s always great to see some of the Ontario guys getting into the racing once the Rockstar Energy MX Nationals make their way east. #734 is Tyler Rayner.

#36 Hayden Halstead will feel more comfortable in the sands of Gopher Dunes this weekend. Watch for him to start making his move up the result sheet this coming Sunday.

#444 is California’s Dustin Creson. I wasn’t sure if he was a sand rider but he looked comfortable right away yesterday.

2015 Amaoil Arenacross champion, Kyle Regal, is the new addition to the MX2 class aboard a Parts Canada Thor Husqvarna 250 2-stroke.

#92 Ryan Derry will be back in action as the series heads east.

Kyle Regal said he hasn’t raced a 2-stroke in 10 years and was just getting used to the bike and the differences involved in only having half the strokes.

I hadn’t seen Kenzey Hennessey in quite some time. He’ll line up and try to make the MX1 Pro class motos this weekend.

#194 is Kyle Vigar. He put in a bunch of laps Monday.

#21 Honda Canada TLD GDR’s Jeremy Medaglia will be looking for a strong showing at his home team’s track Sunday.

His teammate, #1 Colton Facciotti, put in his motos too but I was only shooting video while he was on the track.

#955 Dylan Langlois is busy these days but said he will line up at Gopher Dunes and Walton before they start having kids etc..

They also moved into a new home on the water, he said. Nice.

It’s difficult to say how well Kyle Regal will do this week in the sand, but you know he’s just drawn the stare of a lot of moto fans south of the border. It’s a week off in the Lucas Oil AMA series so that should mean a whole lot of eyes!

#204 Justin Roney getting ready for Sunday.

Most were scrubbing this single before the finish line table, but Creson was just skying it out and landing deep in the following rollers.

#148 Royal Distributing Fox Racing KTM Canada rider Cole Thompson put in a full moto (that I saw) and looked his usual smooth self.

He was leading here at Gopher Dunes a couple years ago before going down, so he should keep things interesting this Sunday.

It was good to see #150 Mitch McColl back on the track.

He’s been racing the MMRS series and is about a year out from a collarbone injury.

Roney has been busy with his TCD suspension gig operating out of Xtreme Toys in London, Ontario.

#72 Drew Roberts putting in his motos.

#267 Travis Ouimet.

#105 Canada’s Motorcycle FXR Yamaha rider Jimmy Decotis has always been known as a ‘sand guy,’ so this should be a strong weekend for the Boston-area rider.