Faces at the Races | 2024 Sand Del Lee National

Colton Facciotti cheering on young-but-growing Keagan Facciotti at the Amateur Open on Saturday. As I’ve said before, the future will be filled with familiar names.

Paul Kingsley starts Groundhog Day with the weekly reading of the rules. He told me he bettered his KOM on a MTB segment this week, but then he mentioned it was on an electric-assist… HIT THE ROAD! (That’s Greg Poisson’s new catch phrase I stole just then.)

I always just snap photos of people at the Riders Meeting but don’t always know who everyone is. Tag ’em if you know ’em!

I know that’s #92 Bella Morgan and her dad and dog!

This young fella looks like he could be Dean the Mechanic at OutSpoken bike shop in London’s son! That’s a pretty specific reference to get things rolling.

When I first me Jim Frederickson in Texas I was concerned about his diet recommendations, but they seem to be working the past 12 years.

Two very different game faces represented here by Katrine Ferguson and Kaylie Kayer.

It doesn’t matter what face Eve Brodeur makes…they all end up being “Championship Faces” in the end.

BC boys Zach Ufimzeff and Tyler Gibbs laughing about our humidity and lack of mountains in Ontario, I’m guessing.

I know a top-notch photographer from BC who needs this shirt.

I always find it kind of eerie looking at photos after you know how the day is going to go. #6E Brook Greenlaw crashed off the start in moto 2 and was lucky not to get hurt.

Wyatt Kerr was just riding at a track in the maritimes. I wonder if he knew the fast rider on the Yamaha without numbers was none other that Jeremy Medaglia?

No offence to Dylan wright, but his exit from the series has opened things up for some fun at the front of the 450 class.

I’ve said it before but John Meany is one of the good guys. He’s also the one who taught me how to say his home province: “Understand Newfoundland.”

The NKOTB.

Justin Roney enjoying a coffee before the action starts. I don’t know, maybe it’s a spit cup?

A buddy and I have this ridiculous thing where we say “Ness, ness, ness…” as long as you can after saying just about anything. Leith takes this to the next level!

I added a whole bunch of riders to my catalog of riders sitting on this rock at Sand Del Lee. #34 Devyn Smith joins the long list.

Heather Adams can’t have many MX shots of herself with the word “Canada” in it. Here’s one.

Tough few motos for #402 Gage Linville, but he kept it professional.

#667 Tyler Kirby was ripping on his Supermini on Saturday and then almost won PreMix on Sunday.

So, you’re telling me Sam Gaynor gets to line up against Marvin Musquin at Walton Raceway? Is that what you’re telling me?! Cool.

That’s it, I’m bringing a couple beers over to have with Mr. Merrick this weekend in Moncton.

Pfft, Rylan Foster forgot to bring Fosterholm Farms maple syrup with him. He’s lucky to make an appearance here. And get well soon to his dad, Dean Foster.

They watched me snap a shot of Rylan and I felt guilty. He didn’t line up on Sunday and the Amateur Open results page isn’t working. Tag him if you know him!

This round in Moncton is maybe the only place the Schmuckis may have a challenge for “Friendliest Accent on the Planet.” I’ll keep my ears open.

Cheer up, Caleb, it’s dirt bike racing!

She’s coming after my job!

Les Dubés.

I just realized I didn’t sign Mitchell Harrison’s cast! Hey, can you add a 🌊 for me, Mitchell?

This isn’t 1983 and you are not Hugo Maskaant! Wow, where did THAT reference come from??? We didn’t wash our bikes very well back then is what I’m saying.

Meston Lockhart, you’re supposed to SIT on the rock! Where’s Ryan? Actually, he was in staging racing the very next moto!

Sometimes, you just gotta get the perfect angle. I just take a crappier shot, but that’s just me…

Walk up to Alec Belyea on the right and ask him the dumbest question you can next time you see him. I’ve never seen him snap yet, but it has to be in there!

I don’t care what you think of the rest of the Blair Witch Project movie, the ending was top 10! Curious who will get this reference that includes Jamie Astudillo here.

The Spice Girls’ influence lives!

Eve’s championships can be easily measured, but I don’t think her contribution as a role model is as easily summed up. It’s huge.

Only someone who was going to go out and win by 40 seconds could wear the whitest gear I’ve ever seen. I had to tone them down in Photoshop so you could even look directly at this photo!

Great to see Blake Davies back at the races and on the rock. Blake’s “Mission Missile” nickname has John Wren written all over it. Am I right, Blake?

They didn’t even realize they were in the next Captain Morgan ad until I mentioned it.

I could go back in the archives and find this exact photo from 2013.

I really like this trend of top A riders coming north to get some longer moto experience. Let’s keep this ball rolling! That’s #462 Luke Fauser.

If it weren’t for Drew Adams, Kaven and Tyler would have been 1-2 this week. 35+37=72!

Gage isn’t going to like what happens after the g ate drops.

Good to see both Guadagno boys back at the races.

Hey, #181 Alex Gatt….Go Gatt ’em!

That’s it, we’re gonna do a “rig tour” with Logan Burns this week!

I’m not gonna lie, I needed a moment to regain my composure after seeing #494 Thomas Rendall on the line. I think about his late dad, Reece Rendall, all the time. Shit, there I go again! BRB…

Sand Del Lee was Anthony “McLovin” Voghell’s first time lining up in the 250 Pro Am class.

#118 Chris DaSilva in the official “DaSilva Gate” on the outside. It worked well in moto 2! They should put that name on the actual gate.

Sorry, Brett Lee, I only snapped once here.

Mitchell joking about Maddison getting a photo vest.

I probably shouldn’t have called #50 Crayden Dillon out for putting up the #1 symbol on the line. I don’t know what happened but he was a 23-DNS this past week. I hope he’s good to go.

D Spec with his guy at the line. Sure, Jess and Josiah Natzke are still buddies now, but we’ve only got a few motos left and this title hunt is going to get intense very soon!

It looks like #292 Payton “Moon Unit” Morningstar is stuck with us for a little while longer. They got shut down at the border and he may not make it down to Loretta Lynn’s.

Jeff Gaynor saying, “Bonjour, Marvin Musquin.”

#22 Tyler Gibbs got great starts and showed good speed early but he was fighting a sickness and drifted back.

That’s #47 Jerry Lorenz. He’s been coming north for a long time and still showed great speed out there.

GNCC racer #347 Even Smith now has a grand total of 4 gate drops under his belt.

#417 Ethan Stevenson did well with 20-16 motos for 16th but he killed it on the line!

That’s #686 Alexandre Morin still getting it done.

The Spadaccini boys ready to head out and get 25th.

You won’t find a much nicer rider out there than #54 Yanick Boucher. If he had a Schmucki accent, he’d be untouchable!

There are a few riders out there whose dad’s were road racing dudes. Sam Gaynor, Tyler Medaglia, and #41 Ryan Derry here come to mind. You know the shirt Dale Doback wore in Step Brothers? That’s a photo of Peter Derry on it! True story. He’ll sell you one.

That’s #115 Zachary Rousseau. They are the ones behind Challenge Quebec. He looked great in moto 1 with a 15th.

#98 Melanie Harvey holding it down for the WMX class on the rock.

The Lees. PS I gave you ample time to sit up straight, Brett.

#17 Julien Benek was at the races but not on the track. He’s still feeling the effects of that big crash at Gopher Dunes. He chose a smaller rock.

Marc Dionne with the Pettilisa keeping a close watch on….EVERYone.

Does Tyler Medaglia land on the podium again this week in what has to be considered his home race? I feel like some different riders are going to be able to go fast at River Glade.