Frid’Eh Update #17 Presented by MB1 Suspension Canada

Frid’Eh Update #17 Presented by MB1 Suspension Canada

By Kyle Carruthers, Jeff McConkey, and Billy Rainford

Welcome to week #17 of the DMX Frid’Eh Update once again brought to you by the gang over at MB1 Suspension Canada. For 2015, #17 belongs to Seth Rarick. Since Seth rides for the Redemption Racing Fly Dragon KTM team, and since they are always very quick with a delicious, piping hot cup of coffee, we’ve gotten to know Seth pretty well last year.

Seth is one of the nice guys on the tour who also happens to possess blazing speed. He is always able to take a win wherever he races on our circuit and with a good start and another winter of hard training under his belt, 2015 should be the year we see him step onto the podium.

We got in touch with Seth as he had just returned to his home in Albany, NY. (We’ll be driving right past you tomorrow, Seth. Have the coffee ready!) We asked him a few basic questions just to get caught up on what he’s been up to. Here’s what he had to say:

Direct Motocross: Hey, Seth. Let’s start with this – How did your 2014 summer go?

Seth Rarick: Last summer was decent for me; it was a good building year coming back from my shoulder surgery. Looking back, I wanted to do so much better but I also didn’t have near enough preparation coming into the season, and everything was all new to me. The tracks, bike and the team were all new to me and I really had no idea what to expect. Overall, I was happy with it but I’m looking for much more this season.

What did you do after the final round in Walton?

After Walton last year, I raced every single weekend until the snow started flying. At the very end of last season I felt like I was just getting back to 100% so I wanted to keep racing and building my base for this year.

How has your winter gone? What did you do for riding and training?

My winter started slow but the past couple months have been awesome! I was forced to take some time off and work a real job to make ends meet for December, January and the first couple weeks of February, but after that I was able to go down to South of the Border in South Carolina and really put some work in. I had a small crash that kept me off the bike for a couple weeks but nothing major. Other than that, it’s been full steam ahead getting ready for Kamloops.

For those who don’t already know, what are your racing plans for this coming summer?

I’ll be coming back to Canada this summer for Redemption Racing. I was planning on doing a few US rounds on the off weekends but financially it’s not a smart idea and at this point I don’t even own a 4-stroke. So, I’ll be sticking with plan A and just focusing 100% on Canada.

I know you’re friends with Jimmy Decotis. What do you think of him signing with Canada’s Motorcycle FXR Yamaha in Canada for 2015?

I’m PUMPED on Jimmy D going to Canada! He’s one of my best buddies and we’ve been riding and training together down at South of the Border. It’ll be awesome having such a good friend up there to race with and I’m sure it’ll feel more at home for us.

Before we let you go, who would yo like to thank?

I’d like to thank everyone at Redemption Racing, Jeffery Homes, Fly, Dragon, FMF, Boot Trucking, Atlas Brace, South of the Border Training Facility, Spectro and everyone that’s giving me the opportunity to go racing this summer. There are so many people behind the scenes that allow me to do this and I’m very grateful for the ones in my corner.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today, Seth. Maybe while people are reading this we’ll be sitting in Upstate New York enjoying a tasty coffee. Good luck with the rest of your spring training.

Suspension Technology At Its Best

A top quality suspension is the key to winning races –ask any rider. The bike must be responsive to an individual’s style and the right parts put a rider on top of  his game giving the confidence to ride to the limit.

MB1 Suspension Canada delivers what riders are looking for and you can find them trackside when you need them. Ready to help –to get you back in action and on the track –right where you want to be. Look for them where you ride.

When you have questions –they have answers –and the experience to get it right. As riders themselves, MB1 technicians understand the critical balance required for forks and shocks and what effect rebound, bottoming and kick-backs can have on your ride. You deserve suspension technology at its BEST. MB1 Suspension Canada accepts only 100% customer satisfaction.

Get an MB1 Suspension Canada suspension and bike set up to suit the track terrain and weather. Being prepared mechanically is your real starting line and how you will ultimately ride the best race.

In between races make MB1 Suspension Canada your shop. They provide the quality MB1 parts you want AND the knowledge and experience to complete the repairs and set up you need. Or let them help you find an Authorized MB1 Suspension Canada Dealer near you.

Call Mike Parliament at MB1 Suspension Canada 226-270-2785 or find them online www.mb1suspensioncanada.com

Canadian Head Office &Shop-72ColonelTalbotRd, RR#6, Tillsonburg, Ontario N4G4G9

 

Kyle Carruthers

One thing I do love about this time of year is seeing all the photos getting posted here on DMX and all over social media. Between Facebook, Twitter and Instragram you can never go a minute without seeing an awesome photo of a rider railing a sand berm wearing a hoody on a cold spring day or seeing a group of kids laughing at the track once again. It really starts summing up what the sport is all about and how much someone really can miss it during a cold winter.

Speaking of missing things, yesterday I woke up at 4:30 am to do the long drive from Bowmanville, ON up to a small town north of Sudbury and back down across North Bay and directly back south all in one day as I did dealer visits for Under Armour. For some reason, seeing new places immediately got me thinking about motocross. Between eying up hills and obstacles that I could see someone riding a dirtbike over or reminding me of my days of riding in BC with Gregg Fortune and Bobby Prochnau and Jim Small it definitely got my blood revving up to get to a race soon.

Some of my favourite days were waking up early and starting the trek to a national whether it was in BC or Quebec or even at Sand Del Lee a short 4 hours away from me, those were some of the best days. It was always the same routine at DMX. We would load up the vehicle, hit a Tim Hortons so Bigwave could have his coffee and we would bench race the whole way there.  You might think it’s strange that I’m typing about these things, but that is one of the things I miss the most. It’s all about what the sport of MX has given someone.

Every day I hear people saying it’s in the toilet, no money in it and more, but it seems like everyone forgets about what it was like as an amateur or what it has allowed them to see or the people they have met. As my brother and I were talking the other day in one of our “life chats” I had a quick response to one of his questions and it sounded something sort of like this:

“I have been across the country five times. I have ridden a motorcycle in the Kamloops Mountains, I have Mountain-sledded in Whistler and snowmobiled across every region in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. I have gone to California to ride Nico Izzi and Hunter Hewitt’s race bikes, toured Troy Lee Designs and took in the Glen Helen GP. I went down a second time to surf in the Pacific with Smith Optics. I have seen some of the best national races of the past 6 years in Canada and I have witnessed the rise and dominance of Colton Facciotti. I spent a week at the Alison Farm making friends I will stay in touch with my whole life and another week at PJ Stratton’s out in a jet boat which is a story I still tell my buddies to this day. I got to announce on the podium for a year at the TransCan when they needed a last-minute fill-in and MC the MMRS Madoc National 4 years in a row and got to ride a brand new Ducati Hyperstrada down through the Finger Lakes of New York to take in the Unadilla national.

I even got to run a dealership for a year with some great people to top it off.  I am sure I am missing things, but most of all it’s the people I miss every day and waking up in my trailer to the first sound of the mini dad revving his son’s bike up 2 hours before his first practice. And to sum it all up, my addiction to it all started by watching Kyle Keast come out and bomb around my family’s track we had on our 200-acre cattle ranch.

To be honest, those life experiences are all something that MX or a connection through moto has given me, tied in with some hard work. For all you younger readers out there and for some of you older bucks, I just want to remind you that it is not a race to the finish line in life. Take it all in and smell the roses for a bit. If your an Intermediate and your one goal is to take a run at the full national series before college, all I can say is DO IT! Don’t sit back in ten years and wish you did it. Lace up the boots, throw on the gloves and take a shot at whatever you’re looking to accomplish in life and make the most of every opportunity. Not everything is going to work out, not everything is going to go your way, but at the end of the day progression and happiness is where your life should be on and off the track. Make the memories now so in 60 years you can look back with nothing to say but smile.

Jeff McConkey

Hey, guys. It is finally Friday, and it is slowly warming up again. Mother nature seems to have bumped her head and handed us some winter-like weather the past few days in Southern Ontario. It looks like she has finally figured things out and will now proceed with some spring weather.

Canada’s Motorcycle FXR Yamaha Signs Jimmy Decotis

The hot news of the week is Canada’s Motorcycle FXR Yamaha’s big signing of Jimmy Decotis. Kevin Tyler and Johnny Grant had to fill a seat when they couldn’t come to terms with Jesse Wentland (Happy Birthday, Jesse). Not only did they lose a title contender, they lost a super-nice guy. Jesse was one of the nicest guys out there, and a great rider to represent any team. But life goes on, so Kevin Tyler set out to find a real contender and all around good guy.

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I spoke with ‘KT’ at the Detroit SX and he said that he had just missed out on Texan Mitchell Oldenburg by a few hours. Oldenburg would have been a serious championship threat, but the double shoulder injuries to Jimmy Albertson opened up a 450 Lucas Oil AMA Outdoors ride down south. I am sure from there on out Kevin’s phone was lit up non-stop.

One of those names that kept popping up was that of Jimmy D. Jimmy is a huge talent with a ridiculous amount of skill. You don’t get a fill-in ride with Geico or ride in Europe with CLS Kawasaki just because you are a nice guy. This guy has the talent. Let’s just hope he has the fitness to run with the likes of Royal Distributing Fox KTM Canada’s Kaven Benoit and Honda Canada TLD GDR’s Jeremy Medaglia who have fitness for days! One bonus for Jimmy D is that he rides sand very well. The majority of our East tracks are sand. He will no doubt be looking forward to the East portion of our series to show his stuff. Do I think Jimmy will win the title? No, I don’t. (I have been known to be wrong a lot!) But he will no doubt be in the mix each and every weekend. I, myself, think it is a great signing and I honestly feel that Jimmy will be a great addition to our MX2 series.

Gopher Dunes Season Opener

Gopher Dunes held the season opener for the new AMO series last Sunday. I wasn’t there myself, but the word on the street is that numbers were way down. I remember back in the day when the Gopher opener would have 700-plus entries. Was it the weather? Is it the economy? Only time will tell. I, myself, as at the MMRS School and Practice weekend. They had 132 riders sign up for the school and a full house for practice on Sunday. Moto is definitely going strong in the East.

MMRS Racing Season Starts this Weekend at Cochranes MX Track

This weekend, MMRS kicks off its racing season at their Cochranes MX Track near Brighton, Ontario. They offer their Open Practice Saturday from 9-4, and racing all day Sunday. If you are a first-time rider or a seasoned Vet, this is the place to get safe, quality, seat time. Check out the MMRS website for directions and times.
That’s it for me this week. I’d like to give a big Happy Birthday shout out to honorary Canadian Brad ‘B-Naughty’ Nauditt. Brad had a scary back injury this past winter which forced him out of West Coast SX, but he is back and he will be lining up at round one in Kamloops on his GA Checkpoint Fly Yamaha. You can expect a ton of holeshots and some podiums from Brad, as he and mechanic Darren Stading are coming up swinging. Have a great week everyone and remember to always #smileforBC!

Billy Rainford

Thanks, guys. How about that emotional out-pouring by Kyle?! He’s right though. I like to think I’m someone who is always aware of the importance of stopping to smell the roses, but that sentiment he just expressed really hit home. Keep the articles coming, Kyle. You’ve lived the moto life from a very interesting side and your stories are always welcome here. I’m sure I don’t speak for just myself when I say, great job!

It will be a slightly shorter than usual week for me as we are currently on the road heading towards New York City for the East Rutherford round of the Supercross Series. The last time I did the drive east from Buffalo, it was the middle of winter on our way to Killington, Vermont, for some skiing. Why do I mention this seemingly benign bit of information? Well, we were on an all-expense paid trip skiing for a weekend after a buddy won 10.8 million dollars in 649! He was a generous guy and very deserving of the win-fall. I wonder if he has any of it left?

I’m currently sitting in a Dunkin Donuts somewhere between Syracuse and Binghampton, NY. We have hit a freak late-April snowstorm that is really pissing me off! As we approach Binghampton, I can’t help but wonder if anyone will flag me off the road to reminisce about my 1986 125 B New York State Championships at Broome-Tioga final moto holeshot? It could happen! Wait, I just remembered I crashed in the second turn and rode around in the dark rain for the remainder of the race as my bent pipe melted its way through the gas tank. Good times.

East Rutherford SX

This weekend the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series makes history as being the first round to be shown live on Fox. Not only that, MetLife Stadium is an outdoor stadium and it will be a 3-6pm program. I know some people are happy about the time change while others are not. The only reason I’m pumped about the change is that this means it will be a daylight supercross and I’ll be able to shoot photos like it’s a sunny outdoor national! No flash=increased possibility of usable pics. If you’ve ever tried to shoot pics at a Supercross you know what I’m talking about.

 

Nitro Circus to Attempt to Make History…Again

NITRO CIRCUS FREESTYLE MOTOCROSS STAR JOSH SHEEHAN TO DEFY GRAVITY WITH GROUNDBREAKING AERIAL STUNT

The Best FMX Rider On The Planet Will Attempt The Most Dangerous Trick In The History of Action Sports: The World’s First Triple Backflip on a Motocross Bike

Baltimore, MD (April 21, 2015) – On Tuesday, April 28, champion freestyle motocross rider Josh Sheehan will aim for the record books by attempting the biggest and most dangerous trick in the history of action sports – the world’s first-ever triple backflip on a motocross bike.

This attempt will take place at Nitro Circus (www.nitrocircus.com) founder Travis Pastrana’s “Pastranaland” complex and is weather dependent; there will be a five-day window of opportunity for this world first attempt.

In order to complete the triple backflip successfully, Sheehan will need to reach a speed of 55 mph on a 200-pound bike as he travels up a massive 37-foot tall takeoff ramp. The ramp will be positioned at a staggering 81-degree angle and once airborne, Sheehan will reach a height of approximately 80 feet as he completes and lands on the 60-foot tall dirt landing ramp.

To get a sense of the risk and the danger involved in this daring attempt, check out the following preview:

“At Nitro Circus, we are all about progression, raising the bar and claiming ‘World Firsts,’” commented Pastrana. “For anyone that’s ever done something that no one else on the planet has done, it really is a pretty special moment. I’m excited for Josh. The triple is definitely one hell of a scary trick to pull off!”

Pastrana, Sheehan’s fellow Nitro Circus teammate, was the first to ever land a double backflip at the 2006 X Games competition in Los Angeles. Since Pastrana’s groundbreaking success, Sheehan has also mastered the trick and is now the foremost proponent of the double, landing four perfect ones in Munich to take the win at the Red Bull X Fighters event in July 2014. Sheehan and Pastrana are currently the only people in the world still performing double backflips, with Sheehan performing them regularly at Nitro Circus Live shows around the world. Completing a triple backflip will be much harder than the double, with Sheehan needing to ride a take off ramp roughly 28 feet taller than the usual nine-foot ramp used to complete a double.

“Trying something that’s never done before is always risky.  But along with that comes a tremendous once in a lifetime opportunity,” Sheehan explains. “I’ve always loved a challenge. It inspires me to keep pushing forward. I couldn’t be more stoked.”

As Josh Sheehan aims for history, Nitro Circus Live continues its marathon 2015 world tour.  The Australian leg wraps up on April 24 followed by a return to America for 14 performances in first-time markets from May 5-24.  An additional 20 US tour dates will go on sale Friday, May 15, and six Canadian shows go on sale Friday, May 22. The action then shifts across the Atlantic for the debut of Nitro Circus – Moto Mayhem, an all-new production, which will play nine European stadiums from May 29 to June 26. Go to: http://nitrocircus.com/tour/ to a full list of tour dates and to purchase tickets.

For additional news, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, tour updates and more, go to http://www.nitrocircus.com.  Follow Nitro Circus Live on Twitter: @nitrocircuslive and Facebook: www.facebook.com/NitroCircus.

 

Parts Canada TransCan Weekly Update – Saskatchewan & Southwestern Ontario Riders to Watch

Across Canada this weekend there are Two Parts Canada TransCan – Canadian Motocross Grand National Championship Amateur National Qualifiers (ANQs) taking place:

Saskatchewan will get their 2015 Motocross Season Opened with their first Regional ANQ at the Swift Current Raceway on Sunday, April 26.

Saskatchewan is home to Canadian Motocross Legend Blair Morgan and Vic Stuart who is a local very well known racer from the 80’s and 90’s. Some current Pro Racers representing Saskatchewan are: Shawn Maffenbeier, Broc Shury, Zach Deiana, and former Women’s Western Champion, Denaye Giroux. All these Racers have competed at the TransCan over the years and we are excited to welcome them back in attendance for 2015.

Below is a list of some of the Amateur Upcoming Racers to Watch from Saskatchewan, as they have either qualified or attended the Parts Canada TransCan last year.

Kennedy Lutz – Who was the 2014 Parts Canada TransCan – Canadian Motocross Womens Grand National Champion!

Kyle Biro – Who was 2nd in the Schoolboy 2 Class at TransCan last year

Jarret Biro – Who was 3rd in the Supermini Class at TransCan last year

Carter Stuart

Logan Stuart

Easton Genest

Emery Genest

Matthew Hutt

Here are a few other Saskatchewan Racers who’s results were noticed in 2014, as these racers and others could qualify and represent Saskatchewan at the 2015 Parts Canada TransCan – Canadian Motocross Grand National Championship!

Ethan Mckee, Boston Beauchesne, Austin Zackrisson, Ryder Zackrisson Thomas Lloyd, Sacha Ruecker, Joseph Pilsner, Brendan Mckee, Janick Lacroix , Jesse Royan , Nicholas Lesko, Brandon Bailey, Payton Atkinson , Braden Jezowski , Garret Cranfield , Chad Greziuk, Haylen Langelier , Tanner Stevenson, Jamie Joyal , Warren Bullock , Reise Nemez , Jason Easton, Leon Mccann , Rylan Evans , Keegan Murfitt , William Merrett , Lane Hanson , Charity Bachman , Samantha Merrett , Brittni Jezowski , Hanna Royan , Sheri Tymchak , Darwin Janz , Chad Greziuk , Codie Rouse , Patrick Atkinson , Brent Shury , Don Stynsky, Blake Osatchuk , Cole Conn, Codie Rouse, Brayden Briere, Grant Peters ,  Tanner Harbin , Rocky Beauchesne , Patrick Atkinson, Adam Sebastian

The first of four Southwestern Ontario ANQs begin on Sunday, April 26 at Moto Park, which is located in Chatsworth, Ontario.

Moto Park is great facility within Southwestern Ontario, as it has been around since the early 50’s and offers many practice days and riding lessons to help introduce riders into the sport of Motocross. Moto Parks riding school’s has been developing some of the fastest young talent in Canada, as last year they won several Parts Canada TransCan – Canadian Motocross Grand National Championships.

The Southwestern Ontario region makes up a quarter of the entry allocations for the TransCan, Below is a list of some of the Amateur Upcoming Racers to Watch from the Southwestern Ontario Region, as they have finished on the podium at last years Parts Canada TransCan or will be hoping to qualify against hundreds or other racers to represent the Southwestern Ontario Region at the 2015 Parts Canada TransCan – Canadian Motocross Grand National Championship!

PRESTON MASCIANGELO

HAYDEN JAMESON

AYRTON POMEROY

ZACHARY CHAUVIN

THOMAS MUNRO

TANNER SCOTT

JAMIESON MACDONALD

CAMERON WROZYNA

LUKE TRICCO

TANNER WARD

AUSTIN WATLING

MARCO CANNELLA

NICHOLAS CRYER

JOEY ZACCHIGNA

JAKE TRICCO

CURTIS MAIR

KOBI COX

EVAN CLARKE

KASSIE BOONE

BREANNA ROSE

ESTRELLA CEMOVIC

SAMI BURK

RJ MARNOCH

JUSTIN RONEY

DUNCAN MACLEOD

MITCHELL GODKIN

SKYLAR BRUCE

TRAVIS ROBERTS

MACKENZIE MACHAN

JACOB BALSDON

MAX FILIPEK

ALEX JEFFERY

CLAYTON POWERS

CODY BINT

JAKE COLLINS

ADAM BURK

COLE STEVENS

BRAD WILLIAMS

NICK JONES

CURTIS WAACK

AND MORE

For any questions about registration or the TransCan please email Mark Perrin at mark@motocrosscanada.ca or call 519-384-1067.

 

All You Need to Know for AMO TransCan ANQ at Motopark

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Sebastien Tortelli Interview

It’s not often you get the chance to speak to a past World Champion in ANY sport let alone the one we all love! Well, this week I got the chance to take that up a notch. After seeing Sebastien Tortelli (Seb, as I call him. lol) mention a bunch of Canadians at his ‘Champ Factory’ out in Temecula, California, I contacted him and he agreed to chat with us for an actual interview.

We ended up talking for over half an hour. This would normally create a lot of work for me, typing out the recorded interview, but I’m using Dragon Dictation and it should really cut my work down a ton. Wait a minute, Sebastien still speaks with a pretty thick French accent that throws the dictation program for a loop and costs me added time.

What I’m trying to say is that we’ll have to wait until we get back from New Jersey this weekend to commit the necessary few hours this will take me to 3-finger type this one out. Thanks for the chat, Sebastien (I was kidding, I can’t call him ‘Seb.’).

Team Brodeur 2015 Update

In this day and age of social media and the emphasis placed on self-promotion, if you aren’t using the tools available you aren’t doing enough. It takes more than just results to get noticed on the industry side of things. Eve Brodeur has the PR skills to match her speed. Here is the latest update from the French champion:

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Just 1 J12 Carbon Helmet Winner #2 Announced!

We are now done Week #2 of the 3-week contest to give away 3 Just 1 J12 Carbon helmets.

And winner #2 is…

Roger Roland from Listowel, Ontario.

Congratulations, Roger. Jeff Fullerton from Gamma Sales will be in touch with you to get this beauty sent out to you.

There is one more helmet to give away next Frid’Eh! All you have to do is head over to the Gamma Sales Facebook page and give them a ‘LIKE’ and you’re in. Good luck!

Runway Park Moto Mania!

Are They or Aren’t They?

OK, the snow seems to have let up a bit here. It really smells like pulp mills in these parts. The Finger Lakes region is one of the nicer areas east of the Rockies, for sure. Did I mention Emily applied for the Late Show with David Letterman tickets and we got the call yesterday! After 30 years of crazy fanaticism, I’m finally going to be in the actual audience Monday and I’m pumped! He’s retiring next month so this was my last chance. Oh, sure, there’s a SX too, but this is serious! Thanks, Em. That was a really great thing for you to do. I actually quoted Dave in my 1986 yearbook! I need help.