Frid’Eh Update #17 | Julien Benek Interview | Brought to You by Dirt Care

Frid’Eh Update #17 | Julien Benek Interview | Brought to You by Dirt Care

Week #17 of the DMX Frid’Eh Update belongs to Julien Benek from Mission, BC and is brought to you by Dirt Care.

By Billy Rainford

Welcome to Week #17 of the DMX Frid’EH Update brought to you by Dirt Care. I changed my program slightly for this week’s journey to Monster Energy AMA Supercross – I’m not leaving until 6:00pm. Pittsburgh, PA is “only” 6 hours away, so I don’t have to get out of London as early as I have the past 3 weeks.

I was leaving at 11am so I could get through Buffalo, NY before afternoon rush hour hit but this time I’ll just go after it. It gave me time to be at home and type away from my desk instead of pulled over somewhere at a rest area or service centre along the NY tollway. I may regret my decision as I’m still driving along at 11pm, but that’s a problem for later…

It’s looking like we’re at risk of yet another cold, mud race at Agrisure Stadium, but you never know. It’s definitely going to rain tonight, but it did in Philly as well and the track was great. Saturday is supposed to be cloudy but the temperature will fall throughout the day and hit a “balmy” low of 7 Celsius to end the 450 Main.

We’ve got a regular 250 East and 450 program, but we’ll have the SMX Next tossed in again. We’ll also have Jordan Wilsey from RussOgraphy shooting video for DMX this week.

Julien Benek from Mission, BC is this week’s Update honouree. I always like chatting with Julien. He’s been on everyone’s radar since he was a little kid and he’s ma

Direct Motocross: Hey, Julien. Thanks for chatting with us for one of these Update Interviews again. I know you’ve been racing but that doesn’t always answer this first question: How are you feeling these days, 100%?

Julien Benek: Hey, Billy, it’s good to be back giving some info on what’s going on these days. Currently I’m feeling about 70-80% health-wise. Injuries tend to linger for a while but nothing major so I’m doing good. 

Let’s talk about your 250 West Supercross races so far this season. I know you should have some points by now. How have the races gone?

Yeah, it’s a bummer I haven’t made any Main Events yet this year. It’s tough to put everything together. It’s also frustrating when you have it all together and it falls apart 3 minutes before the heat is over. Lol. 

I’m training my butt off to try and get ready for the last 2 SX races and Canadian Nationals.

What are the travel plans for the final 2 rounds?

Yes, I’m trying to figure out a plan for getting to Colorado right now. My dad’s waiver for the border just expired so I will need to find a new co-pilot and mechanic, but I’m planning on being at Salt Lake and Denver. 

Are you done with California for the season?

Not too sure. Maybe thinking about doing round 1 of AMA Pro Nationals but we’ll see how things shake down. 

You just raced Round 1 of the Future West Moto MX season in Kelowna. 1-1-1 in Pro Am. You had to make some passes and also led wire to wire in motos. You were up against Tyler Gibbs, Parker Eales, and Noah Porter, to name a few. Did everything click for you? How were those motos?

Yeah, I had a successful weekend in Kelowna. Winning all my motos felt great and definitely helped the confidence a bit. I felt strong and in control of the bike 90% of the time and my suspension was working great. It was rare for me to feel “off” that weekend when I was on the bike. 

How is the Triumph 450 for you? All dialled in for the summer?

Yep. Me and Al Dyck from Sky Racing Suspension have been making changes and testing lots on the bike. I feel comfy and I like the power delivery of the stock 450, so I think it will shape up to be a great season. 

How many more races will you try to get in before Round 1 of the Canadian Triple Crown Series?

Hopefully, around 2-3 more races. I’ve been racing a lot lately and I’m very happy that I’ve been able to get gate drops in before the season starts. 

Looking ahead at the summer, with Dylan Wright back to 100%, Jess Pettis trying to defend his title, and now Phil Nicoletti making a return, where do you see yourself slotting in this summer?

Obviously, the top 3 are very skilled riders that have been around for a lot longer than I have. Experience is a helping hand in their case but raw speed is what I look to find on a race track.  

My goal this year is to get consistent podiums. I feel I have been working hard and things on the bike are clicking lately. If I can come in healthy and in shape I would like to see myself in the top 3. 

Great to hear! If you were to look back at all your racing, what was your favourite year so far? A lot of people look back fondly of their last season on 80’s. You?

For me I would have to say 2021 Canadian Nationals. Me and Jake Piccolo were on Al’s team and everything worked smoothly and the results were coming in. I was young and learning quick but my results really stood out to me that year. 

What are your travel plans for the summer series this year?

I will be travelling in the International Motorsports sprinter van towing Al Dyck’s trailer. One of the sponsors from the team has offered to drive with me for the whole season which will be a big help. Gonna be living out of the MVP trailer again this year. Haha. 

How is your cycling coming along? We rode together in California a few years ago and you were getting into it pretty heavily.

Well, when your in BC you would be crazy to ride a road bike over a mountain bike. I’ve been spending a good amount of time on my mountain bike lately. Building base and logging laps down on my Intense Tazer MTB. 

What’s your off-season sport or activity? Do you sled? Ski? Snowboard? Hockey?

2 wheels is my ride or die, so normally mountain biking or dirt jumping or trails riding. I’m never really home during the winter so winter sports have not been an option the past few years. 

I always like to ask you about your dad, Oliver Benek. How’s he doing and what’s his latest piece of advice he’s given you?

Yeah, the old man is doing good. Got a new woman. Working on heavy duty equipment. He recently crushed his middle finger under the belly pan of a dozer, so he’s dealing with that. But, no words of wisdom or advice lately. Haha

It sounds like a “Do as I say not as I do” situation. Haha. OK, good luck in Denver and SLC if you get to them, and I’ll see you in Calgary.

Yeah Billy, no problem, it’s been a pleasure. Great questions in this interview by the way. Haha. See you in Calgary.

---

2025 Yamaha bLU cRU Introduction in Toronto

We gathered at Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd. HQ in Toronto on Thursday to hear about their plans for the future and to meet their riders, including the MX101 FXR Yamaha race team. It was a great opportunity to grab some riders for interviews, so we set up and grabbed them. Video and then audio is posted below.

---

Pittsburgh Supercross

I have recently realized that I have never been to downtown Pittsburgh. There aren’t many cities in North America that I can say the same about. The little red van has taken me to all 4 corners and then some! If the weather was expected to be better, Emily would have hoped in with me and we would have taken a couple days to hang out and explore the area. Oh well, looks like I’m going in and out without any stopping to look around this time.

I can’t believe that Broc Glover was the last person to win in Pittsburgh. That’s right, we haven’t been back here since 1983! I was a young Kawasaki rider with dreams of being the next Hurricane, Goldenboy, Professor, Freckle, Bad Boy, Dogger, O’Show, Chicken, Magoo, Cowboy, The Man, Hollywood, Bones, or…ROLLERBALL!

Unfortunately, we won’t have any Canadians on the track this week, but we will have the SMX Next class.

How to watch:

Broadcast Details

• Racing streamed Live on Peacock at 7:00 pm ET
• NBC will air an encore presentation on Sunday at 1:00 pm ET      
• CNBC will air an encore presentation on Monday at 1:00 am ET
• Fans can also tune in to NBC Sports Audio – Sirius XM Channel 85.     
• Race Day Live streamed live on Peacock starting at 1:30 pm ET   

• Spanish Language Broadcast 
  • Available domestically via Telemundo Deportes Facebook, YouTube, and X accounts
  • Available internationally via the SuperMotocross Video Pass  
• French Language Broadcast 
  • Available internationally via the SuperMotocross Video Pass

There’s really no reason good enough to say that you were unable to watch Supercross this season! Truthfully, I miss most of the action when I’m down on the floor. It’s obviously the best place to get photos of the action but not for paying attention to all the passes and action as it happens, but I’ll survive.

Here’s a look at the points heading into this one:

250 EAST POINTS
1 56 Seth Hammaker 142 18 5 20 25 18 13 18 25
2 24 R.J. Hampshire 139 4 20 25 18 22 8 20 22
3 1 Tom Vialle 135 17 18 22 22 20 0 16 20
4 59 Cullin Park 109 15 11 13 9 14 22 7 18
5 41 Nate Thrasher 106 14 17 14 8 25 3 8 17
6 10 Chance Hymas 103 16 16 18 1 15 25 12 0
7 92 Maximus Vohland 90 -3 1 13 17 12 16 4 14 16
8 31 Max Anstie 78 25 22 16 15 0 N/A N/A N/A
9 34 Daxton Bennick 77 -5 22 0 15 11 17 17 0 N/A
10 55 Henry Miller 71 11 12 10 0 10 9 5 14
11 83 Austin Forkner 68 5 15 5 10 12 0 6 15
12 60 Carson Mumford 51 12 14 11 3 11 0 N/A 0
13 87 Hardy Munoz 45 9 10 12 0 13 0 1 0
14 192 Jack Chambers 43 3 7 9 0 0 15 0 9
15 89 Trevor Colip 43 6 9 6 0 0 11 0 11
16 75 Gage Linville 42 10 8 2 0 2 20 0 0
17 47 Levi Kitchen 39 13 25 1 N/A 0 0 N/A 0
18 195 Lance Kobusch 37 8 0 0 0 7 16 0 6
19 148 Justin Rodbell 25 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 18 N/A 7
20 125 Luke Neese 25 7 0 0 0 6 0 0 12

450 POINTS
1 2 Cooper Webb 300 18 20 14 22 22 25 25 22
2 4 Chase Sexton 291 25 16 18 25 17 20 20 17
3 94 Ken Roczen 255 22 18 22 20 1 22 22 25
4 32 Justin Cooper 221 15 11 16 9 18 17 18 18
5 27 Malcolm Stewart 220 12 15 13 12 25 18 13 16
6 7 Aaron Plessinger 204 13 0 0 13 14 13 15 20
7 51 Justin Barcia 185 16 14 12 10 16 15 16 12
8 46 Justin Hill 161 14 8 7 16 12 12 17 15
9 14 Dylan Ferrandis 152 0 13 6 11 0 14 14 10
10 21 Jason Anderson 151 20 9 20 15 20 16 11 14
11 12 Shane McElrath 150 9 5 5 8 13 10 9 11
12 49 Mitchell Oldenburg 110 6 3 9 5 11 8 10 9
13 17 Joey Savatgy 108 1 12 11 7 15 9 12 13
14 57 Benny Bloss 104 0 6 10 3 9 0 5 6
15 45 Colt Nichols 102 -5 0 4 8 6 10 11 7 7
16 3 Eli Tomac 80 17 25 15 18 5 0 0 N/A
17 1 Jett Lawrence 71 10 22 25 14 N/A N/A N/A N/A
18 96 Hunter Lawrence 62 11 17 17 17 0 0 0 N/A
19 11 Kyle Chisholm 58 2 2 0 4 7 5 2 3
20 86 Mitchell Harrison 55 5 0 0 0 6 6 6 5

That’s going to take me to “hit the road” time here. I’m off to Pittsburgh after I get a few things packed. It looks like that means my rain gear and some warm clothes. I’m not looking forward to shooting photos with one of those terrible rain baggies on it, but we’ll seal it up well so that the eather doesn’t affect my shooting finger!

Be sure to check Direct Motocross on Instagram and Facebook throughout the day as we like to try and cover things other than just the top 3 or 4 riders from each class.

Have a great weekend, everyone.