Frid’Eh Update #27 Presented by MD Distributions

Frid’Eh Update #27 Presented by MD Distributions

By Jeff McConkey and Billy Rainford

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Welcome to Week #27 of the DMX Frid’Eh Update presented by MD Distributions. First off, Happy Canada Day, eh! Secondly, this is the first and only weekend off from the Rockstar Energy MX Nationals so we’re not really sure what to do with ourselves! Actually, Jeff is already at Red Bud for this weekend’s classic 4 of July tradition. We hooked him up with a fancy camera for the festivities, so I can hardly wait to download some of the gems he captures over his camping weekend at this beautiful nightmare. Sure, it’s not quite the same with the Pro racing being on Saturday, but if there trouble to be had, Jeff will find it! Just make sure to make it out alive, Jeff, we need you around here.

For 2016, #27 belongs to Gatineau, Quebec’s Shawn Robinson. Shawn is currently sitting in 16th position in MX1. Here’s a look at his first 4 rounds:

We grabbed him heading into this off weekend to find out what he’s up to and talk about how his season is going so far. Unfortunately, he was working and thought he’d have time for a chat at lunch but ran out of time. We’ll post our conversation on Monday morning so you can find out what he has to say.

 

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Jeff McConkey

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Team Canada MXON Announced

Hey, guys. Happy Friday and Happy Canada Day! Our Des Nations team was announced earlier this morning and I’m pumped! Some people will agree, some will disagree, but the main thing is that we have a team. Let’s be honest, we are never going to win, and if we ever have a chance to podium, it won’t be for some time. What we need to focus on is setting up a professional program and keep building each year. There was a great group of riders to choose from and each rider had strengths and weaknesses. I think Team Canada manager Kourtney Lloyd will do a great job and help pave the way for the future, and I wouldn’t have wanted to be in her position when it came to choosing the team. All in all, we are going to send a very good, very professional team over and that alone is something we can all be proud of. I will touch more later on each of the riders selected.

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Women’s East MX Nationals

The Wild West is over. The CMRC Rockstar Energy Nationals now take a one-week break. The series will resume July 9-10 at Gopher Dunes. With the series coming East, we lose a few bodies, but it’s also a bonus as we will see a few new faces as well. The Women’s East National Series starts up at the Dunes as well.  This will be our first time seeing some of the girls since last season. Eve Brodeur will once again have the bullseye on her back.  There are lots of rumours on what American riders are showing up. At this point, it’s still up in the air, but I can honestly say that Brodeur will have her toughest battle yet trying to capture yet another title.

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Rockstar MX Nationals

In MX1 action, it’s almost like we get to start fresh. Yes, Davi Millsaps still has a 24-point lead, but he’s never been to the Dunes – It’s a scary beast. It starts out so smooth and gentle-looking in the morning, and then by the halfway point of the first moto there are holes in the corners big enough to hide a Buick. We all know how good Matt Goerke is, and by now you have to know that he could easily be one of the greatest sand riders, ever. He had a bit of a rough time on the West and will really be looking to redeem himself on the sandy East coast tracks. But hey, wait a minute, Goerke isn’t the only guy that hauls in the sand. Brett Metcalfe is extremely fast, Mike Alessi as well. Then you can’t forget Colton Faccoitti, Kaven Benoit, and Vince Friese. That is a ton of talent and will make getting a top 5 o/a at Gopher very hard.

In MX2 action, Cole Thompson has a very nice 50-point lead. Shawn Maffenbeier is hot right now, but 50 points is a big hole. GDR Honda’s Jeremy Medaglia should be back in action by the East, but you never know how long it will take a rider to fully recover from a serious injury. I’m looking forward to some new faces on the East. Westen Wroyzna jumps into the fray aboard a new Green ride. Westen has always had some serious speed and would love to put the #34 up front with his amateur rivals Jess Pettis and Dylan Wright. Speaking of Wright, it could very possible be time for Dylan to real off some wins. He is fit and very fast on the softer tracks. Watch for those sweet-looking MX101 Yamaha’s to be up front a lot.

 

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Team Canada Riders

Alright, now onto the riders selected. I’m going to start with Tyler Medaglia. Now yes, I know Tyler hasn’t been in the top 3 yet, but that doesn’t matter. This guy oozes Des Nations experience. You aren’t going to find a guy with more heart, fitness and dedication. In my eyes, Tyler will be like the Blair Morgan of old at Des Nations. He will be our rock, and he will do whatever is needed for the better of the team. Add in the fact that he is a fan favourite, and that the crazy East coasters will back this guy to the moon and back.

Next we have Kaven Benoit. It’s time to accept that Kaven Benoit is on his way to being the best outdoor rider in Canada. This guy works so hard and gets better and better every year. He is a 2-time MX2 National Champion and will be fighting for MX1 wins very soon, and Championships. He’s been to the big dance before and knows what to expect. I really think Kaven is going to be our leader for years to come.

And last but not least, we have Shawn Maffenbeier. Shawn is a guy that works very hard and doesn’t know the expression ‘give up.’  He has improved his speed and skill over the last few years and upped his game. Everybody needs a first time, and this is a great time for Shawn to get his feet wet.

In the end, it may not be the team everyone wants, but when do we all ever agree on anything now anyway? This is a great team, in my eyes, and I will gladly support it in anyway possible.

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That’s it for me, I’m on my way to RED BUD! Before I go, I’d like to send out some positive vibes and a huge GET WELL SOON to Jamie Burmey. Jamie had a nasty crash in Regina and is currently recovering from 2 broken femurs and a broken pelvis. I met Jamie briefly in Calgary and she is a super-nice girl with lots of talent. I hope she stays positive as she has a long road ahead of her. Have a great long weekend, and I’ll see everybody soon.

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Billy Rainford

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Thanks, Jeff. Have a great time at Red Bud this weekend. Like I mentioned at the top, we’ve sent him off with a loaded camera to capture everything he sees so it should be fun to go through his photos when he passes back through here late Saturday night.

I’m just trying to get my legs back under me after the long drive home from the Greater Winnipeg area. I had a great time at the FXR Ride Day on Tuesday. It’s a great chance for all the riders who race in FXR to get together and hang out on a perfectly groomed track. It was Ryan Millar who got the track looking as good as it was last week.

It was also the first chance for a lot of people to see New Jersey rider, #40 Brandon Hartranft, hit the track. If you haven’t had the chance to watch Brandon ride at any of the big American Amateur Nationals, all you need to know is that he won the 450 B Limited title at Loretta Lynn’s last year. And all you need to know about that is winning a B Class title at Loretta’s is a huge deal! The Canadian brand is picking up a lot of very talented riders both above and below the border.

I shot a bunch of photos and video form the day out at FXR owner Milt Reimer‘s track, so watch for that here on the site in the upcoming days. It was interesting to hear Hartranft comment on the ‘homie’ feel the day had. He said it was a huge difference from what he’s used to in the USA where the sport is so huge and there are so many riders that you just become a number and get forgotten about. This day had a very close-knit feel and the riders all appreciate the contact they have with the company from top to bottom.

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Team Canada MXON

Well, I just did a quick scroll through social media and couldn’t help noticing all the people spouting off about the Team Canada selection before reading the actual Press Release. Team Manager, Kourtney Lloyd, invited the chosen team of Kaven Benoit, Tyler Medaglia, and Shawn Maffenbeier, as well as Colton Facciotti and Cole Thompson, to the early meeting held in Calgary before the National.

Colton expressed interest in representing the team but with him and wife Jocelyn expecting their second baby the week of the event, it was just too risky to have him commit to going unless the baby shows up. Cole Thompson will be getting ready to hit the Arenacross Tour and US Supercross, so he couldn’t commit to the MXON either. This was all spelled out very clearly in the Press Release. Cole will be our alternate so he can concentrate on getting ready for his other commitments but swoop into action at the last minute should he be needed to.

These are our top 5 fastest Canadians, right now, and you really couldn’t go wrong with any combination of them. What we need to do is make it into the A final and then perform at our top level in it. I can’t wait to get back to Italy for one of these events. I was at the 2009 MXON and it was an experience I will never forget.

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Good luck to everyone competing at the WCAN out at Temple Hill in Raymond, Alberta. If you want to keep up on what’s going on as the racing takes place, head over to their site http://www.wcan-mx.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCAN-MX-784036518367048/?fref=ts

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Royal Distributing Holeshot Awards

If you’re curious how the Royal Distributing Holeshot Awards have been going at the Rockstar MX Nationals, here are a couple videos highlighting the 2nd and 3rd rounds:

Calgary:

Royal Distributing Holeshot Awards – Calgary Round 3 from Directmotocross.com on Vimeo.

Regina:

Royal Distributing Holeshot Awards – 2016 Regina MX National Round 4 from Directmotocross.com on Vimeo.

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DMX Canadian MX Weekly Wrap Up Show

Andy White from FXR and I have had a blast so far recapping the action from each round of the Nationals. If you haven’t had a chance to check out our latest installment from Moto Valley in Regina, here it is:

DMX Canadian MX Weekly Wrap Up Show – Regina Round 4 from Directmotocross.com on Vimeo.

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Motopark Moto Cup Rounds 3 and 4

The final 2 rounds of the Motopark Moto Cup are set to go this weekend on an all-new track layout. You’ve probably already seen the video of Davin Grosse hitting the new 150-foot step up so here’s another video they put together showing some of the changes to the layout:

I found this helmet cam view of the track, too.

 

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Support the Women’s East MX Nationals

2016 CMRC EASTERN CANADIAN WOMEN’S NATIONALS – SERIES SCHEDULE

Saturday, July 9                    Gopher Dunes, Courtland, ON
Saturday, July 16                 Motocross Ulverton, Ulverton, QC
Saturday, August 6             Motocross Deschambault, Deschambault, QC
Saturday, August 13           RJ Motosport Park, Barrie, ON

The Canadian Women’s National motocross series is the most prestigious series in Canada for female racers. This year there will be four rounds for both the East and West coast series. The coordinators for the East and West need your help to ensure that there will be podium  awards for the top 3 riders, and great draw table prizes for all the girls, and funds for the series purse. Women’s racing is becoming more common, and last year there was a full gate at each round of the West and East races!  With the Canadian dollar being so low, we are struggling to find sponsors so anything you can give really helps and makes it worth it for the ladies to come to every round in the series.

Go to the GoFundMe page to donate.

Our website is:  http://www.cdnwmx.com/

Women’s West MX Nationals – Round 4 from Directmotocross.com on Vimeo.

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Canadian Kyle Demelo Punches His Ticket to Nitro World Games Qualifier

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FMX FINAL QUALIFIERS SET FOR NITRO WORLD GAMES

Six Riders Advance to the FMX Qualifying Event, In Addition To One Newly Announced Wildcard, Joining 10 Athletes Invited Directly to the Final Qualifiers Taking Place July 15 at Rice-Eccles Stadium

LOS ANGELES, CA (Wednesday – June 29, 2016) –Following the announcement of the Top 10 list of athletes invited directly to the Nitro World Games FMX Final Qualifiers, six more riders have now punched their tickets to the next round of the highly anticipated competition during a pre-qualifier event held in Southern California. Also just announced, one additional rider will now join the field as a wildcard.

Just as FMX has gone global, the Nitro World Games FMX lineup includes athletes from across the planet. Javier Villegas, born in Santiago, Chile and the first non-European rider to win the FIM FMX World Championship, topped the leader board during pre-qualifiers. Villegas has toured worldwide, including with Nitro Circus on its current North American trek, but is now looking to step up to the next level in major competition. Christian Meyer, who came in second, is an up-and-comer from Spain (first place in the 2015 X Pilots FMX Tour; 2014 Spanish FMX Championship winner). Meyer also trains at a second home in Argentina. Alastair Sayer – an X Games medalist who started riding in the Kalahari Desert in his native Botswana before his sixth birthday and has raced on the South African circuit – claimed third. Australia’s Jarryd McNeil, took fourth. McNeil, with three X Games gold medals to his credit (including two golds this year) now wants to show the world the full extent of his skills. Center of Gravity winner Kyle Demelo from Canada and Metal Mulisha member Cal Vallone from the U.S. round out the qualifiers. These six will join a hand picked Top 10 list of riders, chosen by an independent panel of industry leaders and former athletes, in the next phase of the competition.

Joining the pre-selected invitees and pre-qualifiers as a wildcard selection is veteran rider Steve Mini (Australia). These 17 athletes will clash at Rice-Eccles Stadium on July 15 – the day before the Nitro World Games. Only the eight highest scoring riders will advance to the inaugural Nitro World Games event on July 16. A full list of FMX riders is below. Stay tuned for the announcement of competitors for FMX Best Trick.

FMX FINAL QUALIFIERS

Rob Adelberg (AUS)
Maikel Melero (ESP)
Libor Podmol (CZE)
Levi Sherwood (NZL)
Kyle Demelo (CAN)
Christian Meyer (ESP)
David Rinaldo (FRA)
Dany Torres (ESP)
Taka Higashino (JPN)
Steve Mini (AUS)
Alastair Sayer (RSA)
Cal Vallone (USA)
Adam Jones (USA)
Clinton Moore (AUS)
Josh Sheehan (AUS)
Javier Villegas (CHI)
Jarryd McNeil (AUS)

Coming to Salt Lake City, Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, July 16 and airing in primetime in the U.S. on NBC, the Nitro World Games will feature the best in extreme and action sports’ most exciting disciplines including FMX, BMX, skate, scooter and inline.

Nitro Circus, Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert and the Utah Sports Commission rocked the sports world in December 2015 when they unveiled the inaugural Nitro World Games. Created by Michael Porra and Travis Pastrana, the Nitro World Games will feature new formats and never before seen tricks. Each competition will be a final round with everything on the line, creating intensity on the track, energy in the stadium and must-see action for both digital and television viewers.

Nitro World Games is the next phase of Nitro Circus’ multi-year partnership with NBC Sports Ventures. NBC Sports will present three hours of coverage airing in primetime in the U.S. on NBC. For fans outside of the U.S. and Canada, more TV broadcast details will be announced soon (NBCUniversal International Distribution is handling the international linear and digital sales for Nitro World Games). In addition to NBC’s televised coverage, fans outside the U.S. can also watch the July 16 final on Nitro Circus’ worldwide webcast.

The Nitro World Games is also a marquee destination event. Fans who want to experience the excitement in person can purchase tickets to the July 16 final. The Nitro Club VIP package is the next best thing to an all access pass at $79 per person (plus applicable service fees). These exclusive passes include the best seats in the house as well as a pre-event track walk. Nitro Club pass holders will also receive a souvenir lanyard.

For new updates, athlete qualification announcements and more about the #NitroWorldGames go to nitroworldgames.com. Fans can also follow Nitro Circus on Twitter: @nitrocircus and Facebook: www.facebook.com/NitroCircus

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Poll Question Results

We’ve now had two major red flagging incidents that have cost some of our top riders a lot of points in this championship. Flagging at a race is a drag, nobody will deny that. It seems like an easy job but when something goes wrong and you’re forced into action, doing the right thing is not always easy or automatic. And it seems many people have a different opinion on what “the right thing” even is!

“Get out on the track! Stand on the inside! Stand on the outside! That’s only a yellow flag situation! Get out of the way! Are you an idiot!” These are what flaggers have to deal with at the races. Who would want that, you ask? Probably people who care about the riders and their safety! I don’t know what the answer is to fix this but you know it will be a hot topic of discussion at the pre-race ’round table’ that goes on to discuss just such things.

Riders are NOT happy about being docked. I have to believe nobody would jump on a red cross flag if they see it. Also, people seem confused about how the points get docked. Everyone, yes everyone, got docked 10 positions. Make a list of 20 riders and then start docking the top guys 10 spots as the infractions took place.

The winner goes back to 10th – everyone above that moves up a spot. Now you have to dock the rider who got 2nd 10 spots. Well, there soon aren’t enough riders above that position to put them to 10th. The dockings happen as they pass the red flag. Do it with some pieces of paper and watch how it all plays out if you move 6 riders back 10 spots who were in the top 15.

Anyway, the CMRC is working on how to correct it; they do not want this to determine a championship any more than you do!

We will have a new Poll Question up on the site as soon as possible. Thanks for taking part.

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Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Heads to Red Bud

Here are the stats again for this week:

I love these little slices that show the history of each round. And I bet there is a fan out there to whom this isn’t news! Oh, you know him.

Point Standings (after 10 of 17 rounds):

250:

450:

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MXGP Lombardia – Italy|Mantova Race Report

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Canadian AX Tour is Coming in Hot for Year Two!

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Never Say Can’t: The Bruce Cook Story

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OK, get out there and enjoy your Canada Day long weekend! Good luck riding or racing, wherever you are. If you still don’t want to head outside, you can check out another rather extensive ‘Faces at the Races‘ column HERE.