Frid’Eh Update Presented by 100%
By Jeff McConkey and Billy Rainford
Week #38 belongs to Quebec legend, Tim Tremblay. – Bigwave photo
Welcome to week #38 of the DMX Frid’Eh Update. This week, the Update is brought to you by 100% and is dedicated to the rider who wore #38 a few times less than planned: Tim Tremblay. Tim is one of those riders who can step away from the sport to dominate another and then show up and race for podiums seemingly at will.
He showed this again this past summer when he lined up at the 5th round of the Rockstar Energy MX Nationals at Gopher Dunes and was an immediate factor. Unfortunately, the day didn’t go as he’d planned and he loaded up his gear early and called it a day.
We caught up with the busy Quebec rider to find out what he’s been up to and what his future plans are:
Although Tim’s main focus is Provincial MX and Snocross, he raced the Gopher Dunes national last summer. – Bigwave photo
Direct Motocross: Hello, Tim. I know you had planned to do the eastern rounds of the nationals this summer. Can you tell us how that went?
Actually, I wasn’t planned to do it at all. I was supposed to do only provincial stuff, but the AMXQ provincial series went down after a couple rounds so I decided to do a couple east coast nationals instead.
You had the speed to be a contender. Were you happy with your speed? Did you feel you could podium?
My speed was okay. I think if I would do all the races and go down south before the dirt bike season I would be a lot better. This year I had surgery on my leg in April to take stuff out of there, so it was a late start for me with the dirt bike because I had to do rehab and a lot of gym stuff before jumping on a bike.
What have you been doing since we last saw you racing?
This year I have been training with Todd Schumlick since may 4th. I did a lot of gym work since May for rehab and getting ready for Snocross all summer. After you guys saw me at the nationals I have been doing the same things: training at the gym almost everyday with cardio stuff, and I still ride couple times a week, too.
Snocross is your big thing these days. Can you tell us how you did last winter?
Snocross is my main focus, even if I wish it would still be dirt bike sometimes. Last year went good. We ended up 2nd in the championship. I think I have more in me this year, so I can’t wait to get back at it.
How do you do pre-season snowmobile race testing?
Our team is making snow at our facility north of Minnesota. So, basically, as soon as it gets cold enough they are making snow with big guns and we are making a track with a groomer and testing right at the shop with the team.
What are your plans for this winter?
My plan this year is to go out there and give everything that I have. I have trained really hard with Todd all summer long – hopefully, it showed and I can do better than last year. I would like to win more races than last year and win the championship like I did in 2012.
Will you race any motocross in 2016?
I will be racing dirt bikes again for sure next year. I’m not sure yet what my schedule will be. It all depends on sponsorship.
Who impressed you the most in motocross this past summer?
My buddy, Kaven Benoit, really impressed me how strong he rode this past season with almost winning everything.
Well, good luck this winter on the snow! Who would you like to thank?
Thank you, and I would like to thank everybody that is helping me over the summer to make it possible and my Snocross team and sponsors to make me live the dream: #stcésairemotosport #yamahacanada #gofast #amsoil #kutvekamerika #axxelsuspension #motovan #vrmedic #milwaukeetools #oakley #cti #odi #enzo #kyb #skidoo #brp
Thanks for the chat, Tim. Best of luck this winter. We’ll be watching!
This week’s Update is brought to you by 100% goggles. Give them a click to see what they have in store for 2016.
Jeff McConkey
The Corduroy Enduro is Here!
Hey, guys. It’s a very busy week and Friday for me. I’m on my way to compete in the toughest race in Canada. Yes, Billy signed me up to compete in this year’s Corduroy Enduro. I raced (if you can call it that) my one-and-only club enduro in 2010. So, I am by no means an ‘off-road guy.’ I really had no idea how un-prepared I was until this week. But don’t worry, I think Billy prefers it this way [He kinda does!].
Victoria Hett from Husqvarna Canada has provided me with a 2015 TE 250. I have maybe 30 minutes of seat time on this machine, and I feel as ready as I can be. Jeff Fullerton from Gamma Powersports has provided me with some great looking Fly / Rockstar gear to get me looking good. I will also be sporting the JUST 1 carbon helmet. I couldn’t think of a better helmet for this occasion. It is super-light and looks fantastic. A special thanks to Davis Brode and Aaron Barsanti at Mica Sport for once again coming to my rescue with some amazing Scott goggles to hide my tears from the photographers. Before I forget, a big congrats to Aaron and his wife Catherine on the birth of their second daughter this week.
Well, I hear the mud and water calling my name. Be sure to check out this weeks ‘On the Radar‘ with Hunter Scott. Hunter is one of the Scott brothers that isn’t afraid to line up and race anywhere. Don’t forget the name, as these 2 Scott brothers will be in the Pro class before we know it. Also, have a look at this weeks ‘Out of the Blue‘ with Alexandra Franklin. Alex is an off-road girl, so I will try and get some last-minute tips from her. OK, I’m on my way to Gooderham now. Wish me luck and #smileforBC!
Billy Rainford
It’s going to be short and sweet for me this week, too. There is so much going on that I have very little time to actually talk about it! As I type this, the amateur racing is taking place right here in my hometown of London, Ontario, at round 1 of the Monster Energy Canadian National Arenacross Tour Presented by Royal Distributing. If you know anything about me, it’s that I HATE missing Canadians racing…anywhere! And when it’s in my hometown? Well, that is just unacceptable!
MXON – No Team Canada
Having said that, there is a pretty big race going on this weekend. No, not the one Jeff is in, but the Motocross of Nations over in Ernée, France. Unfortunately, Team Canada will not be taking place. If you haven’t been involved in the Canadian moto scene over the past while, this is a good question. If you have…you know the story. There is a political system in place here that pits our two major organizing/sanctioning bodies at odds with each other.
Nutshell: The CMA is our FIM affiliate and the CMRC is our Pro National racing sanctioning body. Seems strange, but if you look way back, it makes some sense. We won’t get into that one here today. Ryan Gauld was the team manager last year and the riders all agree he did a great job and the team was well set up in Latvia. Unfortunately, our CMA CEO, Marylin Bastedo, wasn’t happy with the way Ryan did certain things and so his bid to return as the manager was denied.
Another person would have taken the job but only if the duties of manager were tweaked a little and a ‘fundraising’ position was established to go alongside the manager. Long story short, it didn’t happen and we won’t have the Maple Leaf represented at the biggest race of the year.
I believe we are not far from a point where a team is put in place consistently. We just need someone NOT affiliated with any of these organizations or the politics involved with them to step in and do a great job. It CAN and will happen in the future, just not in 2015. But hey, there’s always next year…
Best of luck to everyone competing in France. We’ll be watching from afar this year.
[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.directmotocross.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/All-you-need-to-know-for-Walton-Sept-27th.pdf”]
Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki Team Arenacross Practice Photos
When I heard the Monster Thor Kawasaki team was going to be at the MX Schools facility in Brigden, Ontario, getting some last-minute testing done before tonight’s arenacross, I hopped in the van and headed 1 1/2 hours west to check it out. The two hired guns on the team are #100 Jacob Hayes and #101 Chris Blose. Both these guys are capable of winning this thing, so be sure to get over to the Agriplex in London tonight to see how it all starts off.
Here’s a look at the photos, in case you missed them:
The town of Brigden, Ontario, sits about an hour west of London on the outskirts of Sarnia, and it’s where the Thompson clan is from.
Graeme Brough getting the suspension sorted out with Jacob and Chris.
After a summer away from moto, it’s good to be back spinning the T’s again.
Unfortunately, Chris Blose’s Thor gear didn’t make the flight but he had to get some testing and practice done…and I had to shoot some photos!
This duo should prove very difficult to beat in this series.
Jacob getting used to the arenacross whoop section.
The track isn’t in the most picturesque location so I find myself using this old wind mill a lot when I’m at the MX Schools facility.
Graeme is meticulous in his work.
Feeding the numbers into the computing device.
It’s even nice all by itself.
No matter how good the tires are, this track lays a beating on them.
Jacob and signage.
Blose ended up borrowing some #100 Hayes gear. I shot as many photos from the front as I could.
Chris beside the #1 wall.
Jacob is from North Carolina but calls California home lately.
I figured one of these shots would work…
Jacob and the #1’s.
When you see the rider intros tomorrow night, this is how they looked before the ‘look up.’
One of Cole Thompson’s many championship bikes up in the barn.
Styling it out over the ‘Windmill Triple.’
Jacob putting in one more session for the day.
Luc ‘Frenchie’ Caouette keeping a close eye (and ear) on the Kawasakis.
Feedback time.
We’ll see how their homework went when they line up tomorrow night in London.
Jason Hughes expects 1’s and 2’s from these guys.
I was trying for Jason’s new profile pic.
Jacob isn’t afraid to get in there and help when needed.
Blose and signage.
I wouldn’t bet against another 1 on this door when this is all over.
Then, I headed back to London and checked out the progress at the Agriplex. Justin was busy building the track.
He still had a lot of work to do when I left.
Waiting for Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha rider Bobby Kiniry. Bobby will ride a 250 in both classes.
Royal Distributing Fox Racing KTM Canada’s Steph LeBlanc will only have Cole Thompson to worry about for the series. Kaven Benoit has decided not to compete.
I also shot some video of the guys shaking things down:
Future West Moto Canadian Arenacross Championships
Next week, the action starts out in BC for the Future West Canadian Arenacross Championships. This long-running 8-round series will fire up in Armstrong, BC next Friday.
Check out their brand new site over at Arenacross.ca. I’m going to have to split myself in half to be at all the arenacross action we have available in Canada these days!
OK, I know there’s lots of other things going on in our sport (How about our buddy, Josh Hill, going corporate and taking a job as ‘Two-Wheeled Manager’ at Monster Energy. It’s never great to see one of the most talented riders hang up the competitive boots, but when they land squarely on their feet, it makes it OK in my books.), but I have to drive across town for the races. Wow, it seems weird to be in my hometown covering races! I could get used to this. There’s lots to talk about there, we just don’t have time today.
I’m off to the London Agriplex to get suited up for our LIVE VIDEO BROADCAST of all the action starting at 7pm tonight. Be sure to check back here for the link to all the action. We’ve got Tyler Spikman shooting photos for us so look for a bunch of action shots and a behind-the-scenes look at rounds 1 and 2 early next week. Thanks for reading, have a great weekend, and see you at the races…
HAHA I was grabbing a couple pics of Tim from Gopher Dunes and scrolled across this one. One of my faves of the summer. Seth Rarick says, “See you at the races…” – Bigwave photo
