Frid’Eh Update #52 | Anthony Spadaccini | Brought to You by RP Race Performance
By Billy Rainford
Welcome to the final DMX Frid’Eh Update of 2024, #52, presented by RP Performance. Every year when the numbers come out, I always check to see who got #52 for the year. I like to think getting an interview in one of these things is a big deal for most riders, so I like to see who squeaks in for the final interview of the season.
I hope everyone had a nice Christmas with family and friends. I hope you’re now enjoying what always was my favourite week of the year as a kid – the one that runs between Christmas and New Years.
Back in the day, it was a tradition to go see White Punks on Funk at a small bar called Call the Office here in London. You could always count on it being a great show and you’d bump into people you hadn’t seen since the last year’s concert. It was a blast.
For a while, band members had all moved to different parts of North America but would still fly in for this one-off show. They did it for as long as it made sense but finally called it quits. It really affected my favourite week!
I went looking for a video clip of them playing but I couldn’t find anything anywhere. All that pops up is White Punks on Dope by the Tubes. Not only that, but CTO closed down and we’re not the same “live band” city we once were.
Where was I…
This is also the week when I tried to bring back the unannounced drop in door knock like we all used to do back in the days before cell phones and the internet. You’d just get in your car and visit people by ringing their doorbell.
Unfortunately, it blew up in my face a couple years ago when I went around doing just that and interrupted an argument at one house and then found out a family member had passed away at another. It did not go well. Maybe the “good old days” had a few holes, after all.
Anyway, we had snow here then it all melted and then we got a little bit more to save the white Christmas. It wasn’t a lot of snow but it was enough to cover the blades of grass, so we’ll take that as white.
Anthony Spadaccini from Cumberland, Ontario, was the rider who claimed the final position of 2024 with #52. Anthony has been around a pretty long time and he and his dad have been staples on the gate. We actually had Anthony as our test rider for the 2025 Yamaha MX Launch Media Ride Day at Sand Del Lee this past year. Hopefully, it’s something he enjoyed and might do more of in the future for us. I asked him in our interview.
He’s done one of these Update Interviews before when he was #36 and #38 but we went down memory lane with him again in this one.
He didn’t have his most prolific season in 2024. Here’s a look at his short list of results:
Interestingly, his one result of 17th put #52 52nd in 450 standings. Weird.
Let’s get to our interview to find out what Anthony has been up to and what his plans are for the future.
Direct Motocross: Hey, Anthony. You just got in under the wire for Week #52 of the Frid’EH Update Interview. I like to think it’s a big deal. Lol You’ve been around for quite some time but maybe haven’t had the coverage so let’s let everyone get to know you a bit better. How old are you, where are you from, and how did you get into Motocross?
Anthony Spadaccini: Hey, Billy, so I just turned 27 in October and I’m from Cumberland, Ontario. I got into motocross late at the age of 8. My parents were trying to find a sport I liked and tried soccer and a few others and nothing clicked. I picked up a moto magazine and was hooked on it. Then got a TTR 110 and took some camps with KT (Kevin Tyler) at Sand Del Lee started racing at 9 on a Kawasaki 65.
I always ask people who they came up through the ranks battling, so tell us your younger day rivals.
I think the rival that sticks out to me the most is Brandon Gourlay. We battled from 85’s all the way to first year Intermediate, I believe.
Who was your MX hero when you were young?
That would have to be James Stewart and Antonio Cairoli.
You seem like you’d be good in school. Am I right? What’s your schooling situation?
Well, I was good in some subjects. Haha. I was definitely good in gym class, math on the other hand was not for me.
I finished high school and went straight into full-time moto and construction with my father in the winter until id go down south MTF.
What other sports are or were you into?
Well, I definitely have a lot of hours on a road bike. MTB I really enjoy probably because it’s a bit similar to motocross. I have a love hate relationship with golf and during the winter I ski a lot!
We did our last Update Interview in 2022 when you were #38. There were some odd years that followed, but can you tell us some of your highlights along the way?
Yeah, so 2021 was probably the best season I’ve had with strong finishes in the top 10.
2022 was really shaping up to be another year like that. First two rounds went well and my speed was improving. Open practice during the week before round 3 was where my season ended. I had a bike failure over a double and broke my collarbone in two places.
2023 is a bit of a blur. My speed just wasn’t there along with bike problems and stuff. At River Glade, my weekend was really coming together until my rad cap blew off and I was covered in coolant on the last few lap of the moto. It was a tough year.
2024 was a bit similar to 2023. Definitely not as bad with bike problems, just my speed wasn’t where I wanted, and tip-overs really hurt my finishes this year.
What do you do for work when you’re not chasing the MX dream?
So, my father owns a construction company and so construction is my other job. Haha. I really enjoy it and I think it suits me.
What are your career goals?
Well, on the moto side, I wanna be back in that top 10. I’m going to switch up some things in my program and see what I can do.
On the construction side of things is just to learn as much as I can until my dad decides to retire.
Haha Nice. In 2024, you had very limited racing action at the Nationals. What was up?
Well, I’ve always struggled a bit in qualifying putting down a sprint lap. But when the gate dropped I was able to keep a consistent lap time for 30 + 2 and even turn it up on the last few laps of the moto…
But this year with the rule change where only 30 instead of 40 riders could qualify.. I knew that would leave me less room for error. Also, my speed was lacking a bit. I just wasn’t where I wanted it to be.
14-21 for 17th at River Glade in New Brunswick. How was that round for you?
I was pretty happy with moto one in 14th and I knew I had the speed to better that in moto 2.
In moto 2 I was in the 11-13th position trying to pass the guy in front of me. There was a really one-lined area where that waterfall section used to be and ended up following a guy threw there that tipped over in front of me. The rut was super deep and so I was stuck waiting till he got moving again. It was a bummer because I knew I had the speed there for that 10-12th position.
What have you been doing since then?
I’ve just been riding and working. Pretty soon start skiing and then down south for a bit to get ready for the 2025 season.
What did you and your family get up to for Christmas?
Nothing to crazy. Just had family Christmas dinners and church.
What are your winter plans?
I’ll be going to MTF like I normally do during a bit of the winter. I really like their program and all the people there.
And finally, what are your riding and racing plans for 2025 and the future?
So, I’ll be racing the east rounds again and hopefully in 2026. I’ll just take it year by year. I still love the sport and still have the passion to race!
Wait, I lied! You rode the new Yamaha’s for DMX at Sand Del Lee. Is that sort of thing something you’d like to do more of in the future? Hint, hint. Lol
Absolutely, Billy! I always enjoy riding new bikes and testing.
OK, thanks for taking some time with us this week. Happy New Year, and is there anyone you’d like to thank?
Anytime, Billy. Yeah, I’d like to thank my parents, FXR Racing, AdvantagePaintingandRenovations, twentysix suspension, Wheelsport, my girlfriend and friends and family that still come to the races after all these years!
Priority MX Announces Full Team for 2025
From Priority MX Instagram on Tuesday:
It’s been a long time coming but Priority MX is finally ready to announce our New Team Branding for 2025 Canadian Triple Crown Series, Reloaded AMO season’s as Priority MX Thor GasGas Team.
We want to thank all of our new sponsors with special shout outs to @partscanada @gasgas.canada @apex.cycle and @prioritymechanical for your incredible help with supporting our program.
Riders: 2 x 450, 2 x 250, 3 x Pro Veterans. Zoom in and let us know if you recognize our team members and share in the comments.
Special Thanks to our returning and new Mechanics along with our New General Manager Justin Roney for the upcoming season.
We got in touch with team owner Peter Knoop to confirm what we were all wondering after seeing the above photo.
The team:
250:
Wyatt Kerr and Cole Pranger
450:
Tanner Ward and Parker Eales
Vet Pros:
Liam O’Farrell, Justin Roney, and…COLTON FACCIOTTI.
Yes, the 6-time Canadian champion will get behind the gate again in 2025. Said Peter, “Veteran riders are only participating in selective racing, no Canadian Triple Crown Series (work and family first), but we should see them all participate at the TransCan at Walton Raceway” in August.
Supercross FYI
We had to actually take an online course about the do’s and don’t’s of online betting before we were issued our credentials for the 2025 Supercross season. I’m gonna go ahead and tell you right now, I hate all the advertising for online betting on every sports broadcast now and it looks like we’re joining the crowd. I guess betting is the new sports drink…
I’m not a gambler so it doesn’t really affect me, but there are now rules being enforced as to who can actually bet on SX and who can influence things that go along with the racing. I’m probably one of the few people who would go to the final Supercross race of the year in Las Vegas (back when that was where we went) and not even gamble.
One time in Las Vegas, I ended up hanging out with John John Pauk‘s (RIP) father for the evening. Let’s just say, when the server came around this one time he ordered nothing but a full tray of tequila shots for the two of us! That’s a lot of tequila shots! I still blame Kyle Thompson for this, but that’s another story…
Canadians at Anaheim 1 Supercross
We may have 6 Canadians to cover when we get to Anaheim 1 on January 11th! I can’t remember the last time we had that many riders trying to make the big show in 250 West!
Cole Thompson from Brigden, Ontario, is the wily veteran who will no doubt fly the Canadian Flag the highest in 250 West again for the Heartbeat Hot Sauce Leatt Solitaire Yamaha team this year. He’s had a great WSX Championship and AUS SX season leading up to Monster Energy AMA Supercross. If you check out his Instagram page, he’s still one of the smoothest riders you’re ever going to see.
Guillaume St Cyr from Victoriaville, Quebec, is the rider with the next highest amount of experience in the group. He and his GF https://www.instagram.com/annaxox/ will be at it again and “Guac” will keep working hard to put himself in the Main.
Noah Viney is from Ottawa, Ontario, but lives in MX Heaven in Murrieta, California. He’ll ride for the MotoConcepts Honda team and definitely has all the potential in the world. He’ll get great starts and then we’ll see if he can get himself into some Mains like we all know he is capable of.
Blake Davies from Mission, BC will make his debut on the MVP International Triumph team. He grew up in The Barn in Chilliwack so we all know he’s got the potential to blossom into a full-fledged SX rider. He’s got the height to skim a whoops section of any size and that will play into his hand as he gets more seat time. Obviously, there is no pressure on his as he goes into A1. The key for Blake will be to get comfortable.
Preston Masciangelo from Brantford, Ontario, will also make his professional debut at A1. Preston will be with the AJE Motorsports GasGas team and should be ready to make a splash. He raced Futures and so he knows what these tracks look like. Again, for him, it will be learning the tracks fast and getting comfortable.
Julien Benek from Mission, BC is the question mark at this point. He crashed hard training in Georgia and is on the mend. We spoke with him a week ago and he said he’s about 50/50 on whether he’ll be good enough to race at A1. In true Julien fashion he said, “I won’t be at A1 to watch…”
Here’s our post about Julien from December 20th:
Julien Benek Injury Update
Mission, BC rider Julien Benek was training at the Triumph practice facility in Georgia this fall when he “nose-picked a triple” and hit the face of the following jump.
The crash resulted in a broken wrist. He also hit his head hard and did damage just above his knee.
His plan was to be on the line with his MVP Racing Team teammate Blake Davies at Anaheim 1 and to be honest he won’t say that still isn’t going to happen.
He’s been seeing a concussion specialist while waiting for his wrist to get better. He had the cast off last week, but the main problem he’s having right now seems to be just above his knee where the hit has been shutting off the nerve that works his vastus medialis muscle in his thigh.
He tried riding at his house but the pain was too high to make it worthwhile. But in true Julien fashion, he said if he’s at A1 “it won’t be to watch!” We tried for a percentage but all we can give him is 50/50 right now.
Heal up, Julien, and we’ll see you on the line when you’re ready.
I’m ashamed and embarrassed to admit that I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Winners Take All motocross movie from back in 1987. I opened up YouTube on TV this morning and it was the first video in my ‘Recommendations.’ I’ll have to watch a little bit of it to confirm if I have or haven’t actually seen it before.
I guess my homework to end this week’s Update is to watch this “masterpiece.” And I guess, if you haven’t seen it either, you have some work to do as well.
I ran over a metal screw with the van and it got in the driver’s side real wheel. I jut put one of those plugs in it so that should be good for the rest of the van’s life, no?
It’ll be 2025 for Update #1 next Friday. Do we even have a #1? This is the problem with career numbers, in my opinion. Speaking of the 1980’s, I remember Cary Hitchen and I getting in a real argument over who knew the upcoming year’s race numbers better than the other. It was an actual argument! Haha In my mind, I won.
Just for that, I think I’ll give Cary the honours of saying it for the final Update of 2024, since he’s back to riding and racing. Have a great weekend and HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone!
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