Frid’Eh Update # 7 Presented by TLD Canada

Frid’Eh Update #7 Presented by TLD Canada

By Jeff McConkey and Billy Rainford

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Let’s get Week #7 rolling. If you were around the races last summer, you already know who #7 is. Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing him on the line in Canada this summer, but Bobby Kiniry is a rider we won’t soon forget. The New York State rider came north to race many years ago and never left! We always joke about his ‘Honorary Canadian’ status, but it’s true – Bobby has become one of our own over the years. Seeing his face at the races became as predictable as…well, let’s just say it was more predictable than almost anything in Canadian moto!

Bobby lined up to compete in the Canadian Arenacross Tour series this past fall and was a front-runner from the get-go. It was at the second stop in Sarnia, Ontario, when Bobby’s thoughts about retirement were solidified. He got out of shape in a rhythm section and launched himself 30 feet into the air and landed hard on the ground with his bike chasing him.

This was our conversation after his resulting surgery:

From this past October:

I gave Bobby Kiniry a call Friday and caught him as he was literally pulling out of the hospital parking lot. He went in for surgery Wednesday to get his hip repaired after his massive bail in Sarnia a couple weekends ago.

It was major surgery to repair his broken femur (in a couple places) and broken hip (in a couple places). There were also some muscle tears and they put in 3 plates and “a bunch of screws.”

He has a follow-up appointment in two weeks and he was told no weight bearing for 8 weeks. That’s almost 8 days in Bobby time!

The doctor was optimistic with the surgery and recovery, however, the worry is that, because it was out of place for 13 hours, there is a concern that he will need hip replacement sooner than later.

What’s next, you ask?

Bobby is currently weighing his options but it is pointing towards retirement for the New York State rider. There is talk that Blake Baggett is trying to hire him as a trainer but it would mean moving the family to Florida and I could tell that wasn’t high on Bobby’s ‘To Do List.’

For now, it’s great to hear that he is fixed and on the road to recovery. What comes next is up to Bobby and his family. Good luck, guys.

We were unable to reach Bobby by any means: phone, email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, smoke signal. I think you can place Bobby in the ‘luddite‘ category as he really doesn’t seem like the type who needs to be in constant connection to his cell phone or social media…and I can appreciate that.

We will be sure to grab him for a chat as soon as possible when he gets finished chopping wood, hunting for food, or pins the bear a best 2 out of 3 times.

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Jeff McConkey

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Hi, guys. It’s another cold Friday here in Southern Ontario, but we are 1 week closer to the Toronto SX. The one and only was taken off the schedule for 2015, and that left Canadians coast to coast feeling empty and left out. Nobody really knew why. The dirt was 100 times better than it had been in the early years, and the attendance has been growing each and every year. Well, the powers to be made the right call, and Toronto SX is back on the schedule for 2016. Along with the Toronto SX comes the always entertaining DMX pre-party and after-party at Houston Avenue Bar & Grill.

Every year, the party seems to gain steam and star power. You really need to mark both the Friday and Saturday night activities down on your calendar as ‘can’t miss’ events. There is always plenty of swag to be given out, and Team Canada‘s MXON new team manager Kourtney Lloyd will be in attendance selling raffle tickets. This is one of the coolest raffles I think I have ever heard of. Not only do you get a chance to win an incredible prize, you also get to support our very own Canadian Motocross Of Nations team. The tickets are $100.00 and are now available, and the Grand Prize winner has 3 options to pick from:

Prize Pack 1: Trip for 2, Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas, Nevada.
*Includes*
flight for 2
room for 2 at hotel on Las Vegas Strip
2 tickets to the Monster Energy Cup
$500.00 spending money

Prize Pack 2: $5000.00 Cold.Hard.Cash

Prize 3: Walton Experience
If you choose package 3, you will get a full week at the Parts Canada TransCan Amateur National in Walton, Ontario.
*package includes*
paid entry fees
paid camping
travel trailer rental
shipping your bike to and from the event
rental car

Wow, now that is cool!

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Dallas Supercross

And the Toronto round couldn’t come at a better time. Ryan Dungey is riding damn near perfect, Jason Anderson is getting better very fast and sneaking up on the Dunge. Eli Tomac is building his momentum each week after double shoulder surgery in the summer, and it looks like James Stewart should be back on the race track, possibly by Atlanta. Those are just a few of the big stars in this year’s lineup.

It’s hard to believe that when the season started at A1, we went to the starting line with all of those former champions. We have 2 world champions, 15 guys with Regional SX Championships, 8 National Championships, and 3 Premier Class SX Championships. That is insane, and to make the main is an accomplishment itself.

In 250 West action, we head into Texas for one last round before the East Coast takes over for a few weeks. Cooper Webb has lost his points lead, and new points leader Joey Savatgy doesn’t look to be letting up anytime soon. Here are my predictions for Arlington:

250 West

Holeshot: Cooper Webb

1st: Joey Savatgy
2nd: Cooper Webb
3rd: Colt Nichols
4th: Christian Craig
5th: Zach Osborne

450 Class

Holeshot: Ryan Dungey

1st: Ryan Dungey
2nd: Jason Anderson
3rd: Eli Tomac
4th: Chad Reed
5th: Trey Canard

Short and sweet for me this week. Have a great weekend and #smileforBC!

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Billy Rainford

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Thanks, Jeff. And if you call this a “cold” February day, you haven’t been outside yet! It’s actually above freezing here in London, Ontario, and is predicted to be a balmy 10 degrees Celsius tomorrow. That’s 52 Farenheit. Basically, that means things are just going to be a mess as all that snow we finally got last week will melt and flood the streets. It will be warm enough to cycle, but too messy to risk it. The Scott Solace will have to wait until we head south next week, I guess.

Toronto Motorcycle Show

We’ll be loading up the DMX Van and heading east on the 401 and into the heart of Toronto for the 2016 Toronto Motorcycle Show at Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place, Feb 19-21. Direct Motocross supporters, Husqvarna, KTM, and Yamaha Canada will all be represented. We’ll be sure to take a bunch of photos and throw up a Photo Report of some sort when we get home.

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It’s Amateur National Season!

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Daytona International Speedway – Daytona, FL March 6, 2016 – March 7, 2016

Welcome to the 7th Annual Ricky Carmichael Amateur Supercross at Daytona International Speedway!

For amateur racers, family, friends and fans, there isn’t another event anywhere in the world that presents such a potent package as the Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross.

Taking place on the most prestigious motorsports grounds in the world, the RCSX includes a full weekend of racing and family fun. The weekend kicks off with Saturday night’s Daytona Supercross by Honda, where the fastest Supercross riders in the world go to battle. The facility welcomes amateur riders and their families to camp on the Daytona infield and watch Saturday’s professional action before taking the track Sunday and Monday.

The combination of Daytona’s facility and Ricky Carmichael’s endorsement makes for an unforgettable weekend. MX Sports, the same organization that hosts the largest motocross race in the world – Rocky Mountain ATV*MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by Amsoil at Loretta Lynn Ranch – organizes the entire two-day amateur program.

Following a supercross format, RCSX will use heat races and last chance qualifiers to seed the field of riders into a main event in each class (with the exception of WMX). Classes are available for riders on 51cc machines all the way to Senior and Vet classes.

If you’re new to this whole racing thing or you just want to find out more information on the event, take a look around our Frequently Asked Questions section.

Registration is now open!

If you still have questions, please feel free to give our staff a call at the MX Sports office: (304) 284-0101.

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Oak Hill GNC

40th Annual GNC International MX Final

March 10-13

Online Registration is OPEN www.gncmxracing.com
Entries are rolling in for the 40th Annual GNC International Motocross Final, March 10-13th, 2016.  The best riders in the country will be testing their skills on this demanding track.

Amsoil/Factory Connection/Honda is pleased to add Oak Hill Raceway tour 2016 amateur national race schedule.  With Oak Hills’ years of experience we know that the track will be in great condition to make for exciting racing.  In our first full year with a race hauler we will have our three young guns pitted under the awning.  Tristan Charbonneau and Chase Sexton will be doing battle in the A class aboard CRF250Rs and our newest bright star, Carson Mumford will be taking on the mini bike classes riding a CRF150R.
~Shawn Irwin

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James Stewart Freestone Spring Championship

March 14-19, 2016 (No Rain Dates)

February 27-28 (Spring Warm-Up)

The 6th Annual James Stewart Freestone Spring Championship presented by Parts Unlimited & Thor is one of five events (aka: The Majors).  While “The Majors” (Daytona Amateur SX, Freestone Spring Championship, Mammoth Mountain, Winter Olympics and the Loretta Lynn AMA Amateur National Championship) are all unique, each event offers consistent rules to compete under.

The Freestone Spring Championship is unique in nature when it began in 2011 by offering “timed practice” placing riders gate picks based on their laps times.  When James Stewart came on board in 2012, class champions were offered the distinct pleasure to be invited to James’ private track in Florida for a day of enjoyable riding on one of the most challenging tracks in the United States.

In recent history, riders like Cooper Webb and Jeremy Martin have left with titles from the Freestone Spring Championship and shown why they were the best of the amateurs.  Check the WALL OF FAME for the complete list of class champions.

In conjunction with the Spring Championship, the AMA Women’s Motocross Cup will be competing for the nations only AMA all-ladies class championships.  The Women’s Cup classes will race schedule will follow the Spring Championship format starting with time practice on Tuesday.  For more information, go to www.WomensMXCup.com.

The WMX Pro class will again return to Freestone Raceway.  The lady pro riders will practice and race all on Saturday.  For more information, go to www.RaceWMX.com.

Online Registration (January 4th-March 7, 2016 11pm)

Factory Contingency: (Totaling over $140,000)

• Cobra
• Honda ($9,750)
• Kawasaki ($23,250)
• KTM ($46,225)
• Suzuki ($31,325)
• Yamaha ($34,300)

Class Structure (Revised 02/01/16)

Supplemental Rules (Revised 01/05/16)

Daily Schedule (Revised 02/01/16)

Event Information (Revised 02/01/16)

Pro’s Race Schedule

Special Events (Not Released Yet)

Golf Cart Rental

Freestone LIVE

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Good luck to anyone making the trip to any of those upcoming events.

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Westen Wrozyna Update

5 Minutes with…Westen Wrozyna

By Jeff McConkey

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Newtonville, Ontario, rider, Westen Wrozyna, has had the eyes of the Canadian motocross nndustry fixed on him since he was a very young amateur rider. He moved up through the ranks and turned Pro the same year that saw Dylan Wright and Jess Pettis do the same. After a couple years with support from the GDR Honda Team, Westen will now make the move to Kawasaki’s for 2016 that will see him racing in some different locations with new opportunities. We grabbed the always gracious rider for a quick chat to see what his thoughts are on the new deal.

Direct Motocross: Hey Westen, how’s it going?
Westen Wrozyna: Everything is good. I’m down south riding my dirt bike.

What are you up to today?
Today, I worked with my brother Cam (Wrozyna) and Travis Ford. We worked on some sections and did some motos.

I noticed on social media that you have switched brands and will be riding a Kawasaki’s for 2016. Can you tell us how it all came about, and who you will be racing for?
Yes, I will be racing Kawasaki this year. I will be racing for The Farm Racing and Two Wheel Motorsport. With the help of Tim Ford (owner of The Farm Training Facility), and Ron Ashley of Two Wheel Motorsport, I am making the switch to Kawasaki.

You have been on Honda’s since you first got on 85’s. How was the first ride on the new machine?
I’ve been with Honda for a very long time. I am very grateful for all the opportunities Honda Canada has given me. This year, I had to look for something new, and so we were able to put a deal together to ride Kawasaki. Two Wheel has done a great job prepping the bike, and I feel really comfortable on it. It’s a great bike.

Going into 2015, you were slated to ride the entire 10-race National series for the GDR Honda Team, and then last-minute plans changed and you only lined up for the East Coast rounds. What happened?
The team didn’t think I was ready for the West Coast rounds, so I stayed home and started my season at Gopher Dunes.

What races will you be doing, and what are your plans and goals going into this season?
The plan is to do a lot of racing. I would like to do some US Pro Am races and East Coast Canadian Nationals.

For 2016, you are once again sporting the number 34 for the CMRC Rockstar Energy Nationals. What is it going to take to lower that number?
Getting a better number is always the goal, but I’m not concerned with that this year. This year, I need to become a better rider and that’s my number one goal.

Well, thanks for your time, Westen, who would you like to thank?
I’d like to thank The Farm Racing, Two wheel Motorsport, Von Zipper, Atlas Brace, Hinson clutches, Impala bicycles and CLMX.

Thank you

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Brock Leitner

Alberta native, Brock Leitner, just capped off a very successful winter by lining up at the San Diego 2 Supercross last Saturday. He qualified 50th fastest and missed the night show, but he gained a ton of experience and has his sights set at more indoor racing in the future.

I had a long chat with him and still need to type it out. Would you believe I’ve been taking a free online typing class? It’s true. To be able to let an interview play and type it out as fast as someone talks would be a dream come true for me! My 6-finger typing isn’t horrible, but it can be much better.

Congratulations to Brock on taking the 2016 Arenacross Tour Lites title and for going for it in San Diego. I will be sure to get the update up on the site as soon as I can.

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Shawn Maffenbeier Update?

So, there are a handful of riders north of the border that are fast enough to win championships up here. Swift Current, Saskatchewan, rider Shawn Maffenbeier is certainly one of them. If Shawn can stay injury free and get some good training in down south, he will be one to watch in 2016.

Well, word on the street is that Shawn has been seen ripping up the SoCal tracks on a KTM. Hmm, I guess we can assume he’s going to be riding orange in 2016? The rumour is that he’ll be the MX2 rider on the Redemption Racing team, but we can’t really say that until we see an actual Press Release stating it as fact. You know how the industry works.

Anyway, with Shawn penciled in on a KTM, the question remains as to what will he and the rest of the team – Cade Clason, Eric Jeffery, Alex Jeffery – be wearing when the gate drops in Kamloops? With Shawn and Cade legitimate front-runners, you’d think companies would be almost tripping over themselves to get these guys in their brand, no?

Whatever Shawn ends up wearing, good luck with testing and training and we’ll just sit tight with our lips more or less buttoned until we see a finalized PR on the subject. Someone put these guys in some gear!

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Canadian Content for Eastern Supercross Rounds

With the western rounds coming to a break after this weekend in Arlington, we are left wondering who to cheer for when the series heads east. Well, wonder no more. Julien from PRMX.CA will be at all of the eastern rounds with a full compliment of riders. The Quebec-based distributor will have 4 riders:

#471 Logan Karnow – 250E

#728 Hunter Mimms – 250E

#727 Dave Blanchet (Canadian) – 450

#466 Grant Ransdell – 450

I spoke with Julien today as he was on his way to New York to pick up some bike parts before he flies out to Arlington for this weekend’s Supercross. #47 Logan Karnow will be lining up on his race 250 in the 450 class to get some seat time and a few gate drops before the east starts in Atlanta next week.

If you want more information on Dave Blanchet, who will be the Canadian on the team, head over to his Monster Army page for all the details.

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Kieran Doherty in England

Kingston, Ontario, native Kieran Doherty is still over in England racing the Arenacross UK series in his first year as a Pro Lites rider. He has been pretty diligent in keeping everyone up to speed on how things have been going on and off the track. He’s got one more round left in Wembley, London, next weekend. To hear to how things went at the last round in Sheffield, give this a listen (if for no other reason, the intro music is pretty sweet!):

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Catching Up with…Mechanic, Steve Simms

Jeff caught up with Steve Simms this week and it’s a really good read. Give it a look if you haven’t had the chance yet. Steve has been around the industry a long time and been on all sides of it. You can read it HERE.

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Poll Question – Answer

Thanks for playing. We’ll try to have a new poll question up on the site for next week.

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Have a great weekend. If you’re heading to the Toronto Motorcycle Show Saturday, we’ll see you there. Remember, Dallas is in the Central time zone so Supercross is on earlier this week!