Frid’Eh Update #9 | Dylan Wright Interview | Presented by Fox Racing Canada
By Billy Rainford
“Number 9…number 9…number 9…” Do you know that I’m pretty old and I’ve never listened to a Beatles album? Sure, I know a million of their songs off by heart because of their endless play on radio, but I’ve never listed to an album and I definitely never owned one. Weird.
Winter is giving us one last attempt here in Southwestern Ontario, but the weatherman promises us that spring will show up on Monday! We really only had 3 snowfalls this season but they was substantial and gave us like at least 20cms each time. Because of that, we’re in a melting phase like I haven’t seen around here since I was a little kid and we used to get crazy winters all the time. When I was a kid, we’d always be able to ski on March Break, but that hasn’t been the norm in a long time.
I haven’t left our little London bubble in a while so for all I know the grass is green at all the local tracks and private tracks in the area. Seriously, sometimes you leave the city limits and the snow magically disappears.
I’m guessing the gangs over at Gopher Dunes and Walton Raceway are staring to make sure all their equipment is ready to go because this snow is going to leave quickly this week.
Oh ya, I forgot to finish that dumb Beatles reference…
Dylan Wright is career #9 and it’s his week for the DMX Frid’Eh Update this week brought to you by Fox Racing Canada. It was perfect time, too, because Dylan just arrived at Club MX in Chesterfield, South Carolina, a couple days ago.
Dylan joins a pretty fast group of Canadians who are calling Club home for their training and preparations for the 2021 Canadian racing season.
Aside form the Club MX Jeffery Homes Yamaha team being half owned by Scott Jeffery from Ontario, there are always lots of “EHs” being thrown around the facility. More on that later.
Dylan just came off a very successful rookie season in the premiere 450 class. He won the MX portion and took home the Rockstar Triple Crown title for 2020. Not bad for a rider who was new to the class.
He didn’t have the success he would have liked in the SX portion of the series at the end of the season, but overall he is very happy with what he managed to accomplish – the Motocross series is the one he and the team take most to heart.
I wanted to sit down and have a nice long chat with Dylan, so we decided the best way to do so was through a podcast interview instead of a typed question-and-answer-type interview.
It would be best if you SUBSCRIBE to your favourite podcast supplier to be kept up to date on when we publish a new one. I’ll post the SPOTIFY link here because I think it look the best on the page. You can find us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, and Spotify.
If I’d typed out the interview, I’d definitely feel like I’d done more work here for the Update, however!
Thanks to the new champ for taking so much time with us the other morning. Hopefully, he has a strong training season down south and comes in swinging when we get rolling out in Drumheller, Alberta, on June 19-20.
PRESS RELEASE
MOTOCROSS DESCHAMBAULT ANNOUNCES CHANGES FOR THE EASTERN CANADIAN AMATEUR NATIONAL (ECAN) 2021
DESCHAMBAULT QC, Friday, 5th of March 2021 – For the 9th year in a row, the biggest amateur motocross race on the eastern side of the country presented by YAMAHA CANADA/MOTUL/FOX will take place at Motocross Deschambault, QC, on July 29-30-31st 2021.
A new comity was formed to review the whole program, including the schedule and the classes. Also, some family activities will be offered all week long (starting Tuesday morning, July 27), such as FXR RIDE DAY, free timed practices as well as open practices and many different types of races: SUPERCROSS, PITBIKES, GIANT ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN BIKES, as well as the SHIFT HOLESHOT CHALLENGE, the STRAIGHT RHYTHM and the KTM DEMO RIDE. For all the information, visit the full social calendar on our new website www.nationalamateurecan.com
A lot of changes were made for the 2021 edition. We listened to the riders and their families to make the event as pleasant and affordable for everyone as possible with, amongst other things, the PRE-REGISTRATION at a discount price before the first of July.
Some very important sponsors showed an interest this year to make the new ECAN a success, like KTM, HUSQVARNA, GASGAS, FXR, GIANT, HONDA and KAWASAKI. Many others will be added to the list shortly. The implication of the CHALLENGE QUEBEC has also grown this year as they will be awarding every rider participating in the ECAN with 10 bonus points towards their respective championship. We also accept all associations membership in Canada and USA.
To make the week of the ECAN even more festive, the new comity created the TEAM RACES CHAMPIONSHIP. Create a team composed of 3 to 5 riders to get a chance to win the ECAN CUP. The details are on our new website.
With all the changes we are bringing to the event, the motocross industry directors are now convinced that the incredible site of Motocross Deschambault, with the new organization of Club MX Deschambault, has all the potential necessary to host the biggest amateur motocross event in Canada.
To end on a high note, the MX Tour National Championship, and the WMX with the MRC, with all the professional riders, will take place on Sunday, August 1st, 2021.
Bienvenue à tous
Information on www.nationalamateurecan.com
6th Annual Pro Circuit Open
I really hate not being down in Florida to catch all the action that’s going on, but Jim Edgar was good enough to help out at the 6th Annual Pro Circuit Open Thursday night this year at Dade City MX instead of Tampa MX.
He kept us informed on how the Canadians in attendance were doing. We had Wyatt Kerr in the B Class, and Ryder McNabb and Tyler Medaglia in the Pro Open Class.
Wyatt ended up 2nd in the Open B class.
You can watch the action from Jim’s Facebook Live videos that we put up on YouTube:
Tyler Medaglia’s Heat Race:
Pro Open Main:
Jim spoke with all 3 at the end of the night:
Tyler Medaglia and Shelby Turner – GNCC Round 2 – Hog Waller
Tyler Medaglia and Shelby Turner will be in Palatka, Florida, on Sunday for Round 2 of the 2021 GNCC Racing series at Hog Waller.
Shelby is coming off a strong 4th place finish at Round 1 in South Carolina, but her weekend was fraught with problems as she and her boyfriend, Thorn Devlin, crashed and lost their trailer on the way to the race and then got rear-ended in their van on the way home after!
Jim says he’ll grab Shelby for a post-race interview Sunday. Actually, his E Bike race that was scheduled for Saturday has been moved to the same day as this race, so we’ll se if he’s able to make it or not.
You can watch the racing live on Racer TV.
Sky Racing Signs Two More Riders
The all-Canadian…all-BC team from Al Dyck at Sky Racing is taking shape. The team signed two more riders this week with Julien Benek and Daniel Elmore. Here are the Press Releases:
Julien Benek Signs with Sky Racing
Julien Benek has signed with Sky Racing for 2021 and will be staying with GA Checkpoint Yamaha who has been involved with Julien for many years.
Ed Wagstaff is the manager and was involved with top riders like Al Dyck and Brett Devries back in the days when they won their National titles.
Julien is from Mission, BC, just 20 minutes from GA and Sky.
Sky Racing will have two teams.
Sky Racing GA Checkpoint Yamaha team is one and will have two riders, Julien being one. Both in the 250 class.
Sky Racing’s other team will have KTM’s Jake Piccolo and the dealer will be named soon. The Team will have one other rider along with an Amateur joining the team during the Nationals.
The Yamaha team will also have 1-2 Ladies riding the National Circuit, too.
Daniel Elmore Signs with Sky Racing
Al Dyck and Sky Racing have signed another Canadian to the team for 2021. #39 Daniel Elmore from Telkwa, BC will ride a Yamaha YZ250F in the Canadian Triple Crown Series.
The 19-year-old has been putting in the work down at Club MX for the past 3 months and joins Julien Benek on the bLU cRU side of the team.
“Daniel finished 9th overall at Gopher Dunes last year. Unfortunately, he injured himself at that race, so he was not at his best after that,” said team owner Al Dyck.
He added, “But the biggest thing is that he had no support. He would race, go back to the pits, do all his own maintenance between motos, and then go back out. Impressive!“
The team will consist of Jake Piccolo on a KTM, Julien Benek and Daniel Elmore on Yamahas, an amateur rider yet to be named, and 1 or 2 WMX racers, also still to be named.
The Triple Crown Series is set to start June 19-20 in Drumheller, Alberta.
Green Has Meant Bright Results at Daytona for Supercross Champ Tomac
The DAYTONA Supercross Defending Winner Hoping for Another Title Saturday Night
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 5, 2021) – In the dirt bike world, motorcycle brands stick to one color, and for Kawasaki that color has been a bold shade of lime green since 1969. That color choice wasn’t random, and in fact it began at Daytona International Speedway, the site of this Saturday’s round of the Monster Energy Supercross series.
Prior to that 1969 Daytona 200 road race, a green bike had held a bad luck stigma, but Kawasaki rolled out five bold green machines in a tradition-be-damned marketing shot at convention. It got the brand the attention it was looking for, and the color stuck.
So far, in the dirt of Daytona’s infield, the green bike has had a history as brilliant as its Kawasaki Racing Green hue. Supercross’ defending champion, Eli Tomac, has been on a Kawasaki since 2016. The year he moved onto the green bike he earned his first win at Daytona, then went on to win three of the next four, including last year’s race.
If he can win this Saturday, he will tie Ricky Carmichael as the winningest rider at the venue (5) and Kawasaki will move into a tie with Honda (17) as the manufacturer with the most Supercross wins at the track in the premiere class. Kawasaki already owns the category in the 250SX Class at 13 wins.
But nothing is a given in sports or racing and the 2021 trophy hasn’t been earned or awarded yet. Tomac has never lacked speed, only consistency. His past seasons had been streaks of wins marred by random off nights, strange crashes, or inexplicable off-pace riding. He earned his first Supercross title in 2020, but 2021 has been challenging with only one win so far and his career longest no-win streak of six races in a row without a victory.
Round eight was a must-win for Tomac. He finished sixth. Daytona is clearly the race where things must click for the rider if he hopes to defend his title. The two front runners, Honda’s Ken Roczen and KTM’s Cooper Webb (the 2019 champion) don’t care about past wins, manufacturer’s bragging rights, or bright green bikes and their history at Daytona. Together, they have assembled six wins in eight rounds this season and have no plans to stop their points grabs.
The 2021 DAYTONA Supercross is sold out of available grandstand and hospitality packages but the event can be streamed live at 7:00 p.m. ET this Saturday on Peacock and viewed live on NBCSN. So pick a color, any color, and tune in to catch all the action. For the full season schedule, ticket availability (rounds are run with restricted-attendance, pod-style seating), videos, photos, and race recaps please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
Daytona Beach celebrates its 80th annual Bike Week beginning March 5. Fans and visitors can enjoy the Bike Week Motorcycle Marketplace at Daytona International Speedway available March 5 through March 13. The area’s largest motorcycle marketplace will feature the nation’s top motorcycle parts and apparel vendors. This will be the only Bike Week location in the Daytona Beach area offering free manufacturer demo rides. Participating manufacturers include BMW, Kawasaki, Indian, Polaris, Vanderhall and Yamaha, Guests can also enjoy Harley-Davidson Thunder Alley featuring free live music and the latest Harley-Davidson rides and gear.
Tickets are still available for America’s most historic motorcycle race, the 79th DAYTONA 200, on Saturday, March 13 and start at $30 with kids 12 and under free. To purchase tickets, please visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.
For information on other Daytona International Speedway Bike Week events, please visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway and see the latest speedway news on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda (180)
2. Cooper Webb, Newport N.C., KTM (174)
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (149)
4. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (136)
5. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM (133)
6. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha (125)
7. Zach Osborne, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna (123)
8. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (120)
9. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (113)
10. Dylan Ferrandis, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Yamaha (109)
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
1. Justin Cooper, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha (26)
2. Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki (23)
3. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha (21)
4. Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Husqvarna (19)
5. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (18)
6. Seth Hammaker, Temecula, Calif., Kawasaki (17)
7. Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda (16)
8. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., GASGAS (15)
9. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha (14)
10. Jace Owen, Mattoon, Ill., Yamaha (13)
Connor Stevenson Back from Injury and at AX Finals
#11 Connor Stevenson is the Canadian who lives in Colorado. He injured his knee in a scary Arenacross crash but is back from rehab and will be on the line in Amarillo, Texas, for the Hoosier Arenacross season finale. He’ll be lining up in the Schoolboy and Collegeboy classes.
You can catch all the action on the FloRacing App. You’re going to need it for the Canadian racing this summer, so you may as well grab it now!
Check Out Tallon Unger and Daniel Elmore Going Bar-to-Bar at Club MX
That seems like a great place to leave things for this week. Have a great weekend and enjoy the races!
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