Frid'Eh Update #3 Presented by BlackfootDirect.com

 

Hey everyone out there, welcome to the DMX Frid’eh Update #3 brought to you by the fine folks at Blackfootdirect.com. BFD has everything you need for the sled season or for your spring riding. If you type in DMX in the coupon section upon checking out, you will get an extra 10% off your order! What a deal…just amazing really.

If you buy something from Blackfootdirect.com, no one will hurt the pug.

Also, Dean dropped me a note to say that full DRD Stainless Steel systems are only $599.95 this week and if you use the DMX code, you’ll get an additional $59.95 off and free shipping. Now that’s a deal, check it out and give your old bike some love. Or your new one a power boost. That’s a real good deal for sure.

Thanks to Blackfootdirect.com for supporting us and remember to support those that support the sport.

We’d like to dedicate this update to CMRC national number 3 and that would be Bobby Kiniry. Bobby is from New York and raced in Canada last summer for the Cernic’s Kawasaki team. I picked him as one of the dark horses going into the season but he started slow. Which is weird because down here in the USA, Bobby never starts slow. He’s considered one of the better starters on the circuit really but when he cleared customs in Kamloops, he must’ve had to leave his starts behind (maybe the duty charges on holeshots was too much?)

Here's Kiniry with his new number, sweet photoshop skillz Dawn! Photo by Lissimore

He started getting the hang of things later on in the year and he scored three podiums out of his last six motos to snatch the third spot in the series away from his teammate, Paul Carpenter, when Paul was out with a wrist injury. At least I think he scored podiums, I’m not really sure because Walton is scored differently from the rest of the series on the idiotic CMRC scoring charts. So there’s actually four motos listed for the last round, you have to be careful to notice the “total” column and ignore that, or maybe you count it? I really don’t know but once again, the scoring charts are ridiculous and need to be changed.

I was holding out hope for change but apparently, that’s not going to happen. Down here, Obama ran on the platform of “Yes, we can” but I suppose that, like Bobby’s starts, that saying doesn’t travel north.

Anyways, Kiniry has a ride for the supercrosses with the BTOSports.com/BBMX team riding 250 west on a Suzuki and I spoke to him at length this past weekend at Anaheim 1. He doesn’t have a ride with anyone at the moment and, despite what you may have read elsewhere, isn’t close with anyone at the moment. I know he’s talking to KTM, Leading Edge Kawi (to ride 450 if Monster Kawi doesn’t come back) and the old OTSFF team which looks more and more like they will be on Suzukis. So there is somewhat of a bidding war for Kiniry right now, well as much as you can have in Canada I suppose.

We’ll see where he lands but with a year under his belt of the Canadian tracks, the travel and all that I think he’ll figure it out and possibly improve on that number 3 ranking. Or at the very least, start getting better starts!

Yeah, we've used this photo before but it's cool. We'll stick with it. Cooke airs it out for the hometown fans. Lissimore pic

Make sure you check out Pulpmx.com if you get a chance. I wrote a little ditty about Honda and it's (lack of) success over the years.

And now this from Dan Paris, who along with the whole DMX crew but me, are at the NAIMS:

 

I've been busy with the DMX crew expanding our roles as 'Kings of all Dirt Media' at the North American International Motorcycle Supershow. Martin Anderson-Clutz, Angie Parker, Jason Micheal, Casondra Greene, Sean Bowker and I are promoting DMX at the ultra-wicked super-cool DMX booth in Hall four. We've got videos playing and cool DMX-wear for sale. We're also showing DMX 'Rough Cuts' videos from the CEC over at the World Enduro Canada booth and have additional stuff for sale over at Theresa Ortolani's 'Endurance' booth.

The DMX booth this weekend.

We're be yakking on stage, doing live interviews this weekend on the hall four stage with CEC E1 Champ Patrick Beaule, WEC's Sean Wiesner and 'Endurance' photographer Theresa Ortolani and Chris Lee. We're lining up some motocross racers for interviews too. So there's lots of stuff going on. One thing is obvious; everyone loves DMX but we don't behave like arrogant rock stars. At least not yet. So come to the show, come to the booth and get some DMX gear and stickers. We know you guys are cool just because you read DMX, but if you get the gear maybe a little extra coolness will rub off on you.

 

DMX: Mitch, what’s going on with you these days?

Mitch Cooke: A skate shop, that’s what’s new with me! I recently purchased a local skate shop here in town on November 3^rd. I’m now a business owner and I’m going to expand it into a skate and tattoo shop in March.

How's biz?

Business is good, Christmas was awesome. I’m still in the process of setting it up, getting the website going, getting the dealer apps all going and ordering things for stock. I’m learning along the way what to do and it’s fun. Slowly I’m working to get it all going the way I want to, this is all new for me.

Where did you get the idea of buying a skate shop?

In 2007, I wanted to set up a skate and tattoo shop for a side business because I was thinking that you have to have something besides dirt bikin (yes, he said dirt bikin) because let’s face it, dirt bikin doesn’t always pay the bills. But then my racing started going well and I kind of put it on the wayside but now, I knew this shop wasn’t doing well and I figured it was a good time to go and try to buy it. I went in there and they were happy to have me come in and take it over.

It’s cool, I have a little skatepark in the back as well, and a half-pipe in the store!

So you just have to keep the little hooligans away from it every day?

No, I shut it down. It’s open for just us. The guy that works for me is one of the better skaters in town and we use it, along with some other guys, after hours.

So are you there every day or do you have a bunch of employees?

No, I’m there every day. I have a guy that helps me out, he’s my neighbor actually, he fills in whenever I need him. If I have to run an errand or whatever he’s there for me.

Heidi still has the bakery and café?

Oh yeah, that’s all going.

Man, the Cooke’s are real entrepreneurs-what’s happening with you motocross-wise?

There are a few things out there, I don’t have any bikes or anything like that. I had to give those back in November. I’m working on some things and one thing that I really hope happens.

Yeah, the OTSFF ride. We all know.

Yeah, good you know then, I didn’t know and want to say it and look bad. I hope I ride for them again, that would be great. I’ll ride whatever, I’d like to just get out there again. To be able to fly back and forth is the way to go and now with the business, I have to fly to the races. Now that I’ve done the other side (driving) it makes you appreciate it even more.

Mitch has a new job! As long as it's not long-haul driving across Canada, he's fine with it. Photo by JKL

If that doesn’t happen, are you going to hang it up?

No way, I’m not going to hang it up. I’m only 26 and I want to race. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll figure something out and hit the eastern rounds. That’s easy to do and at the least that’s what I’ll do.

I want to be something that I have a long time. I just want to build it up and that’s one reason that I want to keep riding. To give the shop exposure and help it grow.

This might sound like a dumb question but is the area where you live awesome for skateboard dudes?

You’d be surprised man, the longest running skate shop in Canada is in Nova Scotia. The tattoo scene where I live is huge. The guy I’m hiring is booked two weeks at a time, he’s coming over here and he’ll be busy. We’re the only skate and tattoo shop within an hour of here. Our website is hafskateandtattoo.com but it’s not ready quite yet but soon it will be.

Are you following the supercross series at all?

Yeah I do, at the store I surf the web more than ever actually. The computer is always on. I think it will be James Stewart, Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey will be the top three when it’s all done.

When are you supposed to know about your team for next year?

Mid-January I’m supposed to know something. I’d like to head down to Florida as soon as I can and get riding. Or maybe even do it the JSR way and go away from March to April and just ride and train. I’ll have a shop manager by then and as long as the shop gets by when I’m out there racing then I’m fine with it.

What’s up with Joby?

The squirrel?

Yeah.

I think he migrated south man, he’s gone. I’m not sure what happened to him actually. He’s going to realize that he never had it so good as when he was around.

What’s up with Tyler Medaglia and your sister? Are they an item?

Yeah. That’s weird. She’s robbing the cradle but whatever. It’s full-on and they’re in love and everything. (laughs)

Thanks Mitch for that TMZ-ish interview.

Ryan Lockhart sent me some photos of him working with his new protege down south, Ryan Millar but didn't give me any captions or anything. We'll just wing it. Here's Ryan jumping by a bridge somewhere in America.

Here’s James Lissimore with his update:

Well, it's been a bit of sad week for me. My Grandfather passed away Monday night and it was a bit of a shock to me. Pretty much without him, I wouldn't be typing this update piece for Direct Motocross. You see, he lent me the money for my first couple of dirt bikes. He would buy the bike and I would spend my summers working on his Dairy Farm to pay him back. I learned so much those summers about hard work and being a man, he was such a kind and gentle person.

Later in life, when I decided to pursue my dream of being a professional photographer he was there again. I needed six grand to purchase a new camera and he didn't hesitate to write the cheque. That camera helped me translate my vision and it's still one of the ones I use to this day.

Now I live in his old house that he built himself in 1952 and am reminded of him every day. I'll never be able to repay everything he did to give me this career, traveling around shooting motocross and getting to see so much of the world I never would have got a chance to see otherwise but I know I'll spend the rest of my life trying my best to pay back the debt I owe him.

Here's Ryan shredding a berm.

 Other than that sad moment, we actually had some good racing last weekend at Chilliwack as the Nex-Trax Canadian Arenacross series hit rounds 6 and 7. Other than Cole Siebler taking a win during the opening weekend it's been an all Blackfoot Yamaha affair so far in the series as Kyle Beaton and Dusty Klatt have taken the rest of the wins. Well, after Friday night it looked to be more of the same as Beaton grabbed both wins. Saturday night though, would find a new winner as Monster Energy/Leading Edge Kawasaki's Brady Sheren passed early leader Beaton to take his first AX win. After a slow start to the series, Sheren really came on this weekend and was in the mix in all the mains. Surprising for the Matrix Concepts owner who admittedly hasn't been riding at all. Just goes to show that all that supercross experience pays off...or if you believe Pat O'Connor it's because he molds riders into winners....riiiight.

All this man does is make champions. Photo by Lissimore

Another rider who was impressive was Spencer Knowles. Little Spenny was seriously on the gas all weekend and spent a lot of time grabbing his patented holeshots. He finished right behind his friend and mentor, Beaton, during Friday night's Lites main. Unfortunately, he got a little throttle happy going into the first turn of Saturday's Lites main and wiped out the whole field, causing a red flag. I'm not sure if he injured something or just tweaked up the bike but his night was over.

Saturday wrapped up the Chilliwack portion of the 2009-10 season but we're not done just yet. An all new round is on the schedule up in Pentiction at the South Okanagan Events Center but it's not till March 12-13. The date could pose a problem for some of the riders though as most are in full on training mode for the outdoor nationals. I know that Klatt will be down in California by then training and Beaton is supposed to be joining him but I heard that Beaton may fly back for that round. As far as I know Knowles will be in Cali as well so it will be interesting to see what the Pro turnout will be like. I know that in speaking to promoter, Robbin Gibbs, he has been talking to a couple of Honda mounted US pros as the race's title sponsor is Penticton Honda Center. So who knows, there could be a few surprise entries. Gibbs has a good site built for the race so check it out at www.pentictonmx.com

 That's it for me this week. Back to you, Stevie

Sorry for your loss Liss.

Have you read all my thoughts from Anaheim 1? No? Go HERE.

Please check out the Motoworldracing.com Moto Show that I do live from my house every Monday night with co-host Paul Lindsey

And that’s it for me as well. I'm off to Phoenix to cover round two of the AMA supercross series. Thanks for reading this week!

Here's Newf providing some positive reinforcement. Nice pants.

Ryan is Ryan's monkey. I don't even know what else to say here. Might be a good time to end it.