Frid'Eh Update #6 Presented by FXR Racing

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Howdy ho and welcome the DMX Frid’eh Update numero six! We’d like to thank each and every one of you for reading this column and wish you all a happy February! It’s been a little slow in Canadian moto this week, or at least it has been for my contacts. Soon though, things will start to heat up and we’ll be cooking on all the cylinders.

In keeping with the theme of this column, I’d like to dedicate this to CMRC national number 6- Jeff Northrup. The man known as Nor-Cal actually had a pretty good year last year but it’s funny how, on my three trips up north last year, I never really remember him standing out with great rides. He was just kind of there and obviously, going by his ranking, moving at a pretty good rate as well. His best moto of the season was a fourth and that was the very first moto of the year in Kamloops. He was a consistent sixth place guy all season and ended up in that very same spot.

Nor-Cal tearing it up at Walton TransCan. Lissimore photo

In talking to Andy White on a podcast http://www.directmotocross.com/news/features/2009/12/dmx-podcast-ktms-andy-white we did around x-mas, he mentioned that he wasn’t bringing Jeff back in 2010 and I haven’t seen him down here at the supercrosses either. So I’m not sure what Nor-Cal is doing but whatever it is, I’m sure he’s having fun at it.

Have you checked out the Billy Whitley interview that Chris Pomeroy did? If not, read it right HERE
and you can see that BW is planning on bringing a team back up north next year. This goes contrary to what everyone has been saying or that they’ve heard. This is good news for the series and you can never have enough teams. Look for Billy to stay on Kawasaki’s and I would say he’ll be a player for Bobby Kiniry as well.

Bobby “next of” Kiniry hasn’t decided on anything yet but he told me that he should decide soon on where he wants to ride next year. Don’t forget about Andre Laurin’s new (old) team that should be back next year as well.

Let's hand things over to the new guy, Chris Pomeroy for an update on the greens and hear what's going on with Kyle Beaton.

Thanks Steve. Not sure how many people watch golf on TV, especially when its Tiger-less golf?  But, if you tuned in last Sunday to the final round from Torrey Pines, you might have noticed Sean Hamblin standing in the gallery. Is Hambone considering a career change that would see him go from the track to the links?  Well no, or it could be maybe.  Hambone is a pretty good golfer and does take the sport very seriously.  Actually Sean was at Torry Pines to cheer on his buddy Rickie Fowler, who ended up finishing with a round of 70 and tied for 5th. 

I remember Newf telling me about this Fowler kid when he was down there, Newf went golfing with them and actually taught Rickie his 5 iron punch shot! Well, whatever Newf taught him it has seemed to work, Fowler hits the ball a ton, has good style and I noticed on Sunday that he even looks a little bit like Newf. With no Tiger, golf needs all the fresh blood it can get and good stories it can get.

As for Hamblin, he is still waiting for something to happen. What was suppose to be a ride for Supercross will most likely turn into a ride for the Outdoors, as jumping into SX mid-season would be a tough go.

I caught up with Kyle Beaton this week and he filled me in on what he's been doing in the U.K. and what his plans are for the upcoming outdoor season.

DMX: KD Beats, how are you? What are you up to today?

Kyle Beaton: Hey Palms, I’m good man just hanging out.  Just a little working out and some organization to get ready to head south, that’s really about it. Might head into work for a few hours for Toby.

Sounds like a pretty relaxing day. You just finished up the British SX Championship, how did that series go?

Yes, it was good.  I had a great time going over there and racing went ok. I finished 2nd in the SX2 class and kind of bombed the Open class. Oh well, that’s how she goes sometimes.

I saw a video of you from the last round in London, the track looked soft but fun. Are they all like that?

Oh man, it was the softest track I have ever ridden indoors.  There were ruts everywhere, you would be stuck in one rut all the way down the lane.  Fun eh?, maybe you were watching a different video from a different year (laughs).   No, not all the tracks are like that.  Dirt Wurx builds some great tracks for us to race on over there,  just sometimes the dirt situation is a little skeptical.  The weather over in England didn’t helped that out at all this year either, they’ve had a rough winter.

Despite the strict diet of baked bean pizza, chips with brown sauce and mushy peas, Beaton still managed to pull off a second overall in the SX2 class in England last weekend. Lissimore photo

Your teammate (Colton) was over there as well, what did you guys do when you weren’t racing. Did you get out and see the sights in London?

Well, the first part of the week we stayed up in a small town 4 hours north of London and hung out at the Remmer’s house. The second half, we were down in London and I went out on the town with a few of the track builders to do the whole tourist thing. Colt didn’t come along, either did Spencer. I guess they wanted some alone time. (laughs)

Does Spence know he’s engaged?  Its tough traveling and racing overseas. What do you do on long flights to pass the time and to make sure your ready to race when you land?

Yes, that trip is probably the toughest one of the year. Well, Spencer Knowles and I lucked out on the way over. We got bumped to first class and that definitely made it way easier.  We watched a few movies and then just slept for the rest since the seats up there lie right down into a bed. Do you know they even supply pillows and blankets too?

Yes, I know about first class, how did you two scam your way up there?

Well, lets just say it who you are, its who you know!

Ok, moving on. Your trainer Drew Robertson has really got your fitness to where you are one of the fittest guys on the track. How important had Drew been to your program?

Yes, Drew has been awesome to me.  He believes in me so much and helps out with my mental game too.  He builds me a program that is strictly for me and what I need to work on.  Sometimes I definitely hate him though because the workouts are so intense, but that’s what it takes.  

What is next for KD Beets racing? Your all signed with Blackfoot for 2010. When do you head to Florida to get ready for the Nationals?

Yes, I am heading to Cairo, Georgia here in a few weeks to begin spring training with Colt and Tyler.  I will be coming home in march for a week to race one more arena cross in Penticton, which is part of the Canadian AX championship.  I am leading both championships right now and would like to win them so I will be coming back for the final round.

I hear JSR is going to be a daddy again. Will he be down in Florida again putting you guys through his boot camp?

Yes he is,  I guess that’s what you do when your racing career has come to an end. (laughs).  He will be coming down for a bit here and there but not as much as last year, obviously because of the new baby on the way. But I’m sure he will be Skyping us alot to make sure we are on the program.  I think Colt and I got it all figured out now from being with him last year full time.

I’m sure you and Colton have it all figured out, I hope Tyler is ready for you guys. Ok, last question. You are a fan favorite, everybody seems to cheer for you. What is it going to take for you to win the MX2 championship in 2010?

I’m going to have to get rid of all the bad luck I apparently have I guess.  It always seems that something goes wrong, you know.  I know I put in the work last year but the injury definitely didn’t help matters, this year I’m just going to work hard and go into the first round with an open mind and just have fun. I know that my Blackfoot Yamaha will be the best bike on the track, so all I have to do is prepare myself and then go and have some fun.  

I sure hope so, you have some good luck coming your way. Oh wait, I have one more question. What is your favorite part about being a pro motocross racer? 

That’s a hard question, everything is great.  Fans, traveling, all the friends you make a long the way and I guess I have say, not working a regular job day in and day out.

James Lissimore sent us some newsy bits from the west coast.

I'm sitting on the ferry, heading to Vancouver Island. It's Dusty Klatt's birthday this weekend so I'm heading up to good old Campbell River. DK's turning 25; that's right folks,The Kid is now eligible for the +25 class. Look out Dan Brault.

Other than that not a lot has happened this week but I got one good piece of info sent to me through my facebook account. MXForum.com's Darren Pilling has been working with the Popkum Native Band in Chilliwack, BC on a new riding facility and he passed on this note to the FB group:

“...I got the details from the band today, we laid out the rough track with the FIM style changes last weekend...32 feet wide and trees 10 feet from any corner...
It won't be a finished facility in March, but it will be better than anything we got now!
I'll have more details soon...check here... www.popkummotorcyclepark.com "

Thanks Chris and James. Well the AMA supercross series is off to a flying start isn’t it? No Chad Reed, no James Stewart and no boring races either! With the two superstars out of the mix, it’s shaping up to be a hell of a season with Ryan Dungey, Ryan Villopoto and Josh Hill taking command of the series. These three seem to have a step up on everyone with Andrew Short nipping at their heels.

Last weekend at San Francisco, there were some exciting things that happened but to me, the fact that Ryan Dungey crashed hard twice in the same section yet got away pretty lucky, was one of the bigger stories.

I don’t know if it’s a sign of things to come or not but this battle should get interesting real soon. RV is just going to get better and better as he gets into race shape. Josh Hill’s confidence is sky-high and Shorty is hungry for his first win. You can’t forget Kevin Windham, Davi Millsaps, Justin Brayton and so many other guys that could get a win.

Make sure you listen to the DMX Podcast with Brett Lee as well, some great stuff in there. You’re going to wonder how he doesn’t burst into tears when describing the 2005 MXDN race that he went to. It had quite an effect on old B-Lee.

John Nelson, I’m coming for you next…

We got a little note in the mailbox from Gord Koll this week that we wanted to share with everyone:

"Hi Guys, just a note to let you know I'm trying to get Vintage motocross going in the West with hopes of it growing across Canada. I know there are lots of us Vintage racers out there so I've created a deicated website to meet. I have our first event planned for June 2010. I will keep you in the loop."

Here's some tidbits from offroad ninja, Dan Paris.

Zip-Ty Husqvarna’s Canadian rider, Cory Graffunder, scored a top-ten finish at the final round of the FIM World Endurocross Championship in Spain. Photo courtesy of Husqvarna USA

This is the coolest thing that happened this week. On January 30th our internationally famous Canadian Enduro guy, Zip-Ty Racing Husqvarna’s Cory Graffunder, smashed his way to a top-ten finish at the final round of the FIM World Endurocross Championship in Barcelona. In qualifying Graffunder beat his brains out to finish third behind Extreme Enduro racers Taddy Blazusiak and Ivan Cervantes. Not only did Graffunder finish third, he did it in very convincing fashion by not only hanging with but pushing the leaders. In the main event Graffunder rode his Husky to seventh, an incredible ride against the gnarliest riders on the planet!

Tomorrow Graffunder continues his European vacation by taking on the brutal Hells Gate Extreme Enduro in Tuscany, Italy.

Calm down Jay, those dudes in the pits aren’t staring at you. It’s the bike. The BMW 450 grabs attention everywhere it goes.

DMX has a new toy in the stable! This is the exact BMW G450X that Guy Giroux raced to third at the 2009 Montreal Endurocross. After picking it up at BMW Canada HQ we slogged our way to Chesterman’s indoor track in Tillsonburg to get some immediate seat time. We’ll be picking this thing apart in the garage and riding the wheels off it this winter on the ice and this spring in the mud…as long as we can shoo away the crowd of curious onlookers.

The road to Indy is full of interestingly named purveyors of Booze.

Next week DMX will be heading to the ground zero of motorcycle-dom, the Indy Dealer Expo. The industry trade show is full of cool stuff and cool people, but a big part of the whole experience is the ride down there.

I snapped this rolling roadblock heading into downtown Indianapolis a couple years ago. I can only imagine that this guy has made more than one stop at the above mentioned liquor store. The road to Indy is always full of weirdness.

The real reason to go to Indy? It’s a chance to schmooze with big shots, spread the fame of DMX far and wide, sell advertising, keep our finger on the pulse of the industry and best of all drool over cool stuff and America’s greatest assortment of booth bimbos. We’ll be firing regular reports, bike photos and treat shots to DMX while we’re down there.

Indy Dealer Expo showcases a collection of the most interesting, innovative and downright unusual products in motorcycling. This ATK 700 encompasses all of those things.

Sorry for the short update, I’m off to San Diego with my wife for a little R&R today and as I write this, I’m packing and getting ready to go to the airport.

Thanks to Sweetcheeks Dawn for posting this! 

Have fun at the zoo Steve!