Frid'Eh Update #40 Presented by Scott

Sponsored by: 

By Kyle Carruthers and Billy Rainford

Hey, everyone, and welcome to the DMX Frid'eh Update this week brought to you by Scott-Sports. Scott has been a leader in the motocross industry for decades with thier goggle line and over the past few years have expanded on to the full set-up offering some of the nicest motocross gear on the market. I am especially digging the new 2013 stuff as I got a chance to wear it last week when we tested the new KTM 450 SX-F at Sand Del Lee. My Scott 450 Commit pants and jersey provided a fantastic fit. One thing I have noticed over the last couple years is the durability of the Scott product. It seems to hold up to my countless falls and dirt naps and always comes out unharmed. Even the knees hold up with my knee braces.

The 350 Grid Locke Jersey is one of our personal favourites in the style and fit department. Scott-Sports photo

You can go down to your local Scott dealer today and purchase some of this stuff for yourself. Also, make sure to check out www.scott-sports.com to see all the products. Whether it be running, ski, moto, bike or more, Scott offers a product to make it happen!

This week’s updated is dedicated to New Yorker, Sunny Drake, who earned national #40 for 2012. I was unable to track Mr. Drake down for any kind of an update on his racing career. All I did find was a facebook page that hasn’t been updated since 2011, so if anyone knows a way of getting a hold of Sunny please let us know and we can get the full scoop on what he’s been up to.

Sunny Drake at the 2011 Sand Del Lee National. Bigwave photo

Last weekend was the Montreal Supercross and it brought some great racing this year. It was awesome seeing the rivalry of Jeremy Medaglia and Cole Thompson building up and I am sure that the competitive edge between the two of them will return some day when they meet again. Make sure you listen to Billy’s podcasts he did right here to hear from each of them.

Although I heard mixed reviews from riders on the track all night, I can say from a spectator's view it was the first time in a long time it looked like a supercross track. It could have to do with the fact that there weren't as many logs or trees to get around this year and navigate (although I was a huge fan of seeing the Endurocross). I think JSR and his crew did a great job on the track and the event so let’s hope we see more fans in the stands next year. I’ll let Billy touch more on that later.

A look at the 2012 Montreal track.

I know this is a controversial topic here in Canada right now, but we did miss the MXON’s again this year. Matthes quoted Kyle Chisholm saying that Gopher Dunes was the closest thing he had ever ridden to the Lommel track in Belgium from when he raced here in Canada. If we sent a team this year how do you think we realistically would have finished? Email your thoughts to kyle@directmotocross.com and you might just make it into next week’s update.

As we mentioned in last week’s update we tested the all the new KTM 450 SX-F last week at Sand del lee. We had an amazing time thanks to the Sand Del Lee crew and Danny Brault from KTM. We get one more ride on the bike tomorrow at another track and then look for our full review on DMX early next week.

KTM also brought along a nice 990 KTM adventure for us to take out for a boot on the back roads and streets around the MX101 compound. I will admit, this was a pretty cool bike to ride and I can see why any adventure rider would be interested in mounting themselves on one of these for a long road trip!

I have a new toy on my wish list this Christmas! Bigwave photo

Coming up next weekend is the annual Sand Storm at Gopher Dunes in Courtland, Ontario. Derek Schuster sent me an update today and it looks like this is going to be another fun event. Saturday night there will be a pit bike race and an RC car long jump competition. When you're done partaking in the fun there, you can head over to the community bonfire for some good times and laughs. It sounds like a good way to start it all off. Derek also sent over these details:

Sunday there will be a Red Bull best whip competition at half time.

KTM is sponsoring our holeshot awards. Every moto for every class will be included. Peewee track classes receive KTM prizes and big track classes receive cash.

The Pro Am class is sponsored by Wiseco who is paying a portion towards the purse.

There will be vintage racing on the peewee track sponsored by Troy Lee Designs.

Also the ATV's will be racing the last round of their Canada cup series

Thanks, Derek, and it sounds like it's going to be one you don't want to miss!

Ok, very short for me this week. Here’s Billy!

Thanks, Kyle. It’s been a busy week around here getting all of our Montreal SX content up on the site, so I haven’t really had much time to dig for scoops on our riders. I actually enjoy pestering our moto stars to find out what’s going on in their lives, but I just didn’t have the time this week. You know what that means…it may be ‘story time!’ (collective sigh)

Speaking of the Montreal SX, some people would argue that the event didn't have any of the top American riders and that must mean the overall event couldn't have been as good as years past. Well, there are two ways to look at it: 1) there were no American superstars at the event so how could it be great? and 2) since there were no American superstars, the racing was great.

Obviously, we‘re getting into a ‘glass half full’ vs a ‘glass half empty’ situation here. [By the way, here’s my theory on this argument: If you are drinking from a glass that was originally full but is now at the halfway mark, the glass is half empty—if the glass started from empty and is now at the halfway mark, the glass is half full. As in life, it’s all about perspective, where you started, and where you're going to finish.] I know, I know, that’s a much too literal way of looking at the philosophy of the whole thing, but oh well. If you’ve read any of my stuff in the past, you’ll find I have a theory on just about everything—not to be mistaken for a theory of everything like Einstein was trying to develop. None of my ‘theories’ will tell you what happened just before the big bang and you won’t find me waxing on about string theory or anything like that.

Anyway, historically, it was always cool to go to Montreal to watch a few of the top 5 guys from the AMA series sign up in Quebec and show us how the super-fast stadium riders race supercross. But, like I said, you can look at it another way when they don’t. The racing up in the top 5 last Saturday was great! Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki rider, Matt Goerke, led every lap in the MX1 final, but the Super Finale was different. GDR Powersports Honda rider, Tyler Medaglia, got out front and it took Goerke a couple laps to get around him and that gathered the top guys up for the first few laps. Motovan Duroy Racing KTM rider, Kaven Benoit, got up near the front with the 450s on his 250F and Goerke’s weekend teammate, Cole Thompson, was up in the top 8 too, so we knew we were in for a good show.

 Sure, Goerke got out front and rode to a seemingly easy victory, but behind him there was a lot of action. In the end, it was three riders who we are very familiar with seeing up at the front during the summer as Goerke led Rockstar OTSFF Motovan Yamaha’s Bobby Kiniry ahead of Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki’s Teddy Maier in 3^rd. It was really good racing and I hope that we get to watch more of it next year when the event is either before or after the Motocross of Nations in Germany.

If you saw any of the coverage from the weekend, you probably noticed a few extra empty seats this year. Well, we noticed the same thing. There’s no denying that the numbers have fallen off over the last few years and I’m not really sure what the reason for it is. As JSR mentioned in the interview we did last week, there are a lot of motorsports held in the great city of Montreal and our supercross falls at the end of summer after people have already spent most of their dispendable cash and forking out for yet another is difficult for most.

If you’ve ever been to a race or even a practice day in Quebec you know that they absolutely love the sport of motocross! I’m always amazed at the turnouts they get at events throughout the summer. That being said, I still don’t know why the stadium wasn’t full. They even brought in Indy Car superstars, Patrick Carpentier and Alex Tagliani, to race in the side-by-side event. Although this move didn’t fill the stadium, I will say that a lot of the ones who were there were there to see them. This was evident as lots of spectators headed for the exits at the end of that race even though the Super Finale was still to come.

The addition of Indy Car superstars, Patrick Carpentier (shown) and Alex Tagliana, put some fans in the seats, but will it be enough? Bigwave photo

I always thought that just opening the doors to a sporting event in Quebec pretty much guaranteed a full house, but I guess we have now seen that is not the case. This was promoter Pierre Corbeil’s final Montreal SX and he will now hand the torch down to his son, Olivier. Let’s hope he can figure something out to keep this event alive (albeit on a separate date than the MXoN) so we have more than just the Toronto SX to look forward to.

What are 4 things that stood out for me in Montreal? I’m glad you asked. The weekend wouldn’t have been nearly as exciting without the battle between Cole Thompson and Red Bull Royal Distributing Fox KTM rider, Jeremy Medaglia. Sure it got out of hand and both riders admitted they weren’t innocent in the altercations, but it sure made people pay attention when those two were on the track! If you haven’t heard both their sides, you can listen to the podcasts we did after the event here. Cole also got some love over at Racer X Illustrated. You can check out the interview they did with him here.

Next was the huge crew that Patrick Carpentier had fawning all over him all night. It was pretty funny. There was a complete film crew following him around and I saw him barely motion that he might like a drink and someone came racing over at a full-out sprint to hand him a bottle of water. He was actually up in 3^rd place in the side-by-side final before something broke in his drive train..

Another thing that stood out was the calm way that Matt Goerke dominated Saturday night. He never looked to be pressured or panicked at any point. Once the gate dropped, it appeared to be a foregone conclusion that he was going to win the thing. Kudos to him and the whole team for an amazing run this summer and a great cherry on top last week.

Finally, when can we expect they’ll be finished working on the highway system in Montreal? Seriously, I remember going through Montreal as a kid and it was under construction then! Is there no end to it? Do they have an overall plan? You should see the major changes they are doing to the #40 through Montreal right now. It’s like they’re starting over. It doesn’t matter when you try or what route you close your eyes and pick, you’re going to be stuck in traffic when you go to Montreal. That’s a fact.

Oh, one more thing I want to mention about the Big O…there was a terrible crash at the start of the Supermini final and several riders were collected in it. #41 Duroy Racing KTM rider, Eve Brodeur, and #118 Duroy Racing KTM rider, Christopher DaSilva, came together as they raced down the start straight and DaSilve was forced directly in front of the rest of the pack causing a horrific pile-up. Brodeur would get up and get going again but DaSilva and #82 Fred LaFlamme weren’t so lucky. It looks like Fred will be fine after chipping a bone in his elbow but DaSilva wasn’t quite so lucky. He ended up smashing his helmet apart and breaking his wrist in a rather nasty position. The cool thing about it all is that Christopher stayed at the track to watch his big brother, Michael, finish his races before going to the hospital. Motocrossers are a tough and crazy breed.

I hope everyone heals fast from this one. Bigwave photo sequence

The Scott Addict R15 road bicycle is still for sale. This bike is a rocket made out of carbon and other materials that seem to be even lighter than air! Honestly, buy this bike and you are set for years and years! It’s a size large and I would guess good for anyone from 5’10” to 6’2”.

Scott Addict R15 is still for sale. Bigwave iPhone photo

We got the chance to ride the KTM 450SX-F 'Dungey Replica' last week at Sand Del Lee so watch for that review coming soon here on DMX. Let's just say that, as a hard-lined 2-stroke supporter, this bike had me smiling from ear to ear.

The FWP Arenacross Championsips are coming together out in BC. Names are being added to the list of entries every day and young up-and-comer, Dylan Delaplace has just signed up to see if he can better his 8th place from last year. Here is a press release on the subject:

With names like Ryan Villopoto, Dean Wilson, Darcy Lange, Colton Facciotti, Kyle Beaton, Dusty Klatt, Ryan Lockhart, Brock Hoyer and many many more now firmly planted in BC AX History it's no wonder that so many riders make the annual trek to BC’s Lower Mainland for what has become a must for the top pro riders of today and the rising stars of tomorrow. It has become the place to be seen and recognised by the major teams and sponsors.

Dylan Delaplace has signed on to race the Canadian Arenacross Championships again this year. Photo courtesy of FWP

There was another big announcement made regarding the AX series. KTM has signed on as the title sponsor. That's good news for the series and the sport in general. Here is the press release on it:

KTM SIGNS ON AS TITLE SPONSOR OF CANADIAN ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS


Future West is pleased to announce that KTM Canada has come on board as title Sponsor of the fast approaching “KTM Canadian Arenacross Championships,” which kick off at the Cloverdale Agriplex Arena on Friday, October 19th and Saturday, October 20th.

That's it from me for this Thanksgiving weekend. I hope everyone has a great few days spending time with your families. Try not to fight.

I'll end it with this short video clip. We gave Donk a ton of praise last week for his successes at the Montreal SX, so I figured we should balance it all out. I found this old, very short video clip of him having a few difficulties at the start of a race at Gopher Dunes. Enjoy as Donk teaches a little "Holeshot 101."