Frid'Eh Update #3 Presented by Toronto Supercross 2012

Sponsored by: 

By Kyle Carruthers and Billy Rainford

Hey everyone and welcome to the DMX Frid’Eh Update #3 brought to you by the Toronto Supercross which hits Toronto on March 23^rd for round 12 of the AMA Monster Energy Supercross series. You can go to www.supercrosslive.com for ticket information on the event as tickets are selling out fast! Also, if you’re in the GTA and are looking for something to do this weekend, Feld, the same people that promote supercross, are also putting on the “Advanced Auto Parts Monster Jam” both Saturday night at 7PM and Sunday at 2:00PM. Even Nitro Circus member Cam McQueen will be on hand driving his truck “Northern Nightmare” to please his Canadian fans so make sure to check it out if you’re looking for a good time this weekend with your kids. You can check out www.monsterjam.com for more details.

Don't miss the annual DMX Pre and Post-Toronto SX Parties. This year, we take over Houston's. Same bat time, new and vastly improved bat channel!

Also at the Toronto Supercross DMX is back at it with our Friday Night Pre-Social and Saturday night After Party at the all new Houston Restaurant on Yonge street. This will be a party to remember so make sure you come out Friday for the pre-social and get a chance to say to some of Canadian MX’s favourite industry people and fans and then be ready to set loose Saturday night after the main event for the “final main event” at the Houston. The Houston is looking forward to hosting our supercross crowd and we can’t wait to show them we can pack the house as always. Make sure you get there early after the main event so you can get in! If you have a chance to hit the Houston before the show for a fabulous steak dinner, you will not be disappointed! We’re also going to have some great prizes on hand thanks to Scott-Sports, KTM, Yamaha, Gopher Dunes, Walton Trascan, MX 101, Roost Clothing, FMX News and DMX so come prepared for some swag! More details to be announced every week on our facebook and twitter page @directmx.

Klatt is back with KTM for 2013 looking to better his #3. Bigwave photo

This week’s update is also dedicated to #3 KTM Royal Distributing Red Bull Fox Racing rider Dusty Klatt. I’ve always been a huge Dusty fan since I was a kid. I saw him decimate the competition at Gopher Dunes back in 2006 on his Blackfoot Honda and was pretty impressed. I will also never forget his and JSR’s battle at Nanaimo on CR250’s back in 2005 - now that was a good race! I am sure Dusty isn’t too stoked on his #3 this year after usually wearing a #1 or a #2 in his 450 career, but if the second half of last season was any indication we can expect to see Dusty tearing it up at the front of the pack. Dusty also has a new trainer this year after partnering with Todd Schumlick, and we all know Todd and any top athlete are a deadly combination. You can check out the “Helmet to Helmet” Billy did here with Dusty and his mechanic Adam Turner as it’s pretty good. Also check out this video DMX did right before Montreal SX with Dusty if you haven’t seen it yet.

2013 KTM 450 SX-F Testing with Dusty Klatt from Fresh Pressed Productions on Vimeo.

The CMRC national schedule was released earlier this week. It looks like a new mix up on the east with Ste. Julie out and Deschambault in. I know the sand guys like Machine Racing’s Kyle Keast will be happy to see another sand track added. I also like the new schedule change with Sand Del Lee right after Gopher Dunes and a weekend break before Walton.  

The ladies schedule was also announced and I am happy to see the ladies with a place to race this year. It looks like it will be 3 rounds on each coast for a west and east champion once again.

Speaking of ladies motocross, here is Camille Baker on her first bike. Sorry Camille, I had to! Camille Baker Photo

MX101 posted their first “FFX” article which is their Factory Fan Experience where they took the contest winners - the Clark family - on a trip to California to take in the A1 experience. You can read the whole article here. How cool is it to see a track give back to their members like this? Pretty awesome.

The Clark family had a great time thanks to MX101. MX101 photo

We got the official word this week that the MMRS club and CMX Racing will be doing two east / west shootout events back to back in July for Ontario racers to compete against each other. Once again, this is awesome to see so many great things happen for motocross and I hope to see stuff like this across the country with clubs and organizations working together.

Some news coming out of the silly season camp is that Dylan Kaelin will not be on Yamahas this year. It’s too bad we won’t see this young racer on blue. Dylan does have some other offers on the table, but, as always, he is looking for new outside sponsors to help fund his racing effort if anyone is interested in backing a great racer.

We did get news Yamaha signed another big name. Stay tuned for the official announcement on this one.

Also, make sure you listen to Steve Matthes' Podcast with Rick Sheren. One of the best ones I have heard yet and the intro is mind blowing!

Ok, over to Billy.

Thanks, Kyle, and thanks to Cycle North Kawasaki in Prince George, BC, DMX will be at the final 3 weekends of racing out here in Chilliwack and Cloverdale, BC for the last 6 rounds of the KTM Canadian Arenacross Championships.  

The battle for the titles should come down to the wire as the points chase is very close.  It seems the riders have been taking turns dominating the action the past few times. Whose turn will it be tonight as action gets back under way here in Chilliwack after the holiday break? Here are the top 5 standings in both pro classes as we head into tonight’s action:

Pro / Am Lites

1. Spencer Knowles 128

2. Brock Hoyer 106

3. Ryan Lockhart 105

4. Ryan Abrigo 87

5. Brad Nauditt 72

Pro Open

1. Spencer Knowles 116

2. Brock Hoyer 113

3. Ryan Lockhart 104

4. Ryan Abrigo 70

5. Eric Jeffery 69

With the exception of Abrigo and Jeffery, all the top riders will be back on the re-done track this weekend. I had a chance to get out to the track last night as Brent Carlson had it rented and a few fast riders were able to get some laps in on it.

I also got to check out the Vancouver Motorcycle Show at the Tradex Centre out in Abbotsford. Actually, let me just tell the story with some photos...

I landed in Abbotsford, BC and stayed the night at good friend James Lissimore's ranch. He gets to look at this view of Mt. Baker out his front window every day!

I came out here a day early so I could see young Cycle North Kawasaki rider Hayden Wolff receive his 2013 Kawasaki KX250F for winning Team Green Rider of the Year. Here he is with Cycle North's Kourtney Lloyd.

Here's Kawasaki Canada's National Sales Manager Claude Gagne presenting Hayden with his awesome prize.

Of course, I wandered around the building to see what else was there for a moto fan. It's just weird trying to get used to anything other than a #1 on Red Bull Royal Distributing Fox KTM rider Colton Facciotti's bike, isn't it?

For some reason, I get a kick out of taking pictures of other people taking pictures.

Honda had a massive area that included this little cafe section that I thought was pretty cool.

Cycle North Kawasaki rider and Atlas Brace employee Ryan Lockhart was oh-hand to sign autographs. He's going to kill me for posting this photo but the phony adoration on Michelle Sullivan's face was just too good not to.

Popkum Motor Park had a booth and were happy with the reaction they were getting.

That's RMR Suspension's Rod Matechuk manning his booth.

Arenacross announcer John Wren dropping a hint to anyone at Kawasaki that might be watching.

Red Bull Royal Distributing Fox KTM rider Dusty Klatt chatting with Popkum Motor Park's Scott Poniuk. Dusty will be an interesting addition to the racing action this weekend here in Chilliwack.

If John can drop a hint then here's my turn in front of Husqvarna Canada's Guy Giroux. I could see me buzzing to the races on one of these little beauties next summer.

I then headed over to the Chilliwack Heritage Park to watch some riders put in some laps on the rented track.

This is the only right turn on the track this weekend so Ryan Lockhart's tender right knee shouldn't be a factor.

Dylan Delaplace hitting the triple in the rhythm section that should be where a lot of time will be made and lost this weekend.

Matrix Concept and Atlas Brace honcho Brady Sheren got some track time in last night too. He still has that classic Brady style.

There will be lots of action on the track this afternoon and later tonight and I'm getting set to head over there shortly. Be sure to check back here on DMX for post-race interviews, results, and photo reports.

Did everyone already see this press release about young Dylan Wright's ride for 2013? Well, in case you haven't, check it out:

Stittsville (Ontario)– MX 101 and Yamaha Canada are pleased to announce that Dylan Wright will be part of the 2013 MX101 Talent Factory Race Team and Education Program. 

With his results in 2012, Yamaha Canada also acknowledged Dylan by awarding him one of only three Yamaha factory rides consisting of the use of a Yamaha dirt bike of his choice for the 2013 season, along with $2,500 toward Yamaha parts and accessories. Dylan’s bike of choice for 2013: the powerful Yamaha YZ250 two –stroke.   This top Canadian Intermediate rider impressed all on his Yamaha 125 two-stroke last year and will now get the opportunity to show what he can do on the company’s 250 two-stroke.

“Dylan has grown both physically and mentally as a motocross racer. We believe that with Dylan and this Yamaha bike, we have a winning combination to achieve great results this coming season.  Dylan will compete in the Intermediate MX1/MX2/MX3 classes, as well as the Eastern Canadian MX2 Pro Nationals. He is sure to be a contender wherever he lines up,” said Kevin Tyler, co-owner of MX 101.

Dylan Wright is an accomplished motocross racer who, at only 15 years of age, has demonstrated the skills, technique, dedication and drive that are very rare at his age. He is continuously looking to improve and challenge himself.

MX101 prides itself on introducing youth and families to the sport of motocross through its motocross schools / camps and to providing local riders with a motocross facility where they can have fun and compete. A select number of riders aspire to make a career in the sport, and an even smaller number succeed in doing so. MX 101 is proud to support Dylan Wright, a young rider the company has had the pleasure to teach and watch grow into the impressive rider he is today. It is a pleasure to reward Dylan for his efforts and dedication to the sport by providing him with the support he needs to reach his professional motocross racing goals.

I don't care which side of the '2-stroke vs. 4-stroke' fence you sit on, you can't deny that it has added a lot of interest as we head into the 2013 season! Dylan was impressive against the MX2 guys on his little 125 last year, what's he going to do on this bike? I can't wait to watch...and listen!

While we're on the subject, how about the thread started over on MX Forum that has even dragged American rider Austin Howell out of the woodwork to sign up and reply?! Basically, Howell has said he would be interested in taking the challenge to ride the 2-stroke up here and has basically guaranteed an MX2 title. Go check it out.

I checked in with GDR TLD Honda rider Tyler Medaglia briefly today because I know that round 4 of the FMF Florida Winter Am series goes off at the Thundercross track down in Lake Okeechobee and I know that he and Shawn Robinson are down there. He confirmed that he is definitely racing and that Shawn might also line up.

Shawn Robinson and Tyler Medaglia pose for a Frid'Eh Update shot while grabbing lunch in Ocala, Florida today. They will be in Okeechobee for the race at Thundercross this weekend. Good luck, guys. Photo coutesy of Tyler Medaglia

What's your take on the whole Lance Armstrong confession? I spent quite a few years in the cycle racing world and can say that it's about time! As much as most people inside and out of the sport hoped and wished it wasn't so, it really was the worst kept secret in cycling. So what's next for Lance? I assume he'll be able to sleep better.

I've been on the road most of the week so that will about do it for me. My ride over to Starbucks before the action starts on the track is here now, so I have to shut it down. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend. Don't forget, the SX isn't live on Saturday, but the Canucks vs the Ducks is. Go Canucks!