Bigwave's "Pala National" Photo Report
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Photos and Captions by Billy Rainford
With one more ride for Canada’s 3-Time National Champion, Colton Facciotti, on the Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda Team, I wanted to make sure someone was there to document how it went down. I contacted Derek Farthing at Troy Lee Designs Canada and I was happy to hear he was very interested in helping out. After a two-hour wait in Chicago customs and then a cancelled flight, I finally made it to southern California to the little chunk of moto heaven called Pala Raceway. Here’s how the day unfolded.
Although it was actually raining when I landed in Los Angeles at 8:00am, the weather just northeast of San Diego was about as perfect as it could be: 75 degrees and sunny with little to no humidity.
Being that it was ‘So-Cal’ after all, I knew there would be some interesting photo ops.
I made my way straight to the TLD rig to see how the morning had gone, since I was only able to get to the track after all of practice at just before noon. There were several fellow Canadians there including Kyle Beaton (shown), Dean Thompson, Jason Hughes, and, of course, Jocelyn Facciotti (shown).
The side of the rig had several #1 plates including this one of Jeff Ward’s Supermoto title. Hey, I’m old and it’s Jeff Ward, so of course that’s the one I’m going to show!
Thanks to the entire gang under the tent for welcoming me and my cameras on Saturday.
Synchronized gate grooming by Jason Anderson and Martin Davalos.
There were a couple other familiar faces too like #583 Tyler Sjoberg who was up in Canada riding for the Leading Edge Kawasaki team in the summer. He looked pretty fast out there, but a crash at the start of the second moto separated his shoulder and, although he did a few more laps, was forced to pull off.
The track at Pala actually has two in-ground pools for people to cool off in.
Really, Carrie Underwood?
Artsy Rockstar Energy moment.
Facciotti went out in the first moto and almost pulled the holeshot behind #800 Mike Alessi.
Justin Barcia is proving he belongs in the 450 class. He led the first moto for a long time and finished 3-2 for 3rd overall. At the press conference, he joked that “Ryan and Ryan are gnarly!” When asked what one of the things he’s learned was, he said, “I learned not to mess with the big boys.”
The large and enthusiastic crowd really comes to life when you walk by with a fancy, borrowed camera. Thanks, Sean Bowker.
Now that’s just funny!
Colton looks good on the red machine. Let's hope he can find a ride down south for 2012.
His 8-39 left him in 14th, but I think he’s shown he belongs in the US racing those guys.
Kawasaki’s Villopoto and Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Dungey both had to work hard to get by him in the first moto.
Such an awesome sight to see at a motocross race.
Colton with his game face on before the moto's.
Factory Honda’s Trey Canard was there, but is still walking with crutches.
#270 Dylan Schmoke was there too, but he suffered some bike issues and was unable to get past qualifying.
Baggett came out in his MXdN gear and graphics as did Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey.
Colton’s TLD team mate Cole Seely crashed at the start of the first 250 moto but managed to regroup and finish with 11-14 finishes for 12th overall.
Justin Bogle almost won his first pro moto at Pala, leading until the 25 minute mark.
This little guy thought maybe a World Cup soccer game would break out.
The California landscape lends itself to vantage points not available at other facilities.
Bogle was impressing the crowd with some amazing whips that had Rob Buydos screaming over the P.A. Like I’ve said before, keep your camera pointed at Bogle because you just never know when he’s going to do something interesting.
Of course, like the previous two weekends, I was most interested in the 450 class.
Career #3, Mike Brown, lined up Saturday and finished 36-15 for 19th.
30 second board is up ...
When the gate dropped for the second 450 moto, Colton Facciotti got to the first corner near the front and was railing the outside berm nicely when THIS sequence happened…
Colton and Michael Byrne both went down hard. Byrne went on to finish the race, but Facciotti left on the back of the Asterisk Mule.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Thats gotta hurt!
If you weren’t a Chad Reed fan last year, you have to be warming up to him this season.
Dungey and Villopoto showed they were the class of the field and I think they will be difficult to beat next weekend in France. Dungey’s 1-2 gave him the overall on the day but the other Ryan held on to win the 450 title.
#44 Les Smith is starting to get pretty comfortable running up with the faster guys lately. He finished 14-9 10th.
Villopoto had a great year as he wrapped up the 2011 Motocross Championship ahead of Ryan Dungey.
These shirts are still everywhere.
Yes, Bowker, she remembers us.
I also ran into Matrix Concepts’ Brady Sheren. He had this top secret neck brace to show me. It comes out in December and has some interesting features.
Long-time Wilson camp supporter Dave MacGreggor made the trip down from Calgary with Pete Adams.
Thanks to TLD for making my trip possible!
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Recent comments
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Great job. - 20 weeks 2 days ago
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I guess 10th in MX1 means more than 3rd in MX2 ehh - 31 weeks 1 day ago
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Comments
Great Coverage
Good job Bigwave. Have been really searching for more info on that second moto.
Too bad Colt but great run....best of luck.
wally guy
Great Coverage
Good job Bigwave. Have been really searching for more info on that second moto.
Too bad Colt but great run....best of luck.
wally guy
Great Coverage
Good job Bigwave. Have been really searching for more info on that second moto.
Too bad Colt but great run....best of luck.
wally guy
Billy Lissimore???
Hey Billy,
Great photo report from Pala! I can see that Lissimore's skills have been rubbing off on you (not that your stuff wasn't good before but now it's even gooder). Congrats to Colton on another solid top-10 ride. Any word if TLD is keeping him around? A SX tryout maybe?