Photo Report: Rockstar MX Nationals Round 1 – Kamloops

By Billy Rainford

Photos by Clayton Racicot

This week, the Photo Report is brought to you by RTR Performance in Kamloops, BC. They’ve got what you need…go see them.

After months of speculation and bench racing, the 2015 Rockstar MX Nationals finally got underway last weekend at Whispering Pines MX in Kamloops, BC. With lots of new faces showing up on teams to take a run at the Canadian title, it was still a hot topic of conversation as to who was going to show up fittest an fastest. The old saying that states, “You can’t win the title at the first race, but you can lose it,” was probably on the minds of most of the top competitors.

We were treated to warm temperatures and blue skies all weekend and the track crew had their work cut out for themselves and handled it well. Kudos to Stu McQueen and the gang.

Let’s get to the racing action.

2015 CMRC Rockstar Energy Pro Motocross Nationals Round One at Whispering Pine, Kamloops.

MX2 title contender, Honda Canada TLD GDR rider #21 Jeremy Medaglia heading out to choose his gate. Notice the new technique with the little yellow flags they place at the gate of their choice without their bikes.

#620 Brad Nauditt is back and riding for the GA Checkpoint Shift Yamaha team.

Boston’s #105 Canada’s Motorcycle FXR Yamaha rider Jimmy Decotis was here fitter than he’s ever been and ready for action, he said.

MX2 moto blasts down the start straight. #1 Royl Distributing Fox KTM’s Kaven Benoit looked to have the first holeshot but stuffed his bike hard in turn 1 and lost some momentum.

Jeremy Medaglia got out to the early lead with returning Utah rider Devil’s Lake MX’s #762 Blake Savage in tow.

Decotis was out right behind that duo with Benoit behind him.

Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki’s #134 Cole Martinez chased them all with Canada’s Motorcycle FXR Yamaha’s Dylan Wright in 6th.

#194 Branden Small went down hard in a start and it ended his day.

The racing was tight up in the top 6 for the early part of both motos.

On the podium, Benoit said this round would probably be the toughest for him on his 2-stroke.

There were juicy berms to dig into all day long.

#39 Vernon Yamaha rider Jess Pettis looks great this season. His 12-11 motos put him in 11th overall.

Benoit was this close behind Medaglia the entire day and made heroic last-lap challenges that kept the huge crowd running from fence to fence.

#14 Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Shawn Maffenbeier had a tough day and finished 7-17 after falling in the sand section and struggling to re-fire his machine giving him 12th.

Decotis is focused and fit this season and says he really is enjoying it so far in Canada.

Savage and Martinez battled hard in the first moto with Wright in the mix at the flag too.

Medaglia leaps his way past the mechanics’ area as Jerome Therrien gets ready to show Benoit the pit board behind him.

Decotis taking the checkered flag.

It was hot Sunday but the humidity was tolerable. Enjoy it while you can, guys!

JSR talks with Kaven after the motos.

1 and 2 on the day. Actually, the top 6 did the same in both motos.

There’s the battle we all expected.

#153 Ryeley Gallup gets all out of shape in this corner pushing him way back to 34th in the first moto. He rebounded with a 16th in moto 2 for 19th.

Medaglia looking for smooth lines.

#17 Redemption Racing Fly Dragon KTM rider Seth Rarick expects a lot from himself this summer. His 8-10 put him 9th.

Seth was super happy for his buddy Jimmy’s win in Kamloops.

#291 GA Checkpoint Yamaha’s Dylan Delaplace almost grabbed both holeshots Sunday. He stayed consistent and took 20th with 18-19 motos.

#686 Alexandre Morin made the trek west and finished 15th (19-15) on his 2-stroke Yamaha.

#444 Dustin Creson was on the gas and finished 14-12 for 13th.

#9 Morgan Burger has dropped down to the MX2 class “for fun.’ He Finished 10-9 (what?) for 10th.

It was great to see Jared Petruska at round 1 after having his race bike stolen last week. 13-13 gave him 14th.

2 for 2 in Kamloops for Decotis.

Swag toss!

Jeremy steps onto the podium to receive his 2nd place.

1-1 gives you the overall no matter where you are.

It was said over the PA that it may have been a record crowd in Kamloops.

Decotis get the glamour shot with the Rockstar girls.

MX2 Podium: Jimmy Decotis, Jeremy Medaglia, Kaven Benoit.

2013 MX1 champion, Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki’s Brett Metcalfe, is back on Canadian soil.

Teammate, #5 Teddy Maier, is looking for one more good year in Canada but didn’t get off to the start he wanted in 2015.

#7 Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha’s Bobby Kiniry ready for battle.

2012 MX1 champ, Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha’s Matt Goerke, is also hoping to repeat north of the border.

an MX1 moto blasts off. #7 Kiniry was up near the front at the start of both motos but didn’t sound pleased with is performance when he described his day on stage to receive his holeshot cheque.

Royal Distributing Fox KTM’s #148 Cole Thompson is back after having his knee reconstructed.

Goerke, like almost all the top riders, took his turn on the ground but managed 2-3 motos for 2nd overall.

Parts Canada Thor Husqvarna’s #3 Tyler Medaglia was top-finishing Canadian with 4-2 motos for 3rd. The top 4 riders were all over the map during the motos!

In the first moto, Metcalfe washed out in front of Cole Thompson and this was the result:

Clayton said he missed Cole supermanning through the air because he was just staring.

Cole was bruised but not injured.

RTR Perfromance FXR KTM’s Dylan Schmoke had to be happy with his strong performance. 10-11 gave him 1oth.

Teammate #74 Josh Allen’s day was not as positive. His 21-DNF was not what he was hoping for.

#58 is Graham Scott who also had troubles, going 24-DNF.

Honda Canada TLD GDR’s #30 Kyle Keast rode the entire day by himself, it seemed. 9-9 placed him 9th.

Even though Metcalfe got out to a good lead, he said he kept charging hard a a bit of extended testing of his machine and himself.

Teddy Maier had to fight his way forward all day long and managed to salvage a hard-fought 11th (13-10).

Goerke leads Medaglia.

With 3 past MX1 champs in the field, we knew we were in for some great action. Honda Canada TLD GDR’s #1 Colton Facciotti didn’t have his best day, but last time he raced Metcalfe in Kamloops things went REALLY badly for him so his 3-4 4th was a good start.

Medaglia led Metcalfe for a good chunk and really feels he has the speed to challenge him for the title.

Facciotti follows as Metcalfe stays low while chasing Medaglia.

This long rhythm section made for some exciting racing.

Goerke having a look on the inside.

Coming in way under the radar was FXR Yamaha’s #49 Brock Hoyer. He showed the speed to battle for top 5 places and finished 8th with 8-6 motos. He was right there all day if anyone ahead faltered.

Damage was done to Metcalfes bike in the crash with Thompson and he was probably lucky to make it to the flag.

Facciotti doing the interviews after 3rd place in the first moto.

Metty’s bike a little worse for wear.

That window is supposed to show something other than empty space.

Kiniry grabs the second moto holeshot.

Derek Medaglia with some good advice on the pit board for Tyler Medaglia.

Hoyer stayed with Thompson for most of the day.

Perhaps he can be talked into heading east again.

Cade Clasen (pronounced ‘CLAY-sen’) had a solid day and was way up in the mix both motos. 6-7 put him 6th.

#35 Redline Thor Yamaha’s Matthew Davenport is fit as all get-out! 14-16 motos gave him 14th.

#42 Riley Brough has really improved this season and had a strong day placing 12th (17-12).

MRM Atlas 100% Kawasaki rider #47 Ryan Lockhart had another solid day with 15th place.

Duroy Racing Fox KTM rider Shawn Robinson finished 16th in moto 1 but then took a DNF in the second for 20th.

Clayton supplies Matt Goerke with his new Facebook profile photo.

Facciotti negotiating the rhythm section ahead of Goerke.

#36 FXR Goldentyre Yamaha rider Hayden Halstead grabbed the unofficial ‘hard charger’ award for round 1, having to come from way back in the pack (last, basically) to take 19-13 motos and 17th.