Frid’Eh Update #47 | Blair Nauta | Brought to You by KTM Canada
By Billy Rainford
Welcome to Week #47 of the DMX Frid’Eh Update this week brought to you by KTM Canada. I’m going to sound like a broken record again this week when I say that I’m at a race and this Update won’t be as in depth as I’d like it to be. These days at the Mini O’s at Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Florida, tend to start early and end late.
It can’t happen very often, in fact, I can’t think of another time it has off the top of my head. Blair Nauta is #47 in 2023 and he was also #47 in 2022. He raced the entire series, west to east, for the first time in 2022 but then only raced once on National Day in 2023.
He came up through the ranks racing mostly over in New York State because he’s from Wainfleet, Ontario, which is pretty close to the border crossing through Buffalo. That means, I didn’t really see him very much until he decided to race some of our eastern rounds of the Nationals when he turned Pro.
We got in touch with him this week to get caught up and find out what his future plans are.
Direct Motocross: Hey, Blair. We didn’t see a lot of you this season. First of all, let’s back up and sum up your 2022 season that earned you #47 for this season. You went all the way out west android the entire season. How did it all go for you?
Blair Nauta: Yeah, I raced the whole season. It was lots of fun. There were some ups and downs like always, but yeah, looking back on it was a great experience and it’s pretty cool travelling all the way out west seeing the mountains and one day I will be able to tell my kids, ya, dad used to race Pro and travelled all of Canada.
You didn’t do any of the SX/AX rounds though. Have you ever done any indoor racing?
Ahah. I never really tried any indoor stuff. Where I was from all the indoor tracks were too far from me. Then, once I went down south to train I just focused on outdoors because I used to race in America and those races started before the Canadian ones.
What do you do in the winters? What do you do for work?
Well, this winter, It’s gonna be my first winter staying cold in a long time. I work at a nuclear power plant with my dad, actually. But it’s pretty sweet, we only work Monday to Thursday, and I just picked up a new sled so me and my brother-in-law are gonna be chasing some deep snow all winter long.
As I mentioned, we didn’t see you at the Nationals out west. At what point did you know you weren’t doing the series and how come?
Well, I was on a waiting list to get into to the plant and it was something me and my dad talked about that, once I got the job, I had to focus on the job. And at the time there was lots of overtime so I had to take that instead of training.
We only saw you in the FXR PreMix class at the final round at Walton Raceway where you placed 12th. Take us through your decision to race this?
My work is extremely close to Walton (Raceway) and I was bummed they only had one round there this year. I was planning on doing both if they had it! The bike was too fresh to race in the sand. I was not happy with 12th, at all. I got arm pump first lap, but I almost did get both holeshots!
Do you still have a bike and ride?
Yup, I still have the 125 and a 450. Theses last 2 months I have been riding every weekend, actually; the most hours I put on both bikes all year, actually.
Have we seen the last of you at the Nationals?
Nope, I plan on doing a couple east rounds on the 125 next year.
Looking back over your racing, what’s a highlight for you?
Honestly, the 50cc days when I was little and just went out to have fun without a care in the world, just me and my dirt bike. That’s how riding has been feeling lately to me!
What else do you do for fun?
Lately, I have been getting into running, so if you got Strava add me – Blair Nauta.
What will you miss about racing at the Pro level and what won’t you miss?
Racing the best of the best. No matter where I was there was always a battle to be had, and travelling Canada and racing and riding new tracks. The thing I won’t miss is the pressure and expectation I put on myself to do well.
Is there a track out there that you think you could ride every day?
Well, I’m a little biased here but my track this time of year is so good. The dirt’s pretty and the flow of my track is perfect. You will have to come check it out sometime!
What’s the toughest track you ever rode or raced?
Gopher Dunes the year they didn’t prep it after Amateur Day. I forget when that was, maybe 2021.
OK Blair, thanks for catching up with us this week. You were #47 two years in a row, but uou know you’ll slip out of the top 52 now, right? Would you like to thank anyone before we let you go?
Thank you for having me. Yup, but #47 is staying on the bike forever! And the good lord above, my mom and dad, just revive it, fxr, bell helmets, titan racing, Dunlop, mika metals, odi, guts racing, mission cycle, and thank you to anyone I missed.
AMO Arenacross this Weekend in Chilliwack
Wristbands Prices: Purchased through LIVELAPS AMO RACING OPENS NOV 7TH
Weekend – $30
Per Night – $20 (IF ARRIVING JUST FOR NIGHT SHOW, THEN PAYMENT CAN BE MADE AT THE GATE: CASH ONLY)
6 and under – Free
CAMPING – Paid by E-transfer amoracingreloaded@gmail.com on property CASH ONLY
$20 per night- No Hookup
$40 per night– Hookup 30AMP by reservation only**
Email: amoracingreloaded@gmail.com
$60 per night **Prime 50AMP spots by reservation only**
Email: amoracingreloaded@gmail.com
***E-TRANSFER WITH THE INFO: BIKE #, NAME, RACE DATE/LOCATION, AND CLASS IN THE TRANSFER DESCRIPTION****
Hotel Booking Details, Racers discount:
Comfort Inn Chilliwack – Chilliwack, BC V2R 3C7 45405 Luckakuck Way (604) 858-0636
AMO AX RD1-2 Nov 23/24 AMO AX RD3-4 Dec 1/2
Group Rate: $189.00 – Standard Two Queen Beds
Cut-Off Date: RD1-2 – Friday, Nov 10th, 2023 RD3-4 – Friday, Nov 17th, 2023
Quote: Group/Team Name: AMO RACING
Indoor Pits – Open to all – FREE
*** One requirement for Indoor PITS is a bike mat, cardboard, or something to catch dripping fuel, chain lube, oils, etc.***
Open Practice Days – Thursday, Nov 23 and Thursday, Nov 30:
Open Practice Cost: $50 First Practice – Second bike/Second Session Practice $30
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pro Practice 7 pm – 7:30 NO CHARGE
Limit one practice per bike. If you have 2 bikes you need to select 2 practice groups when signing up. Purchased through LIVELAPS AMO RACING OPENS NOV 7TH
RIDING SCHOOL: Friday AM/Saturday AM of each event
$70 for expert instruction by Ryan Lockhart and Special Guest Instructor TBA
25 SPOTS PER SCHOOL
Purchased through LIVELAPS AMO RACING OPENS NOV 7TH
8-9 am – Advanced 85cc and Big Bike
9:10-10:10 am – Advanced 50/65cc and Beginner/Junior 85
10:20-11:20 am – Beginner/Junior 50/65
All riders must be ready 15 minutes before class. Registration and waivers must be completed online
FRIDAY/SATURDAY:
11:45 am Mandatory riders meeting
Practice to follow Riders Meeting
Qualifiers to follow the practice
Pro Riders meeting at 4 pm, Pro Practice at 4:30 PMNight Show Main events to begin 6:30 pm
AMO DOES NOT SELL TRANSPONDERS
YOU MAY RESERVE A TRANSPONDER RENTAL BY E-TRANSFERING $50 (for the weekend) TO AMORACINGRELOADED@GMAIL.COM WITH THE INFO: BIKE #, NAME, RACE DATE/LOCATION, AND CLASS IN THE TRANSFER DESCRIPTION. Screenshot or save the transaction for extra backup when you arrive to get the transponder.
Pick-up Times: Prior to each round
Thursday (Nov 23 and 30) 4 PM-7 PM
Friday (Nov 24 and Dec 1) 9 AM-11AM
Practice Rentals Times/Dates – $400 per hr. Contact AMORACINGRELOADED@GMAIL.COM
***Note: Whoever pays for a rental can allow as many riders to help cut the cost down, but only 15 riders on the track at a time****
Wednesday, Nov 22, 10 AM – 8 PM (10 – 1 hr spots available)
Tuesday, Nov 28, 10 AM – 8 PM
Wednesday, Nov 29, 10 AM – 8 PM
www.amoracing.com
email: amoracingreloaded@gmail.com
Quinn Amyotte on the WLTN Kawasaki for Chilliwack
Mini O’s
2023 Fox Australian Supercross Round 3 Results and Final Points
November 24, 2023
Marvel Stadium
Melbourne, VIC
SX2
- 1 Max Anstie HON
- 20 Wilson Todd HON
- 2 Cole Thompson YAM
- 199 Nathan Crawford KTM
- 69 Robbie Wageman YAM
- 16 Kaleb Barham YAM
- 22 Rhys Budd YAM
- 29 Noah Ferguson GAS
- 21 Ryder Kingsford YAM
- 86 Reid Taylor NA
- 754 Jayce Cosford YAM
- 27 Liam Atkinson KTM
- 70 Ben Novak HON
- 60 Brock Flynn GAS
- I’m 52 Kobi Wolff HQV
- 118 Mitchell Norris GAS
- 51 Ryan Kohlenberg YAM
- DNF 49 Caleb Goullet KAW
- DNF 202 Connor Rossandich KTM
- DNF 48 Luke Tisdale HQV
- DNF 38 Thynan Kean HON
- DNF 43 Mackenzie O’Bree GAS
Championship Points
| Pos. | Num. | Rider | Bike | Nat. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #1 | Max Anstie | Honda | UK | 125 |
| 2 | #199 | Nathan Crawford | KTM | QLD | 94 |
| 3 | #2 | Cole Thompson | Yamaha | CAN | 85 |
| 4 | #20 | Wilson Todd | Honda | QLD | 82 |
| 5 | #69 | Robert Wageman | Yamaha | US | 81 |
| 6 | #16 | Kaleb Barham | Yamaha | QLD | 73 |
| 7 | #21 | Ryder Kingsford | Yamaha | NSW | 67 |
| 8 | #86 | Reid Taylor | Husqvarna | NSW | 66 |
| 9 | #22 | Rhys Budd | Yamaha | QLD | 62 |
| 10 | #754 | Jayce Cosford | Yamaha | QLD | 61 |
| 11 | #29 | Noah Ferguson | GasGas | QLD | 57 |
| 12 | #27 | Liam Atkinson | KTM | QLD | 56 |
| 13 | # | Mackenzie O’bree | 31 | ||
| 14 | #70 | Ben Novak | Honda | NSW | 30 |
| 15 | #60 | Brock Flynn | GasGas | WA | 30 |
| 16 | #52 | Kobi Wolff | Husqvarna | QLD | 26 |
| 17 | #49 | Caleb Goullet | GasGas | VIC | 17 |
| 18 | #202 | Connor Rossandich | KTM | NSW | 16 |
| 19 | #118 | Mitchell Norris | GasGas | SA | 10 |
| 20 | #51 | Ryan Kohlenberg | Yamaha | NSW | 10 |
SX1
- 4 Luke Clout YAM
- 15 Dean Wilson HON
- 1 Justin Brayton HON
- 75 Josh Hill YAM
- 64 Dylan Willis HQV
- 30 Joel Wightman YAM
- 96 Kyle Webster HON
- 45 Brad West YAM
- 162 Luke Zielinski YAM
- 81 Joel Evans YAM
- 51 Robbie Marshall HQV
- 62 Dylan Wood HON
- 215 Liam Jackson KTM
- 32 Joel Cigliano KAW
- 17 Cory Watts HON
- 174 Sam Larsen YAM
- 70 Lawson Bopping KAW
- 51 Jackson Richardson KAW
- 22 Jesse Bishop KTM
- 33 Bryson Cherrett KTM
- DNF 472 Lachie Stewart YAM
- DNF 35 Ricky Latimer YAM
Championship Points
| Pos. | Num. | Rider | Bike | Nat. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #15 | Dean Wilson | Honda | SCO | 122 |
| 2 | #4 | Luke Clout | Yamaha | NSW | 95 |
| 3 | #75 | Josh Hill | Yamaha | VIC | 94 |
| 4 | #1 | Justin Brayton | Honda | USA | 91 |
| 5 | #30 | Joel Wightman | Yamaha | NSW | 68 |
| 6 | #64 | Dylan Wills | Husqvarna | NSW | 65 |
| 7 | #162 | Luke Zielinski | Yamaha | QLD | 63 |
| 8 | #51 | Robbie Marshall | Husqvarna | QLD | 59 |
| 9 | #96 | Kyle Webster | Honda | VIC | 50 |
| 10 | #81 | Joel Evans | Yamaha | QLD | 40 |
| 11 | #17 | Cory Watts | Honda | VIC | 40 |
| 12 | #32 | Joel Cigliano | Kawasaki | NSW | 35 |
| 13 | #62 | Dylan Wood | Honda | NSW | 33 |
| 14 | #57 | Jackson Richardson | Kawasaki | QLD | 29 |
| 15 | # | Ricky Latimer | 27 | ||
| 16 | #215 | Liam Jackson | KTM | NSW | 22 |
| 17 | #174 | Sam Larsen | Yamaha | QLD | 21 |
| 18 | # | Matt Moss | 21 | ||
| 19 | # | Brandon Steel | 19 | ||
| 20 | # | Cody Cheers | 17 |
Good luck to everyone racing in Chilliwack this weekend. Thaks for reading. I’ve got one more day at Gatorback before heading back to Ontario. Is it still warm at home….?
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