Monday Morning Coffee
By Billy Rainford
Welcome to another Monday here at Direct Motocross. So much has been going on behind the scenes that it’s been tough to get this column up on a regular basis. From planning our summer to figuring out when we’re leaving to head south to check out Canadians getting ready for summer and racing SX it has kept us hopping around here.
Mitch Goheen is a racer from Oshawa, Ontario. He is also the guy who did some of the amazing videos from the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals last season. He is currently competing in the Amsoil Arenacross Series in 3 of the Amateur C classes. He’s actually leading the 2-Stroke B/C class and sits 2nd in both Open and 250 C. He shot some photos for DMX while he was there, so watch for those photos here on the site later today.
It’s always cool when someone tries to spread the good word of motocross to a wider audience. Mitch’s sister, Olivia, did just that recently when she did a school project on well-known Pro rider Nathan Bles. She was kind enough to fire a copy of the paper our way so we could all take a look at it. Pretty cool, if you ask me:
Focus your attention on the newest member of Redemption Racing
By Olivia Goheen
Introducing Nathan Bles!
Recently signed to ride for the Canadian pro motocross team Redemption Racing, the native Bayfield, Ont., is currently ranked No. 10 in the country. Bles started riding on his farm at the age of three and began racing competitively at ten. The beginning of Bles’ racing journey didn’t start out with winning results but his transformation occurred when he was 15. He began taking racing seriously and started gaining podium finishes. Those results have now followed him to the MX-1 pro class allowing many top ten accomplishments in his rookie year of 2014.
The humble 22-year-old understands the definition of dedication because he worked full-time at a local farm during the 2014 race season. Working full-time while being a professional athlete has enlightened Bles to be obliged for the support he received during that year. Additionally, this represents Bles can manage life accordingly, support himself financially and still demonstrate results on the track. His hard work, focus and commitment with racing were definitely noted by his current team. Bles is incredibly thankful to be supported by a team that will allow him to focus strictly on racing in the forthcoming year.
“Last year I had to work while I was racing,” says Bles. “I would work all the way up to Friday and then drive up to the race on Saturday, sign up and race Sunday. That was a big eye opener, but with that you learn with opportunities you respect it more and take it more seriously.”
Accompanied by a new team has brought Bles an opportunity to head south for three months to train. The Redemption race team will occupy Club MX located in South Carolina. This training facility has riding, fitness and meal programs that cater to athlete’s specific needs. Bles is looking forward to having a strategic program set to ensure positive results for the upcoming season.
“It is going to be strict but I feel like there is going to be some results,” he explains.
Not only is Bles a pro motocross racer he is also a pro enduro rider. This style of racing consists of long hours, difficult obstacles and lots of stamina. Having a hybrid riding style mixed with motocross and enduro has allowed him to excel in racing. Bles was crowned the East Coast Enduro Champion in 2013. He also represented Canada at the International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) race in Argentina back in late 2014. The ISDE acts as an Olympic event for enduro riders from all over the world. Unfortunately, his time was cut short at the ISDE due to mechanical issues halfway through a race.
“What I have brought from enduro to motocross is probably patience,” Bles says. “You have to be patient, you can’t just charge into stuff, you have to be smart. I’ve learned to slow down and be smart and look around before making a pass. It has made me a smarter rider and more of a thinker. I’d like to think that it is what helped me get to be where I am right now.”
When you don’t see Bles ripping on the track you can catch him on his road bike, at the gym or watching movies at home with his family. With an optimistic mindset for the 2015 season and a new team behind Bles, motocross fans should look forward to watching the up-and-coming rider. Bles has set goals for himself and possesses a positive attitude to succeed.
“I really have a good team behind me but I’m really looking forward to getting the results that are in my goals and being in the top five.”
Thanks for sending that over, Olivia. The more eyes, ears, and minds we get pointed toward motocross the better, and a school project is just the sort of thing we need to see more of. Get the kids interested early and keep the sport growing!
Canadians at the Wilkes-Barre Amateur Arenacross
Being an avid supporter of Amateur Motocross, I can’t help myself from scouring the results sheets looking for Canadians and generally making mental notes of who the kids to watch are. We had a few riders make the journey to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, this past weekend for the Amsoil Amateur Arenacross. Here are some names and results I found:
Preston Masciangelo – Brantford, ON
#22 Preston Masciangelo had a great weekend in Pennsylvania. – Goheen photo
Mitch Goheen – Oshawa, ON
Richard Krzemien – Schomberg, ON
Lucas Rheaume – Lachute, PQ
Landon Mutch – Napanee, ON
Nathan Mutch – Newburgh, ON
Adam Smith – Woodstock, ON
We also had a Canadian make it into the Lites Pro Mains in Wilkes Barre. Quebec rider and renown ‘super-scrubber’ Dave Blanchet headed to PA.
13 and 9 – great rides, Dave! We got in touch with him to get his thoughts on the weekend:
Hey, DMX fans, Dave Blanchet here.
What a fun weekend in PA!
I was able to put up the 6th fastest time in the AX Lites! That got me to chose 3rd gate pick. That was awesome but things didn’t go according to plans. I flipped my PR-MX Kawi pretty badly in the woops section and had to go the LCQ, starting from the second line!
I stayed positive and got a good start and there was a pile-up in the first turn and I ended up with the lead (Laughs)! I stayed up front and won the LCQ!
Finals were good too. I started again on the second line and salvaged a nice 9th place in the final. I was really happy with the weekend and it was a lot of fun. I can’t wait for the Florida AX!
Thanks to TEAM PR-MX and all the great sponsors they have to help us out: JT Racing, NKLS Acces Securiter Financiere, Novik, Twice, EVO, GoldenTyre (Thanks, Mike), Guts Racing, Loudmouth, DND, and Motodirttricks.
PR-MX rider #727 Dave Blanchet finished 13th and 9th in the Lites mains in Wilkes Barre, PA over the weekend. – Goheen photo
Awesome, Dave. When are we going to see you scrubbing outdoors again?! He mentioned Florida. That event is in Tampa on February 21-22.
Does Antonio Cairoli look worried to you?
Here’s the MXGP schedule. Is this the most anticipated World GP series ever?! It’s tough to argue against that.
Does anyone remember the clinic Ryan Villopoto put on at the 2007 MXON at Budd’s Creek?! It was like no ride I’ve ever seen before! (Google it, Bowker!) – Bigwave photo
George Orwell Predicts the Future of Televised Supercross
Someone sent this ‘Mototoon‘ over this morning. I was told to pretend this was the TV screen during a SX Main in the not-so-distant future. Notice the race coverage in the bottom left. It reads, “And we have a new leader!” LOL What are your thoughts? We’d love to hear from you.
Husqvarna Contingency Program for 2015
OK, that’s it for today. Time to go through all the photos Mitch sent over and get them up on the site. Be sure to look for those a little later this afternoon. Have a great week, everyone.
