Frid'Eh Update:Presented by Royal Distributing
SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

By Danny Brault

The big race is almost here. I’m actually typing this Thursday night as our Motocross des Nations crew of RXC photog/ ad guy, Dan Stenning, BigWave Billy Rainford, my buddy Adam “Crawdad” Crawford, and I are driving through the night from London to Mechanicsville, Maryland to cheer on Team Canada at Budds Creek. I can’t wait! Since I was a little guy, I’ve wanted to watch a Des Nations race live, and this weekend my (and thousands of people) dream comes true. My game plan is simple: find a good viewing spot on the fenceline, enjoy a cold beverage and scream my face off when Blair Morgan rounds the first corner leading the best riders in the world. Whooo!

Unfortunately, many fans won’t have the chance to drive or fly down to Budds Creek for various reasons, but you can still catch the action live from the comfort of your homes. Just go to Media Zone and for $19.99 you watch the entire event from your PC.

If you are attending the event and still need ticket or camping info or directions, go to http://buddscreek.com/.

With a bus departing from the East Coast and the Moto Park coach heading out of Hamilton, plus countless “privateer” expeditions, Canada will be well represented off the track too. For those around the area tomorrow, be sure to stop by Lenny’s tomorrow night for a meet and greet with the team and our three troops, JSR, Blair Morgan and Colton Facciotti. I would like to say I will stop by to wish them luck, but I will probably be too busy mingling around the park. So if any of the Canooks are reading this, good luck this weekend! Remember: don’t worry about strategy guys—just giver!!

For results and updates, keep tabs on www.racerxcanada.com and www.racerxill.com. Allison Kennedy, James Lissimore and Dan Stenning will be uploading their spectacular pictures throughout the weekend and I will be posting my own updates, which will be titled, “From the Fencelines.” If you thought Steve Matthes vendor row snaps from the Texas national were flawless, just wait until you see the memories I will capture from the campsites, pits and trackside. They will be inspiring.

The Budds Creek track--and facility--is looking good!

photo: James Lissimore

Crawdad, BigWave and I are pitching a tent somewhere at the Budds Creek madhouse. Personally, I don’t think you get the full MXdN experience without staying over at the track. Yes, the racing is the core element, but think of the stories that will take place when the sun goes down. I will most likely eat dinner around 6 PM, brush my teeth and then go to bed around 9 PM so I’m well rested for the big weekend. That was sarcasm by the way.

The boys have been in Maryland all week, taking the lead out of their fuel and making their bikes quieter to meet FIM regulations. You can read the Team Update right here.

So how is Team Canda going to finish this weekend? Will they match their 8th overall from 2004 in Leirop? Better? Worse? As of right now, 51.3 percent of you think they will be top 10. That’s a solid bet, but I checked off top five. Come on, our three riders are fast and, if they ride to their potential and things go in their favour, why can’t they be top five?

Here are a few Des Nations predictions from me:

1. A Canadian will holeshot at least once, probably JSR.
2. Facciotti will rise to the occasion.
3. Blair will once again earn his “Superman” nickname.
4. Villopoto will beat everyone but RC in a moto.
5. RC will win every race.
6. Steve Matthes and I will have a cheeseburger together.
7. Leticia Cline will propose to the Frid’Eh Update guy, they will get hitched, open a pug farm and then divorce after five weeks because Cline will get fed up with seeing girls all over her hot husband.
8. I won’t wear a shirt all weekend, regardless of rain, sleet or snow.
9. Someone from Blackfoot will tell me to put a shirt on.
10.  Some guys will ride dirt bikes around a track, several times.

Okay, enough Des Nations chatter. I’m getting too excited and we still have ten hours in Billy’s Mizuno van before we arrive at Budds Creek.

Team Canada: (52) JSR, (53) Facciotti, and (54) Morgan.

photo: James Lissimore

An ugly news story that included pro racer Trevor Middleton hit the Toronto Star this week and, eventually, the forums. Go here to read the news article. Basically, from what I’ve read (and heard) Middleton had an altercation with a few guys in a Honda Civic that somehow led to the Civic and it’s occupants being run off the rode and seriously injured. I know Trevor fairly well, and I believe that he wouldn’t want to hurt someone. There are obviously two sides to this story, as always, and the only people who know the true story are the ones who were involved. I was a little ticked off by the way The Star used sensationalism to make Middleton out to be this badass motorcycle rider who enjoys danger. It makes both Trevor and dirt bike riders in general look like maniacs. I also didn’t like how the reporter pulled a quote from Middleton’s Facebook page that seems somewhat unethical to me. But, what would I know—I’m just a maniac motorcycle rider.

Speaking of the crazy motorcycle community, the Lakeshore Dirt Rider Motorcycle club raised approximately $13,000 for the Sick Kids Foundation last weekend at their annual Charity Race. The event was held at Cochrane’s track in Brighton, Ontario, and the club was treated to some great racing in the Expert class, with riders such as Kyle Keast, Jason Burke, Johnny Silegren, Rob McCullough, Kyle Ferguson, Kurtis Jack, and Trevor Emery making it out. I grew up racing the Lakeshore club, and I can remember being in awe watching Corey and Toby Stoll tearing up the track when I was a kid, so I’m certain the kids were stoked to see some of Ontario’s best up close at Cochrane’s.

Keast won all of the motos, with Burke keeping pace in a couple followed by Silegren, Jack and McCullough. In one moto, Burke didn’t get on the binders hard enough and went sailing into the bushes. This allowed the old guy McCullough to go by and beat Jay in the overall. Being a top 10 pro, Burke didn’t take this loss very well and he quickly put up a for sale sign on his CRF450 followed by a press release announcing his early retirement. This led to a forum thread questioning the seriousness of the PR and Burke’s Label It team manager Brad Coles sent us this note:

It is with much regret that I have accepted the resignation of Jason Burke but I do understand given the circumstances. On the up side I have found a new rider to ride the #34 Label It Racing Honda at the Montreal Supercross. He's a veteran rider to be named later, let's just call him R.M., as we have a few contract things to firm up. I wish Jason nothing but the best in his future endeavors. Jay's always bragged that he can clean a windshield better than anyone and I can attest to it. Here's hoping he can get that gas attendant career moving again.
 
Brad Coles
Label It Racing

I thought Burke’s retirement was just a joke too, but now after reading this, I’m not sure what is going on. All I know, is that the #224 bike will move up one spot next year, sweet.

Back to the Charity Race. To keep things relaxed and fun and to raise additional money, LDR brought in Hooters girls to work the 30-second board and they even had the three babes perform a hoola-hoop contest at intermission, followed by jumping jacks. I enjoyed this thoroughly and it raised another $200 for Sick Kids. I have to say thanks to McCullough for letting me race his ultra-fast CRF450 (didn’t even fall down once), and the LDR club for putting on a great event for all.

Here are few links for photos from the race:

http://www.mcxtreme.com/index.php?item=43

http://www.ldrmc.org/pictures2007_charity.htm

Crystal Keast was also kind enough to send along a few photos from her point and shoot …

The Expert class blasts off the line at the LDRMC Charity Race last weekend.

photo: Crystal Keast

The man responsible for Jay Burke's retirement, Rob McCullough, leads Kyle Keast and my younger brother, Corey, around the Cochrane's track.

photo: Crystal Keast

Next weekend is the Montreal Supercross and to get everyone hyped up, we’re posting a few features leading up to the race. This week, we posted an interview with French Canadian FMXer, Ben Milot, who is preparing his run as we speak for this year’s event. You can read it here.

Last week, we spoke with a few industry folks to get their favourite memories from the Big O, and we received a couple more from first Canadian winner of the event, Carl Vaillancourt, and Doug DeHaan. Here’s what they remember from Canada’s biggest race:

“I haven’t missed a race since Jim Ellis won in1977! I was a big fan as a kid; I raced it from 1986 to 1995 and I have been doing colour commentating on TV for the race since I retired. Winning the Canadian final in 1994 was great since it was the first time a French rider ever won in Montreal and I threw a bunch of my gear into the stands. I expected it and it was only Canadians but the crowd didn’t care—they were going nuts. Winning the jump contest in 1995 was also cool and I was the only guy that could do a nice nac-nac with the bike wiped and my body to the side, not to McGrath’s level but a lot better than the other guys doing “half-nac” with only one knee on the seat. My third year pro in `88 at 18 years old, I holeshot the main and battled with Pederson, Holley, Dyck and Fred Andrews to finish fifth. It was an awesome feeling. But my best race was in 1990, I beat Dean Matson in my heat but he beat me in the main by a few seconds, it was close.  My worst night was in 1979 when I ran away from my parents after the main to get close to winner Marty Tripes. I was a little pest and I went thru security and ended up in the elevator with Tripes who was on his way to the press box. But when it was all said and done and the stadium was empty, I was a lonely 9-year-old boy crying and looking for mom and dad. After an hour of running around, a security guard finally grabbed me and brought me to my parents who were worried sick.
Carl Vaillancourt

“It was my first pro race at the end of the year in `91. Or else it was my first indoor race, either way, I’m pretty sure I did horrible! It’s just a different deal. it’s more than just supercross, you have the cars, ATVs and everything. It has a different vibe, too, it’s the end of the year and you’ve had a month break from the last national. You get to see everybody again and it’s just a good crowd and atmosphere.”
Doug DeHaan

I asked Dougie D went the heck happened at the final round of the AMA nationals, because it was the first time in `07 that he didn’t qualify for one. He told me that he came up short on one of the monstrous triples and busted a few spokes before he even put in a fast lap. Then he holeshot Sunday’s consi race, but fell down three laps in and then spent the afternoon watching everyone else suffer on that horrible horrible, horrible hell hole they call a track.

Dougie will be in Montreal and so will the Destroyer films duo of Chris and Cody who are releasing their DVD This Is It at the Auberge Hotel next to Olympic Stadium. It’s an industry get together and they asked if any riders, mechanics, man friends or reps that are planning to attend to shoot them an email at mrpants@destroyerfilms.com. We’ve already had the pleasure of watching the film and we must admit—it’s really cool! It covers every round, every rider and they even show clips from several racers private tracks. I’m not going to give too much away, but if you purchase the DVD, be sure to check out the extra scenes, most notably the Tyler Medaglia, you will laugh.

Here’s a link to the second teaser of This Is it:

http://www.destroyerfilms.com/Destroyer%20Films/Updates/4494F89A-A962-4D9A-BFC0-F7A80F98F215.html
 
(Post party flyer here.)

Also, The Destroyer lads produce some sweet looking tees and hoodies, which you can order right from their website:
 
http://www.destroyerfilms.com/Destroyer%20Films/Merchandise.html




One fellow who won’t be at Montreal is last year’s MX1 winner, Dusty Klatt. As it was unofffically announced on MXForum, the Campbell River Crusher will be racing for Monster Energy/ Cernic’s Kawasaki in `08. The deal includes a 450 in the AMA Supercross Series and the Canadian Nationals. My first reaction was, ‘Wow, Dusty is a sap!’ But, now that I think about it, it might be a pretty smart move. What means the most in the world to sponsors and media? Supercross. With that, if Dusty does well in SX it will definitely put him on the factory teams radar for `09. It’s sad to say, but the outdoors just don’t attract the big bucks like the supercross show does. Secondly, Klatt will make a good living racing in Canada. Remember how everyone bashed Darcy Lange for not racing the U.S. or Canadian nationals, because he opted for the money in AX and less risk of injury. Well, that eventually led to Lange racing for probably the winningest racing team ever, Monster Energy/ Pro Circuit, finishing on the podium and earning him tons of coin. It’s too early too speculate on Dusty’s decision, but personally, he better get his ass to at least two U.S. nationals next summer.
 
And how about Guy Giroux’s top 10 finish in the XC2 Lites class at the Unadilla GNCC last weekend! The Suzuki Canada rider drove down to the race with a few buddies and came from around 17th place to finish 8th. I spoke with “Little Guy” earlier this week and he was obviously stoked with his finish. It’s been a great summer for Giroux, who was the second top Canadian finisher at the Parry Sound World Enduro, he claimed the pro title in the FMSQ off-road series in Quebec and won the second round of the Canadian National Off-Road series in Quebec. Check back next week for a full interview with the funny Frenchman.

Oh, Giroux also mentioned that he will be racing the Baja 1000 in Mexico this November with road racer, Francis Martin, and a super fast skinny, tall, shaved head French dude that will be named later after he checks in with sponsors.

Guy Giroux gets a little sidewways in Whistler.

Speaking of tall, skinny French dudes, our ad rep Jay Moore was up in Huntsville last weekend at Deerhurst Resort for Yamaha’s Yamaville dealer show. Moore said he hit the links and actually offered a few tips to five-time Canadian champ JSR down at the driving range.

To be quite honest here, we are at Budds Creek right now. I planned to finish up the Frid’Eh Update yesterday and post it this morning, but I ended up hanging out at Gopher Dunes with my favourite MX family, the Schusters, and I didn’t get around to it. Hey, I got up this morning, right? Anyhoo, I gotta start touring around this place and see the sights and sounds of the biggest motocross race in the world.

Oh, one quick funny (but not so funny) story: Team Italy had their bikes held up at customs because  security found Parmesan cheese, wine and olive oil inside their crate. Their bikes should be here tomorrow morning, however.

  See you at Des Nations!