How does Vancouver Island transform so many riders into motocross superstars? We’re not sure either, especially since there are only two or three tracks to practice on, but Courtenay’s Coleton McLean has a theory: “I think it’s because we’re there, we ride together, and we’re always pushing each other,” says McLean. “It’s more relaxed over here and we ride just because we like to ride.”    

Considering Dusty Klatt and Darcy Lange’s laidback attitude, we definitely agree that islanders take life a little slower than most. Maybe that’s why they’re able to remain calm on the track.

McLean is quickly becoming the next big thing from the Island, winning the 125 and GP Intermediate Youth Island championships last summer, qualifying 16th in timed practice for the Nanaimo national (where he went 23-DNF), and he’s proved his technical abilities by winning races in the Toyota Yamaha Canada Nex-Trax Arenacross Championships.
   
McLean first started riding after watching his neighbor, Milo Christie, burn around on his dirt bike. He remains good friends with Christie and Campbell River’s Andrew Belin, both of whom are top national pros. He doesn’t hang out with Klatt much, but he has discovered his old training grounds.
   
“There’s this place that Dusty Klatt used to go to quite a bit, it’s called the Oyster River Pit,” says McLean. “It’s just a gravel pit and we make some berms to ride around on and I build up tighter tracks to practice for arenacross." Who says you need a private supercross track?
   
For 2008, McLean hopes to qualify for Loretta Lynn’s and make his first trip out to the Walton TransCan to take on Canada’s best. As for goals, he admits that the Gaerne Bronze Boot at the Western Canadian Amateur National is on his list.