Frid'Eh Update:Presented by Royal Distributing
APRIL 25, 2008
The first round of the Monster Energy CMRC Motocross Nationals is just around the corner. 29 days around the corner to be exact. I, personally, can’t wait to see the gate drop for the first MX2 moto in Ste-Julie, Quebec. There are several rider/team transactions, a schedule change sees us visiting Edmonton instead of Calgary, Destroyer Films is back on the scene filming their second DVD, we (RXC) have some exciting new projects in the hopper, and Monster Energy is backing our series once again.

And Andy White spilled the beans today that Doug DeHaan is returning to the Canadian Nationals. White says DeHaan will race a KTM 450 SX-F at select CMRC Ontario Provincials and MX1 nationals. DeHaan’s a new man these days; he’s married and has a “Little D” in the works with his wife, Claudia, so he’s unable to make any commitments. But KTM is more than willing to accommodate him for the races he can attend. Welcome back, Dougie!

Doug DeHaan will ride a KTM for the first time in his career this summer.

photo: Allison Kennedy

White also added that KTM is supporting another MX1 rider, South Africa’s Liam O’Farrell. Selwyn Momberg, who acts as an agent of sorts for South African riders coming to Canada (he helped Kerim Fitzergald find support with Machine Racing Yamaha last year), contacted White on providing support for O’Farrell, at some level, for 2008. Despite a full arsenal on the Royal Distributing/Thor/Riverside KTM Canada team, and a lineup of young guns on the Orange Motorsports/ RTR Performance satellite team, White and Orange Motorsports have managed to work out a deal to supply O’Farrell with a KTM 450 for provincials and nationals. He will pit out of Orange’s tent in the East, and will operate out of RTR’s rig in the west. O'Farrell raced at RJ Motosport Park on Sunday, and finished third overall behind Kyle Stephens and Kyle Keast in GP Pro.

With this news flooding in today, it got me thinking of who will be racing for who this summer. Here’s what I’ve come up with (if I’m forgetting anyone, please shoot me an email at dannyb@racerxcanada.com):

Team Toyota Yamaha/BlackfootDirect.com/Fox Racing
MX1: Blair Morgan, Colton Facciotti, Jimmy Nelson
MX2: Aron Harvey
Ladies: Jolene Van Vugt (riding an RM-Z250)

Monster Energy Cernic’s Kawasaki
MX1: Jeff Gibson, Dusty Klatt
Ladies: Heidi Cooke

Royal Distributing/Thor/Riverside KTM Canada
MX1: Jeff Northrop, Tim Tremblay, Doug DeHaan (select rounds)
MX2: Eric Nye, Mason Phillips, Ryan Lockhart

Suzuki/OTSFF/Rockstar
MX1: Tyler Medaglia, Mitch Cooke, Brady Sheren
MX2: Jeremy Medaglia
Ladies: Missy Hackett

Monster Energy/Leading Edge Kawasaki
MX2: Nick Evennou, Teddy Maier, Brock Hoyer

Machine Racing Honda
MX1: Kyle Keast

Orange Motorsports/RTR Performance KTM
MX1: Liam O’Farrell
MX2: Kirk Haws, Ryan Millar, Kris Foster, Trever Hall (East Coast only)
Ladies: Kristina Sundal

FXR
MX1: Kevin Urquhart

Ignition Racing
MX1: Johnny Silegren

OTSFF Support Team
MX1: Milo Christie, Joey Leadbeater, Broc Shury, Nathaniel Bosum
Ladies: Jocelyn Killough

Les Chutes Kawasaki/Dubé Racing
MX1: Marco Dubé

Label It Honda
MX1: Jason Burke
MX2: Davey Fraser

Clearbrook Yamaha
MX2: Kyle Beaton, Shane Wiebe

Again, I’m sure I’m leaving out some riders and teams, so please shoot me an email and we’ll get you some press in next week’s Frid’Eh Update.

One rider I’m sure a lot of fans would love to see line up for a Canadian national this summer is Team Green’s Dean Wilson. The former Alberta resident now spends most of his days in sunny SoCal, keeping himself in shape for the competitive amateur nationals and keeping close to the scene. Wilson’s results at the last few big dances, Lake Whitney, Oak Hill, and, most recently, the World Mini’s in Las Vegas, has got people talking. Many believe Wilson could win a national up here. That would be hard to bet against, especially after Wilson won the 450 B Stock and 450 Four-stroke Non-Pro classes at the World Mini GP. I tried reaching Dean for an interview this week, but he’s too fast to return my calls.

For full results from the World Minis, go here. http://worldmini.tracksideonlineresults.com/class.asp

Darcy Lange sealed his name in the Canadian MX record books with his third-place finish in the Eastern Region Lites series last year.

photo: Simon Cudby

Speaking of Kawasaki riders, we caught up with Darcy Lange to see how things are going now that his battle with cancer is over. Read the interview here.

Lange’s been enjoying being a normal person for the last while, working at a pole yard for his girlfriend’s father, working on his house, hanging out with the family, and, of course, riding dirt bikes. But the three-time AX champ isn’t looking to break records anytime soon; he’s simply riding for fun. There was rumour that Darcy was retiring from professional racing after his doctor said his body couldn’t handle that tempo anymore, but he hasn’t made any decisions yet.

“I got another month to decide because that’s when I would head to California,” says Lange. “One thing too, that is in the back of my mind, is that the doctor said I would never be able to again. At the same time, I would like to prove them wrong, but do I bother trying? I don’t know.  One day, I’m pumped to go back, and another day, I don’t want to. It’s been good being home, my brother has two kids so I get to watch them grow up.”

While we’d love to see “The Deputy” back on the line, it’s definitely understandable why he’s hesitant; he’s had a long and successful career and has had more than his share of battles, especially with what he’s gone through in the last year. But, if he’s leaning towards to racing again, here are two letters of encouragement we received:

Danny,
 
Thanks for the article on Darcy.  I too am a cancer survivor (Hodgkins Lymphoma) like Darcy.  I did not follow his career or know much about him until I heard he was diagnosed with Hodgkins.  I raced motocross and was a competitive cyclist while in college.  My doctor also told me the same things about the heart and lungs after my treatment.  I personally believe it is a bunch of bull.  I have completed a couple Ironman triathlons and countless half-Ironmans.  I feel as strong now as I did before the treatments.  Darcy’s first year may be a little tough but after that it will only get better.  I finished chemo and radiation July of `03 and began training for an Ironman that I completed in November of `04.  Darcy CAN get back to the same level or higher!
 
I am writing you not to talk about my accomplishments but to encourage you talk to Darcy and tell him that he can do it.  He can get his body back in shape and his heart and lungs will adapt and sustain him.  I am living proof.  He can get back to the same fitness and speed he was at without a doubt in my mind.  Don’t let this doctor discourage him!!!  He is only 26 years old and he has the rest of his life to settle down.
 
Thanks again for the article and your website.  I read Observations every week and really enjoy you guys work!
 
Tod Tieszen

 
It was great to read the interview with Darcy. Can you forward him an e-mail and tell him everybody wants him to come back to finish what he started in Supercross.  My son and I have met him at numerous races and he is a great guy to talk to; a real class act.  We wish him well with whatever decision he makes, but really hope he comes back.
 
Brent & Geoff
 
P.S. The new online magazine is fantastic; keep up the great work!

Thanks, Tod, Brent, and Geoff! We sent your emails off to Darcy, and I’m sure he’ll appreciate your inspiring words. Oh, and thanks for the props on the new site! We’re working hard to give you the best Canadian MX magazine and the fastest news possible.

On that note, we welcome readers to submit comments on the new site and online issue. Please shoot us an email at letters@racerxcanada.com. We’ll do our best to respond and we always appreciate feedback.

Gopher Dunes isn’t only known for being the toughest track in Canada; they also host some of the best mud bogs around! Check this link of photos from their first Mud Bog, sent to us by Danny Bailey. http://www.tillsonburg.com/mudbog_08/

World Enduro Canada’s Lawrence Hacking is riding a motorcycle rally in Japan this weekend. Check out his progress at www.sser.org.

This has absolutely nothing to do with motocross, but I’m going to share it with you anyways. You know how James Stewart said his life was all about January 8th back in 2005? Well, my life is all about May 29, when Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles from the Trailer Park Boys visit my hometown of Peterborough, Ontario. The Sunnyvale Trailer Park troublemakers are performing live at the Memorial Centre (home of the Peterborough Petes) and I have front row seats. Life is good.

There’s plenty of local racing going on this weekend. In Ontario, the CMRC series visits Moto Park, MMRS is at Cochrane’s, Burnt River welcomes CMX, and LDRMC opens their season in Port Perry; Manitoba starts racing this weekend in Melita; Saskatchewan’s riders will head to the Otopasso Trails; and the CMA is holding a race in Agassiz, BC.

Matthes Mania is off the charts this week; first he posted his second Podcast with Chad Reed, then he was “on” again in Observations from St. Louis, and he even stole Rob Buydos away from his PU’s duties for some giggles.

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series heads to Seattle this Saturday. Canadian Dusty Klatt will try to figure things out in the 450 class, while Brady Sheren and Kyle Beaton look to impress in the Lites class. The West Coast champ will be crowned this weekend too. Who will it be, badboy Jason Lawrence or the cleancut Ryan Dungey? Be sure to cast your vote on our Machine Racing Poll.

You can catch SX on the tube tomorrow, with Lites action from St. Louis @ 4:30 PM EST, and 450 action from Seattle on Sunday @ 6 PM EST. All on Speed!

Brady Sheren returns to AMA Supercross tomorrow in Seattle.

photo: James Lissimore

BigWave Billy Rainford dropped by MX101’s Sand Del Lee facility and sent along this note…

I popped in to the Sand Del Lee track at MX101 near Ottawa to check in on co-owner Kevin Tyler to see what was new this spring.  Although it was a balmy 23 degrees, there was still a substantial amount of ice on their pond. The Ottawa area received a cruel winter joke a few weeks ago when over 70 cms of snow fell in one week.  He still has his 450 from last season but is determined to qualify for a national on this 2008 YZ125 at either Ste Julie or his home national at Sand Del Lee. He’s also partly made the decision to ride the tiddler to take some of the noise issues out of his practice riding. Smart track owner!

Anyway, I wouldn’t bet against Kevin coming through on his challenge. Also, for an old schooler like me, the sound of a pro ripping around on a new 125 two-stroke was music to my ears! I know he’ll be a fan favourite when he rolls to the line on this thing this summer. Go get ‘em KT!

Thanks, Billy. I’m impressed—I didn’t know the hot dog vendor could a ride! Just kidding, KT. Did you know that Kevin Tyler qualified for an AMA national at Southwick in 1998? Now you do.

MX101's Kevin Tyler enjoys some spring riding in Ottawa.

photo: Billy Rainford

Last weekend I took in the Josh Damery Arenacross in the small New Brunswick town of Sackville. Richard Strang, Bryan Heydeman, Ryan Lockhart, and everyone involved, did a fantastic job of organizing the event. I’m pretty sure Strang came out ahead after tallying everything up, which is pretty awesome for a first time indoor event, in Canada. He says the event went over so well that they’ve already penciled it in for 2009, and potential sponsors have shown interest in climbing on board. Good job, guys!

KTM’s Ryan Lockhart was definitely the star of the show, winning all four pro main events, and earning the Josh Damery Memorial award for his efforts in helping with track layout and design and keeping Strang sane through the whole process. Check out Photo Report 1 and 2 for a recap of the weekend.

Despite a lack of competition, I really believe Lockhart has found his old self. I stayed his place in Springhill, Nova Scotia for four days, and spent a lot of time with the Newf. He seems determined to live up to the expectations of his fans, his father, Scott, and, most importantly, the expectations he has of himself. While Lockhart has been a consistent top-10 rider in the MX1 class over the last two seasons, he hasn’t really shown any signs of “wanting it.” He’s looking to change that in 2008 and beyond.

“ I realize that’s not who I want to be the rest of my life,” Lockhart says. “I want to end my career riding dirt bikes to be known as somebody different than Ryan Lockhart the rockstar, with the attitude, that just pissed his career away. It’s taking me a while to realize that—and I have realized that the whole time—but realizing something and doing something are two different things.”

He’s not shooting for any specific goals or results. Instead, he just wants to race and then see where things are at come Walton.

In other Maritime news, Zach Heydeman has secured support through Canadian Kawasaki and the G. Bourque dealership out of Moncton. Also, check out this week’s Exposure with Atlantic Motoplex Yamaha’s Tristan Hamm. He’s a young racer with an old school, just pin it approach to riding.

Ben Brown is an inspiration to anyone who's sustained a serious spinal injury. Brown,  is a paraplegic that hasn't let his injury slow him down one bit. I met Ben in Sackville and this kid has a remarkable attitude for what he's been through. Brown's hoping to enter his first race this year since injuring himself two years ago. Good luck, Ben!

photo courtesy of Ben Brown

Okay, that’s all I have this week for you fine folks. Thanks for reading!