- press release -

Will Klatt win his final home track national?

After a two week break in the schedule the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals resume for Round 5 of the series in Nanaimo, BC this weekend. After 12 seasons on the CMRC Nationals circuit, this will be the last MX1 and MX2 National to be run at The Wastelands facility and the final chance for Dusty Klatt and other Vancouver Island riders to race in front of a home crowd.

"It certainly would be nice to win this race seeing it will be the last national at The Wastelands," said Klatt. "I'm also past due for my first overall win this season and what better place to do it than my home track."

Monster Energy Cernics Kawasaki's Klatt, who is currently 3rd in the MX1 rankings, has had a mixed bag of results so far this season including only one moto win, two 2nd places, two 3rd places, two 7th places and one 13th place finish. His best overall was at Round 2, which saw him card 2nd on the strength of 1-3 motos.

If Klatt is going to secure his second MX1 National Championship he will have to step up to the plate in Nanaimo and turn the tables on his main rivals, Team Toyota Yamaha Blackfoot Fox Racing's Colton Facciotti and Team Suzuki Rockstar Energy OTSFF's Tyler Medaglia who are currently in 2nd and 1st in the points standings respectively.

The big surprise so far this season has been Medaglia, who is enjoying a 17 point advantage over Facciotti and 22 over Klatt. Medaglia, who is campaigning his first full season of the MX1 title hunt, won his first ever national overall at Round 2 on the strength of 3-1 motos. His worst finish to date was at Round 4, where he recorded 2nd overall on the strength of 2-5 motos.  

"I've been consistent up to now and that's where I have to stay if I'm going to remain at the front of the points standings. At this stage in the series you pretty well know who your competition is going to be for the title and you have to stay on top of your game if you want to have a say in the championship," said Medaglia. "The pressure is mounting for us all and I see this coming right down to the very end."

Unquestionably Medaglia is going to have his hands full with Facciotti and Klatt if he wants to win the MX1 title. Facciotti, who missed Round 2 due to an injury, won the remaining three rounds, all with clean sweeps. Klatt, who won the title in 2006, didn't defend his championship last year due to racing commitments in the U.S., will no doubt want to prove that he still has what it takes to win a series.

Whatever the case, it looks like the MX1 title will be back in Canadian hands this year after it was won by the American Paul Carpenter in '07. In the MX2 Championship, unless Kyle Beaton and Tyler Medaglia's brother Jeremy can get with a consistent program in the remaining five rounds, it will be an American who will claim the title. And unless KTM Royal Distributing Thor Riverside MX's Eric Nye suddenly loses his focus, he will more than likely win the championship. The California native currently enjoys a solid 38 point lead over fellow American Aron Harvey.

Harvey, who is contesting the MX2 points chase for Team Toyota Yamaha Blackfoot Fox Racing, got off to a lukewarm season start but he has gradually picked up steam at each round and he may very well be the only one to give Nye a run for his money. Clearbrook Yamaha's Beaton and Team Suzuki Rockstar OTSFF's Medaglia, tied for 3rd in the current rankings, trail Nye by 46 points. Beaton, who has been kicking around the MX2 class for a number of years, and Medaglia who is in his rookie season, both have what it takes to turn the MX2 title hunt into an American-Canadian confrontation, but time is slowly running out.