- press release -

Walton TransCan Grand National - It's time for the "Big Show"

The final round of the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals is just a few heartbeats away and even though it may be somewhat anticlimactic as far as determining who will be crowned MX1 and MX2 National Champion, the Walton TransCan is without a doubt the "Big Show" of the Canadian motocross season.

Back in 1992 the TransCan was the first major CMRC motocross effort, and co-promoted by the sanctioning body with track owner Chris Lee for the first nine years. Since that time the event has experienced a gradual but steady growth curve where today it has many imitators but as yet no equals.

With an annual pilgrimage of more than 900 competitors and 20,000 spectators, the Walton TransCan Grand National has earned the right to be called Canada's "Motocross Classic". Since its inauguration, Walton has been the "crown jewel" and final round of the national motocross championship. A number of years ago promoter Chris Lee coined the event a "four-day celebration of Canadian motocross" and that's exactly what it is...and more! Lending a true carnival atmosphere to the proceedings is a contingent of industry and non- industry vendor participants, dirt bike demonstration rides, helicopter rides, beer tents, and paintball to compliment a full roster of races from amateur to pro.

Winning Walton is every rider's dream. For the pros it's the Canadian equivalent of winning Indianapolis or Daytona. For the amateurs it's tantamount to winning Loretta Lynn's. Not surprisingly, Walton is a magnet for hundreds of riders from across Canada and the United States. For the thousands of race fans who come to take in the action, their day ends with seeing the new series champs officially receive their No.1 plate. While Team Toyota Yamaha Blackfoot Fox Racing's Colton Facciotti and KTM Royal Distributing Thor Riverside MX's Eric Nye are poised to ride off into the Walton sunset as MX1 and MX2 Champions respectively, there will be plenty of gruelling action for the remaining top-10 to top-5 positions in both classes.

The place where it all happens, the race track, is second to none. Except for two man-made jumps, Walton is 100% natural terrain. It is spectacular, demanding, very fast, and wide in all sections, allowing for plenty of lines and passing. Reminiscent of European GP tracks, Walton is roughly 1.5 miles (2.45 km) in length, consists of hard to soft packed down dirt. This traditional, natural terrain paradise posts lap times of 2.5 minutes and up.

Walton, that tiny farming community in southwestern Ontario, is the place you want to go to if you plan on attending only one motocross event this year.