By Danny Brault

Photos: Jason T. Griffiths and Allison Kennedy

A new award was added to the Walton TransCan ceremonies this year—the Racer X Canada “Total Devotion award.” What’s unique about this award, is that it isn’t based on results, but rather the ability to overcome adversity. It was a difficult decision to select a winner, when there are so many candidates, but after a committee carefully went through nominees, we chose Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Davey Fraser. The 16-year-old Fraser raced all three intermediate classes at Walton, even though he had just removed casts from both arms! Driving 15 hours to Walton, with limited resources, Fraser ran up front in several motos and his best finish came in the 250 Intermediate class, where he went 3-12 for fourth overall. Bad luck and crashes kept him from repeating his results in the 125 and GP classes. We caught up with Fraser and spoke to him about his TransCan experience.

RXC: Davey, Congratulations on winning the first annual Racer X Canada Total Devotion award.

Davey Fraser: Thanks.

How did it feel to hear your name called out for the award?

I thought it was pretty cool, you know. I never even heard about the award until we got there, then I started thinking about it. When I won it, I thought it was unreal!

So you didn’t hear about the award going into Walton or before the award ceremonies?

Until I got to Walton.

What was your family’s reaction?

They were all pretty proud of me.

Who was all in that crowd cheering when you went up to the stage?

That was pretty much all the maritimers, all the people from back home. Quite a few people made it up this year and they were all cheering me on.

What were your expectations heading into Walton and how did the racing go for you?

I didn’t do as good as I wanted to do. I proved to everybody that I did have the speed to run up front because I did lead quite a few motos but I just kept on falling.

Going back to the Joliette national—when you broke your arms, what happened?

That morning in practice, they watered the track a lot and it was pretty squirrelly coming up to the double and I went to do it anyways. I just couldn’t get enough traction, came up short, landed on the front tire and my wrists just drove into the handlebars.

Did you have surgery?

Yeah my right arm. I had a plate and six screws put in.

How long did you have a cast on?

About three weeks I had a cast on my arm.

Did the injury bother you at all racing Walton?

Yeah, I couldn’t have ridden without the wrists braces. My left arm, actually, was the sorest one. I had a full on wrist brace on, like I couldn’t bend my wrist or nothing; it was kind of like a cast.

I don’t think many people know much about your background. How did you get into motocross?

Well my dad, he used to road race way back when. I guess he got me started racing motocross. I think he wanted me to start road racing, and I tried it a few years back but I like motocross a lot more.

I heard you qualified for Loretta Lynn’s this summer?

Yeah I did qualify; I was on the list and everything but broke my wrists a week before so I didn’t ride it.

Which class were you going to ride?

I made it into 125 B modified.

Where were your qualifiers?

I did the first one in Southwick and the regional was at Broome Tioga.

What was Southwick like—rough?

I’ve ridden there a few times, I like it. It does get pretty gnarly but I think Gopher Dunes is worse.

Did you try to qualify at Gopher Dunes?

Yeah, I did really bad there.

What’s the racing scene like on east coast? It seems like it is getting bigger?

It is, but it’s not quite like Ontario. We’re not as well organized—I don’t think—as bigger places. But it’s getting better.

Do you have much competition?

I’ve got Kyle [Elliot] and Nathan Slater, but they race us with the pros. So we get to ride with Mitchell [Cooke] and Ryan Lockhart.

Will you turn pro now?

Definitely not this year. I’m going to finish this year up in intermediate. Next year we’ve got to talk to some people.

With who, sponsors or the sanctioning body?

With the CMRC people around here. They wanted me to go pro, pretty much this year but I stayed intermediate.

Yeah you could probably do well in the east but I think it gets tougher at the nationals.

Yeah it’s way different, the competition here than you go to Ontario; it’s unreal.

Do get much help with bikes, parts or gear?

No, not really. Pretty much just my family. I got Shore Cycle, they help me with my bikes; nothing too big.

I saw you at the World Supercross in Toronto last year. Do you plan on racing it again?

I don’t think I’m doing that this year, probably just do some local stuff around here. We’re talking about going to the Mini O’s in Florida and Millsaps too.

Davey, are you a big Trailer Park Boys fan?

Oh I love watching that show!

Did you hear the radio commercial with Bubbles at Walton?

Yeah the Racer X one; it was funny. It sounded just like him.

Who would you like to thank for helping out this year?

I’d like to thank my family, mostly. I couldn’t do anything without them and Shore Cycle and Rivers Machine shop. Without them I wouldn’t be at the races.

Thanks for chatting Davey. Your rode really well at Walton, and you definitely deserved the Total Devotion award.

Thanks you.