We received piles of letters for our What’s your take posts, regarding which riders deserve a factory ride and what’s more important—MXDN or WSX. We only have so much room in our mail section in the Racer X Canada magazine, but we feel everyone should have their voice heard, so letters that didn’t make it into the mag, are found here online.

World Supercross or Des Nations?

World Supercross is a supercross series, and if you want do World SX then you would rather have to do AMA SX and MX DES NATIONS your supporting your country or whatever.

Tiger Chan. Santa Paula, Southern California 

Every race is important, all the top riders should get off their asses and get there. Look at Ryan Lockhart, if he didn’t do those races—Toronto and Vancouver, he would not have gotten his Richmond ride [boy that Richmond team needs some luck though]. You have to be a true pro to race in the supercrosses, a local mad man would kill himself indoors. I'm sure we all saw our local heros get lapped twice and roll the entire whoop section—don’t worry, I wouldn’t have even had the nerve to do a parade lap. Exposure, exposure, exposure. Klatt should really be racing the rest of the U.S. nationals, every bad race he has up here from now on, kills his value down there.
Lucas Foster. Calgary, Alberta 

It's important to consider the amount of coverage that these events receive. Let’s put our Canadian riders out there and in the public eye and to be honest, I would have to say that one way of getting recognized is to be racing a series like the WSX. Racing for your country at the Motocross des Nations I'm sure would be an honour for every racer, but the supercross series gives exposure that riders deserve.
Crystal Keast. Lindsay, Ontario 

I believe if Canadian MX is going to be taken more seriously [in the eyes of the U.S.] we need to have the WSX come to Canada and more Canadian riders need to attend these races.
Pat Cyr. Kemptville, Ontario                      

I think doing the WSX rounds are more important. It gives us a chance to see what we can do against the best in the world, like Ricky Carmichael and [Nathan] Ramsey and so on. The MXDN is good, but look at the U.S., they never go either so I say WSX all the way!
Chris Roy. Hammer, Ontario 

They are both important to Canadians and it was embarrassing that only Doug DeHaan raced the 250 class
Shawn Galbraith. Abbotsford, British Columbia 

Girl racing is becoming very popular and there is more girls every year. I think some of the top girls in Canada should be recognized for the talent and ability to ride a dirtbike, especially in a 90 percent male dominated sport. In my opinion, I think that it should be mandatory for ever factory team to have at least one girl on it.

Kyle Boone. London, Ontario 

I believe that it is much more important for the Canadian riders to race in the WSX over the des nations. The riders will get noticed a lot easier at race on this continent then in France. Yes there are industry people there, but every motohead in the world will get a chance to see the supercrosses unlike the des nations. Also the big teams first priority is to field a good supercross team not motocross team. The money spent to get three riders to France and all that goes into the bikes, rig, etc… It could be used to send all Blackfoot and Morgan racing and whoever else to the supercrosses with there own familiar equipment. I hope they go to the supercrosses because I'll be there to cheer on our best, while they show the world that Canada is a player on the world stage. Maybe the promoters for Toronto should promote it as the des nations of supercross? 
Kevin Machan. Monkton, Ontario 

Des Nations for sure, they can afford to race both though.
Ian Brewer. Tulameen, British Columbia 

I think that participation in the WSX is more important, economically. The MXDN will always be there. They never come to Canada anyway. If we do not pull-up our socks and get more Canadian teams at the WSX, then we will have missed a chance to show the world who are the best motocrossers on the planet. Better a racer for a moment than a spectator for a lifetime—Motocross Magazine, 1990's
Tim McVicar. Perth Andover, New Brunswick.

I personally feel that the Canadian rounds of the World supercross are more important and easier to arrange than a trip to France. It’s much easier for sponsors to dig up the coin to contest two more rounds in Canada and have their logos and products seen on TV and in the stadiums by the people who will be buying it the next day. Not many people from France will be shopping at Blackfoot Motorsports from the MXDN. I feel the des nations has been watered down for a few years anyway.
Adam Moreau. Midland, Ontario 

I would rather watch them at home in SX, but if the worlds are contended we should send JSR, Klatt and Doug—he’s no slug.
Mick Varsava, Sarnia, Ontario 

I currently do all the suspension work for Blair Morgan for MX and snocross, and I think the des nations is by far more important than world SX.
Steve Daykin. Calgary, Alberta 

Few racing fans read about the race at the des nations, however, millions see the advertising for World Supercross on TV. Thousands attended the two races in Toronto and Vancouver last year. I know that hundreds of fans went from Alberta to Vancouver to see riders like RC compete. I think World Supercross is much better in terms of attracting new riders and fans to the sport of motocross in Canada and that existing fans should be rewarded by being able to see the best Canadians and Americans ride.
Paul Puky. Calgary, Alberta 

What is more important: Canada's participation in the MXDN, or Canadians racing the opening Rounds of the World Supercoss Grand Prix?
First and foremost, I would like to see both Canada's participation in the 2005 MXDN and our top Canadians competing in the opening rounds of the World Supercross Grand Prix.  As Racer X Canada's post suggests, both are huge events and both have the potential to further and/or strengthen the sport of motocross in Canada.  If, however, I'm forced to choose between two excellent events, I would choose to see our top Canadians racing the World Supercoss Grand Prix.
Simply put, the MXDN is a shadow of its former self.  No longer do the top riders in the world attend the event, the media coverage has dropped off the radar and there seems to be relatively little hype surrounding the event here in North America [at least, when compared with, say, the AMA Supercross Series, the US Open, the AMA Motocross Series, the Canadian MX Championship, or even the opening rounds of the WSX Grand Prix].  In contrast, the WSX events seem to be growing in stature by the year, and I am of the opinion that Canadian riders and their sponsors will receive far more attention and media exposure by attending the WSX then say, they will receive by attending the MXDN. 
Of course, some will object saying that the MXDN is a historic event, and that Canada's participation is needed precisely to salvage it from the scrap-yard.  While there may be some truth to this objection, the MXDN has not been a historic event for Canadian motocrossers.  Or, in other words, Canada's participation in the event is sporadic at best and our tradition rather thin in that regard.  I suppose what I am trying to say is that Canada's participation in the event [unlike American participation] is not going to make or break the MXDN.  The WSX, however, is a different story.  I believe top Canadian participation in the WSX events [or lack thereof] has the potential to make or break Canadian rounds of the WSX.  That is to say, Clear Channel is looking to sell as many seats as possible at these events; and consequently their success or failure depends on the number of Canadian fans they can pack into the stands.  With that in mind, I have a feeling more Canadians MX fans will attend the events if they know the likes of JSR, Morgan, and Dehaan will be lining up against the likes of Carmichael and LaRocco.
This brings me to my final point: very few Canadian fans will actually have to opportunity to see their favourite Canadian riders mix it up on an international stage at the MXDN.  In fact, the majority will have to rely on second-hand reports and day old race results.  Again, the WSX is a completely different story.  For example, the SkyDome [err.Rogers Centre] in Toronto can hold 60 000+ Canadian motocross enthusiasts; and this means the majority of Canadian motocross fans will have the opportunity to witness [first-hand] JSR battling it out with the best in the world.  Anyway, those are my thoughts not yours, and you are more than welcome to disagree.
Aaron Wendland. Essex, Ontario 

The WSX is by far more important than the MXDN.  Though I wish the MXDN was as important and special as it used to be, the fact is that even winning the MXDN will not improve MX in Canada.

1. MXDN does not do anything for our up and coming Canadian riders who could compete in the WSX.

2. The MXDN will not increase the fan base or ridership in Canada.
WSX in Canada will grow the fan base in Canada, and maybe even convince CTV
to show SX / MX instead of poker and bowling.  It may even excite some kids to start riding. There is little ROI with the MXDN.

3. Securing WSX rounds over the next number of years will mean more
experience for Canadian racers in the SX series, which will in turn give them
more opportunities to race in North America. 

4. Many Canadian riders can participate WSX and benefit from the exposure, as opposed to only three established veterans.

5. Why should Canada put in effort for a race that is rarely run in North America, and never televised here.  The general fan might not even know what the MXDN is, or that it happened.  SX will be much more publicized to the mainstream media and general fan. The impact and benefit on Canadian motocross makes WSX much more significant for the fans and the riders. 

6. As a hardcore fan with a limited budget, I can actually afford to go watch a
round of the WSX and see at least 20 of my favourite riders to boot.  Even if I managed to save the money to go to the MXDN, it would only be to see our riders and the US riders. The fact is, I just don't care much about Euro / GP Motocross anymore. Sad perhaps, but true.

I believe kids today do not dream about winning the MXDN or even racing in Europe.  They dream about being MC or RC or JS, and racing the US SX and MX series.  They might even dream about being like Darcy and racing Arenacross, but most do not know anything about the GPs, let alone who races them.
Johnny Grant. Nepean, Ontario 

I think our top teams racing at the world supercross rounds with full factory backing are more important to the growth of motocross in Canada.   People who are not motocross fans don’t even know what the motocross des nations is, but there are a lot of casual fans who know Carmichael and Bubba would love to see our top Canadian riders racing with them. It would also help to promote both races being able to see JSR, Dust and Darcy compete against the best supercross guys in the World.
Brent Martin. Coquitlam, British Columbia 

Wow, tough question.  Well there are two ways of looking it.  I think that for Canadians fans it is far more important for our riders to attend the supercrosses.  It’s an issue of pride.  Last year the U.S. riders invaded our country and our best riders were missing when the gate dropped.  I was disappointed as many fans were.  Roy is fast and very fast on Canadian soil.  Would have been exciting.  On the other hand it really puts Canada on the map when our team does well at the Des Nations in terms of factory support and funding I would think.  Our nationals would get more recoginition as a result too.  So Des Nations for the industry and Supercross for the Canadian fans.  Whats more important?  They both are.  Canadian dollars got us this far and investments from else where will take us farther.  Respect vs. growth?
Brent Thur. Toronto, Ontario 

Let them race what they think is most important to them. Yes we are the fans of this incredible sport and I would love to see them race in the Tdot, but that is up to them and I know from meeting them that they will do what is best for them and either way make us as Canadians proud.
Petr Havilka. Barrie, Ontario 

Without a doubt JSR has got to be there.  That goes without saying.  In the next couple of spots are very interesting, I can see Blair Morgan getting faster each week, everyone knows he gets quicker each week in the nationals and this year is no different.  By the time the Motocross Des Nations comes around he may be Canada's best bet for a top ten finish again.  Dusty has to be a strong consideration as well again.  It would be really difficult to keep him off the team after how well he rode last year in Europe.  If Blair can't go, I'd like to see BC's Kyle Beaton sent out.  He has the speed to stay with Dusty and has been riding in Europe in the winters in arenacrosses.  Simon Homans has also really stepped up his game this year and has proved to be a strong candidate for a ride out there.  GO CANADA GO
Ryan Parlee. Abbotsford, British Columbia 

I think it depends on the rider. Some riders want to concentrate on racing in Canada. Other riders want to compete in the name of Canada in world events. Does this make one a "better rider" based solely on the virtue of where they want to race? In a word, no. If a rider wants to race the WSX rounds that rider will ride their best there. Same goes for the MXdN. Forcing a rider to compete in any event they do not want to will cause them to ride at a level that is substandard to them, even if they don't mean too. In the end you can want a rider to ride WSX or MXdN, but in the end the riders will ride where they want to.
Patrick Kavanaugh. China Lake, California 

The supercross rounds for sure. The majority of fans could care less what happens in Europe but they sure pay attention to what’'s going on in their back yard. Besides, the way Roy's riding it would be real interesting to see how he'd stack up against the U.S. riders. I'm betting well inside the top ten.
Andy Dreger. Cranbrook, British Columbia 

I think it would be better for Canada to have a bigger presence in the WSX rounds than the MXON. The reason I say this is because having involved in our home races will generate more interest in MX at home especially for the non-diehard spectators.
Don't get me wrong about the MXON I think it's great that Canada had a team last year and wish they could have a team this year again but lately it gets so little publicity maybe that's because the USA team isn't involved. The WSX round in Toronto was a great show last year and would only be better with more Canadian involvement this year and I can't wait for it!
Phil Schilling. Kitchener, Ontario 

Des nations is more important to Canadian riders because it shows the rest of the world that we have good pro riders too.

Darren Malley. Burlington, Ontario 

The world supercross rounds are much more important.  They are on our own soil and are attended by Canadian fans.The des nations is just a footnote today with the U.S. and Australia not sending teams and other countries like France sending a second rate team.  It is a lot of money to be putting out for an event that has lost its prestige in the last ten years.

Jim Numbers. Stirling, Ontario 

Because we do not get to see any TV coverage of the MXDN, it is very important to me to hopefully see some raw Canadian talent in venues like Toronto and Vancouver.
Daryl Kats. Selkirk, Manitoba.

I think that both are very important for the promotion of Canadian Motocross,  but I believe that the Des Nations is more important in the fact that you are representing for all of the racers in Canada and putting Canada on the map for motocross. Great job Blair, he made his hometown and Country proud!
Jeff Cochrane. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan 

I have only been to a WSX once at Toronto last year, and one CMRC pro race at Walton  in 2004. I still follow results of everything, but I don't want to hear about how we did, I want to see it and more importantly live!  Also supercross is more exciting to watch with bigger jumps, more technical sections, and also, you can see the whole track from your seat! In motocross you can only see a few things, but it is still very exciting.  In closing, I think most Canadians would like to see JSR and Ricky Carmichael battling it up in Canada!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Great magazine keep up the great work!!!!!
Matthew Gribble. Goodwood, Ontario

Which Canadian deserves a Factory Ride?

I think that Ryan Gauld should get another chance and also Kyle Keast has been on the gas this year, and maybe even see [Jason] Burke up there.
Chris Roy. Hammer, Ontario.

Jason Burke. Very hard worker and will do almost anything he has to do to get the job done. Great kid
Steve Simms. St. George, Ontario

Jay Burke has been working like a mad-man all season and has made the commitment to the sport.  He trains as hard as any athlete I know, and it has paid off with a provincial championship.  Jay proved his worth further by finishing a few feet behind Blackfoot's Mitch Cooke in the second MX2 moto at Gopher Dunes.  This despite a dead engine start.  On a side note, I saw Mitch Cooke in the pits after his motos scrubbing his own boots at the Blackfoot trailer.  After riding two motos in that heat, on that rough a track he still helped his mechanic with the dirty work.  It was nice to see the guy hasn’t let the factory ride go to his head.  Maybe every kid should have to ride as a privateer and drive a bread truck to make ends meet for a while so they can appreciate it when the opportunity comes. Another rider who should be noticed was Tyler Bezzo, #67 with Intermediate plates.  This young kid rode the rough sand track like a pro, and got stronger as the race went on.  He finished in 11th just behind Homans, and was actually passing Homans as the checkers flew.  Good job man.
Paul Karlhuber. Brantford, Ontario 

There were a number of riders that turned some heads at the first eastern national at Gopher Dunes. Due to the results of the factory riders and those of the other racers, we can understand why this question was asked. Though the eastern series has just begun and anything can happen, it's the riders that show determination, heart and, of course, consistent results that really deserve to be pitting out of a big-rig.  I think everyone knows who I think deserves to be a factory rider, and not just because I'm his sister, but because I know how hard he trains and dedicated he is to the sport. Kyle Keast, because of his goals and attributes, deserves nothing less than to be on a factory team. Go li'l bro, #27.

Crystal Keast. Lindsay, Ontario 

Simon Homans. He is not on a full factory team [more Privateer rider backed by Yamaha-Motor Canada Ltd.] Something a lot of people missed, is that Homans was the only rider that did four full motos and earned two podiums [3-10 and 3-10, but was running fifth before losing the bike one lap before the end of the second MX2 moto].  In MX1, Homans did a late pass on Huffman, he held off Klatt for more than half of the first moto. We have to give Homans a lot of credit and he is by far the best shape rider, after JSR.  I predict Homans to raise his speed close to JSR.  He already passed him twice last weekend at a provincial in La Tuque [maybe JSR didn't have his A bike]. But something is sure, Homans gained a lot of speed during the winter and is riding smoother and we will see him more and more on the podium in the future in the MX1 class.
Eric Bouchard. Barrie, Ontario 

 This kid is 16-years-old and a national champ. His name is Billy Mullen, #624. He’s the real deal!

Olive Baily. Peterborough, Ontario 

This young rider has been proving himself the past year, making several evening programs in the United States Pro National Supercross Series, then the outdoor season making the main event at Budds Creek. This year he has had an unfortunate collarbone injury that has hindered his dreams of a good outdoor season. Last year at Toronto, Tim was able to walk away with a very good result from the main event.  He looks forward to attending this year. The family supports him 100 percent. His father is suffering from degenertive ostioarthritis, but continues to be his mechanic supporting his dream as long as he can physically keep wrenching on the bikes. The family was great to meet this weekend at Gopher Dunes! I wish there was more support for pro privateers like him and his family. The true dream is not only for the riders, but the whole families. 
Tim Hollenbeck. Prospect, Ohio  

Kyle Keast!  He is one of my favorite riders to watch.  He is the only guy I know that can be going faster at the end of the race then at the beginning.  He is always charging and he seems determined to do well. If he falls down he gets up and goes faster. Off the track he is kind of queit but has a really good positive attitude.  I think Kyle would be a great candidate to be on a Canadian factory team.
Jessica Rose. Harwood, Ontario 

Many pros had problems at the Gopher Dunes national race that just past but I don’'t think any pro is more deserving to be on a factory team than # 40 Justin Thompson. He proved that he could run with the top riders.  Thompson qualified sixth in his heat then on Sunday in the first 250 moto he started second and ran a solid sixth I believe until his bike problems ate his chances of a great finish.  The second moto was a different story, he had an average start and made fast work of riders running about ninth, I believe until again bike problems ended his day in disappointment After the race I found out Thompson was running a fully stock bike with the exception of suspension and the valve clearances were gone , after seeing Justin kick his bike over for about four minutes it proves this guy has heart and talent, and that’s why I think he's deserving of a factory ride, but that’s just my thoughts. Thanks
Dave Perrin. London, Ontario 

I think one person who definitely deserves a great ride with great support and bikes is Chuck Mesley.  He has the talent, speed, work ethics, rides with more heart then anyone I have ever seen, but lacks the resources and the financial support to really show his true potential.  He is a winner, has a great attitude and is always a rider that kids have looked up to.  I would also say that he is the most entertaining rider to watch in Canada.  The boy is a diamond in the rough waiting to shine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Travis Hesketh. Mallorytown, Ontario 

I think Jay Burke should be the first of them all to get a Canadian factory ride! The guy works his butt off to do the best he can. I remember seeing him at Gopher a couple times trying to get ready for the national, the guy is an animal. It was nice to see a closer-to-home guy shine in the Saturday qualifiers like he did! Hopefully he'll show the same speed for the rest of the series, but someone giver this guy a ride!
Darren Alderman. Cambridge, Ontario 

Clone little Cole Thompson and send him over to stomp everyone on the international scene. The kid has wings!
Mick Varsava. Sarnia, Ontario