Canadian Nationals Kick Off This Weekend!

May 31, 2005

--press release--

Dusty Klatt | Photo: Courtesy Blackfoot Racing

Round 1 of the 2005 CMRC Canadian Motocross Championships gets underway at Mission Raceway in Mission, BC this weekend. Canada's best Pro motocross racers, including top west coast riders Dusty Klatt, Colton Facciotti and Kyle Beaton, will battle each other and an invasion of American motocross heavyweights for the Canadian MX1 and MX2 West Championship crowns.

Klatt, defending champion in the MX2 West title hunt, is one of the fastest rising stars on the Canadian motocross circuit. In addition to winning the '04 MX2 West Championship, the 21-year-old is currently ranked seventh in the premier MX1 class. Not surprisingly, Klatt, who rides for the Calgary based superteam Blackfoot Racing/Honda Canada, is considered the odds-on favourite for the win in the MX2 class at Mission Raceway. Although his main focus will be the MX2 this weekend, the Campbell River native will also be behind the starting gate in MX1.

"I'm looking to repeat as champion in MX2 West this year and up my ranking to top-five in MX1," said Klatt. "It's tough riding both classes because it means racing four motos but I'm in shape to do it. I did it last year so I know what I'm up against."

In the 2004 edition of the Canadian Motocross Championships at Mission Raceway, Klatt chalked up second overall in the MX2 class and third overall in the MX1. While Klatt is expected to be among the front runners this weekend, Colton Facciotti will be one of the many hotshots on the gas to keep the defending champ from climbing the top podium position.

Last year, at the Mission round of the championship, an incident with another rider sent Facciotti to the paddock to get a damaged front wheel changed, effectively taking him out of contention for the day. The Aldergrove native, riding for Richmond Racing/Kawasaki Canada, is looking forward to set things right this time around.

"Mission is my home track so I've got no excuse not to do well there," said Facciotti. "I know I can run with Dusty and the other guys and I'm going for nothing less than the win."

Surrey's Kyle Beaton, who finished third overall in MX2 at Mission in 2004, is again expected to put in a good showing aboard his Yamaha Canada factory bike.

"The first race of the season is probably the most critical because it pretty well sets you up for the rest of the series. In a championship that's only four rounds you need to be in the mix from the get go if you want to have a chance at the title," said Beaton.

In the MX1 title chase, defending champion Jean Sebastien Roy, who recently scored top-10 finishes in the first two rounds of the American Motocross Nationals, will unquestioningly be the man to beat in the '05 Canadian points chase. Other than Klatt, and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan's Blair Morgan, few Canadian riders are expected to offer much of a challenge to Blackfoot Racing Honda's Roy at the opening round in Mission, or the rest of the season. The Quebec "rocket man" has totally dominated the MX1 class since 2001. He won a record seven of eight rounds last year, missing out on a clean sweep because of flat tire problems.

Among the Americans looking to derail Roy's MX1 supremacy are the Californians Craig Decker, Evan Laughridge and Damon Huffman, runner-up in '03-'04, Washington State's Brad Hagseth and Ohio's Gavin Gracyk are also expected to keep Roy honest.

Racing action gets underway this weekend with qualifying on Saturday, June 4. The first moto of the MX2 West Championship starts at 11:00AM, Sunday, June 5.