Prelude to Mission

June 2 , 2005

By: Danny "Giver" Brault

The opening round of the Canadian nationals is just around the corner. Will anyone be able to keep the Blackfoot boys from repeating their dominance from the first race last year?

Photo: Allison Kennedy

It’ s almost here folks—the opening round of the 2005 Canadian Nationals! This weekend will feature, arguably, the most competitive MX2 (125) West and MX1 (250) line-up to hit Canadian soil. Dusty Klatt will look to defend his MX2 West title, but it won t be easy. Canadians Colton Facciotti, Kyle Beaton and Brady Sheren have been training hard during the pre-season and have the potential to steal some moto wins. However, Klatt’s biggest challenge may come from south of the border, as Americans Jimmy Nelson, Kris Keefer, Shane Bess, Erick Vallejo, Teddy Maier and Jeff Northrop have also admitted that only the top step on the podium will suffice.

     
In the 250 class, our King Jean-Sebastien Roy will have his hands full with contenders Josh Demuth, Damon Huffman, Craig Decker, Blair Morgan, Brad Hagseth, Evan Laughridge, Ryan Lockhart and the list goes on... But it will be tough to dethrone JSR, as he showed in the past two weeks that he can hang with some of the factory boys in the states. We had a chance to speak with several defenders, about what they’ve been doing to prepare for Mission and their expectations.

    
#7 (#1 125 West) Dusty Klatt: Blackfoot Honda
Blackfoot Honda’s Klatt won his first major Canadian title last year and finished seventh overall in the 250 class. He was one of only two guys to beat Jean-Sebastien Roy last summer. Klatt was training in California for much of the winter, raced selected four-stroke nationals and tried to qualify for the Hangtown U.S. national.

 
What’s been keeping him busy:
I’ve been riding pretty much everyday, just trying to be on the bike as much as possible before Mission.

    
Expectations for Mission:
Put in a decent result; do well in the 125 and if I could win some motos that would be good. But it’s going to be tough, there are a lot of fast guys coming up this year—it will definitely be interesting.

    
Will he ride both classes at Mission:
If the 125 is tough competition, I might just stick to that class. I’ll probably do the last 250 moto.

    
Favourite track on the circuit:
Nanaimo is the most fun, it’s at home and friends and family are there watching. And it’s usually pretty much one of the biggest [spectator] turnouts on the national series.

#11 Doug DeHaan: Yamaha Canada
Yamaha Canada’s DeHaan only competed in five 250 rounds last season but still managed to finish 11th in the series. In the East, DeHaan dropped back to the 125 class, and after some entertaining battles with American kids Gavin Gracyk and Donnie McGourty, he ended the four-round series in third overall. This season, however, DeHaan will be a full-time 250 guy and says he feels confident on the new aluminum framed YZ 250. DeHaan rode 9and qualified for) a handful of U.S. supercross rounds for the Butler Brothers team this past winter, so he should be ready physically.

     
What’s been keeping him busy:
I’ve been riding for two or three weeks. Last weekend we did a provincial in BC, it was more of a test weekend with the Yamaha team; everyone was there.

    
How does he like the new Yamaha YZ 250:
We got the suspension figured out and the motors are strong right off the bat, so there wasn’t much of an issue there. Enzo is doing the suspension and Bill’s Pipes looks after the motor.

    
His view on the Mission track:
It’s kind of tight for a national, not a whole lot of people like that place. But the rough conditions will be good for me and the 250 will probably work well there.

#9 Brad Hagseth: Yamaha Canada
Yamaha Canada’s Hagseth struggled with the super-fast YZ 450F on the tighter Canadian tracks last year, so this season he’s switching back to the two-stroke and is anxious to take a run at the title. Hagseth has two 125 West titles under his belt and finished third overall in the 250 series in 2002. This past winter, the Washington native raced the U.S arenacross series and finished sixth in the point standings. Don’t be afraid to say hello to Brad if you’re strolling through the pits, as he’s one of the friendliest riders on the circuit.

    
What’s been keeping him busy:
Just getting used to the new Yamahas, and healing up from an injury. I broke my collarbone two weeks after the arenacross series finished.

    
Four-stroke or two-stroke:
The Yamaha 450 is a good bike, but I think there are some tracks up there [in Canada] that will be better for the two-stroke.

    
Expectations for the series:
I want to feel the way I did in ‘01 and ‘02; just come in and whatever happens, happens. I want to see myself as the winner. I’ve been in the 250 class long enough and I think it’s time to get something done.

     
Main competition:
[Jean-Sebastien] Roy. [Laughs] If I could name one guy, it’s him. He’s going to be tough.

     
View on Mission track:
It’s good for spectator turnout, but television and rider-wise, it’s not that good. It’s tight and small and they have to build a lot of man-made stuff because there isn’t enough natural challenges.

#5 Blair Morgan: Team Morgan Racing Yamaha
Blair Morgan didn’t come out chasing the championship last season, rather he waited patently for injuries and confidence to strengthen after his horrific crash at Nanaimo in 2003. In the final rounds, however, Morgan found his speed and the podium and he was the first Canadian behind Roy in the final point standings. For 2005 he will again enter the season with minimal training and seat time, after breaking his leg at a snowcross race back in February. Last weekend Morgan cleaned up at a local race in Saskatchewan and says that he felt good and that the injury is close to 100 percent. Morgan will also be contesting the series aboard a YZ 450F so this marks the first time he's raced a four-stroke at the nationals.

     
How is the leg feeling:
It seems the more riding I do, the better it gets. The bone itself is pretty much healed, but now I just need to get the leg back into shape; it’s still not 100 percent.

     
His deal with Morgan Racing Yamaha:
It’s going really good. I’ve been working with them the past few weeks, and I will be pitting out of their semi. It will allow me to worry less and I will have less work to do.

      
Expectations for Mission:
I’m feeling good, I’ve been going to the gym and riding lots but it’s hard to tell. I have to be careful, but I would like to see myself in the top ten, seven or maybe five. If I pull a holeshot, though, I’m sure I won’t think much about the leg. [Laughs]

Are you an avid Canadian motocross fan? Want to test your skills? Put your bench racing skills to the test and log on to www.motoleague.com and place your picks for Mission and all of the Canadian rounds.