Professional motocross in Canada reaches the boiling point each year at the Walton TransCan, where a season’s worth of victory, defeat, and dreams of glory are finally laid on the line in the final showdown of the CMRC Monster Energy Motocross Nationals. The series, a coast to coast juggernaut, has seen the most exciting race action ever in 2007. An unprecedented number of racers have swapped wins not only in the MX2 (125cc two-stroke/250cc four-stroke) West and East divisions, but also in the premiere MX1 (250cc two-stroke/450cc four-stroke) class.
A short season recap is in order. Under gray skies of round one, Ste. Julie, QC, May 27, it was American Paul Carpenter and his Team Monster Energy/Cernics/ Kawasaki KX450F leading the MX1 pack. Jean Sebastien Roy, team Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox’s perennial Canadian Superstar, brought home second while Suzuki OTSFF Rockstar’s Mitch Cooke took third. In MX 2-East, it was another American, Royal Distributing Stoneridge KTM’s Michael Willard, taking the win. Freddy Karrle, of Cairo, GA, and Jacob Saylor, of Knoxville, TN, completed the podium.
Round two brought the series to sunny Southern Ontario and the talcum powder sand of Gopher Dunes. In the sun and heat it was again Carpenter taking the overall MX1 victory, with Machine Racing Honda’s Chuck Mesley and Royal Distributing Stoneridge KTM’s Marco Dube in tow. MX2-East had another KTM rider, Tim Tremblay, taking the win over Willard and American Chris Pugrab.
Round three, at Shadow Valley Raceway in Morden, Manitoba, was a nightmare for riders and teams. Horrible weather turned the track into a quagmire, and even top riders were forced to push their machines up hills and stop to refill the radiators of their overheating engines. The master of mud was Suzuki OTSFF Rockstar’s Cooke, slopping his way to MX1 victory over Carpenter and Tremblay. The smaller bikes in the MX2-West-class had to work just to get around the track, and when the smoke cleared it was a trio of Americans on the podium with Ben Evans on top, followed by Royal Distributing Stoneridge KTM’s Eric Nye in second and Suzuki OTSFF Rockstar’s Gray Davenport in third.
The CMRC Monster Energy Motocross National moto-train steamed west, the next stop being Regina, SK. Much better racing conditions greeted the riders, and saw Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox’s Colton Facciotti leading the MX1 pack. His teammate, Jean Sebastien Roy, took second while Royal Distributing Stoneridge KTM’s Willard made a successful leap to the bigger bikes to finish third. MX2-West was another American sweep, with Yamaha’s Jimmy Nelson atop the box, Nye in second and Evans in third.
On to round five, Calgary, AB. Carpenter again took the MX1 victory, this time with Facciotti in second and Suzuki OTSFF Rockstar’s Josh Woods in third. MX2-West had Monster Energy/Cernics/Kawasaki’s Tucker Hibbert taking his first career win over Evans and Nelson. The flip flop of winners continued as the series moved to the Nanaimo, BC, for round six.
The Nanaimo track, with its fast, dusty, and rocky conditions, gave racers a real challenge. First to emerge through the dust in MX1 was SHR Yamaha’s Simon Homans, with the Kawasaki’s of Americans Jeff Northrop and Jeff Gibson in pursuit. MX2-West saw BC native Kyle Beaton and his KBR Yamaha take the win, while Nelson and Evans filled out the remaining podium positions.
Jetting clear across the country, the CMRC Monster Energy Motocross National’s landed in Moncton, NB, for round seven where racers were greeted with the best conditions of the year. Colton Facciotti took the overall MX1 victory, while his Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox teammate Jean Sebastien Roy brought home second and Carpenter finished third. MX2-East saw the Yamaha of Nick Evvenou followed across the line by Freddy Karrle and Michael Willard.
Next stop Sand Del Lee, where partisan Quebec fans went wild when JSR took the overall MX1 victory, despite a flat tire putting him back to fourth in moto-two. Carpenter brought his Kawasaki into second, snaring enough points to earn him the National Championship title and a number-one plate for 2008. Gibson rode consistently, his pair of third-place finishes earning him third overall. Willard thumped his KTM to the front of the MX2 class, followed by Suzuki OTSFF Rockstar’s Medaglia and Chaplin Kawasaki’s Billy Ainsworth.
The road to Walton has been a grueling one. While the CMRC Monster Energy Motocross National MX1 title is secured, there are no shortages of battles taking place August 19 when Canadian and American pros duke it out one last time. Aside from continuing MX1 and MX2 point struggles, the Battlefield MX2 East-West shootout promises some of the best racing of the day. Also scheduled are IMX Canada-Cup Youth and Amateur races, where the fastest up and coming riders from across Canada get their chance to compete on the same track as the Pros. History comes alive with Heritage class racing at Walton, where vintage machines get their second shot at motocross glory.
Just what do the best in the business have to say about the Walton TransCan? They love it. “The atmosphere is my favorite thing about Walton,” says Tyler Medaglia. “I like watching the amateurs during the week, I like the track, and it’s fun just to get together with all my friends.” Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox’s Blair Morgan has similar feelings. “It’s the biggest race in Canada, and I always look forward to it,” Morgan says. “I’ve been there since ‘94, and always had a good time. The track is really good, and the atmosphere is always great at Walton.” Morgan’s team manager, Joe Skidd, adds “This is Canada’s premiere motorcycle racing event. The facility is great, and the races are always run well and on time.”
The big story for 2007 centers around the return of 2006 MX1 National number-one plate holder Dusty Klatt. The BC rider will be guest starring with Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox, looking for a re-match with his old rivals after a season of racing in the U.S. “Walton is a fun place, and last year was one of the best races I’ve ever been to,” Klatt says, adding “I hope I can come back and put on a good show for everyone!” His biggest rival will be teammate Jean Sebastien Roy, whom Klatt dethroned in 2006. “Walton is going to be interesting for sure,” JSR says. “I get excited about racing on that track. It’s super nice, and I always go pretty fast there. Everyone in the Canadian motocross world comes to Walton, so I can’t wait.”
The Pros practice Saturday August 18, as the country's finest amateur racers conclude their week long national championship run. Sunday August 19, the Pros take over, with practice starting at 8:15 AM, timed qualifiers at 9:45, and opening ceremonies at 11:40. For more information on the CMRC Monster Energy Motocross Nationals and the Walton TransCan GNC, visit www.waltontranscan.ca
