The fourth and final Western Canadian round of the 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan took place this weekend in cool conditions at the Moto Valley Raceway in Regina.
The weather has been good for the first four rounds of the series in the west, and we hope it will continue for Round 5 at Gopher Dunes, as the series moves east to Ontario following next weekend’s break.
The Moto Valley track was in great condition after being freshly tilled, and getting some overnight rain. The weather held out as riders found their way around the loamy, but hard based, fast race track, with its big floating jumps and its high speed drops. The first turn was changed before the race and the right hand 180 degree turn claimed a few top riders forcing them to charge from the back of the pack.
MX1
KTM Canada Thor Racing’s Davi Millsaps goes into the two week break in complete control after leading every lap and sweeping both Motos in Regina. Davi did what he has done every Moto this year; get into the lead early, sprint away from the pack, and then cruise to the checkered flag unchallenged. He made it easier on himself when he grabbed the Royal Distributing Holeshot in the first Moto and had nothing but kudos during his podium interview for the track and the time he has spent in Canada. “I have never ridden a track like this and I have been riding for a long time. It’s a bit more fun up here and the atmosphere under our tent is great.”
Monster Energy Alpinestar Kawasaki’s Mike Alessi finished 4-2 in Regina for second overall.
Race fans knew it would not take much longer for Monster Energy Alpinestar Kawasaki’s Mike Alessi to work his magic on the starting line and grab the Royal Distributing Holeshot, and after going 0 for 7 to start the season he finally pulled it off in Moto 2. Mike rode well all day on route to 4-2 Moto finishes and ended up on the second step of the podium at the end of the day, for the third race in a row. Asked about his second Moto Holeshot on the podium, Mike joked, “I was not going to start the season 0 for 8.” Alessi is 24 points behind Millsaps in the series standings and feels that he is getting stronger each week.
After two weeks off the podium, the MX1 defending Champion, Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Matt Goerke, finished 3-4 in Round 4 and captured third overall. While running second in Moto 1 Goerke stalled the motor on his Yamaha and lost a position to Kaven Benoit while trying to restart his motorcycle. In Moto 2, Matt benefitted when Kaven was forced to retire with a mechanical problem, and after the race said, “I got some stuff to work on. The second moto was not my best and hopefully I can turn this series around in the east.”
Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Matt Goerke (#1) gets back on the podium in Round 4.
After going down in the first turn of Moto 1, Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Brett Metcalfe was scored in nineteenth position on the opening lap. The former champion put on a charge and by the end of the Moto made it up to sixth. In Moto 2, Brett got a much better start and ended up finishing 6-3 for fourth overall. On the podium after the second Moto, he said, “It was good to be up in the battle.” During the two week break Metcalfe said he will get some rest to make “the last run for the Championship.”
Honda Canada Racing Fox GDR’s Colton Facciotti rounded out the top 5 with 5-5 Moto scores, but like last weekend in Calgary the 4-time Canadian MX1 Champion was never really able to get it going and challenge for the podium. Colton sits third in the series standings as the series moves east, and will certainly be challenging for the win on tracks that he has had a lot of previous success on.
In his rookie season in the MX1 class, KTM Canada Thor Racing’s Kaven Benoit has been challenging Colton Facciotti for bragging rights as the top Canadian MX1 rider. Kaven posted the fastest lap in Moto 1 while finishing second, and then suffered a mechanical issue that forced him out of Moto 2 while running in third. With not even half the season behind him, the talented French Canadian has already been forced to retire in two Motos with mechanical issues.
MX2
While leading Moto 1 in his first appearance in the series, Yamaha’s Nolan Heppner went down hard in a roller section which caused the Red Cross flag to come out. Among the riders who were penalized for double jumping while the Red Cross flag was displayed was hometown hero Redemption Racing Big Steel Box KTM’s Shawn Maffenbeier. Shawn was the fastest qualifier in MX2, and posted the fastest lap in Moto 1 after charging back from a poor start in an epic ride to take the win. The penalty for the flag violation put him in to eighth, and after moving up to third in Moto 2, where he again posted the fastest lap of the race, Shawn suffered heartache when he was forced to retire with a mechanical issue.
KTM Canada Thor Racing’s Cole Thompson got off to a poor start in the first Moto and was outside the top 10 after lap 1 before charging back to finish fourth, after losing three positions while falling on lap 4. Cole was bumped up to second after the penalties, and after leading all but 1 lap of Moto 2 ended the day 2-1 and grabbed his third overall win in a row. On the podium after the race, Cole said,” The first Moto was not my best. This was the hardest race I have had this year and it will only get harder once we go out east.”
The Royal Distributing Holeshot in the first MX2 Moto went to SG Power/Shift/Scotty Motorsports/ Honda’s Brad Nauditt who rode a brilliant race and ending up getting credited with his first Moto win, after finishing second and being bumped to first with the penalties incurred by other riders. Brad followed up with a fifth place finish in Moto 2, which landed him in second overall for the day. Nauditt was all smiles on the podium and told fans that he had never had good luck in Regina before.
Monster Energy Alpinestar Kawasaki’s Mark Worth was another rider who benefited from all the riders penalized for the flag violation, as he saw his sixth position Moto 1 finish get moved to third, and he backed it up with a fourth in Moto 2 to grab the last spot on the podium. His 3-4 Moto finishes in Regina are identical to how he finished in Calgary last weekend.
After being outside the top 20 on the first lap of Moto 1, MX101 FXR Yamaha’s Jesse Pettis put in a great ride and ended up in fifth place. Jesse got a much better start in the second moto where he finished third, 5-3 Moto scores put him fourth overall for the day, his best overall finish this season.
MX101 FXR Yamaha’s Dylan Wright, still nursing a sore ankle from Round 2, rode very well in Regina. Wright put on a charge in the first Moto, coming back from a poor start that put him outside the top 20, to finish third before being bumped back to ninth for double jumping on the Red Cross flag. During his Moto 1 charge, Dylan put a beautiful pass on series points leader Cole Thompson on lap 9, and served notice that the series should get really interesting as we move east on tracks where Dylan is more comfortable. The young Canadian superstar came back strong in Moto 2 where he finished second, after briefly leading, and finished 9-2 for fifth overall.
After a weekend off, Round 5 of The Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan will take place on Sunday July 10th at the Gopher Dunes Raceway in Courtland, Ontario. Eastern Canadian fans will finally get the opportunity to see their heroes in person. If you haven’t already purchased your tickets you can buy them online easily at thewww.mxnationals.ca website. If you are in another part of the country and are unable to attend the race you can see all the action live by downloading the free Conx2share app and live stream every moto on your mobile phone or computer.
MX1 Moto Valley Raceway, Regina – June 26, 2016
- Davi Millsaps (KTM) 1-1 60pts
- Mike Alessi (Kaw) 4 -2 50pts
- Matt Goerke (Yam) 3-4 48pts
- Brett Metcalfe (Yam) 6-3 45pts
- Colton Facciotti (Honda) 5-5 42pts
- Vince Friese (Kaw) 7-6 39pts
- Tyler Medaglia (Husq) 9-7 36pts
- Cade Clason (KTM) 8-8 36pts
- Kaven Benoit (KTM) 2-DNF 27pts
- Morgan Burger (Yam) 13-9 30pts
MX2 Moto Valley Raceway, Regina – June 26, 2016
- Cole Thompson (KTM) 2-1 57pts
- Brad Nauditt (Hon) 1-5 51pts
- Mark Worth (Kaw) 3-4 48pts
- Jesse Pettis (Yam) 5-3 46pts
- Dylan Wright (Yam) 9-2 44pts
- Ryeley Gallup (KTM) 4-7 42pts
- Brandan Leith (Kaw) 11-6 35pts
- McCoy Brough (KTM) 6-13 33pts
- Kyle Biro (Yam) 7-4 31pts
- Mason Wharton (Kaw) 14-8 30pts
MX1 Point Standings 2016
- Davi Millsaps (KTM) 222pts
- Mike Alessi (Kaw) 198pts
- Colton Facciotti (Honda) 188pts
- Matt Goerke (Yam) 182pts
- Brett Metcalfe (Yam) 182pts
- Cade Clason (KTM) 146pts
- Tyler Medaglia (Husq) 137pts
- Kaven Benoit (KTM) 133pts
- Morgan Burger (Yam) 119pts
- Keylan Meston (Yam) 119pts
MX2 Point Standings 2016
- Cole Thompson (KTM) 230pts
- Shawn Maffenbeier (KTM) 180pts
- Brandon Leith (Kaw) 166pts
- Brad Nauditt (Hon) 154pts
- Dylan Wright (Yam) 141pts
- Mark Worth (Kaw) 133pts
- Jesse Pettis (Yam) 133pts
- Casey Keast (Yam) 124pts
- Mc Cough Brough (KTM) 116pts
- Ryeley Gallup (KTM) 107pts
Photos and report by: CMRCRacing.com . Click here for all you more Canadian MX news>>>
