RACEGUY Reviews

Riverglade Redux

We use the latin “redux” to mean revisited, or brought back. There is no term more appropriate, or subject any more worthy than our weekend visit to Riverglade, so let’s revisit my last outpouring before it’s even cold in the archives. If you haven’t read “RACEGUY Remembers” yet, the archive is down the right margin. Feel free to click on the stored stuff too.

Frank Percy Wilkins photo

When MotocrossCanada Daily Chronicle tweeted a link to Dwayne Tingley’s Friday article in the Moncton Times & Transcript, I read it and thought, “Wow, did Dwayne get something scrambled in his story?” It significantly differed from what I had just written here a couple of days before, in that it positioned Lee Steeves as a new and third partner in the just recently revised Riverglade owner’s group.

I could have jumped on the phone and made the necessary calls, but there was nothing so critical it couldn’t wait until the Saturday morning’s riders meeting just a few hours away. It was a riders meeting that will mean more to motocross in this region than any I have ever attended. The ramifications will touch the region, its riders, and even the only Atlantic stop on the Monster Energy Pro National calendar.

Dwayne Tingley had scooped me cold, on a motocross story!! What had begun as an agreement of understanding between Riverglade’s new owners, Larry Northrup and Earl Doucette, and Fox Hollow’s Lee Steeves, had developed in subsequent conversations into something worthy of note across the spectrum of our sport. Another track owner, track builder, and solid real racer who had worked his way from the “Beginners” to the peak of the Pro class here in Atlantic Canada, had become part of the package at one of Canada’s most historic motocross facilities.

There are no drawbacks to this new relationship. The abilities, know-how, and racing roots of Doucette and Northrup are only enhanced by everything Lee and his Fox Hollow success brings to the the table. That was apparent on the first weekend for the partnership. Steeves had applied his track-savy to “re-flow” a couple of sections of the storied racetrack. Racers were all over the social media late into Saturday night raving about the track and how it was possibly the best Riverglade track they’d ever ridden. The level of competition on Saturday goes a long way to back that up.

Without question, we will lose a track that will always be regarded as a rider’s track and one that never failed to fill helmet windows with dirtstained grins, even when the weather proved less than cooperative. We will lose the social scene at Fox Hollow, which is so unique to each facility. Lee will lose the headaches that come with being the last (and only) man in line when it came to putting on a successful event.

We, the racers and fans, will gain back at least the spring Riverglade round which so many still missed dearly. This year, it will also add a fall Riverglade event between the National weekend and the classic “fall finale”. How this all shakes out when the promoters meet again to set the schedule for 2012 is not even worthy of speculation at this point, but, suffice it to say, the consolidation of two promoter groups is unprecedented and will result in some “further discussion” before the next season begins.

I, for one, and I’m sure many will join me, believe the recent revolution at Riverglade is a positive in almost all ways for supporters of the sport. Congratulations, not only to the NEW Riverglade owners group, but also to each and every person who loves and enjoys our amazing sport.

Congrats are also due Dwayne Tingley. He jumped me on a motocross story. I did beat him to one thing, though. I was there this past Saturday when history was made, again, at one of Canada’s most storied tracks. Cold and damp, I can still sincerely say, I loved every second of it.

Here's Part II


I know many expect me to use this space post-race to play thumbs-up/thumbs-down and describe the raceday battles in all their sordid details. Fact is, that is quite unlikely to happen.

Fact is, the races I get so totally absorbed in while in the tower are often completely gone from my system by the time the last checkered flag falls. That’s right, all that animated activity (yelling and screaming) is often gone from my memory before I head home. It’s not my fault, and no, it’s not stupidity. My iron trap of a memory works absolutely fine all the rest of the time. Others who do what I do describe the identical amnesia. I am not alone.

Scientifically, it’s most likely traced to the fact that the focus or concentration required to do the dozens of tasks simultaneously that are required by my job creates a trance-like state. Lots of great riders talk of not remembering entire motos or great battles. Off-road racers often forget completing entire loops of the course. Roadracing, I’d often become so determined to make each lap identical that I’d lose track of how many laps I’d completed and how much time had gone by. Many of you will experience this when racing. Again, I am not alone.

One of the five best races I’ve ever seen in my racing-driven life was an epic battle for a championship between Springhill legends Jack Stone and Scott Lockhart at Riverglade. While the battle was a classic and memorable for so many reasons, I only retain the memory of the how amazing the race was, and very little of the specifics that made it so.

The parts of this past Saturday that I do remember wouldn’t really make for a cohesive story, and much of it would not be about the battles on track. I will make an attempt to provide SOME bits and pieces that slipped through the haze of a raceday. Please don’t hate me because I didn’t single you out. Have pity on me as the ravages of age take their toll on my eyesight, my aching joints, and, obviously, my memory.

Raceday! – I’m up at 6 and drag my sorry butt to the front door to stick my head out and assess the weather. “Perfect”, I said to no one. I clicked on this site, went to the “Planning” tab, and checked the Chipman Doppler radar, then the forecast sites to look for any changes. Aside from the unseasonally low temps, what I saw made me talk to myself again. “Perfect.”

 When I saw Johnny Montes’ Facebook post asking about conditions, I had to change out the language a little for the moto world. The track will be “mint”, I promised. A light mist/drizzle had begun overnight and was expected to continue on and off until noon. That, combined with track prep by “Lightning Lee” would converge to create one of the best Riverglade surfaces ever, if the riders are to be believed.

You know, when the Intermediates and Pros are first practice in wet conditions and they come in off the track happy, you have hit the target. Some very nice flow changes, a New Brunswick clay base, and the perfect amount of moisture in the topsoil led to perfect conditions for hard braking, bar dragging, and high-grip wheelies under power.

That “grippy” damp soil also meant there would be many moto results decided by goggle management. EKS Brand goggle front-man Steve Matthes would have loved this, but he would still be asking the magic question; “Why don’t Canadians believe in roll-offs?”

Without exception, there was great dicing in every moto, every class, all the way through the field. Jackson Landry’s undeniable determination led to two implausible passes on Damon Burbine to pull off another “perfect” day in the 50 (7-8) group. Classic rivalries for the future are already developing at this “entry” level. Brett Young, “Action Jackson’s” cousin Brock Landry, and Jesse Wells bring more of the same to the 65s, but at the end of the day, finishes fell in order of the points standings to-date.

There were a lot of riders who turned the new flow of Riverglade into opportunity to put in breakthrough rides. While Ryan MacKay was a little cautious out of the gate, he continued his dominance of the 85 (12-16) on his Team Toys Honda, and the scramble in the front-five helped Jordan Melanson turn a 3-3 into the 2^nd overall. Isaac Nice finally threw the switch in moto two showing his real capabilities, but it was Cole Butcher who put in the ride of a lifetime in the class, beating all but MacKay to the flag in the first moto and finishing a fighting 4^th in the second, proving moto one  was the real deal.

Frank Percy Wilkins photo

Brett Young, Brock Landry, and Jesse Wells carried their cycle skills from the 65s to the 85 (7-11) as usual, but the ride to remember had to go to Justin Leger who put in the smoothest and most confident ride I’ve ever seen from the #25 Yamaha. Leger was top-three in both motos to put it on the podium in a field of more than credible competition.

Behind the Dominant Devin “Slayer” Sleigh in the Junior GP, were a couple of “the usual suspects”, taking on another couple of “breakout boys”. Konnor Long has suddenly adapted amazingly well to the big bike and my personal pick for coming out of nowhere and getting noticed had to be Chris Titus on the 301 who followed Randy Dunbar and Myles Clements to a 5^th place finish.

Of special note, it was great to see Jason Gray returning for the season and jumping headlong into MX2 Junior, where he went 2-2 behind Sleigh. Gray also won the Supermini. MX1 was colored by the absence of a number of  points frontrunners and the presence of others. Mike Lloyd, Colby MacDonald, and Geoff Breau were all absent from the first two rounds, yet finished 1, 2, and 3 in that order. Randy Dunbar’s 8^th in moto-one resulted in an off-podium 4^th place but allowed him to move into the points lead over the absent Cody Rawding.

Johnny Montes returned to the +25 class and promptly kicked the competition to the curb. The class also saw Bob Newey for the first time in 2011. Now 2-stroke mounted, Newey, like Montes, made an immediate mark going 3-3. In other Vet action, Abbey Landry and Lorne Banks put on a show in +40. They traded wins and 2^nd place finishes with Banks looking totally competitive coming off the 2010 disabled list and having missed the first two races of this year.

I mentioned Chris Titus earlier remarking on his performance in the Junior GP. He was even more impressive in Vet Jr. where he debuted with the overall win and a perfect 1-1. Again, Bob Newey and Lorne Banks stood out in Vet Master, where Abbie Landry, took the wins, adding to his championship points lead.

Davey Fraser returned to the Youth class after missing Kingston in order to take in the Riviere de Loup arenacross. Davey dominated to climb back to 3^rd in series points. Brad Lockhart had equipment woes but soldiered on to 3^rd overall for the day which was good enough to put him in the points lead. David Strang, like Fraser, missed Kingston to make the Quebec trip, but he proved he hasn’t missed a beat going 2-4 for second. It was the other Strang brother who shook off Quebec to put in some of his most impressive motos in quite some time, riding to 4^th O/A, just ahead of the 2-stroke of the always amazing Devin MacPherson.

Frank Percy Wilkins photo

The highlight of the MX1 Intermediate class was the see-saw battle between Shane Gallant and Scotty Young. Both motos were incredibly entertaining as Young at his best and Gallant at his wildest banged and crashed their way to the line, with Young eventually following the steaming bike of Gallant to the finish twice! The Strang brothers avenged their weekend in Quebec by trashing the MX2 Intermediates, bracketing the Suzuki of Justin Foreman in both motos. Problems in the second moto would relegate Devin Macpherson to 5^th, good for 4^th overall on the little 2-stroke Yamaha.

Finally, the Pro class was more of a story based on what happened off track, than on. Davey Fraser was on his game, even stepping off the bike and back on for a moto win. Once again, Fraser and Montes were absorbed with getting back as many points as possible after missing Kingston. Fraser rode to all 3 moto wins, while Montes and the un-retired Charlie Smith traded runner-up finishes, with Montes on…are you ready for it?...yes, a Husqvarna. A huge amount of respect goes to Team Toys rider Kyle Chatham. Kyle had a pipe-crushing get together on track that resulted in a first moto DNF. A second DNF followed that. Then, borrowed pipe and all, Chatham found redemption in scooping 2^nd place in the final moto.

Oh! The off-track element that made the Pro class so interesting? The kid who scored points in every round so far snatched the points lead from the absent Tyler Medaglia. David Estabrooks, on a 2-stroke nonetheless, now leads the points chase as we head for Mill Hill. Medaglia still holds down 2^nd ahead of Brad Lockhart. Veteran Abbie Landry turns consistency into points to settle in 4^th, while Davey Fraser plays catch-up sitting 5^th as we head back to Nova Scotia.

So, what did I remember from last Saturday? That’s about it. What have I learned? That a synopsis like this is very hard to write. Thanks to everyone both for waiting for this, and for dropping in to read it.