So, what do you think it will be?...Preview, or prophecy? … Quite frankly, I’d rather not involve myself in either, but somehow this space seems to demand some kind of look forward. Here is precisely where my dilemma comes in. Exactly WHAT am I supposed to speculate upon? It’s not like there’s a shortage of MX activities on the calendar, and there isn’t a dud in the whole barrage. Maybe that says something for the overall health of the sport, but it makes it damn tough to focus on any one series.
Why not start with the big guns? This weekend, the AMA Pro outdoor series hits the hills and hollows of High Point Raceway with more story lines than bad daytime TV. Think about it. Reed in the lead, Dungey does the DNF and rumours fly that he will leave Suzuki at the end of the season, Villo has yet to turn his SX success into anything even resembling a convincing performance so far this year, Stewart is a no-show, Alessi has been cleared by his docs, but is still unsure if he will race, and C. Pourcel doesn’t appear to be on speaking terms with David Vuilleman and has been riding a Kawasaki test bike back home in Florida.
Oh, and just a side note, the MX2 (250) class is at least 15 riders deep and the parity shows in the finishes AND in the scrambly championship points battle. As I said…not much to talk about here. Best just move along.
The Monster Energy Canadian Pro series has only seen a single round so far, but oh, what a round it was! If the buzz is to be believed, the Kamloops crew manufactured a potential “Event of the Year” race weekend, featuring uber human performances from a variety of riders, all the buzz of a first round, and weather nobody could complain about. Now, before the riders and teams have a chance to catch their collective breath, it’s time for a quick hop across the Strait of Georgia and the return of the “Wastelands” and Nanaimo to the schedule.
With the superhuman Colton Facciotti fully capable of lapping all the way up to 9th in last weekend’s second moto, any other winner this weekend would come as a shock. It’s certainly not that the rest of the top-10 are slow in ANY conceivable way. The list of guys who are capable of pouncing on a win is LONG and they’re all hungry and have committed to their various programs. Meanwhile, Colt may be looking to simply continue his personal record. When he finishes, he wins.
The first MX2 (250) moto was a dice-fest from the front to the back of the pack. No amount of great racing could overshadow Tyler Medaglia’s performance. After scraping himself off the ground and logging lap-1 in 34th position, Tyler passed a United Nations of smokin’ fast 250s to pull off a 3rd at the flag. His cool, calculated side was in control for the moto-2 win and the overall. The rest of the class may be rich with stories and drama and riders with illustrious US amateur histories, but for now, they are simply that… the REST of the class behind Medaglia.
Finally, we get around to the race that will mean the most to most of the people reading here. It’s time for our one-off visit to the classically landscaped Mill Hill circuit and its unique set of challenges.
Tire selection is one challenge you shouldn’t spend a lot of energy on. No matter which tire you choose (assuming the track is dry) it will be perfect through some sections of the track, and completely wrong in others. The standard descriptors don’t work well at “The Hill”. Loamy, sandy, hardpack clay, loose on top, and a dozen other images come to mind in just one lap. The scenery is photo-worthy. The elevation changes are challenging, and the lap length is just perfect for regional level racing.
Over the years, Blaine and his bunch have chipped away at changes following every event with an emphasis on safety and a lot of value given to track flow. Over that time, changes and additions to the infrastructure have kept Mill Hill on the list amongst the finest regional racetracks in the country. When the man behind the much bemoaned RacerX Canada, Brett Dailey and I walked the track a little over 3 years ago, he was amazed that this “little” region had such amazing tracks. He also asked, “what the hell is it with you Maritimers and your grass starts?”.
The work at Mill Hill has continued this wet, soggy spring in anticipation of the invasion they’ll experience this weekend. There is an all new jump in the rollers in the bottom section of the course. Dick Scott refers to it as a kind of backwards tabletop that is challenging, but achievable. The exit from “the run through the jungle”, the hillside haul through the trees, has been extended in order to allow riders to build up more speed before the jump that sends them downhill toward the “keyhole”, the final turn before the finish line. I’ll predict that extra speed and launch will result in a few “hail Mary” moments when we’re down to the last lap in a number of classes.
The Mill Hill gang have added some fresh organic, (sawdust and chips), and have dragged the discs deep to give us a chance to start the day with a track you hate to leave tire tracks in. How it comes together throughout the raceday depends a lot on the riders and their lines. Those who are creative in the tower turn (as you hit the top of the hill and head down to the bottom) will be rewarded with passing opportunities. Those who play follow-the-leader will create a single line and are doomed to learn that passing in that section is easily done by those who have a little imagination.
They’ve tested the watering system, confirmed the canteen, made sure they have plenty of flag folks, and triple checked with the emergency medical crew. Mighty Mill Hill is as ready as it’s ever been. Question is, are the riders ready for Mill Hill?
This is the critical fourth round of just six in the spring series. It’s reasonable to predict that the dominant riders from a number of classes will continue to dominate at “The Hill”. We’d also be pretty safe in assuming that Davey Fraser and the Strang brothers will once again be on the attack in order to recover their lost Riviere de Loup points. Those who can do the points in their heads on the fly will recognize just how UNpredictable things are in MX1 and MX2 intermediate as they are in all 3 Junior divisions. Points battles in these classes are intense and deep through the field. Watch the front groups in any of these classes, and there WILL be take-no-prisoners racing.
As for the Pros, when it all comes down to cash and contingencies combined with that “nobody beats me” mindset, you can expect the unexpected. The front of that field is ripe with riders who can race to the win. Mill Hill is another fresh start for Davey and Johnny (if he makes it this weekend) who are recovering from missed rounds. Kyle Chatham not only missed the Clyde River round, he also had DNFs and a crushed exhaust at Riverglade. He will be bringing his best. It’s also a re-boot for “Bad Brad” Lockhart who has had some mechanical struggles in the last couple of rounds, but is fast enough to both lead, and eventually win motos.
Mill Hill will be the “refresh” round for a great many riders. It will mark a new assault on the points for others, particularly those who stood out at “The Glade”. It could actually be the mathematical “clinch” point for some of the dominators, and it’s the point in the season when the strugglers and stragglers finally get their day in the sun.
If you’re not stoked about what this weekend means to the riders and the series, you’re missing something. I would prescribe a day at Mill Hill for some moto-therapy. I’m sure if you join in our little group session for a few hours we can cure whatever might be ailing you. After all, if you don’t live and breathe moto, there MUST be something wrong with you.
I could keep going here. It's also the Montreal F1 weekend, the "Cup" cars are at Pocono... OK, never mind. See you this weekend at “The Hill”. Don’t forget you can go to the “Planning” tab anytime for up-to-the-minute weather conditions. I’ll try and get a wrap-up started in the car on the way home, so check back here for results and outcomes.
Thanks for reading. Stay safe and we’ll see you at the track.
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