This is IT!
Now-or-Never Time is Here
Number-one on my list of things to get said before I jump in to the topic of the day, is a huge thank you and congratulations to the Strang Gang for an absolutely top-notch event. I could find no flaws whatsoever in how well everything went together. (well...maybe one little one - see 3rd photo below)
Secondly, I, once again, apologize for not getting things done here as promised. When I bitched and moaned about everything around me going downhill and sideways simultaneously, the list seemed never-ending. That was BEFORE a major engine failure on the way to Pleasant Valley, a little unsolicited body work.....here's a better look at my last two weeks...
Add all that weirdness to starting a job that is 10 hour shifts from 11pm to 9am, while going through some pretty extensive testing for another job during daytime hours...anyway, let's just say I've been a little off my rhythm. I'll get it all straightened out, I promise! You have my apologies and a plea that you bear with me.
NOW.....down to the reason we're here. My night before any race is taken up by reviewing and reassessing championship battles going in to the next round. This week, I foolishly decided to take a look at the already-complete Spring results and compare, contrast, and take a look at the trending.
What I discovered was, in some cases, fascinating, and others, almost frightening. While I certainly enjoy new names popping up in the Fall Series Fast-Five, the disappearance of others makes for the most volatile and unpredictable twin series in my often challenged memory. Just try to follow the curves.
Of the list of riders who finished the Spring Championship among the front-five, a huge number were absent from RACEGUY’S Fast-Five going into round-5. I was going to offer a quick rundown, but I don’t think there is such a thing. It starts in 50cc 7-8, where Spring Champion Jackson Landry is absent from the Fall list.
65cc podium finishers in 2nd and 3rd in the Spring, Brock Landry and Jesse Wells are not part of the equation for the Fall. 85cc 12-16 Spring Champion Ryan MacKay has taken his talents up the ladder, while 85cc 7-11 3rd and 4th place Spring finishers, Brock Landry and Jesse Wells are again missing from the list.
My favorite people in the world are often Juniors who are REAL racers and move themselves up in accordance with their abilities. It’s for that reason ATV Junior champ and 3rd place Stephane Bourque have left Fall Series accolades to others. These guys have my respect.
Going into the weekend at Strangs, Spring Champion Damon Baker had not yet made a Fast-Five appearance in the Pro Quad group. That will change for the 6th and final round. Also notably absent this fall is Josh Doyle, who will step up on the banquet podium in 3rd for the Spring, but is a non-entity for the Fall.
Scottie Young is not back to defend his Spring title in the MX1 Intermediate, while injuries have kept Devin MacPherson from doubling up on his MX2 Intermediate crown. Injuries have also put an end to David Butler’s defense of his 3rd in the Spring.
Another of my “real men of moto” heroes for 2011 is Devin Sleigh, who won’t defend a Spring Junior GP title and has proven himself an instant threat in his new undertakings. After a Spring Series 3rd, Myles Clements will be hard pressed to even make a mark on the Junior GP numbers in the Fall, as Strang’s marked his return from the disabled list.
MX1 Junior Spring Champion, Randy Dunbar, has been a non-player in the Fall sitting back in 15th place having raced only two rounds. Mark Brown has taken his Spring Series silver and parked it for the Fall.
Devin Sleigh’s Spring title in MX2 Junior will mark his last podium with red and white plates, but that isn’t all that throws this class wide open. Myles Clements, the back of the front five in the spring, is just returning from injury. Mathew Clements is scrambling from 6th place, Ryan MacKay has moved up to the big bikes, and the combination of Konnor Long, Logan Gallant, Alec Belyea, and Ryker Brennan has upset threat written all over it.
Alexandra Josey has been a non-entity this Fall, seeing only two events, one of which was rain-shortened. Francine Leger is still riding out her recovery from damage to her hand, which we all know can be concentration killer and powerfully painful. She will hit only three of the six fall rounds. After a ridiculous rag-doll this past weekend at Strangs, Jessica Malaknejadorangi will be a questionable start for the final Riverglade round. IF she could tough out a top 3, the remote possibility exists she could still find a spot on the podium on banquet night. Emily O’Neill and Chelsey Hall will have a lot to say about that.
The Plus-25 Vets are another wide open book this Fall. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishers from the Spring, Roger Toney, Bob Newey, and David Atkinson are all absent from Fall points. With two missed events, it also appears Johnny Montes will fail to repeat his Spring title as he goes into the final round 26 points behind Jason Viner.
Once again, Devin MacPherson’s stay on the disabled list means we’ll have a new Schoolboy champion for the Fall. Logan Gallant, Justin MacKinnon, and Brandon Frenette, 3rd, 4th, and 5th in the Spring have all struggled to maintain those standards this fall. Logan is closest to the banquet podium, sitting 19 points behind Isaac Nice.
Vet Junior Spring Champion Eric Findlay has not returned to defend his title this fall. Neither has 2nd place finisher, John Gallant. Vet Junior is another class that will see big changes on banquet night.
Final words go to Ryan MacKay and Devin MacPherson, who will both play a role one final time, MacKay by taking his Spring title and leaving the Supermini class, and MacPherson, whos injury-related absence in the Youth class will keep him from repeating at least his 3rd place finish from the spring.
So why am I concerned, and, yes, even frightened by what the numbers are saying? Well, quite simply, it would appear predictions we began making about 4 years ago are now, in some part, coming true.
As with other series and regions across North America, more and more riders and families are cherry-picking their events, even within the confines of short six race series as we opted for this year.
It’s the big picture that has me asking more questions than I could possibly have answers for. Our long-range outlook considered the need in current economic times to maximize your racing dollars and minimize expenses. Everyone could foresee reduced rider registrations and the need for an efficient flow to the series. Everyone was prepared for at least some of the changes that are coming about.
Again, it’s that big picture we had better start paying very close attention to, and the time to start is right now.
Our status and standing, as this season comes to a close, opens the door for many questions that will have a great bearing on the future of motocross here in the region. These are, in fact, questions that are being asked by racers and race organizations across this country and south of the border.
How do we maintain ridership through a slow economy? How do we add value to the experience? Where do we find additional sources of financial support? How do riders and teams package themselves for sponsors? How do we create and encourage new participants at the entry level? Oh…that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The way we’re taking part in our sport has changed…possibly FOREVER. The time to start thinking about the future is the present. Wouldn’t you rather be part of the solution than part of the problem?
Think about it.
I’ll have more to say about the season finale soon. Fast-Five is going up now at the “Atl-Points” tab.
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