Unlike the ill-fated 2010 version of the Atlantic Region season finale, rain may have been on the menu for 2011, but the outcome couldn’t have been more different than last year.
This time around, there would be no rain-out, this year, being replaced by almost ideal MX conditions. While the rain came, sometimes reasonably hard, but for very short periods, it only served to make the historic Riverglade course more challenging and technical. Chronic mist until mid-afternoon provided exceptional dust control while the on-and-off precip caused some of the track’s notorious hard-pack to compact and become shiny and greasy at the same time.
It’s not like the riders needed anything to make the track more challenging with the previously-planned new section open for business, creating a very level playing-field when it came to strategy and line selection. The most curious part, although I passed on using the stopwatch all day due to conditions and new configurations, is that Earl Doucette was on the radio on a number of occasions questioning how Riverglade could have added an uphill, followed by a very unusual chicane-like section with both banked and off-camber characteristics, and still be seeing sub two-minute lap-times.
The hilltop "chicane" in the new section
Look closely. The wildlife is still there
Another feature of the newest Riveglade reno is the fact that the “Orchard Turn” is now a very fast right hand sweeper as the turn has been opened up to feed into the new portion of the track. This resulted in two things. The fastest of the Pros and Intermediates were playing with fire running a very tiny cushion around the outside in order to build exit speed for the uphill that came next. This meant the knobby tracks left behind were breathtakingly close to the edge of the large “lagoon” that holds quenching water for the sprinkler system. The second of the two things it spawned? That would be speculation on when we’d have our first swimmer.
That distinction, with style-points for a total immersion of both bike and rider, goes to Mitchel Guindon, who was plucked from the chocolate brown pond, along with his 85, as the highlight of the Supermini moto. The best part is, both made it back for the second 85 12-16 moto and the Green Bay P.E.I. rider managed to pull off a 6th O/A in the class, even after zeroing the Supermini. He even had a fresh, clean, predominantly white jersey and a crisp running bike when he made his return for his 2nd shot at the pond. The outcome was far more rewarding than winning the cannonball competition.
Went to a motocross race
And a swim meet broke out
My slightly wobbly arrival at the track, in the wake of a couple of 10-hour over-night shifts, (and another just hours away), was almost instantly interrupted by hard-core moto reality, as before I had hooked up with all the necessary track people, just feet over my shoulder, Patrick Reid wadded himself and his KTM in a mis-timed landing on the historic spectator jump, leaving Devon Strang wide-eyed and babbling about how ugly it was and how another championship contender had been slapped out of contention by the laws of gravity.
After using this site to set up some of the epic battles we were to face on that fateful Saturday, and briefly detailing the crushing outcome of Devon Strang’s P.E.I. play-day that put an end to his championship series as quickly as his bike came to a stop in the sandy island soil, one of the first riders I sat down with on Saturday at “The Glade” was young Mr. Strang, who came fully equipped with a mental notebook full of news that would make the chase for the championships even more twisted.
While we spoke briefly about Devon’s pulverized pelvis and crossed-up collarbone, the conversation also covered brother David’s impending appearance at the Montreal Supercross and upcoming winter adventure at Colleen Millsaps Georgia-based training facility, eventually we turned to the news we neither really wanted to hear, or deal with.
Fully expecting that the bloodied face and broken-down body language of Patrick Reid, as they scraped him from the track, was to cost him the MX1 Intermediate title he had poured his heart, soul, and guts into, Devon added insult to info.
One hella fast race director
Ryan MacKay, who headed to the final day with an 11 point lead in the Junior GP championship, and an eight point edge for the title in MX2 Junior, as well as a 45 point championship cushion in Schoolboy, would spend the final round watching from the seat of a Honda four-wheeler and popping pain pills as needed.
The MacKay story only got more dramatic. While there was little he could do about his impending overthrow by Konnor Long in both Junior GP and MX2 Junior, Ryan’s 45 point gap over Mathew Clements in Schoolboy still showed mathematical possibilities, if the Riverview NB rider could “man it out” to a couple of wounded-but-willing finishes anywhere near the Keltic Transport KTM of Clements when the flag dropped. MacKay was willing to give it a go.
It was all speculation and totally unnecessary calculator crunching. Just a couple of quick rooster-crows from the gate-drop at “The Glade”, Clements’ trusty steed came up lame, and, try as they might, there was no repairing or replacing the bike by Saturday morning. Ryan MacKay would salvage one of three Fall Series titles from the shade of the EZ-Ups and the seat of an ATV.
There were so many amazing stories on the day, that to touch on many more would stretch this thing to the point where it needs a hard cover and a place in the library. You’ll see some of it touched upon at the points page, which is another huge undertaking and ongoing as I continue to verify and complete calculations on the big “Upgrade Points” spreadsheet. (You’ll read more about that before the banquet)
Meanwhile, this never-ending front page needs just a couple of items to make it even semi-complete and give you just a tiny look into the story that was the Riverglade wrap-up.
NEVER the preferred method or transportation
On this day, nothing may top Patrick Reid’s “all moto-all man” performance in dragging his battered body to the line and aboard his mount to fight to the last breath for his championship, finishing 7-6 at 7 O/A, and EARNING a championship by seven points that are worth more than ANY other seven points in his career. Respect.
Skip Justason also emphasized the “man” in human, after a little “one-on-one” versus son Brent, (I believe in the Junior GP) that was “just one of those fun little things we do on the final day.” At the time, I remarked, I’d hate to see this little test of egos turn out badly, since Skip was still fighting for or protecting Vet class championships. I should have kept my mouth shut, but if I do that at races, I don’t get paid. The words were, unfortunately, prophetic.
With both of his first Vet motos out of the way, Skip Justason had just pounded his foot to the point where he and his people were very concerned that the foot was broken. Churning out a little of my (usually within the ballpark) head-math, we concluded Skip could risk dumping the Vet Junior moto as his 47 point edge was a clinch. Not so with the Plus-40, where a teeny eleven points separated Scott Fraser from “Skip’s Championship”. He could choose to bail on the Juniors, ride Plus-40 with a potentially broken foot and TRY to stay as close to Scott Fraser as possible, OR head to the ER and win one while settling for 2nd in the other.
While I might have placed a bet on him gutting it out in the Plus-40, I couldn’t have predicted Justason going “all-in”. Even more out of the realm of reality were “The Skipper’s” improbable 3rd in Plus-40s for 3rd O/A on the day, along with 2nd in Vet Junior for 2nd O/A. Respect.
Need more? We saw the Fall Series face-to-face between “The Killer Bs”, Belyea and Brennan, go all the way to the final flag of the year. We watched David Strang’s last ride as an Intermediate and his debut on a 450, in both cases enjoying nothing short of brilliance. We also watched Brandon Carter rip down the red digits and test the waters as an Intermediate, only to put in a performance that made him look like he’d already spent a year behind a yellow plate. Don’t forget we got a chance to enjoy the show as Logan Gallant scored a whole team’s wardrobe in Holeshot tees, courtesy the very smoothly run Maritime Cash, Toys For Big Boys, Honda Canada, Riverglade MX Holeshot challenge. (2-stroke addicts should note, all that winning came on a KTM 2-stroke).
Let’s not overlook Damon Baker’s determined drive to the very final flag, that saw the multi-time ATV Pro champion go from non-existent in podium points mid-way through the Fall Series, to proudly on the podium come awards night, just five points off the top step. That drama ranks right up there with watching Cole Butcher reach deeper than he ever has to go from two points back to upset Justin Leger for the Supermini title by a thin five point margin. There was also the intensity of the Curtis Doucet versus T.J. Martin story, with the two tied for second going into the final round, and Martin absolutely determined not to lose. They ended up a mere four points apart, with T.J. accomplishing his goal.
There was David Estabrooks Maritime Cash Holeshot win, followed by his “rag-doll of the year” performance, followed by his remount and ride to the end of the day. In the same breath, we should also mention “Tango” Tony Emond, whos love of big doubles had him dancing seeing stars as he, his bike, and the Riverglade soil became very intimate, very fast. The seemingly indestructible Emond walked away, uphill, and sent me a message explaining how a total nitrogen loss in the rear shock caused the bike’s unexpected reaction and his three-storey drop-kick and grapple with a full grown motorcycle.
Of course it's a little fuzzy...
It's a bunny!
I’m smiling as I say, we also kept the #181 tradition alive through a combination of creativity and sweat provided by Justin Gosslin - berm-bunny extrordinaire - with special mention to Curtis Doucet, who was, apparently, a draft keg (yes, it IS actually “draught”). It was all in the spirit of Kyle, and that’s what truly matters.
I’ll take just a second to also say thanks to everyone who participated in any way in the “Joe Show” fundraisers. The Lion’s Club, with ringmaster Glenn, rounded up almost $300 in 50/50 money alone, and Kurt Taylor and the Burke family get huge props for looking after tickets for that amazing lottery.
Fundraising awards go to The Lions
Kurt Taylor, and the Burke Family
These are for everybody else
Come awards night, we will have some old hands at podium appearances, along with some very deserving fresh new faces. Stories like the ones above will have somehow gotten bigger and better and even more the stuff of which legends are made. (and wait ‘til the alcohol starts talkin’!) In my mind, this season, both series, and each and every race, came with this type of drama and so many great stories. That’s what makes our sport unquestionably one of a kind. I guess that’s what keeps me coming back.
I’ll continue to get everything together for the points page, although I’m about to start another string of 10 hour all-nighters, so I’ll need you to bear with me. In the meantime, make sure you have your banquet tickets in hand NOW. Drop everything you’re doing for the most important single meeting you can attend in any year and bring your best thoughts and questions to the AGM. Finally, keep dropping back here. We’ll be wrapping up 2011 and getting into some really interesting “stuff” over the off-season.
Another sure sign of the end of the season
This place is about to get BUSY again. Don’t stray too far. The “on track” season is coming to a close…but the “on line” season is just getting interesting.
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