Goldentyre Presents Friday Flight With Brent Worrall

The GoldenTyre brand of off-road motorcycle tires was established in Italy 30 years ago and its cutting edge design and durability has gained visibility and traction rapidly. GoldenTyre has teamed up with the likes of world renowned, accomplished off-road riders like Graham Jarvis and Johnny Walker in efforts to develop the best products in the business. These riders have validated the efforts and achievements of this relatively new product with their top results and accomplishments. The GoldenTyre flag is currently being run on the Motocross GP circuit by top 2015 contenders Jake Nicholls and Stephen Frossard.

With GoldenTyre’s broadening global recognition and on track success, Mike Nicholls saw fit to bring this great product to Canada 5 years ago. GoldenTyre in Canada is currently providing ‘The Midas Touch’ on the Motocross track to the likes of Todd Minnie, Jake Striechert, Michael Dasilva, Teagan Williams, Kyle Beaton and Super Mini rider Tyler Gibbs. GoldenTyre has also teamed for 2015 with Team PR-MX.ca as well as GP Moto for their Enduro team.

GoldenTyre is always on the lookout to recruit new members to join their winning team across our great country. If you are interested in giving this highly successful product a try drop Mike Nicholls a line or a resume at www.goldentyre.ca.

Once again friends the weekend is upon us but before we launch let me get the elephant out of the room via my condolences to those of you that woke up to more than just a dusting of snow Thursday morning. I have received a few messages and images from friends across the country and it looks like Nova Scotia is getting the worst of it, which will delay the start to their season by possibly two rounds. It does not look like the first Southwestern Ontario Amateur National Qualifier of the season this weekend at Moto Park should be affected. I did correspond briefly with AMO front man Ryan Gauld via text and he seemed upbeat and very much looking forward to building on what began last Sunday at Gopher Dunes. I of course was not there or anywhere near the Dunes but followed along with the social media feeds while announcing round two of the Canadian Kawasaki Future West Moto South series in Kelowna.

The Kelowna round this weekend was not only supported by 270 entries but the parking lot and amount of spectators lining the sidelines were of the highest numbers ever seen at that racetrack. It was a smoking early spring 22 degrees and the track withstood the test it was put to. All of the club members and the Future West staff did a great job of keeping the dust down and grooming areas that needed attention in between motos. With the Pro Nationals rapidly approaching, a lot of the focus and attention at these early season races have been on who’s who in the Pro class. In Kelwona we had 18 riders contest the 3 Moto formatted 8 lap Pro Am and once again Maple Ridge Motorsports Kawasaki rider Ryan Lockhart proved that he still has the speed and desire to win at the top level. Vancouver Island native and two-stroke mounted Ryan Lalonde, who wears national number 89, bested Kaslo’s Jake Striechert for second rounding out the podiums. The Intermediate class at the moment in BC is enjoying what I would call a bumper crop year here in 2015 as there are 7 or 8 kids in that class that can win motos. This weekend’s Intermediate class racing in the MX-2 class was highlighted by the return from California of Kelowna Yamaha’s Casey Keast who won both motos on his 125 2-stroker but had his hands full with the speed of fellow up and comer, Big Top Power Sports rider Devin Sache of Chilliwack, BC. As I said there are many in that class that are on the gas and are very exciting to watch. I have the best view in the house in the tower, and with the mic in my hand, come gate drop I get as amped up and excited as I did when I was racing.

The developmental classes are very well supported at this moment, and in keeping with the theme of our upswing, this upward momentum has a lot of us out west smiling. The Motocross schools are being well attended and they are proving to offer riders and their families value beyond their dollars. It puts just as big a smile on my face to see a young guy or gal who has just started out racing doing things on the track the right way. They may not be going as fast as some of the seasoned riders but to watch them motor through their races standing up when they should with the right body posture etc. is proof that the schools need to continue. Rick ‘Hammertime’ Hamer-Jackson of Re-Max Kelowna’s Team Hammer-Jackson needs to be commended for handing me a bag of 26 $10 bills to give each one of the kids that took Friday afternoon’s school as his way to give back to the future of the sport. Even though it was Rick’s money it felt very rewarding to have these kids and their parents come up to the tower at the break to receive their rebate. Thanks Rick!

I anticipate next weekend’s race on May 3rd at Whispering Pines in Kamloops, BC will be the best supported race of the year so far here in the West. I have fielded numerous phone calls and text messages from those wanting to know about the progress here with much attention being placed on gate drop for the Rockstar Nationals May 31st at the Pines. The Pro Am field on May 3rd in Kamloops will be the deepest one we have seen and the number that had been 18 on the line for this first two rounds of this series should be easily in the 30s. Many of our BC boys have been down south in California. On that note, a congratulations is in order to Leading Edge Motorsports Todd Minnie who won the REM event there this past weekend. Todd will be joined in Kamloops by the likes of Brad Nauditt, Dylan Delaplace, and possibly even Kyle Beaton on a GA Checkpoint Yamaha, amongst many others that have committed to me that they are making the trek. The track in Kamloops is the best layout those grounds have ever seen. Round 3 of the Future West series as well as the opening round of the Rockstar Nationals will be great events, and yes, that is a promise.

With the Supercross series winding down I want to shout a little get well love out to Cycle North’s Adam Enticknap as the Seven Duece Deuce had a setback in his backyard in Northern California at the Santa Clara round last weekend. I had Adam on my Canadian Moto Show on Wednesday night and he stated there is no official prognosis or time frame for his scheduled return to action. He is forwardly focussed and using everything the Seven Deuce Deuce way of life stands for and that is doing whatever he can to make the best out of every situation. Adam has a great attitude and admitted that as much as he would like to be lined up in East Rutherford this weekend, he got a lot of positives out of this season. Adam has a new single released on iTunes and I know he would greatly appreciate your support of his future racing career efforts by heading over there to check out ‘Rip it Ride It Swerve’ for a mere ninety nine cents. Heal up quick Adam, the sport is better having guys like you in it. Canadian Arenacross again this year? No pressure now Kourtney.

It is looking like Ryan Villopoto’s bid to become only the second born American ever to win a 500cc World Championship is in serious jeopardy. Ryan has been diagnosed with a cracked tailbone, or coccyx, and is a game time decision for this weekend’s event in the Netherlands. Villopoto sits in sixth in the title chase, 47 points behind leader Celment Desalle’s 171 points. Max Nagl, on the benefits of his overalls, is seeded ahead of Antonio Cairoli in second but both sit with 170 points. Even if this marks the end of Ryan Villopoto’s bid to claim the top prize, his presence has once again proven that sometimes victory in this sport does not always involve podiums and titles. Good luck the rest of the way Ryan!

The final ‘Friday Flight’ note goes to our amateur nationals. If you are tired of hearing about it, too bad. They are the best events our country has to offer, and the life experiences are immeasurable. If you have previously attended, you know what I am talking about, for sure. Let’s not stop there though friends, these events are continuing to evolve to provide riders and their families of all ages something new each year to look forward to. I spoke again this week with Scott Lowry, the man wearing the top hat for the WCAN in Raymond, Alberta. Look for an incentive offer to anyone signing up for a 3rd class to get a half price rate. They are also in the midst of making some track changes on what is already a great natural terrain layout on great soil. The gate drop in Raymond is on July 2nd.

I also just got off the phone with Brett Lee from Walton Raceway and he has hinted that they are just days away from making a huge announcement. A positive move that Brett says will offer more to all involved with this year’s Trans Can on every level. In his own words, Brett says, ‘You will just have to stay tuned.” Thanks Brett, now there’s something else moto related to keep my gears spinning at night when my head hits the pillow. I have already put the Trans Can on my calendar and booked my travel plans to Huron County in Ontario, August 12th. Have you?

Let’s Go Racing! Until next ‘Friday Flight’, Brent ‘Airmail’ Worrall out…………………