FXR Racing Presents Staging Area: Sand Del Lee National

After moving from its usual mid-July date to the end of August, the Sand Del Lee National might have a very different feel to it this weekend. The first obvious change will be that fans will not be allowed at the race on Saturday and Sunday. Because of the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic having fans wandering around the SDL track and paddock poses just too many health risks at this time. So like the previous rounds at Gopher Dunes and Walton Raceway, no fans will be permitted this weekend. There will also be no amateur racing this weekend or next weekend in Deschambault and the reason for this is that the pit area at both venues is not big enough to park everyone while keeping in line with the social distancing guidelines. Yes, it’s very unfortunate, to say the least, but that is the way this summer and we’ll just have to live with it. Another aspect of the SDL National that will be much different than in the past is the weather. As we’ve seen in years past when the race is in July, the conditions have been hot and humid on raceday. For instance, last year the temperature was close to 40c when you factored in the humidex. It was crazy hot and the motos had to be shortened slightly. The forecast for this weekend is calling for rain and 17c on Saturday, and then sun and 19c on Sunday. So while Saturday might be wet and sloppy, Sunday is looking like perfect conditions for racing dirt bikes. Heat and humidity will not be an issue this weekend.

When it comes to the actual track at Sand Del Lee, I can tell you that it’s one of the best of the Triple Crown MXTour Series. I’m sure there are a few exceptions, but pretty much every rider looks forward to this race. The track has a good mixture of sand and soft loam so it gets rough and challenging, but not to the point where the riders dread the final motos. Depending on the layout for this year, the SDL track in the past has been a little like two separate tracks in one. Meaning that while the front section is tight, slow, and made up of deeper sand, the second half of the track is faster and made up of darker loamier soil that has a solid base to it. If you walk through the paddock before practice begins you will certainly hear the riders and their mechanics discussing tire selection. Each year there is always debate about whether to use a paddle-type sand tire or just a normal soft terrain tire. In most cases, the riders end up going with the paddle tire as the starting line is made up of deep sand. The thinking is to focus on getting a good start with the paddle tire, and then make it work on the rest of the track. If it rains on Saturday and the track is sloppy then a paddle tire with most likely be the tire of choice for the opening motos.

A few other interesting things to watch for at SDL is qualifying and the dreaded lapped riders! With the way the starting line is set-up at SDL qualifying and gate picks are extremely important. Watching our top riders try and out-qualify each other is sometimes the best part of the day. Since the first turn is a 180 degree left-hander, the inside gates are a favourite among most of the top riders. I always find it interesting to watch the riders stage during the opening motos as there is always a lot of discussion about whether to go inside or to go out a little wider so the first turn doesn’t become such a slow and tight turn. Mike Alessi, who is one of the most consistent starters on the planet, he usually went closer to the box as he was confident that he’d get a good jump and be able to carry speed through the first turn. As I said, it will be interesting to see where everyone goes in the opening moto on Saturday.

The final item that is always interesting at SDL is lappers. Because this track is so tight in the front section and so fast in the back section, lapped riders are always a big issue for the top riders. If you catch a lapped rider or a pack of them in the wrong part of the track, it can really cause problems. For whatever reason, lapped riders have been an issue at all three of the opening rounds and unfortunately, I don’t know what you can do to improve the situation? Every rider has a right to be out there and no one is expecting any rider to just move over while they’re in a battle themselves. Most lapped riders are doing their best to get out of the way and let the leaders through, but there are always situations when they don’t and it becomes an issue. Deschambault is another track that is difficult for lapped riders as it has multiple switchback corners. Anyway, it’s something to watch for this weekend, but it’s also part of racing and every rider has to deal with it.

As I mentioned, the racing at Sand Del Lee is always excellent and this year should be much of the same. Last year, Colton Facciotti took the overall win in the 450MX class while his teammate Dylan Wright dominated both 250MX motos. Colton is now retired so he obviously won’t be a factor. Dylan Wright has moved to the 450MX class and since this is his home track he definitely has to be considered one of the favourites. Wright also has the red plates and has only lost one moto so far in 2020. Jess Pettis has been fast at SDL in the past so look for him to be upfront in the 250MX class. Tanner Ward has had some good motos here and Marshal Weltin is solid in the sand, so both of these riders should also be good. It all gets underway on Saturday morning with the opening 450MX and 250MX motos. After that, the WMX and Pre-Mix classes have two motos each in the afternoon. It’s going to be a great weekend as we head to our Nation’s Capital and also say good-bye to August.