It’s Monday and that means that it’s time to drop the gate and talk about what is happening right now in our sport. I hope you had a great weekend and if you were at one of the multiple races across this great country, then I hope you had a safe and successful weekend. For the second weekend of September, there sure were a lot of races to choose from this past weekend. Future West had a race in Williams Lake, Manitoba had a race, the Triple Crown Mini Bike event took place near Sarnia, Walton Raceway had an event, Moto Park had a race, and finally AMO Racing held their second to the last event of 2022 at Sand Del Lee. It was a busy weekend and I hope you had a good one. Finally, even though September 11th was a busy Sunday this year, I hope everyone took at least a quick moment to honour 9/11 and the lives that were lost on that tragic day. Even 21 years on we must never forget the events of that day.
As you would expect during this time of the year there is a lot of talk surrounding the upcoming MXONs at Red Bud. We’re now less than two weeks away from arguably the biggest race of the year and it sounds as though Team Canada is ready. Dylan Wright has been training hard and actually lined up at Sand Del Lee yesterday so we know he’s ready to go. I haven’t witnessed Ryder McNabb riding recently but I’m told by multiple people that he’s been training hard and is excited for the opportunity to represent Canada at Red Bud. Finally, since his big crash and subsequent injuries at Walton Raceway a month ago, there has been a lot of talk about Tyler Medaglia, and would hw be healed up and ready to race by the September 24,25 weekend. This uncertainty was so great in recent weeks that both Tanner Ward and Jess Pettis were told to be ready in case either was called upon to fill in for Medaglia. But after speaking with Medaglia this morning he told me that he started riding again last week and that this week he’ll be back to his normal schedule of training and riding. So, unless something drastic happens our team of Wright, McNabb, and Medaglia will be ready to race in Red Bud.
This is great news as you always want to avoid having to replace a rider this close to the actual race. Tyler should be fine as he’s been able to keep up with most of his off-the-bike training and prior to his crash at Walton Raceway he was riding as good as he’s ever ridden. If our team rides like they’re all capable of and gets a little lady luck on their side at Red Bud then they should do just fine. Of course, as much as this is a rare team event in motocross I’m really anxious to see how our riders do individually against the world’s best. As I mentioned above, we know that if Tyler is healthy that he will be solid throughout the weekend. Also, at his age, this could be his final MXONs (haven’t we been saying this for years now?). I see him coming in with a little extra motivation to try and have some good finishes. For Ryder McNabb, this is obviously his first, of what most likely will be many times representing Canada at this storied event so nerves will most certainly be a factor. As a rider in his position and at his age I don’t care how many times people may tell him not to be nervous and that it’s just another race, he’s going to be nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs and he should be. To me, nerves are never a bad thing as they keep you sharp and it means that you care about what you’re about to do. The big question for any athlete is how you deal with your nerves. I have a feeling that McNabb is going to be just fine at Red Bud and if anyone in the world doesn’t know who he is coming into the MXONs, they’re quickly going to find out. After winning the Triple Crown Series 250 title last month Ryder’s confidence has to be at an all-time high. Also, I’m not sure if this kid knows what a day off is so we know he’s continued to work hard since the final round at Walton Raceway. Finally, he’s going to have some familiar ‘calming’ faces and voices on hand at Red Bud to help keep him focused. Overall, I like Ryder’s chances at Red Bud!
So, history will tell us that Tyler Medaglia will be solid at Red Bud. Human Nature will tell us that as a confident 16-year-old Ryder McNabb should be fine. This leaves us with Dylan Wright who is coming off his perfect summer here in Canada. Many people, including myself, believe that Dylan could be in store for one incredible weekend at Red Bud. If he can remain healthy in the deep Red Bud ruts while riding at maximum capacity then look out world. In 2016, we watched Kaven Benoit turn heads in Italy with his amazing ride, and before that, we had riders like JSR and Ross Pederson perform well on the world stage. If everything falls into place at Red Bud, I believe that Dylan Wright will have a day that will leave everyone talking for years to come. Right now he’s riding that good and he’s that confident. Also, even with as much success as Dylan has enjoyed this past summer, in talking with him two weeks ago, I feel like he’s heading into Red Bud with something to prove. When a rider is at the top of their game as Dylan is right now and they head into an event with this type of mindset, usually good things happen. Finally, in the big picture; with most of the pressure and attention on teams from the USA, France, and Australia, Team Canada can head into Red Bud knowing that they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Go Canada Go!
Moving on from the MXONs to one of the cool new products that I was able to test. Last week Fox Racing Canada released their new lineup of Instinct 2, Motion, and Comp MX and off-road boots. I was fortunate enough to have received a fresh pair of white Instinct 2 boots to test last week, so obviously I was excited to try them out. I love new boots and I really love that unlike years past when you had to schedule a time to break in new boots these days you can take them out of the box, put them on your feet and go racing without any trouble. Yes, new boots still feel stiff and they do need a little bit of break-in but overall new boots come ready to race in the modern era. I found the all-new Fox Instinct 2’s very comfortable from the moment I put them on. One of the new features is that they now come in half sizes so a 10.5 fits my feet perfectly. Before a size 10 was too small so I had to go with an 11 which was a tiny bit on the big side for me. Finding that perfect size is no longer an issue for us picky riders. I noticed right away how improved the buckle system is on these new boots. In the past, the buckles were sometimes hard to close and with the sharper plastic buckle, they sometimes hurt your fingers when you tried to close them. The new buckles are made out of aluminum and the edges are smooth. Finally, when I began to ride with them they did feel a little stiffer initially than the older Instinct boots I have been wearing. However, within minutes they felt great and shifting and braking weren’t an issue. I rode with the all-new Instinct 2’s all weekend and honestly, they just kept feeling better and better. Next up is some durability testing as I will be riding with them a lot in the coming weeks. But so far it’s two thumbs up on these new Fox Racing Instinct 2 boots as the new features work and feel great. Here are some important features of the all-new Instinct 2 boots.
NEW FOX INSTINCT BOOT
- All-new ULTRATAC compound, on the outsole and inner side of boot, provides the highest level of grip
- New and improved last – the foot-shaped mold that determines the boots’ fit – offers step-in comfort
- Now available in half sizes for a more precise fit. Half sizes: 9.5, 10.5, 11.5
- Patented hinge lockout stops motion before hyperextension and improves back and forth mobility
- New patented forged metal buckle system provides a durable, secure closure, and precise fit
- Air mesh treated Microban antimicrobial liner helps control odor
- Patented composite nylon-fiberglass insole board provides stability in the heel and flex in the ball of the foot
- Anti-shock midsole and heel pad provides impact resistance, stability and support on the foot peg
- Resoleable outsole for a longer lasting boot even after wear and tear
- Microfiber synthetic leather upper for superior fit, flex, and durability
- TPU plating on shin, toe cap, heel cap, and calf guard gives the rider our fullest coverage
- Sleek medial design (inner side of the boot) keeps you in close contact with the bike
- Less volume in the toe box for easy shifting and a sleeker overall profile
- Composite nylon-fiberglass cuff secures and protects the ankle
- Low ride chassis brings the foot closer to the footpeg for an enhanced feel
- Weight: 1,947 g (size 10)
- MSRP $699.95
Well, that is it for me this week. If you live in Ontario then this Friday and Saturday is the final round of the True North AMO Racing OPC Series at Gopher Dunes. Once racing is concluded on Saturday there will be a banquet with food, drinks, and awards. There will also be prizes as well as an endless amount of bench racing and fun. The 2022 AMO Racing began at Gopher Dunes so it’s only fitting that it ends there as well. Good luck and race safe everyone! Thank you for reading and have a great week.