Frid’Eh Replace #1 | Dylan Wright | Delivered to You by Fox Racing Canada
By Billy Rainford
Welcome to Week #1 of the DMX Frid’Eh Replace this week introduced by Fox Racing Canada. It’s at all times a fairly large deal to start out out the season with final 12 months’s #1 rider. Nevertheless, it’s not a lot of a shock these previous few years with Dylan Wright changing into barely untouchable.
Dylan can look fairly unapproachable on race days when he has his recreation face on, however he’s at all times a tremendous interview at any time when we get the prospect to ask him some questions. As you’ll see, he’s very beneficiant together with his solutions and offers us some good perception.
Oh, aside from after I ask him what it’s he listens to in his headphones earlier than races. You’ll see.
I’m at the moment out west in California for the primary 4 rounds of the 2023 Monster Vitality AMA Supercross Collection at A1, Oakland, San Diego, after which A1.
It’s been raining since I received right here a pair days in the past but it surely lastly ended Thursday at round midday and it appears to be like like we’ve made it via the worst of it. There have been even indicators all alongside the highways saying to cancel journey plans and keep away from going anyplace till late Thursday night. It’s just about like when it snows in Vancouver round right here. We noticed some fairly good fender benders on our drives right this moment.
I’m hanging out with a man loads of you’ll bear in mind from the wild wild west days of MX Discussion board. Rick Hamer-Jackson AKA Hammertime is down right here for his annual journey to A1. We’re calling the driveway of one other Canadian legend, Andy Bell, in Newport Seaside residence for just a few days whereas getting set for Anaheim 1. With out site visitors, it’s solely quarter-hour from Angel Stadium, so it’s been nice! Thanks, Andy!
We watched Crew Canada win the World Junior Hockey Championships in time beyond regulation Thursday night time in a cool little restaurant/pub within the harbour, appropriately referred to as Billy’s on the Seaside. They walked us to the again patio and we cranked up the amount and drove anybody and everybody loopy after they tried to take a seat down for a pleasant meal beside us.
Anyway, Dylan simply received residence from a vacation and was cool sufficient to humour me once more for an additional interview. In case you’ve been residing underneath a rock, Dylan simply turned the primary rider in Canadian historical past to win each moto of the MX season. It’s form of an enormous deal. Right here’s what he needed to say:
Direct Motocross: Good day, Dylan. Final time we spoke you had been simply getting again in your ft after your double ACL surgical procedure. Let me begin out by asking you ways all of that’s going today. How are your knees now?
Dylan Wright: Hey there, Billy, I’m truly doing tremendous nicely. I’ve been doing loads of rehab as you possibly can think about with it, however the progress is there. The onerous half has been holding myself again. I’ve been within the fitness center day-after-day making an attempt my greatest to get again to 100%. The one factor that I don’t wish to do is rush again too early and threat injuring it once more. So for now I’ve simply been being affected person and letting my medical doctors and coach information me in the suitable course. As for the place I’m within the progress, I’m now doing weightlifting to construct as a lot power as I can and have been onerous on the bicycle and rower to maintain my conditioning up.
OK, so that you went undefeated final summer time for the primary time within the 450 class. I do know you at all times attempt to downplay that accomplishment however in the event you look again at it now are you impressed with getting that carried out? To simply go all season with out a mechanical is wonderful even!
Yeah, and as a racer I’m usually one to downplay it as nicely, but it surely was positively cool for me to get it carried out and be the primary one to do it! I positively was impressed, as a result of, such as you say, something can occur! I for one have loads of belief within the group and my mechanic Justin (Petker) so I don’t suppose the mechanical half stunned me. I strive to not have too many ups and downs with feelings when racing. I used to be very excited when it occurred, however since then the main focus has been to attempt to repeat it once more subsequent 12 months!
You bought married after the season and simply received again from a pleasant vacation. How was all the things?
Yeah getting married was positively the cherry on high for my summer time. Attending to marry my stunning spouse was positively a dream come true! We had such a tremendous day with household and pals! Will probably be a day I’ll bear in mind for the remainder of my life. My spouse did a tremendous job getting all the things organized and I simply did probably the most I might to assist! It was superior to have it at my dad and mom’ property as nicely which is the place I grew up!
Yeah, as for the vacation, I truly received again late Wednesday and what a tremendous time it was. My spouse and I went with Tanner (Ward) and his girlfriend in addition to Dario (Zecca) and his fiancé. Let’s simply say it was superior to get out of the day by day grind, log off for a bit, and revel in some wonderful time with some pals. The spotlight of the journey needed to be the day all of us spent on the catamaran snorkelling, swimming with dolphins, and the non-public seaside with just a few chilly drinks!
Clearly, you’ve received an enormous goal in your again for 2023. How do you put together your self for a brand new season? Will you keep on with what you realize works or are you making an attempt something new and completely different?
Anytime you could have that massive no 1 on the bike, you at all times have a goal in your again. As for preparation, I’ll principally keep on with what I’ve been engaged on these days, because it appears to be working for me. However yearly I attempt to tweak just a few issues right here and there to make it higher and higher. For me, it’s extra about discovering the weak point in my using or simply in on a regular basis life and discovering a approach, no matter how onerous it is likely to be, and correcting it to at all times try for a greater ME on and off the bike! And belief this 12 months I’ve had loads of time to replicate!
No offence, however I’ve to say that loads of us had been virtually upset to study you had been coming again to Canada subsequent 12 months. How shut had been you to discovering a trip elsewhere?
Yeah, no offence taken right here! I’m comfortable to be again racing right here in Canada with the identical group I’ve been racing for the previous 6 years. As for offers from elsewhere, yeah, I had some affords from some locations everywhere in the world, however I’ve to take rather a lot into consideration when I’m making a choice. And for me proper now this was the perfect determination for me. The one factor I can say is that I really like Canadian moto and my nation.
If not Canada, was your choice to go to the MXGP or the AMA?
That’s a fantastic query. I might think about racing both sequence if the suitable deal for the suitable group got here to the desk. The simplest transition for me can be going to MXGP as they solely race motocross and that’s extra of my background in the mean time. I really like the grittiness of the racing over there and the completely different cultures and nations can be cool to see. As for AMA, I at all times grew up racing AMA, so for the suitable alternative I might prepare my ass off for Supercross and get good at it to carry out the place I must!
What was the primary motive for coming again to GDR for the subsequent few seasons?
I don’t suppose there’s a fundamental motive. I had loads of nice affords from groups inside our nation in addition to outdoors our nation. Like I mentioned earlier than, there are loads of elements to contemplate when signing a deal for me. There’s at all times the query of the bike and program, the financial compensation, the happiness and household facet, residing the place and what nation. There are loads of elements and for the GDR squad we now have develop into virtually like household and I’ve loads of belief within the guys I work with over there. Colton (Facciotti) has at all times been a tremendous mentor for me and, nicely, my mechanic Justin has had a tremendous observe report to say the least! The one factor I do know is that on each side we maintain one another to a excessive commonplace. I’m very comfortable to be there working with these guys and we now have some fairly cool tasks for this upcoming season as nicely!
Final 12 months, are you able to inform us how the shortage of an excellent ACL performed out? Was it a case of them being nice till they weren’t or how was it for you?
An important factor with that damage was my lack of preparation for the season, as I positively didn’t have the quantity of prep that I might have preferred! And yeah, precisely, I imply, it was okay till it wasn’t. I used to be having to be additional cautious placing my one leg out as a result of if I put it out the fallacious approach in a nook or landed too straight-legged my knee would dislocate and whereas using I must give it a bit jolt to place it again in. Not the funnest factor, however I received fairly dang good at using via it! Generally you simply gotta say F it and do what you gotta do!
Hammertime query: With all of your wins and championships, what do you wish to spend your cash on away from the observe. Do you could have any vices – meals, electronics, vehicles?
Hammer, what a query! I might like to say I spend tons of cash on one thing tremendous cool, however, fortunately, I grew up residing a reasonably humble life-style and am proud of the smaller issues in life than some fancy automobile or actually fancy anyfactor, to be trustworthy. I’m simply very lucky to be residing comfortably with my spouse doing what I really like in life; using my filth bike! The one factor that I might say I spend a bit bit of cash on is touring with my spouse. We love touring and studying new locations and cultures and that’s one thing that I wish to proceed to do. The one different factor I assume that I might say I spend some cash on is my home renovations, however I actually take pleasure in doing them and studying the way to do all the things myself.
What does the remainder of your winter appear like? The place will you be coaching and can you do any pre-season races?
It’s a bit onerous to inform at this level, as I’m ready to get the inexperienced mild to get using once more. My timeframe if all the things goes as deliberate can be to get again on the bike mid-February and get down south using. I’m actually trying ahead to getting again on the bike and grinding day in and day trip. I’m actually lacking that in my life proper now! Want that grind away from the fitness center. My exercises have been prolonged these days and want to only trip my dang filth bike once more!
Will you give AMA Supercross a shot in some unspecified time in the future?
Haha not this 12 months. However I can say that finally I’ll race one. It’s on my bucket record of issues to do. I can’t let you know when or the place or what number of, however I’ll race one finally.
Some extra private stuff:
What are you bingeing on a streaming service?
I simply received into Yellowstone just lately and have been having fun with that.
What music do you take heed to in your headphones on the races?
AHHHH that’s a secret! I’ve a tune I take heed to earlier than each race, however that’s for me and, nicely, perhaps my mechanic to know!
I’m going to sneak proper up on you subsequent time and pay attention fastidiously. What’s the go-to meal when it’s your flip to cook dinner?
Rooster Parm, fingers down! Love that meal! Might need that tonight, truly, you simply received me enthusiastic about it.
Let’s finish it together with your high 5 MX racers you’ve seemed as much as over time.
1. Ricky Carmichael
2. James Stewart
3. Kevin Windham
4. Colton Facciotti
5. Tyler Medaglia
OK, congrats on one other first interview of the 12 months! Good luck with the remainder of your preparation. Who would you wish to thank?
Thanks rather a lot, Billy! And simply my wonderful followers for sticking with me via this damage. I will probably be again very quickly! My complete group, Honda Canada, GDR, Fox Racing, and everybody that helps us. Wanting ahead to a different nice 12 months in 2023!
2023 Supercross Preview with Hammertime
I sat down with Rick Hamer-Jackson (AKA Hammertime) to speak about what we are able to anticipate from the racing within the 2023 Monster Vitality AMA Supercross season.
Audio Solely:
Discover it wherever you get your podcasts
zMAX Dragway and Chicagoland Speedway Set to Host First-Ever SuperMotocross World ChampionshipTM Playoff Rounds
31-Occasion Collection to Conclude on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 14
ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 6, 2023) – Throughout a press occasion for the opening spherical of the Monster Vitality AMA Supercross Championship and subsequently, the SuperMotocross World Championship, the SuperMotocross League introduced that zMAX Dragway and Chicagoland Speedway will host the first-ever SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff Rounds in September after the Monster Vitality AMA Supercross Championship and AMA Professional Motocross Championship each conclude.
SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff 1 will happen on Saturday, September 9 at zMAX Dragway in Harmony, North Carolina and Playoff 2 will happen on Saturday, September 23 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois As beforehand introduced, the SuperMotocross World Championship Closing will happen on Saturday, October 14, in Los Angeles on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
“The design from the get-go was to ensure that every a part of the nation was represented so followers would have a chance to expertise SuperMotocross first-hand,” mentioned Dave Prater, Vice President of Supercross, Feld Motor Sports activities. “It was necessary to have one playoff within the East, a second within the Midwest, after which the ultimate on the West Coast making every spherical simply accessible to every area. zMAX Dragway, Chicagoland Speedway and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum all present the right footprint to create world-class SuperMotocross tracks and a one-of-a-kind fan expertise that can mix components from each Supercross and Professional Motocross.”
zMAX Dragway is located adjoining to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Harmony and is the world’s first four-lane dragway. Inbuilt 2008, zMAX is taken into account the “Bellagio of Dragstrips” for its expansive format, giant capability grandstands and 40 luxurious suites. zMAX goes to offer a format the place our observe builders can create lanes suited to grandstand and suite viewing whereas additionally permitting followers to “line the fence” as they sometimes would at an out of doors Professional Motocross occasion.
“Innovation and leisure are on the core of all the things we do, so including a SuperMotocross occasion to our portfolio at zMAX Dragway simply is smart,” mentioned Charlotte Motor Speedway Government Vice President and Normal Supervisor Greg Walter. “Followers who go to us anticipate massive motion and large enjoyable, and that’s precisely what SuperMotocross offers. We couldn’t be extra excited to make some Playoff historical past in September.”
Chicagoland Speedway sits proper outdoors of Chicago in Joliet and will probably be simply accessible for followers touring by automobile or airplane with its central location and a number of airports. The 1.5 Mile D-shaped tri-oval Speedway sits on over 900 acres of land which is able to present sufficient room for the observe builders to get artistic with the format. Being a world-class facility, Chicagoland offers all the fashionable facilities motorsports followers anticipate when buying an occasion ticket. Chicagoland Speedway isn’t any stranger to marquee occasions as they hosted Indy Automobile Collection races for greater than 10 years and NASCAR Cup Collection races for almost 20 years.
“As a proud associate of Supercross at Daytona Worldwide Speedway for over 50 years, we stay up for welcoming the first-ever SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs to the Midwest at Chicagoland Speedway,” mentioned Chip Wile, senior vp and chief observe properties officer, NASCAR. “With an exhilarating season of motorsports forward, we’re excited to see riders return to Daytona and Chicagoland for intense two-wheel motion this season.”
The most effective of each worlds, the SuperMotocross World Championship goes to boast first of its sort observe designs that can make the most of a singular mixture of each Supercross and Motocross obstacles. Every observe format will probably be distinctive unto itself however embody 5 elementary, but important components of each disciplines – massive air, lengthy rhythm sections, rollers, quick straightaways, and elevation.
The SuperMotocross World Championship playoff races and ultimate will function underneath a two-moto format for each the 450cc class and 250cc class. Every moto will probably be 20 minutes, plus one lap, by which Olympic Scoring will decide an total ending place for which SuperMotocross Championship factors will probably be awarded.
The SuperMotocross World Championship sequence will boast the game’s largest payout of $10 million over the course of the total 31-event season. Prize cash is being added to each the Supercross and Professional Motocross Championships, leaving $5.5 million up for grabs for the playoffs and ultimate. A assured $1 million will go to the 450cc champion and $500,000 to the 250cc champion.
All 17 rounds of the 2023 Monster Vitality AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Professional Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff Rounds and Closing will go on pre-sale, Tuesday, January 31, adopted by public on-sale Tuesday, February 7. Enroll right here to develop into a precedence buyer and study extra about these occasions as they go on sale – SuperMotocross Precedence Signal-up. To buy tickets and keep updated on the most recent information and highlights, go to SuperMotocross.com, SupercrossLIVE.com or ProMotocross.com.
It’s time to go racing! Thanks for studying. See you on the races.
Oh wait, I ought to make clear that that’s not me within the New Brunswick business they stored exhibiting in the course of the World Junior Hockey tournament.
