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Nicely, isn’t this thrilling, the primary Monday of March, and no less than the place I stay, it’s not precisely spring outdoors. The truth is, this previous weekend, we obtained probably the most snow in a single dumping that we now have had all winter. Sadly, using season should wait just a few extra weeks in Southern Ontario. Nevertheless, for these fortunate sufficient to be executed south proper now, it’s prime using season, and I hope everyone seems to be having enjoyable.
As I write this, I’m on an Air Canada flight heading south to New Mexico to take part in a media launch for an all-new Can-AM quad. Sure, I do know what you’re pondering, I don’t journey quads, and MXP doesn’t at all times give consideration to them. Nevertheless, just a few of the OEMs we work with promote them, and infrequently we collaborate with different media retailers. So when ATV World Journal wanted an skilled media man to move all the way down to New Mexico to check journey Can-Am’s newest four-wheeled creation, I stated, why not. With a lot snow at residence, it is a superb time to move all the way down to a spot the place the forecast requires 18c and sunny Monday and Tuesday. It’s not using grime bikes in Florida, however for 2 days, it should do.
One of many coolest races on the calendar came about in Daytona, Florida, this previous weekend. The Daytona SX is at all times a enjoyable race to observe, whether or not you’re sitting at residence on the sofa or within the stands at some of the well-known speedways on the planet. This race has all of it, and every year it gives us with a plethora of leisure, particularly within the 450SX class. This yr was the identical: by the point the gate dropped on the principle occasion, the monitor was treacherous, and solely the strongest and smartest riders would succeed. One rider who got here into Daytona with the 450SX factors lead and a really formidable historical past at this race was Eli Tomac. With six principal occasions wins in Daytona to his credit score (seven after Saturday night time), it’s secure to say that Tomac feels very snug on these hollowed grounds. Throughout an interview on Friday’s media day, Tomac stated that though he does add a small sand part to his residence monitor earlier than Daytona, that is the one change he makes in his preparation. He would go on to say that to succeed at Daytona, a very powerful factor is adapting rapidly to the ever-changing monitor circumstances. What you see in follow is a far cry from the monitor you see in your warmth race, and so forth and so forth. As all of us witnessed in the principle occasion on Saturday, Tomac tailored faster and higher than his competitors. As James Stewart (who was helping with the tv commentary) identified, Tomac bought quicker because the monitor bought rougher and slowed down a bit. Whether or not it was bike set-up or his general confidence on the tough and rutted Daytona monitor, Tomac’s last ten minutes on Saturday night time was maybe the very best ten minutes we’ve ever seen him journey.
Behind Tomac was Cooper Webb, who led early however made an important error that allowed Tomac to move. Chase Sexton completed third after battling with Webb and Tomac early in the principle occasion. Whether or not the tempo was too quick for Sexton’s liking or whether or not it was bike-related, Sexton couldn’t constantly run the tempo of the lead two. Justin Barcia was a stable fourth general, and actually, he most probably ought to’ve completed on the rostrum. If it had not been for a few collisions with Sexton (one despatched him off the monitor at excessive pace, and the second put him on the bottom), Barcia was decided to seize the ultimate step on the rostrum. Jason Anderson was a quiet fifth, and apart from Tomac, the journey of the night time went to his teammate Justin Cooper, who made his method handed Roczen and Plessinger and proper to the again tire of Anderson by the checkered flag. The hearsay is that this was Cooper’s last 450SX race, as he’ll now get again on his 250 and begin getting ready for the Lucas Oil Professional Motocross Championships. Cooper rode nice within the 450SX races he competed on this season, and his lap occasions in Daytona matched these of the leaders, even late within the race. This child is aware of how to achieve success, so search for him to be actually good in 2024, and until he’s already beneath contract for subsequent yr, search for just a few groups to make a run at signing Justin Cooper.
As for our gifted Canadian riders in Daytona, all of them rode properly however couldn’t get good begins when it mattered most. Quinn Amyotte simply missed the night time present within the 250SX East class, so he needed to be upset. Each St Cyr and Benek certified for the night time present within the 450SX class and completed inside the highest twenty within the LCQ. Earlier than Daytona, there was speak and Social Media proof that Cole Thompson was all set to race an precise 450 within the 450SX class on Saturday, however a mid-week crash made him change his thoughts. CT has been at it for a while, and if he needs to complete the 250SX West Sequence off sturdy, he must recharge a bit. I like that he needed to race a 450 this previous weekend, however Daytona shouldn’t be the monitor to leap on an unfamiliar bike with just a few days of testing. Issues can go sideways rapidly on a 450 in Daytona, in order a lot as I needed to observe Cole compete beneath the lights of the Speedway, a part of me is glad he didn’t. He has larger fish to fry in just a few weeks in Seattle, as he has a fantastic shot of ending high ten within the 250SX West Sequence with some extra stable ends in the remaining races.
Nicely, the Captain simply got here on the PA to announce that we are going to be starting our descent quickly. So with that in thoughts, I’d higher wrap this up. All of our high professional riders at the moment are down south coaching, and it’s nice to listen to that they’re all doing properly. Dylan Wright is getting again up to the mark rapidly as he’s at present coaching on the Lawrence Brothers Compound in Florida together with his teammate Jacob Piccolo. I spoke to Jess Pettis this week, and his using and coaching are going properly. Sadly, Tyler Medaglia had dangerous luck at Sunday’s GNCC occasion in Florida; his bike malfunctioned and brought about him to DNF. Tyler Gibbs, Daniel Elmore, and now Kaven Benoit are coaching exhausting at ClubMX in South Carolina. Jeremy Mckie got here residence for just a few days to recharge however he’s now again coaching exhausting in Florida. Shawn Maffenbeier advised me final week that he loves his new 2023 YZ450F so he’s having enjoyable out in California. That is an thrilling time of the yr and now all we’d like is for the snow to soften again residence. Thanks for studying, and please want me luck whereas I try to journey a quad as we speak and tomorrow. In case you have any questions or feedback, please e-mail me at chris@mxpmag.com.
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