2016 Rockstar Energy Motocross Nationals

 

 

The fourth and final Western Canadian round of the 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan took place this weekend in cool conditions at the Moto Valley Raceway in Regina.

 The weather has been good for the first four rounds of the series in the west, and we hope it will continue for Round 5 at Gopher Dunes, as the series moves east to Ontario following next weekend’s break.

The Moto Valley track was in great condition after being freshly tilled, and getting some overnight rain. The weather held out as riders found their way around the loamy, but hard based, fast race track, with its big floating jumps and its high speed drops. The first turn was changed before the race and the right hand 180 degree turn claimed a few top riders forcing them to charge from the back of the pack.

MX1

regina-goerke

 

KTM Canada Thor Racing’s Davi Millsaps goes into the two week break in complete control after leading every lap and sweeping both Motos in Regina. Davi did what he has done every Moto this year; get into the lead early, sprint away from the pack, and then cruise to the checkered flag unchallenged. He made it easier on himself when he grabbed the Royal Distributing Holeshot in the first Moto and had nothing but kudos during his podium interview for the track and the time he has spent in Canada. “I have never ridden a track like this and I have been riding for a long time. It’s a bit more fun up here and the atmosphere under our tent is great.”

Race fans knew it would not take much longer for Monster Energy Alpinestar Kawasaki’s Mike Alessi to work his magic on the starting line and grab the Royal Distributing Holeshot, and after going 0 for 7 to start the season he finally pulled it off in Moto 2. Mike rode well all day on route to 4-2 Moto finishes and ended up on the second step of the podium at the end of the day, for the third race in a row. Asked about his second Moto Holeshot on the podium, Mike joked, “I was not going to start the season 0 for 8.” Alessi is 24 points behind Millsaps in the series standings and feels that he is getting stronger each week.

After two weeks off the podium, the MX1 defending Champion, Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Matt Goerke, finished 3-4 in Round 4 and captured third overall. While running second in Moto 1 Goerke stalled the motor on his Yamaha and lost a position to Kaven Benoit while trying to restart his motorcycle. In Moto 2, Matt benefitted when Kaven was forced to retire with a mechanical problem, and after the race said, “I got some stuff to work on. The second moto was not my best and hopefully I can turn this series around in the east.”

After going down in the first turn of Moto 1, Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Brett Metcalfe was scored in nineteenth position on the opening lap. The former champion put on a charge and by the end of the Moto made it up to sixth. In Moto 2, Brett got a much better start and ended up finishing 6-3 for fourth overall. On the podium after the second Moto, he said, “It was good to be up in the battle.” During the two week break Metcalfe said he will get some rest to make “the last run for the Championship.”

Honda Canada Racing Fox GDR’s Colton Facciotti rounded out the top 5 with 5-5 Moto scores, but like last weekend in Calgary the 4-time Canadian MX1 Champion was never really able to get it going and challenge for the podium. Colton sits third in the series standings as the series moves east, and will certainly be challenging for the win on tracks that he has had a lot of previous success on.

In his rookie season in the MX1 class, KTM Canada Thor Racing’s Kaven Benoit has been challenging Colton Facciotti for bragging rights as the top Canadian MX1 rider. Kaven posted the fastest lap in Moto 1 while finishing second, and then suffered a mechanical issue that forced him out of Moto 2 while running in third. With not even half the season behind him, the talented French Canadian has already been forced to retire in two Motos with mechanical issues.