Nanaimo, BC (June 3, 2012) –Mother Nature hadn't been kind to the racers at Nanaimo this year, as heavy rainfall forced riders to deal with severely adverse conditions at the first round of the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals, making an already technical track even tougher. Riders had to use all of their skills just to stay up right and moving forward in the tough conditions.
Monster Energy/Leading Edge Kawasaki's MX1 rider, Matt Goerke, came into the season full of confidence and with a clean bill of health after a hard charged season in Supercross. The Flordia native took the lead early and rode with skill and determination. Goerke never faltered from his leading way, going 1-1 for a first over all.
Behind the Green Machine was three time Canadian MX champion Colton Facciotti, aboard his brand new Red Bull/Royal Distributing/Fox/KTM ride. Despite vision problems and less than optimal starts, Facciotti secured a very consistent second place finish in the overall.
Fellow American and Supercross veteran Bobby Kiniry on his Rockstar/Troy Lee Designs/OTSFF/Yamaha showed infinite patience in the rutted, slippery mess. Kiniry kept the leaders insight while managing to hold off the hard charging Kyle "Dozer" Keast, aboard his Machine Racing/Yamaha. Both riders maintained their poisitions, earning a third and fourth place finish for Yamaha respectively.
MX2 was filled with young guns who came into Nanaimo ready to fill the vacancy left by Tyler Medaglia's move to the MX1 class. If the rain soaked conditions were hard on the 450s, they were brutal on the 250s and their young riders. It turned out that experience and patience, in the form of class veteran and Monster Energy/Leading Edge Kawasaki rider Teddy Maier, took the win. He was able to weather the storm, taking the overall victory ahead of teammate Kyle Beaton. Both Kawasaki riders had troubles throughout the day, but through it all they kept their bikes up right and secured first and second podium positions respectively.
Third place went to Yamalube/Troy Lee Designs/Yamaha's Jared Allison, who went 6-3 for third place overall, capitalizing on the mistakes of others. Allison was able to prove he can be a podium threat in the worst conditions, making him even more dangerous in the upcoming MX2 season.
The rain poured down and track conditions quickly deteriorated, but nothing could dampen the excitement that comes with the start of a new season. This year the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals celebrate their 20th anniversary, and with round one in the books the season is just getting started. If the opener can be any judge, it looks like it's going to be a season to watch, filled with close racing and non stop excitement at all nine stops.
The 2012 Monster Energy Motocross Nationals continues next week, with round two from Whispering Pines Raceway in Kamloops, British Columbia, on Saturday, June 9.
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS 2012 NATIONALS SCHEDULE
THE WASTELANDS
June 3 – Nanaimo, BC.
WHISPERING PINES RACEWAY
June 9 - Kamloops, BC.
WILD ROSE MX PARK
June 17 – Calgary, AB.
CASTROL RACEWAY
June 24 – Edmonton, AB.
GOPHER DUNES RACEWAY
July 14 – Tillsonburg, ONT.
CIRCUIT DE STE-JULIE
July 22 – Ste Julie, Que.
RIVERGLADE MX PARK
August 5 – Moncton, NB.
SAND DE LEE
August 12 – Ottawa, ONT.
WALTON RACEWAY
Aug. 19 – Walton, ONT.
