Metcalfe and Decotis snare overalls in nail-biter Regina

Brett Metcalfe and Jimmy Decotis wrapped up the western leg of the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan with wins in Regina on Sunday. Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki’s Metcalfe recorded the MX1 overall on the strength of 1-2 motos while Canada’s Motorcycles FXR Yamaha’s Decotis claimed the MX2 overall thanks to consistent 2-2 motos. Finicky weather was the hallmark of Round 4 of the points chase at Moto Valley Raceway, which saw the temperature bob up and down between 18 and 22°C. Winds gusted up to 40 km an hour and threatening skies produced rain for part of the first MX2 moto and the entire first MX1 moto. But that only added to the mix of a barnburner national. In what has been a competition-heavy season since the opening round in Kamloops, Regina proved to be the hardest fought for top five results in both classes.

Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Matt Goerke claimed second overall in MX1, thanks to 3-1 finishes while Honda Canada GDR’s Colton Facciotti sealed the podium with 2-3 results. Honda Canada GDR’s Jeremy Medaglia bagged second overall in MX2 on the strength of 6-1 motos. Saskatchewan native Shawn Maffenbeier claimed third overall on the Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha with rock steady 3-3 finishes. MX1 With rain falling and winds howling, the first moto MX1 Royal Distributing holeshot went to Devils Lake Yamaha-mounted Jake Streichert. The pro rookie bowed to Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Bobby Kiniry not long after the turn and gradually dropped back to still claim a noteworthy 10th place at the finish line.

Behind Kiniry the racing was frantic with Parts Canada Husqvarna’s Tyler Medaglia, Facciotti, Royal Distributing Fox KTM’s Cole Thompson, Metcalfe, and Goerke in the chase group. With the rain and wind gusts growing more intense as the moto unfolded, Kiniry saw Facciotti, Thompson, Metcalfe, and Goerke stick a pass on him in short order. While Kiniry started drifting from the front, Medaglia got himself displaced from second and he and Kiniry would end up finishing outside the top five in sixth and seventh respectively. Despite laying down a fast pace Facciotti could not put much of the slippery real estate between himself and Thompson. Thompson for his part succumbed to Metcalfe on lap five. Goerke, also in passing mode, shot by Thompson one lap later and the race for podium finishes took on a new meaning. It would remain close and dramatic almost to the bitter end, by which time the top three finally settled into their own rhythm. Around the halfway mark of the moto Metcalfe managed to charge by Facciotti, who now had Goerke on his tail. Although Goerke closed to within two seconds of Facciotti, the Florida native never managed to challenge the defending champ for position. Goerke eventually settled into third, some five seconds ahead of fourth running Thompson. With Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki’s Teddy Maier on cruise control in fifth, about 12 seconds behind Thompson, the top five finishing positions were a done deal.

At the finish line Metcalfe recorded a comfortable four seconds on Facciotti. Goerke snared the final slot on the box seven seconds behind Facciotti and 13 seconds ahead of Thompson. The second moto Royal Distributing holeshot went to fast starter Kiniry who was trailed by his teammate Goerke, Thompson, Medaglia, Metcalfe and Facciotti. Goerke grabbed the lead shortly after the first turn and would remain up front for the entire moto. A few laps into the moto Thompson was relegated to fourth by a hard charging Medaglia and Metcalfe. Kiniry faded to seventh, where he would finish behind Redemption KTM Fly Racing’s Cade Clason. Medaglia, who finished seventh in moto one, would hold on to second place for only one lap. He soon found Facciotti whip past him and at that point the top three finishers were decided. With a relentless Metcalfe in his rear wheel, Goerke was in for what had to be one of the toughest rides of his life. From the mid-way point on, the Australian hounded Goerke till the end of the moto. At times only a split second separated them for laps on end until finally, towards the end of the moto, Goerke was able to cross the finish line two seconds ahead of Metcalfe.

While Goerke and Metcalfe battled like two men possessed, Facciotti, who trailed Metcalfe by up to 11 seconds, had his hands full with Cole Thompson. Thompson had displaced Medaglia from fourth place around the mid-way mark of the moto. From then on the Ontario native hounded Facciotti the way Metcalfe was stalking Goerke, without mercy! This scenario continued pretty well until the end of the moto, with Goerke taking the checkered flag just ahead of Metcalfe, followed at some distance by Facciotti. Thompson stuck to the defending champ, finishing fourth while Medaglia crossed the finish line some ways back. Thanks to his 4-4 moto results Thompson claimed fourth overall while Medaglia cemented the top five on the strength of 7-5 motos. MX2 In MX2 action, Jeremy Medaglia nailed the first moto Royal Distributing holeshot with defending champion Kaven Benoit sticking a pass on him a split second later. It was all for nought, however, as a first turn crash brought out the red flag. Bow Cycle Yamaha’s Jared Petruska went down hard and was later diagnosed with a concussion. Petruska had to kiss his top 10 in the current points standing goodbye and may not be able to resume racing until possibly Round 6. On the restart, Royal Distributing Fox KTM’s Benoit claimed the holeshot and basically put on a wire-to-wire clinic. The Quebec native would eventually reach the finish line a cool 19 seconds ahead of Jimmy Decotis, who occupied second place the entire moto.

Behind Decotis the rest of the frontrunners, including GA Checkpoint Yamaha’s Brad Nauditt, Medaglia, Yamaha privateer Morgan Burger, and Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Shawn Maffenbeier, ensured handlebar-banding action as they battled for top five positions. On lap two Benoit already counted 4.5 seconds on Decotis and he kept the throttle pinned as if racing himself. On lap two Nauditt took time out for a soil sandwich, handing third place to Medaglia. Nauditt rejoined the fray in 12th place and would spend the rest of the moto there. An inspired Maffenbeier, cheered on by home province fans, stayed on the gas and managed to slice his way into third place some four laps into the moto. At this stage the podium positions were secured. There was still a battle for a top five finish raging between Medaglia in fourth, Burger in fifth, and Savage in sixth. A bobble by Medaglia saw him remount in sixth, where he would greet the checkered flag. Devils Lake Yamaha’s Blake Savage quickly stuck a pass on Burger, who had moved into fourth after Medaglia’s get-off. From that point, Savage defended fourth to the finish line while Burger kept Medaglia behind him to claim fifth.

Fortunately it had stopped raining by the time the second moto got underway. The track, although slippery, did not turn into a muddy quagmire. With a steady wind blowing, the soil lost a lot of its moisture, and thanks to excellent grooming proved to be race-friendly. The Royal Distributing holeshot went to Medaglia, getting his due after the first moto red flag incident negated the holeshot he had produced then. He was followed into turn one by Decotis, Savage, Maffenbeier, Benoit and Nauditt. Medaglia never looked back and went on to take his first moto win of the season. By the second lap Benoit had installed himself in third and was putting pressure on Decotis. But the defending champ was trying a bit too hard to stick a pass on Decotis and crashed before the end of the lap. He remounted in a distant 15th place while Maffenbeier settled into third. The frontrunners’ positions would not change from lap three on, with. Medaglia, Decotis and Maffenbeier riding their own race. Medaglia even managed to put about six seconds on Decotis. Maffenbeier never challenged Decotis and focused on defending his position from fourth-running Burger. The Idaho native never gained more than three seconds on Maffenbeier, who to the delight of the crowd recorded his second third place finish of the day. Savage was able to hang on to fifth place, taking home sixth overall on the day by recording 4-5 finishes. Meanwhile, Benoit managed to contain the damage by working his way into a sixth place finish, claiming fourth overall on the day. Although his points lead was shaved down a bit by Medaglia, Benoit still enjoys a 13-point cushion as the series heads to Courtland, ON to start the eastern leg of the tour. After a two-week break in the schedule, Gopher Dunes will host Round 5 of the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals presented by Motovan on Sunday, July 12th.

MX1 Overall Results – Round 4 MX1 1. Brett Metcalfe (Kaw) 1-2 2. Matt Goerke (Yam) 3-1 3. Colton Facciotti (Honda) 2-3 4. Cole Thompson (KTM) 4-4 5. Tyler Medaglia (Husq) 7-5 6. Bobby Kiniry (Yam) 6-7 7. Cade Clason (KTM) 8-6 8. Dylan Schmoke (KTM) 9-10 9. Kyle Keast (Hon) 11-9 10. Mathew Davenport (Yam) 16-8

MX2 Overall Results – Round 4 MX2 1. Jimmy Decotis (Yam) 2-2 2. Jeremy Medaglia (Hon) 6-1 3. Shawn Maffenbeier (Yam) 3-3 4. Kaven Benoit (KTM) 1-6 5. Morgan Burger (Yam) 5-4 6. Blake Savage (Yam) 4-5 7. Dustin Creson (Yam) 7-8 8. Brad Nauditt (Yam) 12-7 9. Jesse Pettis (Yam) 9-10 10. Dylan Wright (Yam) 10-11

MX1 points after 4 of 10 rounds 1. Matt Goerke 207 pts 2. Colton Facciotti 200 3. Brett Metcalfe 195 4. Cole Thompson 193 5. Tyler Medaglia 169 6. Cade Clason 155 7. Bobby Kiniry 149 8. Kyle Keast 132 9. Teddy Maier 130 10. Dylan Schmoke 115

MX2 points after 4 of 10 rounds 1. Kaven Benoit 217 pts 2. Jeremy Medaglia 204 3. Jimmy Decotis 194 4. Shawn Maffenbeier 162 5. Morgan Burger 156 6. Brad Nauditt 148 7. Blake Savage 144 8. Dylan Wright 137 9. Jesse Pettis 111 10. Seth Rarick 111