CMRC Nationals ready to roll

From Bull's Eye Media Relations

STOUFFVILLE, ON -- Canada’s top motocross riders will be congregating in Ste-Julie, QC this weekend for the opening round of the 2006 CMRC Canadian Motocross Championships. Round 1 of the nine-round MX1 Championship, and the season opener for the MX2 East Championship take place on Sunday at the spectacular Circuit de Ste-Julie. Qualifiers for both classes will run on Saturday.

Defending MX1 champion Jean Sebastien Roy, who has dominated the premiere motocross class since 2001, is expected to take the win in front of a home province crowd. The Acton Vale, QC native returns for his sixth season with Team Honda Blackfoot Fox Racing. Along with teammates Dusty Klatt, ’04/’05 MX2 West champion, and multi-time national champion Blair Morgan, Roy will be taking on contenders representing the other key motorcycle manufacturers: Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha and KTM.

Among the favourite factory team riders looking to unseat Roy from the MX1 throne this season are Suzuki Canada/OTSFF Motorsports’ Gavin Gracyk, Keith “KJ” Johnson and Ryan Lockhart; Kawasaki Canada/Richmond Racing’s Darcy Lange and Colt Facciotti; Yamaha Canada/Morgan Racing’s Keith R. Johnson, Derrick Fisher and Simon Homans; and KTM/Royal Distributing’s Marco Dubé.

“I know I’m going to have my work cut out for me if I’m going to win my sixth championship but I’ve been training really hard and I had my knee fixed last fall,” said Roy. “I haven’t felt this good going into a season for a long time and my confidence level is high. I know it won’t be easy but it means a lot more to win when the competition is tough.”

John Dowd, who rode to a No.3 ranking in the CMRC MX1 title chase in 2004, will be substituting for an injured Keith “KJ” Johnson on Team Suzuki OTSFF. A leg injury will keep Johnson on the sidelines till at least the third round in Nanaimo, BC on June 18.

In the MX2 East points chase, defending champion Michael Willard, riding for KTM Canada/Stoneridge, will be challenged for the title by his teammate Matt Barnes; Team Honda Blackfoot Fox Racing’s Mitch Cooke; Team Suzuki OTSFF’s Pierce Chamberlain and Machine Racing Yamaha’s Trever Hall to name a few. A roster of up-and-comers looking to make a name for themselves will further ensure that the MX2 title hunt will be an aggressive affair this season.