2004 Canadian Nationals Preview
by Roddy MacLeod
12 June 2004
The gate drops tomorrow for the 2004 Canadian national motocross championships at the Wastelands track in Nanaimo, British Columbia.
Diablo Honda's Keith Johnson
Interest in the Canadian nationals has never been so high judging by the unprecedented number of riders are receiving top support from private and factory teams. Non-Canadian riders account for more than 38% of the top 50 ranked riders.
“This season we have the largest contingent ever of American riders campaigning the three title chases,” said CMRC President Mark Stallybrass. “It’s going to be very competitive with any one of four to five riders capable of winning motos in all three championships.”
The eight round series will see 250 riders competing at every round while the 125 class is broken into four rounds for each East and West series. Two of last year's three national champions will return to defend their titles; Jean Sebastien Roy will try to win his fourth 250 title while Randy Valade switches to Morgan Suzuki to defend his number one plate in the 125 East division. Last year's 125 West champion, Evan Laughridge, will compete in the U.S. AMA 125 nationals.
JSR and Huffman are back with Blackfoot
The title in the premiere 250 class will be very difficult to take away from Blackfoot Honda. The Calgary based powerhouse has won the last three 250 championships with JSR and secured the runner up position last year as well with Damon Huffman. The lanky and talented Huffman may prove JSR's main rival for this year's title, but Huffman is not the only American with a legitimate chance of winning. OTSFF Suzuki has hired John Dowd to try and break the Honda grip on the championship. Dowd won the AMA 125 West Supercross championship in 1998 and took the 250cc overall last year at the only CMRC national he's ever competed in at Dechambeault, Quebec. The gritty veteran will certainly be a front runner throughout the season.
Fans can also look forward to a deep layer of supporting talent including Diablo Honda's Mike Treadwell and Keith Johnson, Morgan Suzuki's Craig Decker plus Canadians Blair Morgan and Doug DeHaan, both riding for Blair Morgan Yamaha.
Richmond Racing was also looking strong for tomorrow's event until their main man, 2004 AMA Arenacross champion Darcy Lange, was unintentionally clothes-lined by track workers installing a banner across the finish line jump Thursday causing injury to his right thumb. While not broken, it is not yet clear whether Lange will compete Sunday. The strange incident gets stranger when, in response, Richmond decided to employ their riding coach and former 5-time AMA Arenacross champion (now retired) Buddy Antunez to race this round, plus the remaining 250 races.
125 West also looks to be tough while Americans Ryan Morais, Turbo Reif, Jeff Northrup, James Marshall, Australian Lewis Stewart and Mexican Eric Vallejo give all they can to Canadian hopefuls: Colton Facciotti, Kyle Beaton, Bart Stephenson, Brady Sheren and more.
Here's an updated team list plus the top 100+ riders:
Blackfoot Honda
125 West
104 Ryan Morais
105 Turbo Reif
125 East
14 Derrick Fisher
103 Matt Barnes
250 Class
1 Jean Sebastien Roy
2 Damon Huffman
11 Dusty Klatt
Diablo Honda
125 West
125 Daniel Blair (injured, not racing)
125 East
90 Neil Farlow
250 Class
8 Mike Treadwell
44 Keith Johnson
OTSFF Suzuki
125 East
Iain Hayden
250 Class
32 John Dowd
Morgan Suzuki
125 East
1 (20) Randy Valade
125 West
980 Lewis Stewart
250 Class
3 Craig Decker
Blair Morgan Yamaha
125 West
Kyle Beaton
125 East
15 Ryan Lockhart
250 Class
7 Doug DeHaan
37 Blair Morgan
Richmond Racing
125 West
12 Colton Facciotti
615 Jeff Northrup
112 Brady Sheren
125 East
Donnie McGourty (Florida)
Gavin Gracyk (Ohio)
250 Class
4 Darcy Lange
12 Colton Facciotti
Buddy Antunez
Riverside Yamaha
125 West
18 Bart Stephenson
211 Aaron Barr
451 James Marshall
Pacific Yamaha
125 West
41 Tracy Johnson
45 Brad McLean
179 Eric Vallejo
250 Class
33 Brad Hagseth (250 West rounds)
Machine Racing Yamaha
125 East
25 Pierce Chamberlain
27 Mike Island
51 Kyle Keast
250 Class
33 Brad Hagseth (250 East rounds)
Label It/Northpoint
125 East
79 Rob McCullough
97 Jason Burke
967 Bobby Thompson
SFB Racing KTM
125 East
9 Chuck Mesley
250 Class
9 Chuck Mesley
Dube Honda
250 Class
17 Marco Dube
Homans Yamaha
125 East
16 Simon Homans
250 Class
Simon Homans
Bow Cycle
125 West
Julian Cerny
250 Class
Julian Cerny
1 Jean Sebastien Roy Quebec
2 Damon Huffman California (USA)
3 Craig Decker California (USA)
4 Darcy Lange British Columbia
5 Evan Laughridge California (#1 - 125 West) (USA) (not returning)
6 Greg Schnell California (USA)
7 Doug DeHaan Ontario
8 Mike Treadwell Connecticut (USA)
9 Chuck Mesley Ontario
10 Marco Dorsch (Germany)
11 Dusty Klatt British Columbia
12 Colton Facciotti British Columbia
14 Derrick Fisher Ontario
15 Ryan Lockhart Nova Scotia
16 Simon Homans Quebec
17 Marco Dube Quebec
18 Bart Stephenson Alberta
19 Julian Cerny Alberta
20 Randy Valade Michigan (#1 - 125 East) (USA)
21 Nick Dunn British Columbia
22 Jimmy Nelson Nevada (USA)
23 Rory Sullivan Oregon (USA)
24 Tiger Lacey Oregon (USA)
25 Pierce Chamberlain Ontario
26 Ryan Sipes Kentucky (USA) (not returning)
27 Mike Island Ontario
28 Kyle Beaton British Columbia
29 Danny Beckett Michigan (USA)
30 Ryan Gauld Ontario
31 Jeff Yentzer Ohio (USA)
32 John Dowd Massachusetts (USA)
33 Brad Hagseth Washington (USA)
34 Todd Minnie British Columbia
35 Joel Saarits Ontario
36 Kaven Gregoire Quebec
37 Blair Morgan Saskatchewan
38 Jimmy Gaddis Ohio (USA)
39 Jean Yves Allard Quebec
40 Lance Rickard Alberta
41 Tracy Johnson Washington (USA)
42 Matthew Prochnavy Alberta
43 Dan Rounding Ontario
44 Keith Johnson Massachusetts (USA)
45 Brad McLean British Columbia
46 Ryan Mitchell Alberta
47 Tommy Lemieux Quebec
48 Steve Koleyak Alberta
49 Jerry Lynnburner Alaska (USA)
50 Iain Hayden Ontario
51 Kyle Keast Ontario
52 Jake Marsack Michigan (USA)
53 Jim Spencer British Columbia
54 Nick Vaughn
55 Kyle Snelgrove Ontario
56 Jason Ciarletta California (USA)
57 Peter Raymer Ontario
58 Mitchell Cooke Nova Scotia
59 Brad E. Smith Michigan (USA)
60 Richie Kaumo Washington (USA)
61 Dave Ginolfi
62 Kyle Thompson Ontario
63 Dan Moore Washington (USA)
64 Johnny Montes New Brunswick
65 Justin P. Thompson Ontario
66 Tyler Medaglia Ontario
67 Dustin Pretty Saskatchewan
68 Dustin Hayes British Columbia
69 Milo Christie British Columbia
70 Steven McLean British Columbia
71 Maxime Lapointe Quebec
72 Thomas Burton
73 Johnny Silegren Ontario
74 Joseph Rose Ontario
75 Adam Pfeiffer Manitoba
76 Brent Miller Massechusetts (USA)
77 Tim Tremblay Quebec
78 Robin Saulnier Quebec
79 Rob McCullough Ontario
80 Aaron Dieter
81 Scott Metz
82 Kevin Tyler Ontario
83 Mike Johnson Alberta
84 Clint Shealy
85 Trevor Brooks Washington (USA)
86 Brandon Lloyd British Columbia
87 Howie Spencer British Columbia
88 Steve Taylor Ontario
89 Doni Wanat Washington (USA)
90 Neil Farlow
91 Trever Hall Ontario
92 Gaetan Lemelin Quebec
93 Mitch Dervin
94 Robbie Malinoski Saskatchewan
95 Michael Harms Manitoba
96 Kevin Humeny Saskatchewan
97 Jason Burke Ontario
98 Bill Wallin Ontario
99 Travis Murphy Washington (USA)
103 Matt Barnes Ohio (USA)
104 Ryan Morais California (USA)
105 Turbo Reif California (USA)
112 Brady Sheren British Columbia
179 Eric Vallejo (Mexico)
211 Aaron Barr Alberta
451 James Marshall Texas (USA)
695 Jeff Northrup California (USA)
980 Lewis Stewart (Australia)
I love moto cross and am REALLY looking forward to watching Walton this year!! My boyfriend crashed REAL hard last year off of the step down there were sequential pictures of it everywhere (#216 Junior) anyways hope everone kicks ass this yeaR!!! 
