Confidence is everything in motocross

Honda Canada GDR Fox Racing’s Dylan Rempel (24) didn’t get the start he wanted in the second 250 Pro moto in Round 4 of the Triple Crown Series, but he clawed his way back to second place. (Chris Abbott Photo)

Chris Abbott, Grant Haven Media

Hannah Cole, racing on the Honda Canada GDR Fox Team, made up some ground Sunday on her ‘home’ track – Moncton’s Riverglade MX – finishing fourth overall in the Women’s MX division.

It was her best performance so far in the eight-race Canadian Triple Crown series, presented by Makita.

Seventh one week earlier (July 5) at Gopher Dunes, near Courtland, Cole showed promise in her second of two motos that day.

“I was in third, just couldn’t keep up with the pace for that one I guess,” said Cole. “I was running up front, but I just maybe got a little bit distracted and kind of made too many mistakes in the middle of the moto which led to getting passed. Not getting through the corner smooth doesn’t seem like a lot, but it can add up. It’s seconds here or there that make the difference really. But at the end of the day, it was still a good day. I feel like I pushed the whole moto as hard as I could.”

With a seventh, seventh and eighth in first three WMX motos, Cole is looking to make up even more ground going into the final three races. The series concludes at Walton.

Earlier in the season, Cole admitted she was struggling with her starts.

“I had two really good starts today (at Gopher Dunes), which put me up closer to the front, so I’ll take that as a win. I’m really just looking for those little wins every weekend at this point. I know it will lead to something great here soon, but just taking the little things as positives for now and keep moving forward, keep going. Just not going to give up.”

“She (Cole) has been battling through injuries, just a couple small ones, nothing major,” said Derek Schuster, Honda Canada GDR Fox Racing owner. “But I feel that’s hindered her practice, training, confidence, all those things, and confidence is really important.”

Honda Canada GDR Fox Racing teammate Dylan Rempel, from Aylmer, excelled in the 250 Pro division, finishing 1-2 for second overall at Gopher Dunes.

Rempel red T-shirts were all over the Dunes – 120 ‘DR24’ shirts in total.

“They’re all gone,” said his mom. “I’m going to get more.”

“A lot of buddies and family here today,” Rempel smiled.

It was one of Rempel’s best performances of the year, matching his second overall in the Calgary season opener, even if he came out of the first lap of the second moto in fifth.

“I love Gopher Dunes – it’s my favourite track. The first moto today, I was gone. I didn’t get as good of a start in the second moto. I was charging hard in that last one, but couldn’t get it done.”

Rempel said he wasn’t going to complain about a second, but added with a laugh, “I wish I would have won. It would have been nice!”

Sixth in Round 2, and third in Round 3, there have been some highs and lows.

Going into the second half of the season, Rempel said his goal was to “work hard and just have more fun and hopefully start winning some more motos.”

He did that in Round 5, winning 1st overall in Moncton on July 12, pushing him within 11 points of the 250 leader, Ryan Malinoski, with three races to go.

Dylan Wright, Honda Canada GDR Fox Racing’s ace in the 450 Pro division, went into Round 4 at Gopher Dunes with three consecutive first overalls from Calgary to Quebec.

He won the first moto, despite apparent mechanical issues, but more mechanical issues hampered his second moto and he did not finish, giving him fifth overall.

“In the first moto, it looked in some ways probably worse than we actually thought it was once they got off the track,” said Schuster, “because it was putting engine oil onto the exhaust, which makes it smoke really bad.”

The engine was carefully checked before the second moto. The valve cover was pulled off, they pulled cams out to check them…

“Everything looked good enough where they decided not to change engines,” said Schuster. “The crankshaft ended up going in the second moto. It probably happened because it probably did get a little too low in oil the first moto, and too much stress on that engine, too much heat. It was probably like… just a crank bearing or something like that, that locked up.

Wright jumped back in the saddle at Riverglade MX in Moncton, New Brunswick on July 12.

After Round 4, Wright led the 450 Pro division with 184 points, 12 points ahead of second-place Harri Kullas. Third-place Sebastian Racine had 148 points.

Second overall in Moncton, Wright still leads the 450 Pro standings with 231 points, ahead of Kullas at 219 points.

Honda Canada GDR Fox Racing’s rookie, Braxton Zeitner, who has been racing in the amateur division this year, was expected to make his Triple Crown Series debut later in the season.