The B3 Motocross Park invited a few community groups to join them on Oct. 24 for a special event. Grade 2, 3 and 4 students from Vilna School, as well as some folks from the St. Paul Abilities Network, headed just south of Spedden in order to witness a motocross showcase being put on by professional and local riders.
Those in attendance were also treated to a hot dog roast on the cool, sunny day, with sponsorship from St. Paul Fountain Tire. Cory Goodon was happy to host the event at the local park.
“We’ve done this once before with the SPAN group, about four or five years ago,” he said. “Our schedules just haven’t allowed us to do it since, so we were able to get this day to work . . . It’s fun to give back to the community after all the support they give us.”
Those who were at the original show haven’t forgotten the excitement of the day, according to SPAN’s Fern Pelech.
“Corey has been awesome inviting us here,” she said. “He’s done a demo before for us, and they still talk about it. That was years ago.”
A few special touches made last week’s event even more memorable.
“This time we’ve got pictures that Corey emailed us so we can get autographs, so everybody’s going to have a keepsake,” Pelech said. “It gets us out and about and into the community. It’s going to be wonderful. I can’t wait to see some air.”
The air seemed to be what all the fans were clamoring for – along with the sounds of the revving bikes, the flying dust, and the general excitement of it all.
Tyler Chopyk, a professional rider originally from Gibbons, Alta., was the main event of the show.
“I’m having the time of my life. I’m having so much fun out there,” he said while taking a brief break from his high-paced laps of the course. “I’m living the dream.”
Chopyk has been riding the Canadian Motosport Racing Corp. (CMRC) circuit since 2005, an adventure that’s taken him far and wide across the country, and also to a number of international races.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” he said. “I love just riding now. Everyone’s like, ‘Tyler, you’re getting up there, do you still want to race for the rest of your life?’ I’ll always ride dirt bikes and race. 2015 is going to be sick . . . I’m pumped for 2015.”
Aside from making a living riding in ultra-competitive races, he also enjoys being able to get in some recreational laps to the delight of such a special crowd.
“It’s just so much fun twisting the throttle, getting on a track. I love this. This is so cool to talk to the kids, to tell them how fun motocross is,” he said. “To watch these kids – the way their faces light up when I hit the jump – I love it.”
Chopyk wasn’t the only one receiving cheers and applause from the crowd that day. St. Paul’s Madisyn Watt, who’s earned some accolades of her own during her young riding career, was also grabbing some serious air at the track.
This year, Watt won the CMRC Ladies A Class, which is where the faster racers go to compete.
“At the start of the year I was supposed to be doing the pro nationals. That would mean travelling to B.C. and Calgary, but I ended up crashing, so I hurt my shoulder and I couldn’t go,” she said. “This year I kind of just took it easy, but I ended up winning the fast class.”
For the 16-year-old, taking it easy meant not only competing in motocross, but also participating in her other regular sports – ones she says are very different from motocross.
“It doesn’t compare at all,” she said. “Volleyball and basketball, they are team sports, and this is individual. It’s all you. If you want to improve on something, you can do it.”
Watt was also happy to get out and rip around the B3 Motocross Park on Oct. 24, as it was one of the first tracks she ever rode on when she started to ride five years ago. She was also happy that the fans were enjoying the show.
“It means a lot,” she said. “It’s actually really crazy to see that everybody thinks it’s so cool. Not many people actually know what motocross is, so when they come out here and see it, I think that’s great.”
