DIRT 8 VOL 1 NOV 2018

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REVO
COLLECTION
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KTM Kaven Benoit #26 & #15 MX101 Jess Pettis during the Montreal Supercross opening ceremonies. Announcer Mathieu Gervais.

Finally after 6 years the Montreal Supercross
is back. New promoter, new formula and a
great supercross event for the fans.
Many top riders where invited for this remodeled
event. Malcolm Stewart, Josh Hansen,
Mike Alessi, Jeremy Martin , RJ Hampshire,
Thomas Ramette. Cedric Soubeyras, Josh
Hill and more.
Nope! No quads or SXS this year and personally
I think it’s for the best. Gestev did a
great job with everything and made the event
a huge success in it’s return to the Big O.
About Gestev
Founded in 1992, Gestev is a firm specializing
in the organization and creation of event
concepts that have stood out both in Quebec
and Internationally. Over the years, Gestev
has raised the bar in organizing and producing
events. They’ve added a festive component
to high level sporting events by introducing
music and entertainment to events
and making the competitions accessible to
all. The Jamboree, the Red Bull Crashed Ice,
the Vélirium, the Ski Tour Canada and the
Transat Québec Saint-Malo are just a few examples
of major projects carried out by the
firm that also manages the Bay of Beau- port
near Quebec city.
-Photo Jesse L.

Olympic Stadium (French: Stade olympique)
is a multi-purpose stadium in
Canada, located at Olympic Park in
the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district
of Montreal. Built in the mid-1970s as
the main venue for the 1976 Summer
Olympics it is nicknamed “The Big O”,
a reference to both its name and to
the doughnut shape of the permanent
component of the stadium’s roof. It is
also called “The Big Owe” to reference
the astronomical cost of the stadium
and the 1976 Olympics as a whole.
The stadium has the largest by seating
capacity in Canada.
After the Olympics, it became the home
of Montreal’s professional baseball
and football teams and The Montreal
Expos and The Montreal Alouettes of
the CFL .
Following the 2004 baseball season,
the Expos relocated to Washington,
D.C. to become the Washington Nationals.
The stadium currently serves as a
multipurpose facility for special events
(e.g. concerts, trade shows) with a permanent
seating capacity of 56,040. The
capacity is expandable with temporary
seating.
The stadium has not had a main tenant
since the Expos left in 2004. Despite
decades of use, the stadium’s history
of numerous structural and financial
problems has largely branded it a
white elephant.
Incorporated into the north base of
the stadium is the Montreal Tower, the
world’s tallest inclined tower at 175
metres (574 ft).
May 28, 1977
For the first time in its history, the
Montreal Olympic Stadium is home
to the Supermotocross. A motorcycle
competition that attracts more than
25,000 fans.
Jimmy Ellis riding a Canadian built
Can-Am motorcycle beat Terry
Clarke to become the first winner of
the Molson International Cup.
Fun fact:
Longest home runs.
Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates
hit the longest home run at
Olympic Stadium on May 20, 1978
by driving the ball into the second
deck in right field for an estimated
distance of 535 feet. The yellow seat
that marked the location where the
ball landed has been removed from
the 300 level. The seat is now preserved
at the Canadian Baseball Hall
of Fame.
At 165 m (541 ft), the Olympic Stadium
is the world’s tallest inclined
structure.
Attendance record
Pink Floyd attracted the largest ever
paid crowd to the Olympic Stadium.78,322
people on July 6, 1977.

First race for “Mookie” on the Honda Smartop/Bullfrog/Moto
Concept bike. Malcolm did what he had to do in Montreal and
crushed every other rider in his class. With a 1-1-1 night, Stewart
probably secured a contract for the 2019 Super-cross season.
Tony Alessi saw what he wanted to see in Montreal, a total
domination from “Mookie”.
Malcom was confident, and well prepared to be the one on the
top step of the podium.
“After Montreal I want to focus and get ready for A1”
From what we saw in Montreal, Malcolm will sure to be one of
the riders to watch in 2019.
Left page: Malcolm passing Cedric Soubeyras and charging from 9th to 1st place
in second moto. Right page: Bottom Malcolm on the podium after winning second
moto
Left: Malcolm going for his 3rd win of the night 1-1-1 in Montreal Photos: Jesse L.

When did you landed in Montreal?
- I arrived Thursday night in Montreal
. with my English manager Geoff Walker.
Was it your first time in Canada?
- No, I came on vacation 6 years ago!
You were injured early in the evening,
Can you explain what happened?
- Yes, unfortunately I landed off the
track in the first lap of the first moto. It
was a stupid mistake that could have been
heavy. I injured my wrist during this crash
but I was able to race all nigh while gritting
my teeth.
How did you find the track and organization
of the Montreal SX?
- The track was quite impressive for the
first try with a series of huge whoops. I had
a hard time letting go at first, but then I
rode better and better. Regarding the organization
it was really perfect. We were very
well received whether it was the promoter
of the event or Grégoire Sport who provided
me with a bike on site. Really it was
great.
You’ve had a career in Europe and you’ve
impressed in the USA to the point that the
Monster Energy/Yamaha Yamalube /Star
Racing team contacted you to replace
Dylan Ferrandis and Colt Nichols starting
in Saint-Louis for the rest of the 2018
season.
How did you like the experience on
the SX circuit in the USA?
-The USA It’s very different from
Europe? Side ambience and seriousness
of the thing. But It is true
that it was a dream to get on an
official team and race in the best
championship in the world. Luckly
for me I had the chance to do it last
season. Ye,s the US is completely
different. The tracks are bigger,
steeper, the drivers are faster. I
am very grateful to have had that
experience.
What is your best career memory?
- I will say my first PRO title in
England. It was a spark for me and
the rest of my career and of course
my experience in the Yamaha Star
Racing team.
Who’s your buddy with whom you
always look forward to ride with?
- I get along well with several riders,
but unfortunately we live far
enough apart so I often ride alone
in training.
Will we see you next year for the
second edition of Montreal’s Sx?
-Yes I would really like to come
back. People are really very welcoming
here and the event was
organized perfectly.
Photos Jesse L.

Local favorite, KTM Canada rider
Kaven Benoit didn’t have much
luck that night. Kaven suffered a
bad thumb injury and had to have
surgery. Unfortunately he’ll be sidelined
for 6 weeks and will miss the
MXON in October.
After 15 professional seasons and
two-time MX2 Canadian Motocross
Champion Kaven Benoit announced his
retirement from racing.
“I feel it’s time for me to move on
to some other challenges in life.
Racing has brought so many good
memories and positive things to my
life that I will forever be grateful.
I want to give a special thanks to
KTM Canada, the many sponsors
that supported me through my
professional racing career, and to
all the competitors that I’ve raced
beside, Thank you!”
Kaven won his first MX2 championshipfor
KTM in 2014 and a second one
in 2015. He was also a member of the
MXON team Canada at the Motocross
of Nations 3 times.
It’s a huge lost for Canadian Motocross,
Kaven was one the most generous
riders on the canadian circuit.

Montreal SX was a night to forget for Mike.
With a 17th place and 2 DNF’s, Mr Holeshot
had a rough night. He was caught in
first turn twice and crashed hard in the
woops section resulting in a head injury.
Mike left the Big “O” on his feet,
but was a bit confused when i asked him if
everything was fine as he was leaving the
stadium with his wife and kid.
Mike missed the second event of the series
in London Ontario and Quebec City supercross
on November 4th at the brand new
Videotron center. Can’twait to see him
back.
Photos Jesse L.

Ben Milot at halftime killing it as usual

Matt Georke is a Montreal SX vet
and won the last two events back
in 2011 and 2012. Matt ended
up in 3rd place overall (4-5-3) but
rode like a champ all night. In the
2nd moto Matt was in the lead
after a bad start from Malcolm
Stewart. Malcolm ended up in 9th
but came all the way back to 2nd
on last lap. As Stewart made the
pass on him, his front wheel collided
with Stewarts rear tire. Matt
went down and finished in 5th
place.
Photos Jesse L

It was an another walk in the park for 4 time Canadian champ Ève Brodeur as she got the win at the
Big O. 1-Ève Brodeur 2- Sarah-Kim Villeneuve 3- Émilie Jade Léveillé

I just received a cool book from author, Kimberly
Favazzo Patrum. It may be a kid’s book, but I had a
blast reading it to my nephew.
It would make a great Christmas stocking stuffer
for any peewee racer out there with it’s inspirational
message.
The story
A father takes his young son to his first dirt bike
race at PeeWee Motocross Track. After the racers
take off, the boy experiences a setback he hadn’t
expected that leaves him questioning whether or
not he can go on. When his dad explains to him the
importance of never giving up and believing in himself.
The son learns that if he is willing to try and is
confident in himself, anything is possible.
Where to get it?
www.createspace.com/6346098
www.amazon.com/dp/0692888551

Texte Simon Lefebvre
Photos: Jesse L & Simon Lefebvre
Apres 10 années de
rallye pratiqué sous toutes les formes
possibles et imaginables : pilote, copilote,
organisateur, mécanicien, commissaire,
spectateur, etc… J’avais «
raccroché » le casque a la suite d’une
course qui s’était soldé par un N ième
abandon mécanique.
Et puis, plus rien, plus vraiment d’intérêt pour le sport
meme si les copains roulent encore ou se deplacent
sur les mythiques spéciales du rallye Monte Carlo,
sans moi.
Et puis le temps passe et me voila résident Canadien
et Jesse me propose de se joindre à lui pour shooter
quelques autos qui roulent vite au fond du bois.
Let’s go, 6h30, un café, on decolle, 2h de route, arrivés
a Montpellier ouf il est tot, j’ai plus l’habitude de tout
ça moi !

Ok, on se place et on sort le matériel photo. Pas a
l’extérieur des virages, attention à la réception des
sauts, jamais dans les « échappatoires », le plus en
hauteur possible, les réflexes reviennent !
9h50, un bruit sourd interrompt le silence et au loin
apparait la mini WRC numéro 1 de Joel Levac et
Stephanie Lewis, c’est rapide, c’est propre et c’est
beau ! Wahou ! Passe ensuite la Mitsu Evo de Besner
ainsi que les Subaru Impreza de Carrè et Bourassa
qui me laissent sans voix, ça roule très vite !
Les passages s’enchaînent et je remarque que les
autos se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas, surprenant
pour moi qui m’attendais a avoir une classification par
groupes et classes comme le voudraient les réglementations
de la FIA.

Oui mais voila, le manque de concurrents et de
courses font qu’il n’existe que deux grand groupes:
les 2 roues motrices et Les 4 roues motrices ! Ces
derniers divisées en Open ou Production suivant les
modifications apportées à l’auto. Une aubaine pour
quelqu’un qui voudrait monter une auto de course
puisque les couts sont forcement amoindris, en effet,
il suffit d’une cage, de deux harnais et deux baquets
montés dans la voiture de votre choix pour pouvoir
prendre le depart d’une course. Un chouette cocktail
qui vous assurera de longues soirées entre copains
pour assembler et entretenir tout ce matériel ainsi
que sur les courses ou les assistances laissent souvent
des souvenirs impérissables.
Moi, en tous cas, ca m’a donné envie de remonter
dans un siege baquet !