Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki has Most Dominant Season in Canadian MX History

Nov 20, 2012

Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki had the most dominant season in Canadian motocross history

Walton Raceway in Walton, Ontario was the venue for the final round of the 2012 CMRC Canadian Motocross Nationals. Matt Goerke had already locked up the MX1 Championship the week before at Sand Del Lee, Ontario. Yet Goerke, not content to rest on his MX1 laurels, went out and put together yet another dominating performance at Walton, earning his 7th win of the nine round series. It was Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki's first ever MX1 title.

Fort Dodge, Iowa's Teddy Maier was next up to bat for a championship at Walton. Maier, who has been with the team since its inception in 2008, made it a clean sweep as he converted his 2-2 moto finishes into the overall win in the MX2 class.

Maier, the 2009 MX2 Champion spent 2011 racing the 450 class, finishing the year in 3rd place.

Teddy Maier completed the clean sweep with his MX2 win at Walton

He specifically dropped back down to the smaller bikes this season to go after his second title. At the end of the 2011 season Maier remarked. "I really enjoyed racing the 450 this past season but I'm looking forward to returning to the MX2 class for 2012. Kawasaki makes a killer 250F and I expect nothing less than another championship."

When we mentioned to Leading Edge Kawasaki's team owner and manager, Jason Hughes, that his 2012 season was one of the most dominating we had seen in a long while, he couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, this past season was one we'll remember for quite some time! Funny thing is that after the last moto at Walton we didn't really get a chance to celebrate. We were prepping the bikes to go to the Montreal Supercross, because Walton is so close to Montreal, we had the truck stay out till the race a month later."

2012 was Tyler Villopoto’s rookie season

Postponing the celebration turned out to be a wise decision. The 2012 Canadian season reached its traditional finale at Montreal, Quebec's Olympic Stadium. For the K&N supported team this was one last opportunity to stamp an exclamation point on what has been a benchmark season for the Kamloops, BC team. And they did just that, as they were crowned the most dominant season in Canadian history by sweeping Montreal.

With the MX1 and MX2 classes already owned by Goerke and Brigden, Ontario's Cole Thompson, who filled in for the injured Kyle Beaton, the racing still wasn't over for the night though in Montreal. New for 2012 was a Superfinal, featuring the top 10 riders from both classes. Just as in the MX1 main event, Goerke made quick work of the field and rode off to another win.

Maier joined his teammate on the podium as he battled his way to 3rd, and finishing just behind Maier in 4th, and coming off a successful rookie season in AMA Supercross and Motocross, was none other than Thompson on his 250F in one of the best rides of the night.

Kyle Beaton contributed in a big way to the team’s 2012 success

After the race, a justifiably elated Goerke commented, "After last summer's struggles I thought that my Montreal win really turned around my season and set me up for the great year I had this year. I'm glad I could come back and have an even better night tonight, with the addition of the Superfinal. I'm so thankful for how much work the team put in this year to allow me to have such a dream season!"

In his 2012 rookie season Tyler Villopoto also had a remarkable year that highlighted the brilliance we can expect from him in coming seasons. "Yeah, Tyler had a great rookie season," said Hughes. "I think watching Goerke and Maier's experience out on the track helped him a lot for next season. We will have him on the lites bike taking over Maier's position. Maier isn't able to run the lites class again, as he has won it twice now. So he'll be on a 450 next year, and Villopoto will move to the lites class. As for the other two riders, keep watching our Facebook page for updates."