Maffenbeier comes second in Regina

Round 4 of the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals in Regina this past Saturday succumbed to heavy rains, thunder, and strong winds, which saw the second half of the event cancelled. But there was plenty of action in both the first and only MX1 and MX2 motos, with Bobby Kiniry and Jeremy Medaglia recording their first wins of the season.

The rains came towards the end of the first MX2 moto and continued to plague the first MX1 moto, which was shortened to eight laps. Rockstar Energy Drink OTSFF Yamaha’s Kiniry grabbed the MX1 holeshot and was followed by GDR Honda’s Colton Facciotti, Royal Distributing Fox KTM’s Tyler Medaglia, MotoConcepts Racing’s Mike Alessi, and Yamahamounted Dylan Kaelin who were in the top-five group at the front of the pack.

For the rest of the moto, which ran only eight laps on a track that was rapidly developing into a mudbath, the battle for a top-five finish was something akin to handlebar banging musical chairs.

On lap three Facciotti, Medaglia, and Alessi stuck a pass on Kiniry, with Fac- ciotti taking the lead. One lap later Medaglia took a turn leading the express train, only to lose it back to Kiniry who then kept it till the checkered flag ended the race. Mike Alessi held down third place for only one lap, losing it back to Kiniry, who a short while later took control of the lead again. At that point the top four were confirmed and only behind them were there still position changes.

Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki’s Teddy Maier, who started around tenth, finished in sixth place. Without question the best ride of the moto was delivered by Rockstar Energy Drink OTSFF Yamaha’s Kyle Chisholm. The Florida native started at the back of the pack one lap down, but by lap five he was running in ninth. By the time the race was flagged he had made his way into a noteworthy fifth place. In MX2 action, Rockstar Energy Drink OTSFF Yamaha’s Shawn Maffenbeier, who led the field for three laps, nailed down the first moto holeshot. He was chased into turn one by Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki’s Jeremy Medaglia, KTMmounted Seth Rarick, Monster Energy Thor Kawasaki’s Austin Politelli, MX101 Yamaha’s Dylan Wright, Honda-mounted Kyle Swanson, MotoConcepts Racing’s Vince Friese, and Royal Distributing Fox KTM’s Kaven Benoit. On lap three Medaglia took over the lead from Maffenbeier and he would take it to the checkered flag. Maffenbeier, racing in front of a home province crowd, kept a hold on second place for the rest of moto and was followed across the finish line by Politelli, Rarick, and Schmoke, who cemented the top-five.

Series points leader Kaven Benoit disappeared from the stage on lap three while Friese drifted from a seventh place start to an 11th place finish. MX101 Yamaha’s Jesse Wentland and RTR KTM’s Topher Ingalls, who both started midpack, sliced their way into the top-ten by the halfway mark to finish ninth and tenth respectively.

Unfortunately with no second motos there was no opportunity for the top-five finishers in either class to replicate their first moto finishes, or improve on them. But for Bobby Kiniry and Jeremy Medaglia, the Regina National proved to be a banner day, despite the rain.

The Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals take a break in the schedule until July 12 at Gopher Dunes, in Courtland, Ont.