Rapid ReaXtion: Metcalfe to Canada
Friday, March 15, 2013 | 5:45 PM
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PrintSteve Matthes:
As a proud Canadian, I’m torn about this news that Brett Metcalfe is heading north to ride for Leading Edge Kawasaki in the Canadian Nationals. It’s like trying to choose your favorite Toronto Maple Leaf player (Wendel Clark or Mats Sundin)-- it’s a Sophie’s Choice sort of dilemma.
I’m happy for the Canadian series in the fact they’re getting a top notch rider up there that is the odds on favorite to win the MX1 title, but I’m sad in the sense that of wondering why a national winner just two years ago can’t get a ride to race the Lucas Oli Pro Motocross Championships? What’s wrong with the teams in this sport? Yeah, he’s coming off some serious injuries, but in Brett Metcalfe you get a hard worker, a great ambassador for your team and your sponsors and on top of that, he’s very fast. It’s unbelievable that there isn’t a team in the U.S. that wants to pay Brett enough money to ride the twelve rounds of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross.
Ok, soapbox ranting done. As I said, good for Metty to find a ride (and it’s a nice money deal as well for him and his family) and to me, he is the favorite to capture the crown, but it’s not going to be easy. As I’ve seen time and time again, the Canadian series takes some adapting to. The tracks aren’t as well prepped as down here and generally they don’t get as rough and rutty which keeps the riders closer together. The established stars of Canadian moto like Colton Facciotti, Bobby Kiniry (yes, he’s American but he’s a vet of racing up there), Tyler Medaglia and Teddy Maier (another American) know the tracks, know the routine and many a rider has done better in their second year up there as opposed to their first just by knowing the tracks and the riders better. So there will be that for Metcalfe to deal with but he’s a great sand rider (as we’ve seen time and time again down here) and there are three pure sand tracks on the schedule.
Good luck to Brett, and you U.S. teams that need a rider for the Nationals, you really missed out.
Davey Coombs:
Hearing that Brett Metcalfe is heading north to Canada for the summer is something of a surprise, given that just two years ago he won a 450 National here in the states. But then again, that's what happened a couple of years ago to Matt Goerke, who coincidentally captured the same race as Metcalfe -- Southwick '09 -- for his one and only win on the U.S. circuit. In the cases of both Metty and Matt, it's not necessarily their talent that sent them away from the AMA circuit, but rather the economic times that have trimmed back racing budgets everywhere over the last four years. If this were 2008, the friendly and popular Metcalfe would be preparing for Hangtown. Instead, it's off to The Wasteland (not Canada, which is a great country, but the actual Wasteland track in Nanaimo, BC, where the Canadian Nationals start in June).
Brett has had a tough couple of years since that Southwick win in '11, injuries hampering the veteran ever since. But he's also had trouble making it to the front in Monster Energy Supercross, which is a huge part of the puzzle here in America. When teams trimmed down, he was left without a ride because younger riders like Justin Barcia and Jake Weimer are on their way up, and they have SX success to their credit. Metcalfe was also more of an outdoor rider, just like Mike Alessi, who is not a factory rider anymore either, though his MotoConcepts gig is a pretty good one. And teams in America need a man to be capable of winning both indoors and outdoors.
But back to Matt Goerke for a minute. He too had to go north to find work, and he has some success in Canada and got his career turned around. Now he's back with the factory-supported BTOSports.com KTM squad and doing well in the talent-packed 450 SX class (and he's sure to move up even more come summer). Metcalfe will be on a good team in Canada, and on a good bike. With a solid summer (though as Matthes mentioned, it's harder up there than people think) the Australian could be back on the job here come 2014.
Canada is probably not where the Metcalfes expected to spend their summer, but it's a good series with decent tracks, and he will find a lot of competition in people eager to do their country and their circuit well. He will also get a warm reception from fans, just as folks like Damon Huffman and Paul Carpenter and Bobby Kiniry and more have in the past. Metcalfe may be the immediate favorite right now, but he'll have some work and tough races ahead of him if he wants to hoist the CMRC #1 plate at Walton in August. Then he can see what the market looks like again here in the USA.
Good luck, #24!
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That smile on Metcalfe's face is pseudo. He can't be pumped about this. I'm not pumped about this. This dude is always up front outdoors. bummer.
p.s. HOLESHOT
Team budgets had already been set and he was late to the table. While his talent will be missed in the Great Outdoors, it is a really good move for him. After such a long layoff, racing in Canada will help get him back up speed and help his confidence, as he will be battling for wins rather than top 10's. Also, that should help his value rise, when he looks for a ride next year in the U.S., especially if he can get the title up there!
Good Luck Brett, Go be the Champ of he Great White North, EH!!
Coffee Crisp costs about a Loonie, pretty good deal eh? Even in the summer, it can get below 10 (Celsius), so a guy can keep his head warm by buying a tuque. Hopefully he'll stay in shape while he's up there and not gain weight by grabbing 2-4s of beer and going to the cottage to work on his “Molson Muscle, or chowing down on poutine.
That conversational Canadian class I took in high school is really paying off, eh?
As a Canadian I pretty much echo Matthes' comments. Great for the Cdn series, but really sad that a guy like Metty could not get a decent ride in the USA for the outdoors, where he is a proven performer.
Good luck Brett, hope you have a great season.
Josh Hill has a ride, Metcalfe does not. Need I say more?
Nobody in this sport has done less with more.
MX Bob- I am assuming you failed the class you took in high school
Good one RacerX
Talk him up now that he has a lesser ride, where were you months ago when he was injured and trying to tee something up in the States.
Your just leeches, all of you.
Mark
RMZ819
Are you kidding, not everone can be the National Champ, we / they all strive to be, but it just does not happen.
A factory ride is obviously not a garantee.
Mark
@hamncheese. that all makes sense to me! I am a transplant from the usa though LMAO!
1 thing I dont understand about Canada, and maybe brett will, is why in the he** do ya have to take a 20 min "diversion" thru Tim Hortons before doing ANYTHING?? I do not understand that part of the culture.
errr shoot MXBOB i ment
I would like to know WHY none of these "bubble" riders don't want to take a season of privateer to get good in the graces of the teams.
You can't tell me that Metcalf can't spring for 100 g's to ride for the year.
Is he too good to pay his own way?
How did JT money do it all these years? ( and more like him )
These guys need to get over themselves and get a job, or fork out the dough to TRY again.
@RMZ819 - That award belongs to Brayton. At least Metty has an outdoor win
Well, if a team is going to pay well to race Canada, why not? THAT is a job. Don't understand the hostility you have there 2003racer. He should be able to win it all up there. Then come back down just as Goerke did. Gonna be hard to be impressive on a privateer effort with all the talent out there this year in the U.S.
I think it's smart for Metty. It is a travesty of MX justice that he can't find a U.S. ride. He's way better than a lot of dudes who do have rides. I think he'll come north, kick ass, get right back into the groove and return to the states to take a ride he deserves more than other current riders are enjoying now.
MXBob well done. Your Canadian is great.
Motocross tim hortons is 30 seconds per car in the drive through, not a problem to get through before anything (everything) else obviously less important in your day
last comment was for @joemotocross
As a Canadian I'm glad he is coming ,I think he will enjoy himself as our series is a little more low key and relaxed ,that said if facciotti is healthy it won't be easy by any means.Not to be a a downer but it is obviously a step down ,its like going from f1 to indycar. Another thing that metcalf will like is gopher dunes makes south wick look like a hard pack track!
And Steve come on sittler is the greatest leaf!
I think metty has had his day. There's too many young bucks coming up with the potential to win. At least he got a ride at all. What about the guy from Canada whose ride he took? How do you think he feels?
I really like Metty and hope he does well. He will also learn that outdoors in Canada is nothing like outdoors in the US. The US has a huge fan base whereas in Canada a few fans generally show up outdoors but that's about it. Our tracks are also mostly flat tracks with some corners and a jumps. What I think he will like is the lack or seriousness up here and he may just enjoy the lightheartedness of it all, including our two TV announcers who are just a riot to listen too. There seems to be no one speaking in their ears, so they just call it as it as with hilariously funny takes on it all. If anyone from the US hears these guys, I know they will burst out laughing half the time..
Brett had FACTORY rides for every color from 2002-2012. He won 1 race in 11 seasons when Dungey's bike wouldn't start on the line. If it's so sad he doesn't get a shot here maybe one of you clowns can write him a check. Leading Edge in Canada did and it is probably a very good move. Brett can finally win something, maybe, make some money he otherwise wouldn't have and see the country before he retires.
Can't you guys be happy he is riding?
Guess the economy is better in Canada, They got new money coming out of the ground. Best of luck for Metcalfe and hope to see him at A1.
Beauty picture of him flat over the hip at High Point in 2010 is background on my phone.
Will miss him here, but Rabhin is right. Dude has ridden every brand and never actually win a race 2-2 = nothing won. No need to ride over your head trying to run with Barcia, Davi, Reed etc outdoors this year. Friggin' FUEL needs to air this shit!! NO MORE UFC!!!
Tuque- The ride he took was Goerke's...I doubt he is too worried about it right now
hamncheeze wrote:
about 8 hours ago
As a Canadian I pretty much echo Matthes' comments. Great for the Cdn series, but really sad that a guy like Metty could not get a decent ride in the USA for the outdoors, where he is a proven performer.
Good luck Brett, hope you have a great season.
Are you THE hamncheeze?
I really can't stand how so many think rides are rides, and Joe Blow has a ride with Team Slow and they are idiots for not hiring a better guy. You have to take into consideration other factors, such as what Joe Blow requires vs. Joe Cool. Maybe Blow will ride for $50,000 while Cool is demanding $250,000. Maybe Blow will ride for no salary, just bikes, mechanic, travel. So many people just act like every rider has the exact same demands and the only factor is who is better. Some guys have a good relationship with a team while a better rider may have bad blood with them. When Reed started his own team, it wasn't because he couldn't find a ride anywhere, it was because he couldn't find a ride that would pay him the money he felt he needs for his services. If you actually look at what Metcalfe did last year it isn't close to what he did in 2011 even before his injury. Factor in that there will be about 5 (at least) guys that should be faster than him this year that WEREN'T out there last year and......well.....Canada is probably a good choice.
If Metty has a ride with Leading Edge Kawi...how about a pic with him and his Kawi? It's not such a big deal for him to go to Canda...he has some skills and if he wins the Canadian title, he'll secure a ride back stateside for the next season.
metty is cool. good luck in canada!
The US economy has been destroyed and the destruction continues week after week. Zuki is restructuring under BK 11. So few rides in a sport with so many great riders.
I would prefer to see the Canadian series and the #1 plate reserved for Canadian riders. We need more Canadian MX heroes like JSR, Blair Morgan, Dusty Klatt and Colton Facciotti.
I would prefer that Matthes go back to Canada and Metcalfe stays here, but apparently that's not going to pan out.
iloveyoulongtime
We did talk to Metty about his injury when he was ready to be interviewed. The full story is right here.
http://www.racerxonline.com/2012/10/31/insight-brett-metcalfe
As for his 2013 deal, most riders/teams/agents would rather NOT talk about deals until they're official, so we were only hearing rumors but definitely not on the record information we could print. So not much we can do when they're trying to keep the negotiations secret.
Glad Metcalf's goin to Canada EH.
Gives me another reason to voice how much I miss the Canadian nats. on tv here! Everything about that series ROCKED.
TRACKS-more natural terrain=more bumps,less jumps.
ANOUNCERS-those dudes got into the action(like actual fans),knew the riders,and knew the riders sponsers.
CAMERAWORK-great angles and views from the Canucks.
It's been years since this was on tv here in the states,but still comes up in bench racing sessions every now and again. Pretty impressive huh?
@motorhead: You miss the Canadian Nationals and I miss the US Nationals since NBC Sportsnetwork has it now. Don't get that here. I wonder if Speed is going to lose the SX series as well to NBC seeing that their SX contract runs out this year. I can still look at the results here on racerx, but will miss the live racing, which I think will be a thing of the past for many of us.