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Motocross nationals in Nanaimo will be 'dynamic'

The Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals hit Nanaimo this weekend (June 11-12).
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Colton Facciotti zooms around the track at Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals at Nanaimo's Wastelands Motocross Park two years ago. Facciotti is among the contenders again in 2016.

Racers will make haste at the Wastelands.

The Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals hit Nanaimo this weekend (June 11-12), with two days of action culminating in Sunday’s MX1 and MX2 pro series motos.

The series got underway last weekend in Kamloops, and the Wastelands track in Nanaimo will be a very different race for the riders, said Marc Travers, host and producer of the Rockstar motocross nationals. There are lots of 180-degree turns, big jumps, banked corners and hard-packed dirt.

“It is much more of a supercross-style track,” Travers said. “So what you’re going to see there is tighter racing, faster races because it’s not as choppy and the sand doesn’t slow them down,” he said.

Davi Millsaps looked dominant in his MX1 win in Kamloops, and Matt Goerke also won a moto last weekend. Four-time Canadian champion Colton Facciotti of Aldergrove is always a fan favourite in B.C. and some other contenders include Mike Alessi, Vince Friese, Tyer Medaglia and Kaven Benoit.

“There’s world-class talent,” Travers said. “There are 10 guys in the MX1 class who could win a moto and nobody would be surprised. It’s never been like that in Canadian [motocross] before.”

He said Wastelands provides a dynamic spectator experience because with its layout, fans can see almost the whole track from almost any vantage point and can really see the race develop.

“You get close to the track. You get to feel the bikes pounding into the corners. You get to feel the aggression coming out of the corners with the acceleration and the noise for the four-strokes,” Travers said. “The colours, the girls, the posters, it’s like a festival-type atmosphere and it’s quite something. There’s kids running around and they just can’t stop moving because there’s one cool thing after another.”

Admission to Sunday’s racing is $35, or $20 for kids under 12. A weekend pass is $50, or $30 for kids under 12. The Wastelands Motocross Park is on Weigles Road off of Biggs Road.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com