No, we are not going to talk about how to stuff a mouse into a bottle to get free beer, but we are going to talk about 4 moto guys(3 moto guys and 1 moto girl)who took to the road and headed up to Canada to do some racing at the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals.
David Gassin and Hailey Larson headed up North to do battle in the first few rounds of the Canadian series before coming back to the US to race at Washougal and Elsinore. David has been around Norcal for a long time, him and his brother used to race nearly every weekend before David turned pro and Hailey Larson is a young lady based out Bay Area giving it a shot in the WMA and the Canadian Women’s series
Topher Ingalls is the veteran of the bunch in terms of Canadian racing, he went up there last year and did quite well with a couple of podium finishes and several top finishes. Topher is having a great season this year sitting just out of the top 5 with 1 podium finish. He did have one small incident in which he went down a lap because of a mechanical issue and when he joined the race he latched on to the back of the first place rider Teddy Maier to unlap himself. That didnt go over so well with some people. Topher apologized and moved on from the event is focusing on the rest of his season.
Bryar Perry is the owner of 180 Decals and took his first trip up to Canada this year and is logging some solid results vs the Canucks. He is sitting just inside the Top 20 is points. A mechanical DNF took him out of the first round, otherwise there is a good chance he could be inside the top 15.
I caught up with Bryar Perry when he and Topher stopped by Eleven10 Mods to get some work done on Topher’s bike.
How did you end up going to Canada?
Topher went last year and had a ride for Gopher Dunes Suzuki and he had fun last year so since I could only afford to do a couple of the Outdoor Nationals, we decided to team up and so some Canadian Nationals and catch a few of the Outdoor Nationals, so it’s a win win?
Are you guys going to do all the Canadian Rounds?
Yeah, we are going to do all 9, we already rode Hangtown, and then we are going to hit Red Bud, Steel City and Elsinore.
What’s been the big difference between racing here in the States and Canada?
The tracks are about the same, it’s just more low key at the races, it’s a lot like a big amateur national. Its really fun.
How is it different qualifying?
It’s the same as it is in the AMA, except you get a free 15 minute free practice before your timed practice.
So what are your long term plans? Do you plan on making a career out of racing?
I don’t know, I am going to play it by ear. I would like to come back up next year, its not like you race to make money, I am in just for personal goals.
How hard is it to run 180 Decals when you are on the road?
Its tough, my Mom and Sister print and ship for me and I design and answer emails and phone calls on the road, so they are a big help.
Lets make sure we get your sponsors covered, without them you wouldn’t be out there.
Yeah for sure, Biggest thanks goes out to Brian and Rene at Transportation Services. They are like family and I am so pumped to have them around. My family for helping my live both my dreams at the same time. I love you guys! Also Dawn at Pernsteiner racing had a huge part in this as well. 180 Decals, Red Bluff Kawasaki, Cytomax, DVS, No Toil, Scott, Maxima, Sidi, SDG, Eleven10 Mods and Pro Taper.
I plan on trying to get out and shoot photos at the last two rounds of the Nationals, so hopefully I will see you guys up there. Good Luck and have fun.
Thanks, I hope you make it up, that would be rad. Talk to you later.
With Hailey and David back in the states I met up with them at MMX along with Hailey’s dad and their friend James Southwick.
This was my first time really talking to Hailey. I had seen her throughout the years, her and my son raced against each other several times. Never knowing what to expect when you sit down and talk to someone for the first time, I am pleased to say Hailey and her Dad are really nice people. The first thing I noticed is that she isnt riding the newest bike and doesn’t have a tricked out car, her 3 year old Honda and her much older Ford Ranger fit her personality perfectly, laid back and easy going, even when she snapped her rear brake lever about 3 laps into practice. Her bike has numbers made out of tape(She tired to qualify with the Men in Canada so she needed to make some numbers quickly. She missed the cut by 3 seconds)
Hailey had a great season up North scoring the Womens West Motocross title (the have 3 rounds on the West and 3 rounds on the East) with nearly perfect scores. She went 1-1,1-1,1-2 for her season. David Gassin did well in his 3 outings as well scoring top 20 every round he raced.
When did you decide you were going to go Canada?
Pretty much last year when I broke my leg at Southwick. Last year and the year before I kinda thought about going up there. I thought I was going to do better than I did in the US. Both years I broke my leg and so when I broke it the second time, I was over and said we are going to Canada next year.
When you went up north this year, did you know you were going to be competing for the wins right away?
I kinda thought that, but I never said it out loud. I thought I had a good chance at winning.
With the confidence you got from winning in Canada how do you think you are going to do at Washougal?
I feel more excited about going to Washougal since I got some solid mottos in Canada. I think I can get close to the top 5 if I can get some good starts. Top 10 for sure.
Who do you think you should be battling with at the WMA races?
I feel like I should be getting close to Casie (Kreson) and Alexah(Pearson). They have always been faster than me since we were on 80’s. I am usually just off their pace, so I am looking forward to getting up and running with them.
Do you have any plans to change your program over the next couple of weeks?
We are not changing too much, I have to work so I cant get a bunch of riding in, but we are going to try some race gas and a few small changes to my bike.
You are on some older equipment, do you think that matters or is it more of a mental thing?
I don’t think it matters as much in the Womens class. David is struggling with that for sure. My bikes are kinda starting to get to the point where things are just breaking without any warning. I have always ridden older bikes, I have never had a bike that comes out that year. As an amateur I used to let that bug me, but now I realize it’s not that big of a deal, especially in my class. I plan on working a bunch this winter to see if I can get a newer bike.
What type of work do you do?
I work at an auto shop, doing pretty much anything, lots of oil changes and tire rotations.
Let’s get your sponsors on the record.
My Mom, Dad, Grandma…and Mach 1 Motorsports, Troy Lee Designs, Oakley, Asterisk, Haeseker Racing Engines, Dirt DNA Graphics, Swiss Garage, Tam Bikes, ScreenPrintingDone.com, Kali Protectives and Fox Shox. MY grandma paid for all of my entries and Davids entries too. My Grandma hooked us up My grandma has paid for my entries the last three years.
Thanks for talking with us today and we will see you up at Washougal.
See you there.