HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-08-19, Page 13TRRNS CRN NRTIONHL MOTOCROSS
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19,1992. PAGE 13.
CHRMP I ONSH I PS
From left to right, Robby Mitchell, Jake Lee, Justin Jankowski, Brett Lee and Matt Lee take a
break from practice. All will be competing in this year's Trans Can National Motocross
Championship in Walton.
R&M sponsors Lees
R&M Motosport is the proud
sponsor of the Lee family in their
quest for victory in the Trans Cana
da National Motocross Champi
onship.
M&M Motosport is the only
importer/distributor in Canada with
two warehouse locations. The first
warehouse is found in Richmond
B.C. and the second in Missis
sauga, On.
The company's products include
motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobile
and watercraft accessories, casual
wear, mountain bikes, and bicycle
accessories.
Projected combined sales for
1992 are 6.1 million dollars.
WELCOME TO THE 1992 TRANS CAN
NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Preparing for the big day
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Enjoy our daily
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Motocross racing is a sport that
nvolves a lot of commitment and
lassion. Those who get a taste of
he thrill have a hard time giving it
ip.
Brett and Matt Lee, ages 17 and
16, of Walton had an obvious influ-
;nce on their love of motocross rac-
ng—their father Chris was a racer
n the 1970's and he seems to have
massed down his passion to his
;ons.
But the attraction doesn't stop
vith his sons. Nephew Jake Lee,
tge 14, has recently gotten
nvolved in the sport. After partici
pating in only three races, other
pikers already knew who he was.
The Lee family has made a big
name for itself in the circuit
Brett says he thinks of Jake as
an adopted brother. He adds that if
you're a Lee, you race. Jake's little
brother Tim, who is seven years
old, is also thinking of racing in the
fall.
The Lees' enthusiasm for
motocross hasn't been contained
within the family. A neighbour
from down the road, 11-year-old
Robby Mitchell, picked up his
interest in the sport from watching
Brett and Matt race in their back
field. He liked to watch motocross
video tapes as well. The Trans Can
National Motocross Championship
held at the Lee farm will be his first
time racing.
Justin Jankowski, age 15, of
Clinton says he started the sport
because it looked like fun. He too
had heard of the Lees, and decided
to contact them. He sometimes
races in the backfield with the
brothers for practice.
Although motocross racing
tends to be an expensive sport,
Matt explains it doesn't have to be
that way. "You don't have to have
all new stuff to get into the sport,
that's the thing, " he states.
Most equipment can be pur
chased second-hand. Robby says
he bought his bike second-hand,
and Jake gets hand-me-downs from
his cousins. The boys get a lot of
their equipment as gifts also.
Since Matt and Brett have made
quite a name for themselves in
motocross racing, they get sponsors
to help them with equipment. Brett
tells how they get discounts if they
wear a sponsor's equipment.
Prices of bikes depend on the
type and whether they are new or
not. Brett says the price of a new
50 cc bike is around $800, a 180 cc
about $2000 to $2500, and a 125 or
250 cc bike is up to $4000.
Moto racing is a physically
demanding sport. The only sport
more demanding is soccer. The
boys say they don't do much in the
way of training except ride a lot,
but Chris trains hard. He runs over
five miles a day.
The Lees attend racing events
all over North America. Brett says
there is a race almost every week
end from the end of March through
to November. They keep very
busy!
To these young racers, all the
effort is worth it. The boys love to
race around their own track in a
field behind the bam for hours at a
time. "Sometimes," Matt exclaims,
"I enjoy it so much I just forget to
eat.
Memorial given
A special award in memory of a
fantastic Canadian motocross rider
will be presented this weekend at
the Trans Can National Motocross
Championship in Walton.
The Rick Joeseph Memorial
Award is a combination cash and
plaque award presented annually to
the Intermediate rider selected by a
panel of evaluators. The panel will
be watching all the intermediate
classes over the three days of rac
ing. It is intended to recognize
developing young riders who
exemplify the qualities of sports
manship and dedication to the sport
of motocross.
Rick's parents Ellie and Richard
Joeseph, both of whom remain
ardent supporters and active com
petitors in the ladies and old timers
classes respectively.
Rick was anuanassuming, mod
est young man whose love of rac
ing was readily apparent both on
and off the track With a combina
tion of natural talent and personal
commitment, he was poised for the
jump to the pro class. His final rac
ing accomplishment, and personal
goal, was a moto win at the Florida
Mini-Olympics.
The organizers of the Trans Can
National are very pleased to be able
to extend this unique and presti
gious award to a deserving Inter
mediate competitor as part of this
weekend's activities.
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