BROOKFIELD, N.S. – An expanded race schedule seems to agree with Tyler Medaglia.
Medaglia, a Brookfield resident, is shifting gears on the revamped Rockstar Energy Drink triple crown national motocross series this season. The circuit is demanding and includes 16 races in arenacross, motocross and supercross disciplines. The overall winner in the 450 class will pocket $100,000 in prize money, while the 250 champion will pick up $10,000.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” Medaglia, one of the top 450 (MX1) riders in the country, said of the new series.
In past years, the national champion was determined following a 10-race outdoor schedule from June to August. The triple crown runs from February to November, meaning less downtime during the off-season.
“It’s a positive thing, mentally,” said Medaglia, 30. “Before, we would just wait and wait all winter and we only had 10 races a year, so you could screw something up in the first race and all the time you had to prepare and train was gone.
“With this, we can race in the spring and all summer and the fall a little bit. We don’t have to search out different races; we race enough all year and promote our brands and you don’t really have that long period of nothing where you’re just kind of twiddling your thumbs waiting for it to get going.”
The expanded schedule has also meant a new approach for Medaglia. In order to achieve peak performance throughout the season, a new training regimen was put in place.
“You have to do a little bit less volume if you’re gonna race all year long, so you don’t want to do too much and feel like shit half the time,” said Medaglia, who worked with Dartmouth athletic therapist Katie Farris during the off-season and maintained his cardio and base strength by cycling.
Medaglia has been strong out of the gate this spring. He reached the podium in three of the four arenacross events, including a second during Round 2 in Calgary.
Last week – during the first outdoor event, also in Calgary – he posted moto scores of 5-4 for a third overall finish for the day. He sits fourth in the points standings.
“It was pretty good to get on the podium and be consistent,” said Medaglia, who rides a Kawasaki for Huber Motorsports. “The intensity of racing versus practicing at home is a lot different, so I have to adjust the bike just a touch, but it was a good way to start for sure.”
Medaglia won’t get a chance to race at his home track this summer, as the triple crown series has dropped Pleasant Valley MX Park from its schedule. The track hosted national races in 2016 and 2017.
“It’s obviously disappointing,” Medaglia said. “Whenever you can have the opportunity to sleep in your own bed before a big weekend, it’s always a benefit.
“I know the title sponsor of the series would like two races out here (on the east coast), so it’s looking like hopefully we can get it going next year.”
Riverglade, near Moncton, will be the lone Maritime race date on July 28.
The usual heavyweights have returned to racing this season on the Canadian circuit, including current points leader Colton Facciotti, Matt Goerke, Cole Thompson and Mike Alessi, among a handful of others.
“It’s more deep this year,” Medaglia, who finished fifth in 2017, said of the competition. “The top 10 is all solid racers, so yeah, it’s a strong field this year. It’s good because the racing is really tight; every weekend you’re always battling with someone, so the entertainment factor is there for everybody watching.”
