Racer X Outstanding Performance: Jake Canada
Sunday, March 18, 2012 | 4:30 PM
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This Racer X Outstanding Performance Award is overdue. All season long, MotoConcepts’ Jake Canada has been doing a superb job on his privateer Honda, er, sorry, MC250F, reeling off top-ten places in every round and then peaking with a career-best top five last night in Indianapolis. These rides are not flukes, either, as Canada routinely battles inside the top three in his heat races, too.
One of the hardest things to do in this sport is make slow, steady progress toward the front of the pack. Most of the front runners are born leaders, riders who won big in the amateur ranks and then made an immediate impact with their speed in the pro ranks. Sure, maybe they had to learn to smooth out to deliver consistent results, but it’s been said that speed is the hardest thing to teach, and trying to catch the ones that already have it is a daunting task.
Congrats Jake!
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Considering where Canada started last year—just making main events as a privateer—and then how he picked up his MotoConcepts ride (he showed up at the Lakewood, Colorado MX National and turned heads on a 450, leading to increased support), this is becoming a rags to riches tale. The California native has fought up to sixth in the Lites East standings, with only big-money factory supported riders ahead of him. Consider that riders like Barcia and Durham have AMA Horizon Awards as amateurs, and Baggett, Roczen and Wharton have all won races at the pro level, and Canada is closing on some fast company.
But he’s no longer doing it the slow and steady way. He’s clearly getting very fast, very quickly.
Congrats to Jake on this week’s Racer X Outstanding Performance Award. He may be getting some bigger awards soon—like podium hardware.
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I agree, and well deserved !
I'm glad to see a new guy getting good finishes. I bet with a better bike, trainer, and support he can be a podium guy. Let's just hope it's not a season or so thing like Sean Hamblin was in the outdoors a few years ago.
Barcia doesn't have a AMA horizon award. That year it was split between Durham and PJ Larsen.
Ooo good call, WFO_UFO, indeed I forgot how that year at Loretta's broke down. Barcia killed everyone in the B class and had the fastest lap times all week but wasn't eligible since....well he was still in the B class!
- weege
Jake rode his heart out...
I atended my one and only Loretta Lynns in 2008 to watch my buddys son compete in the B stock class. Barcia Wilson Bagget Craig Canada Roczen Paluzzi Peick yea yea on and on and on..LOL what a class..considering Barcia was running sub 2 minute lap times and the A class was running 2.04 and 2.05 for the win.. Yea,, I kind of new what was gonna happen when some kid on a Honda with handguards running #151 lined up at Glen Helen the next year...He was stupid fast then and is stupid fast now...
That said, I would like to include that list of riders as one of the best crops of 15 year olds ever to graduate to the pro ranks when they hit 16..Unfortunately for alot of them the economy took a dump on there oppurtunity. I bring all this up to note how Canada has took a longer road and less fortunate journey to end up where he left off. On the ASS of some of the best in the sport.. Congrads dude!!
This is the kid that last year I felt sorry for when lil prick Hansen punted him off the track. Who's laughing now??? Way to go Jake, stay steady and get that experience this year. Long overdue article Racer-X, thanks for taking the time to do it.
Wouldn't be surprised to see him end up on pro-curciut or a similar team next year, provided that he stays in the 250s.