JSR Dominates Montreal Supercross
September 23, 2008, 9:48am
Team Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox’s Jean Sebastien Roy powered his hurricane yellow Yamaha YZ450F to victory at Montreal’s historic Stadium Olympique September 20. Easily the favorite rider of the partisan Quebec crowd, JSR looked like a yellow streak pulling away from the pack of younger riders. Blackfoot’s Dean Thompson says “This was like a storybook ending for JSR at Montreal!”
The Montreal Supercross is a giant, easily one of the best attended Supercross races in North America year after year with over 44,000 fans at this years event. That giant, unfortunately, also has teeth. Those teeth bit the Canadian motocross world and Team Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox Racing hard when Blair Morgan crashed during qualifying and was rushed to hospital with serious spinal cord injuries. Morgan’s professional yet friendly attitude and history of Canadian and International motocross success have long made him an integral part of the Blackfoot family for the last 6 of the 9 years the team has been racing. The prayers of the entire Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox team, associates and Morgan’s scores of fans are with him and his family. A more detailed report of Morgan’s injury and progress is forthcoming.
With a fallen comrade on his mind, JSR’s Saturday night main event victory wasn’t without hard work earlier that day, as JSR’s 12-place in qualifying forced him into racing the LCQ. The stress of riding the LCQ quickly melted away and turned into a JSR runaway, setting the stage for his great performance later that evening. “He came together with another rider and his headpipe was crushed in the qualifier,” explained Thompson. “When he came back for the LCQ, well, he just hammered it down in the main event, getting the holeshot and leading every lap for victory.”
“I was having a very tough time knowing that my friend and team-mate Blair was hurting badly in the hospital, however I also knew that he would want me to do my best,” offered JSR. “Joe our suspension tech told me on the line “do this for Blair” and those words really seemed to motivate me. It was like everything just came together for the main. I cannot believe that this could be such an emotional day, dealing with Blairs injury and then winning. It sure has been a roller coaster event for our team. I would also like to thank all my fans, the team, Yamaha and all our sponsors for there awesome support, not only for this event but for the years of support. I look forward to seeing you all at the track in the upcoming years!”
Since racing at Walton aboard a YZ250 two-stroke created (literally!) such a buzz, Team Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox decided to do something equally fun for JSR in Montreal, this time with the YZ450F getting the team mechanic’s special attention. “Since it was the last race of the season we wanted to build a special bike for JSR, one that would really stand out in the stadium and become a conversation piece,” said Thompson. “Those old yellow and black Yamaha’s from the Bob Hannah era always looked great, so we thought we’d rehash that idea for JSR’s last race at Montreal.”
JSR has now eclipsed Ross Pederson for total number of Montreal Supercross wins. For 2009 he will continue the successful career he started this season, using his wealth of championship winning experience to work with the Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox team and riders off the track.
Fresh from winning the 2008 MX1 National Title and hot on the heels of his mentor, Colton Facciotti originally looked to be the Blackfoot rider who’d most likely take top honors in Montreal. In the MX1 qualifier after a tough start, Facciotti worked his way up through the pack to third, with his sites set on the main event.
In the main Facciotti again was plagued with a so-so start and had to work hard to get up with the front runners where he belonged, running strong and finishing fourth. “Once I got up into fourth I had a hard time with Jason Thomas,” qiuipped Colton. He’s a little guy but he makes himself big out there somehow and I couldn’t get around him. I was just pushing him to make a mistake, and the end I was so close, but a lapper got between us and that was the end of my chances to pass him and be on the podium with JSR.”
The Montreal Supercross is a giant, easily one of the best attended Supercross races in North America year after year with over 44,000 fans at this years event. That giant, unfortunately, also has teeth. Those teeth bit the Canadian motocross world and Team Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox Racing hard when Blair Morgan crashed during qualifying and was rushed to hospital with serious spinal cord injuries. Morgan’s professional yet friendly attitude and history of Canadian and International motocross success have long made him an integral part of the Blackfoot family for the last 6 of the 9 years the team has been racing. The prayers of the entire Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox team, associates and Morgan’s scores of fans are with him and his family. A more detailed report of Morgan’s injury and progress is forthcoming.
With a fallen comrade on his mind, JSR’s Saturday night main event victory wasn’t without hard work earlier that day, as JSR’s 12-place in qualifying forced him into racing the LCQ. The stress of riding the LCQ quickly melted away and turned into a JSR runaway, setting the stage for his great performance later that evening. “He came together with another rider and his headpipe was crushed in the qualifier,” explained Thompson. “When he came back for the LCQ, well, he just hammered it down in the main event, getting the holeshot and leading every lap for victory.”
“I was having a very tough time knowing that my friend and team-mate Blair was hurting badly in the hospital, however I also knew that he would want me to do my best,” offered JSR. “Joe our suspension tech told me on the line “do this for Blair” and those words really seemed to motivate me. It was like everything just came together for the main. I cannot believe that this could be such an emotional day, dealing with Blairs injury and then winning. It sure has been a roller coaster event for our team. I would also like to thank all my fans, the team, Yamaha and all our sponsors for there awesome support, not only for this event but for the years of support. I look forward to seeing you all at the track in the upcoming years!”
Since racing at Walton aboard a YZ250 two-stroke created (literally!) such a buzz, Team Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox decided to do something equally fun for JSR in Montreal, this time with the YZ450F getting the team mechanic’s special attention. “Since it was the last race of the season we wanted to build a special bike for JSR, one that would really stand out in the stadium and become a conversation piece,” said Thompson. “Those old yellow and black Yamaha’s from the Bob Hannah era always looked great, so we thought we’d rehash that idea for JSR’s last race at Montreal.”
JSR has now eclipsed Ross Pederson for total number of Montreal Supercross wins. For 2009 he will continue the successful career he started this season, using his wealth of championship winning experience to work with the Toyota/Yamaha Blackfoot Fox team and riders off the track.
Fresh from winning the 2008 MX1 National Title and hot on the heels of his mentor, Colton Facciotti originally looked to be the Blackfoot rider who’d most likely take top honors in Montreal. In the MX1 qualifier after a tough start, Facciotti worked his way up through the pack to third, with his sites set on the main event.
In the main Facciotti again was plagued with a so-so start and had to work hard to get up with the front runners where he belonged, running strong and finishing fourth. “Once I got up into fourth I had a hard time with Jason Thomas,” qiuipped Colton. He’s a little guy but he makes himself big out there somehow and I couldn’t get around him. I was just pushing him to make a mistake, and the end I was so close, but a lapper got between us and that was the end of my chances to pass him and be on the podium with JSR.”
