Only two weeks ago, Shawn Maffenbeier was one of three Canadians to represent Canada in the biggest international event in the Motocross Sport, the FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP).
Now, Maffenbeier looks back with pride and forward with determination.
After a successful summer racing in the CMRC Pro-Nationals and ultimately taking the MX2 National Championship, Maffenbeier became an obvious choice to race for his nation at the 2017 MXGP in Hampshire, England. His mission: to join two other Canadians and race against top riders from across the world on one of the best tracks in MX history—the Matterley Basin.
Maffenbeier described the whole event as intense. “Coming across to England, feeling the collision of cultures and racing styles, abiding by the different rules and regulations, and pushing myself to the limit made this experience an incredibly memorable one.”
Several factors made MXGP event different from the races Maffenbeier experienced in Canada this year. The officials announced different rule sets; the riders exhibited different racing styles and tactics; strict regulations were placed on the fuels the bikes used; and this time he wasn’t racing alone, he had a team member to watch out for.
“During the National races in Canada, I had a rhythm, and I knew what to expect. Over in the MXGP, I was constantly finding something that was different, and adjusting my plan of action to match what was going on.” Over the weekend, Maffenbeier and the two other Canadians, Tyler Medaglia and Colton Facciotti, would meet together to discuss the upcoming motto (race) and their own part in it.
Their plans were not easy to execute as the intensity of the race, the crowd of racers (about 40 per motto), and the flying mud, made it almost impossible for the riders to locate each other during the motto. “On my first race I saw my team member once as he was clearing his goggles from the good ol’ England mud, and on my second race I didn’t see my teammate at all.”
The MXGP held qualifiers on Saturday, September 30, followed by the three mottos on Sunday. Each team had two riders on the track at all times, thus each rider was given the opportunity to race in two mottos. The combined points of the riders gave the team its standing at the end of Sunday.
Maffenbeier noted that the pressure and intensity of National races in Canada were multiplied several times in Sunday’s races. “You were down there fighting tooth and nail for 20th position, the need for points was that high. Your number one concern was to get ahead; you basically had no room for any other thought, sometimes not even for safety.”
With the combined efforts of Maffenbeier, Medaglia, and Facciotti, team Canada placed 13th in the world. The entire experience for team Canada was one none of the three will soon forget. “As I look back, I see things that I learned, and things that I am proud I did. It’s a feeling of pride, realizing that the skills I learned helped me to earn more points for the team, it’s a feeling of honor, knowing that I wasn’t racing for just myself, or my sponsors, but for my entire country.”
Image Source: File Image, Direct Motocross
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