Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:14 am
"Ty raced at the 2008 Montreal SX in the KTM Mini Stars race. 15 kids from across Canada have been selected to race in front of approx. 55,000 people.
Ty is very pumped to say the least"

Dylan Cartwright

Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:25 pm

Well Ty had quite the adventure racing the Montreal supercross this weekend. The riding level of the kids [15 of them]was unbelievable, the National champ,Ontario champ, Quebec champ & some that had qualified & raced Lorreta Lynn's were all there,all 14 were very fast.

To say Ty had his work cut out for him was an understatement, as Ty has never ridden an outdoor motocross other than Tuesday night mini moto up at Blackfoot park.KTM went all out on this event & the kids were treated like factory riders for the entire day.

Their bikes had custom graphics with their name & number built in, they were given KTM hardparts pants, jersey, gloves. Bell helmets showed up and gave all the kids there latest super trick lightweight youth helmets.Leatt Brace flew up from California & fitted all the kids with GPX braces, they also had custom neck brace socks made up with there number printed on the sock covers.

Scott goggles dropped off goggles for all the kids. The kids & Dad's got custom shirts & KTM hats. KTM had personalized stickers made up for the kids to take home.

After the race they got participation certificates & medals.
The track was massive using the entire floor of the Olympic stadium, it was also very intimidating.....for a 450, never mind a 50cc.Some of the jump faces & table tops were so big they turned into hillclimbs for the 50's, this helped Ty, being a X-country/Harescrambles guy.

I've been in a few high pressure/pre race nerves situations having raced for over 30 years ,18 of thoughs pro, dozens of areanacrosses,ISDE,MX races in the USA, but standing down on that starting line for the main with Ty was at a new level of intense. You are basically at the bottom of a bowl with 50,000 people cheering & looking down at you.

Ty was really nervous on the starting line, but he handled it very well. He got a decent start then came around on the first lap in 3rd, I didn't show it on the out side, but on the inside I was coming unglued, the fact he might be standing on the podium & talking to 50,000 people.

He rode awesome all race with no mistakes, but unfortunately with half a lap to go a pack of very fast kids caught Ty & some of them got around him, there was really nothing he do other than start riding over his head & risk crashing out of the race - which I'm glade he didn't do. He came in 6th right behind 3rd, 4th & 5th.

His personal goal was to finish in the top half of the riders, so mission accomplished. We were extremely proud him. He's still on cloud nine over this whole adventure, so it was an awesome weekend.I liked Chris Bonneau's comment when he asked me how Ty's race went, he said "not bad for a bush rider"

Dylan Cartwright