10/08/2010
Epic Battle Sees Arnold on Top for 6th National Title
Canadian Supermoto - Shannonville

It was a do-or-die this weekend for long time Supermoto rivals Maxime Sylvestre and Dave Arnold who were tied in points as they rolled into Shannonville Motorsports Park on a bitterly cold and sunny October morning. After a season of tight battles and traded wins the fans knew they were in for a great race, they just didn't know how close it would be.

The battleground was a great mix of high and low speed road course asphalt with a dirt section very much like what you would see in European Supermoto with smaller jumps, a long fast narrow straight and a big flat track right hander leading into a chicane.

After an hour of open timed practice the riders were gridded for the qualifier with Arnold on pole and Sylvestre second. Sylvestre holeshot and took an uncontested win with Arnold right on his heels at the checkers after making up lost ground from a bobble on the opening lap.

The stage was set for the final with Maxime on pole and Dave in the next slot on the left with Yves Lagace and Paul Rouillard rounding out the front row. The sun was setting on the afternoon as the entire pit emptied into the stands to watch the race of the season.

Off the line it was Arnold with a clean holeshot around turn one. Sylvestre immediately saw daylight over the tabletop jump and out-jumped Arnold going into the dirt section to take the lead. As they rounded the very next corner, a tight 180, Arnold stalled his bike with an overly hot clutch. Kicking frantically it fired just as the last rider pulled alongside. Dave seeing Sylvestre out front sprinting away puts on a massive charge to pass four riders, eat up the gap and begin knocking on Sylvestre's door in just four laps.

For the remainder of the race Arnold would line up passes and Sylvestre would answer them right back. The two never more than five bike lengths apart and often side-by-side the pair would pass each other a total of seven times until the last lap flag fell at 17 minutes. Arnold who in the blinding sun missed the halfway marker suddenly realized it was last call and immediately made an eighth pass going into turn one, it didn't stick either.

For most of the final lap it looked like Sylvestre was going to prevail. Then in the "S" turn section leading into the final corner Arnold again closed in on Sylvestre looking for any small opportunity. As the two approached the final turn Arnold swung wide for an outside-inside run and hammered the throttle wide open, flat tracking around the corner. Suddenly the two were mid point in the corner and the crowd lit up as Arnold was even with Sylvestre but with a run that would see him nose ahead by .170 of a second at the checkers to take the win.

"First off my hat is off to Maxime Sylvestre for another great season of clean racing, the man is an awesome rider and a class act!" commented Arnold. "Everyone who is part of our program deserves a huge thanks for their support but there are three sponsors this season who really made this title possible. Extra thanks to Troy Lee for letting me train this winter in California with the team, Dunlop tires for our second championship together and Chris Bondi of Bondi Engines who always builds the best motors available."

The team would like to dedicate this championship to our friend Sheri Ridenour. Her courage, strength, grace and will to fight continue to serve as daily inspiration to all who know her. Thanks, Sheri!

Team Troy Lee Designs Machine Racing Honda Supermoto would like to thank: Troy Lee Designs / Machine Racing / LGS Suspension / Bondi Engines / Honda / Alpinestars / Scott USA / Hammerhead Designs / Brembo / Marchesini / QTM / Dunlop / Motion Pro / Supermoto Specialties / Hinson / Wynn Fitness

08/12/2010
Supermoto-X-Fest Battle Leaves Arnold Tied For Points
Richmond Hill, ON

Team Troy Lee Designs Machine Racing Honda Supermoto

Supermoto fans were treated to a first class weekend of racing and fun as Supermoto X-fest took place under sunny skies in the scenic town of Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci, QC this past weekend. Just a short drive from the fabled Mt. Tremblant ski resort the rally circuit known as Mecaglisse once again played host to the Canadian Supermoto Nationals.

The spectator friendly track features a twisty road course complete with numerous elevation changes and switchbacks. A beach-sand dirt section turns it Supermoto by adding a couple of big bowl turns, a flat track section and two big table tops jumps.

Team Troy Lee Designs Rider Dave Arnold held a slim 3-point lead over main rival Maxime Sylvestre of Berthierville QC and wanted to push his Machine Racing Honda to another win and extend his lead. Sylvestre who gave up some points at the previous round when Arnold won, had the same plan as he desperately wanted to notch a victory for the home province and keep himself in the championship hunt.

Saturday held a full morning of practice and then afternoon qualifying for the main events on Sunday. Arnold who was caught off guard by a new race start lighting system, staged a come from behind ride to secure second spot on the front row for the final. Not having raced at this track since 2004, Dave continually made setting changes and grew more comfortable with the layout as the day wore on.

Sunday morning practice had Arnold comfortable and on par with Sylvestre in lap times setting up another great main event showdown. The main event saw Arnold use a perfectly timed light and Bondi Engine power to pull the holeshot on the uphill start with Maxime right behind. The two riders quickly walked away from the field with Arnold leading it well past the halfway mark. Sylvestre at times almost touching bikes and then a few bike lengths back, never lost touch and dogged Arnold looking for any opening.

Several attempts in the dirt were unsuccessful for Sylvestre but a small overshoot by Arnold while sliding into a 180-degree left gave Sylvestre the eight inches of paved daylight he was looking for. The two riders were totally side-by-side drifting in under heavy braking. "I saw his front wheel by my left foot while we were still in the slide" said Arnold, "next thing I was leaning on his arm trying to turn it in and keep him behind me, I knew if I kept it up we would both crash into the tire wall so I eased up and he went under me."

On the next lap Arnold while trying to get a run on Maxime, flat tracked it too deep into the thick sand cushion lining the dirt section and lost some momentum. In the remaining two laps Dave put on an all-out charge really working the limits of his Brembo brakes and Dunlop tires to close the gap but ran out of laps just as he caught the back of Sylvestre. The two stopped on the track and celebrated a great battle.

With the points tied and only one round remaining the stage is set for "winner take all" on October 3 in Ontario at Shannonville Motorsports Park.

On the Amateur side Team Machine Racing Honda Supermoto once again had the # 858 CRF 450R of Steve Ruple under the tent. Steve elevated his game to the next level claiming a well-earned 5th in Open Beginner and just missed the podium with a 4th in Vet 35+.

Team Troy Lee Designs Machine Racing Honda Supermoto would like to thank: Troy Lee Designs / Machine Racing / LGS Suspension / Bondi Engines / Honda / Alpinestars / Scott USA / Hammerhead Designs / Brembo / Marchesini / QTM / Dunlop / Motion Pro / Supermoto Specialties / Hinson / Wynn Fitness

07/27/2010
Dave Arnold inches closer to a Canadian Supermoto Title
Supermoto - Richmond Hill, ON

A trio of ambitious promoters along with H-Gregoire Yamaha of Carignan, QC successfully blended Supermoto, Endurocross and Freestyle to create a unique multi-discipline moto-event, which they call "The H-Games". To do so, the suburban Montreal car and bike dealership relocated its entire automobile inventory to make way for the large multi-purpose track. Metal ramps, dirt jumps along with log and tire obstacles were all set up in the dealership parking lot in order to centralize the intense action for the Quebec fans.

In the previous two Supermoto Nationals Team TLD Machine Racing Honda rider Dave Arnold had twice finished runner up to Maxime Sylvestre of Berthierville, QC leaving him 6 points down in the National Title chase. Arnold needed a win but Sylvestre was carrying the momentum and the home turf advantage.

In the Pro Open qualifier Arnold holeshot but overcooked the first turn slightly allowing Sylvestre and Carignans' own Yves Lagace by. Arnold quickly regrouped in third and stalked Lagace for several laps looking for a place to pass on the tight and technical circuit. Maxime, with a clear track was hammer down and checking out. Just after the halfway point Lagace slightly overshot a corner allowing Arnold just enough room to slide underneath and make the pass. Once clear of Yves, Arnold put on a charge that narrowed the six-second gap between he and Sylvestre to just under a second at the checkers.

With Arnold, Lagace and Sylvestre all on front row for the Pro Open main it looked like a great battle was at hand. A determined Arnold yanked another holeshot out of the Bondi Engine and proceeded to sprint immediately. The battle for second and third was fought between Sylvestre, Lagace and another Ontario rider, Jesse Morgan. Lagace had Sylvestre in tow for the first third of the race until Maxime edged his way past for second. A few laps later Sylvestre stalled the motor jumping the camelback and after restarting made a pit stop to fix a back brake issue.

The checkers flew with Arnold some 12 seconds ahead of Lagace and Jesse Morgan who rounded out the podium in third. Sylvestre recovered to finish fifth which allowed Arnold to move ahead in the National Standings by 3 points. With only two rounds left the title fight between Arnold and Sylvestre, Ontario and Quebec will certainly go down to the final round.

"We needed this win to get back in the game and we got it," commented Arnold after the race, "I'm expecting an epic battle at the next round because it's Max's home track but for the season finale we come back to Ontario so it's man to man, either me or him for the title, I'm really looking forward to it."

Round 4 of the Canadian Nationals takes place during Supermoto X-Fest near the scenic ski resort town of Mt. Tremblant, QC, August 7-8, 2010.

Team Troy Lee Designs Machine Racing Honda Supermoto would like to thank: Troy Lee Designs / Machine Racing / LGS Suspension / Bondi Engines / Honda / Alpinestars / Scott USA / Hammerhead Designs / Brembo / Marchesini / QTM / Dunlop / Motion Pro / Supermoto Specialties / Hinson / Wynn Fitness