Perseverance is the mind set that won the 2023 FOX Racing J DAY Off Road GP Championship for Chris Canning in his first full season chasing that goal. He survived injury, equipment failure and a full race disqualification and never gave in or never gave up. Every time something reared it’s ugly head and tried to deter the Factory Connection / MotorBikes Plus / FXR / LOUD Fuel Co. Gas Gas rider he met it straight on and came back stronger each time adversity tried to take from him what is now rightfully his. With 6 Overall wins in 2023, the most of any competitor on the season, Canning was able to cancel any bad results and take the Championship by 21 points over Vice Champion Brandon Gregoire on the Factory Connection / LBR Moto / FXR Yamaha who had a terrific season and did plenty persevering of his own. The battle for the title went right down to the last moto of the season and going into the day only 23 points seperated 4 riders with 2022 J DAY Champion Simon Johnson taking the third step in the Championship title tally. The Championship run at Round 15 was so tight that this is the exact order of how these riders finished the event overall with Canning taking the win, Gregoire second on the box and Johnson filling out the podium on the Plaistow Power Sports / Factory Connection / AM PRO Yamaha and all 3 giving maximum effort on this fateful day where Chris Canning fulfilled his dream of becoming an Off Road Champion and better still the 2023 J DAY Off Road GP Champion. On the podium with the light fading Canning’s contagious smile brightened the venue and was a mile wide as he revealed that his Championship success brought with it a Factory Beta ride for 2024 where he will defend his J DAY title and also ride a few PRO MX Nationals as well where he will again be a top 100 ranked rider Nationally. Congratulations on a well deserved opportunity for Chris and it shows how perseverance pays off and you should always follow your dreams. Fourth overall for the day was one of the original J DAY Off Road fast guys Jake Abbott on his MotorBikes Plus Husqvarna and was indeed his finest ride in many years as he flowed through the treacherous Southwick Sand and bested Gavin Simon on the Edelman’s Husqvarna and Jimmy Decotis on his new BLU CRU ride. The three had some great battles both times out and put on a great show for the J DAY faithful. Brayden Nolette took the V3 Kawasaki to 7th overall, Super Duper ‘A’ class rider Van Gosselin again beat most of the PRO riders finishing 8th overall at round 15 and astonishingly SIXTH Overall in the final Championship Point standings. Van will soon turn Sixteen years old and his Future in Off Road racing is So Bright He’s Gotta Wear Shades. Watch for the Ronnie’s Cycle / Battery Park sponsored KTM rider in 2024 and beyond because he is going to turn some heads here in New England and on the National Level as well. Ninth Overall went to one of the most popular J DAY racers ever Nate Smith on his MHR / FXR / POR Husqvarna and the top ten was rounded out by Nick Kordana on the Motorsports Nation Yamaha.
What a nail biter of a season the kind every racing fan loves as the title fight went right down to the final lap of the final moto of the final race of the season. Chris Canning proved he was more than a contender and that he is a pure and true Champion not only in his preferred sport of MX where he is a 19 time Professional Champion but now in his new favorite discipline Off Road. He stated in his podium interview that this was his hardest Championship to win and the satisfaction indescribable as he conquered the closest multiple rider fight in series history.
9 ноя 2023
