Cole Thompson wins the MX2 Championship

The KTM Thor Racing Team could not ask for a better Round 9 of the CMRC Canadian Motocross Series as they left with two overall victories and the MX2 Championship. In front of a very loud crowd, Cole Thompson won his first ever Canadian National title in the MX2 class, while Kaven Benoit won his first ever MX1 race just in front of his teammate, Davi Millsaps, who grabbed second place.

It was an emotional weekend for Thompson as he wrapped up an amazing 2016 season by winning his first ever Canadian Pro Championship in the MX2 class. He started his race day with a 79-point lead on second place, knowing that he only needed to stay up and ride as he usually does to clinch the title. Thompson got a great start in the first moto and rode out front until he reached the checkered flag.

The second moto was similar with a start in the Top 3 and a smooth race to a first place overall finish. Thompson’s exceptional performances throughout the summer led him to multiple podiums but also to finally switching his No. 4 to a bright and shining No. 1 red plate.

“It feels so good to finally win a Canadian title,” said Thompson. “I don’t think it has fully sunk in yet, but I am definitely happy and excited for the celebrations. I worked really hard for it and I’m proud of saying I made it happen. Thank you to everybody who helped me in this journey to my first championship.”

MX1 rookie, Kaven Benoit, once again raised the bar in front of the super cheerful Quebec crowd. Benoit rode an impressive first moto, chasing his teammate Davi Millsaps for the whole race. Benoit never gave up on his quest for first place and ended the race only one second shy of his goal.

When the second gate dropped, Benoit once again found himself in second place right behind Millsaps. It was early in the race, on Lap 1, that Benoit grabbed an opportunity and found himself leading the stacked MX1 class. He looked strong on his 450 SX-F and pulled away to build up an 11-second lead over the following rider. The crowd went crazy when their local hero crossed the finish line with not only the first place in the moto but also his first ever MX1 overall win.

“I can’t even describe the emotions I felt when I finally saw the checkered flag,” said Benoit. “This day will forever stay one of my best memories and being able to share it with my friends and family was just adding to my happiness.”

Millsaps kicked off this weekend with a 51-point lead in the MX1 championship. Millsaps rode really smooth all morning, adapting once again to a new circuit with sandy conditions and elevation changes. The starts were not a problem for No. 118 in Deschambault, as he easily earned both holeshots, making him the winner of the Triple Crown award and doubling his rewards

Davi Millsaps whipping his bike over a jump on the motocross track.

Davi Millsaps earned both holeshots on his powerful 450 SX-F. — James Lissimore photo

In Moto 1, Millsaps rode a perfect race, leading lap after lap, not letting any pressure get to him and earning the top step of the podium. Moto 2 started as good as the first one but a small crash on Lap 1 put Millsaps in third where he stayed for the remainder of the race. He would eventually finish a great second overall and go home with a 56-point lead in the MX1 championship.

“It was a good weekend overall for me,” said Millsaps, “but I need to give it up to my teammate Kaven Benoit for showing great improvement through the season and earning his first MX1 win.”

Deschambault was the site of an amazing weekend for the whole KTM Thor Racing Team who will now be heading to Barrie, Ontario, for the last round of the 2016 season.