A Press release on Cody's trip 2006

Learning to Fly

“Whoa, is that it?” crept an awestruck voice from the back seat of our rental car. These words marked the beginning of an unforgettable experience as we came into view of the Ricardo Tormo racetrack in Valencia, Spain just a few weeks ago. Selected as one of two riders to represent his country at the Metrakit World MiniGP Festival against a field of over 130 other competitors, Cody Matechuk was uncertain of what to expect from his competition or even from himself. What he did know was that only 88 kids would make the final race and he was up to the challenge.

Friday night the paddocks were opened to riders and their crews to set-up for the only practice offered prior to qualifying. Matechuk was assigned to paddock #26 along with 13 other racers representing just some the international field at this event. The paddocks were flooded with light and teaming with anxious parents and coaches. Matechuk saw his assigned bike, strode up to it with focus and took a quiet moment. He slowly walked around it, caressing its smooth lines in silent inspection. He looked up and smiled. After decaling the bike to his liking, we sat back watching the frantic activity all around us. It was as though everyone was fighting to get to the front of a line that wasn’t going anywhere. Bikes were drug outside and ran through heat cycles, carbs pulled out to re-jet, and cables adjusted. Matechuk turned from all the chaos and suggested there was no point adjusting a bike he’s never rode before and it might be best to get back to the hotel, eat a good meal and get a good night’s sleep. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember that this mini-GP racer, this calm and collected kid that blasts down straight-aways and rips through high-speed corners is just a little boy. Well, this was one of those times.

 

We woke filled with energy Saturday morning and headed back down to the track to get registration out of the way. The process was long and tedious but we had all the paperwork in place by the time practice got under way. For the first time, Matechuk suited up and crawled on board the brand new glistening Metrakit XL72. Working with Clint McBain, the game plan was simple. He had 30 minutes to break in the bike, learn the track and get used to the small-wheeled version of what he usually rides. “Just relax and get into a rhythm out there”, McBain nodded with assurance. “This is just warm-up, so that’s all you need to do. Watch the lines and get loosened up”. With that, Matechuk pulled out of the paddock and down pit lane. The next two practices young Matechuk worked diligently to get himself up to speed. With every lap his time would drop another second and he soon started to look his smooth flowing self. The small bikes pounded the full course at the GP track taking the fastest of them just over 2 minutes to complete one loop. Matechuk was sitting with a 2:19:80 from his first practice. A hint of frustration appeared on his face as he realized he would have to continue his rate of improvement through the two qualifying heats to reach his goal and make the main.

 

His chance to climb the ranks finally arrived as bikes rolled out for first qualifying session of the day. The paddocks were packed with these mini-GP replicas screaming to get out onto the track. The smell of race fuel filled the air and the tension weaved throughout the field. Matechuk peered out from behind his bright blue M2R helmet and gave a subtle nod that it was time. The pride was overwhelming as I watched him pull away, a feeling I won’t soon forget.

 

The horn called out and the bikes jumped into action. The track was overrun with these bright yellow pistols and we scurried up to the bleachers to watch the action unfold. Matechuk only had time for about 10 laps before the checkered would appear. Two laps for warm-up and the remaining to slice a clear path through the heavy field in hopes of stringing together his best time yet. We watched optimistically when on lap five, his times began to drop. Chipping away at the seconds he flew by us on the final lap earning his best time of the weekend at 2:16:93. It might not have been his goal, but it was a significant improvement and it proved he was still getting faster.

 

The kids broke for lunch and some free time on the festival rides. It was quite a site to see all these little racers bouncing in the inflatable houses or strapped into the harnesses on the trampolines. Not that kids playing is a rare site, but in full racing leathers? The organizers took time to introduce each and every international rider to the fans in attendance. One by one the teams marched across stage bearing their nation’s flag and collecting a hero’s welcome. Before long though, the horn blared out calling them all back to duty. The kids mounted up and headed back on the track for one more shot at securing a position in the final race.

 

Matechuk merged into the long line of Metrakits headed to the track entrance and once again we assumed our positions in the stands. The track went green and they were off. The field once again was packed solid with bikes as their youthful pilots strained to break free of the traffic. It seemed to take most of the practice for Matechuk to work himself some elbowroom and by the times on the stopwatch, he wouldn’t have much opportunity to better his lap time. At the end of the session, Matechuk rolled into paddock #26, his eyes telling a story. “I know I can go faster”, Matechuk spoke with a quiet resolve. “I have to do better than this”. The words were genuine and I knew in my heart he would find away to do it. For now though, he made the cut joining eighty-eight others who would race the final on Sunday. His best time left him 34 th on his grid and determined to move up in the field.

 

Sunday morning, we drove back to the track and were shocked to see a steady stream of fans already pouring into the gates. We made our way through the crowds and into the sanctuary of the paddock. “I think I know where I can make some time”, Matechuk said reassuringly, and with that he and McBain devised a plan. I wished my boy luck and faded into the background as the noise dictated that practice was about to start. Matechuk spilled onto the track with the rest of the field using the short session to re-evaluate some lines and push his corner entrance speed. The practice went well although nothing seemed spectacular in the way of lap times. Yet as the young rider dismounted his ride, his eyes were bright with anticipation. Something happened out there and it seemed as though he had a new sense of control, like the track let him in on some kind of a secret.

 

As the morning passed on, the crowd continued to pour into the stands and midway. There were 20,000+ people in attendance to see these bright young future stars perform and the impact of the event finally hit home. Camera crews, press personnel and eager fans were everywhere and the enthusiasm felt was infectious. Matechuk looked over his bike, shook the hand of his mechanic, thanked his Spanish pit crew then turned away to sit quietly on the ground at the edge of the paddock looking down pit lane. Before long, two of his newfound friends, Tori (from the Bahamas) and Michael (from the US) joined him in the same solemn ritual. Then the call came. “Ten minutes to race time” cried out a faceless organizer. The kids cinched up their helmets and headed towards their perspective bikes.

 

Matechuk looked calm against a sea of anarchy and in seconds, pulled from the paddock one last time. We ran from pit lane to meet him on the start grid getting him set up on his marker for the final event. The announcer ran through the 44 competitors on the grid introducing each and everyone one to the screaming crowd. I stood next to my son in those lingering moments embracing this incredible experience. Seconds later the signal came out to start the bikes I gave him a wink and I was climbing back over pit lane wall. They ran one warm up lap giving us enough time to clamber to the top of the stands. The bikes realigned, and the track went green. Matechuk leapt from the line, grabbing gears and weaving through the pack as quick as possible. The bikes poured through the high speed 1 st turn when suddenly a group of three were spit from their bikes. A tumbling rider in yellow leathers and a blue helmet was the first thing we noticed. We looked on with still breath as we desperately tried to figure out if it was our boy. “NO, there he is in turn four”, yelled one of the other parents. Sure enough, Matechuk had not only escaped the crash in turn one, he had already moved up nine positions. The sight was simply amazing. Tens of thousands of cheering enthusiasts, high-speed miniGP replica bikes blazing through 5 th gear sweeping corners and my son, riding the race of his life. The next 12 laps we jumped and cheered with everyone around us as our boy climbed his way from 34 th to 19 th at the checkered flag on a track he’s never seen aboard a bike he’s never ridden. It was incredible! Matechuk’s efforts not only placed him as the highest-ranking racer from North America, they also earned him his fastest lap of the weekend on the last lap of the race at 2:12:20. For Matechuk, this was the real accomplishment; the goal he set for himself and so desperately worked to achieve.

 

This amazing event while unmasking some of the worlds finest young racing talent was surprisingly more than that. It was an experience that took children with desire and potential and provided them with an environment to truly excel. It taught them to communicate, assess, amend and improve themselves both on and off the track. This wasn’t about track dynamics and bike tuning; they learned respect for their fellow competitor, passion for the sport, how to persevere and most importantly, how to survive. Many people have asked me, “was it worth it, the cost, the time, the pressure?” My answer… without a doubt! My son has learned to fly.