Colin Fraser: Dresden FTC debut a Taylor Triumph

Mounted on a Sehl-built Rotax 600 cc framer, Don Taylor scored his second National victory of the year in round four Flat Track Canada action at the Dresden Fairgrounds on Saturday evening, July 27. The Port Colbourne-based veteran fought to the front in an entertaining event that featured several key battles.

The half mile horse venue was hosting a motorcycle event for the first time, and initial reports were positive for a layout compared favorably to the much-missed London track. Initially, riders were surprised by the tightness of the turns, with several racers scrambling to find gearing that would work at Dresden.

Taylor had hoped to ride his famed Harley-Davidson XR750 at Dresden, but the course didn’t suit the legendary v-twin. Taylor had recently unretired his Harley for a twins-centric event at Welland and fallen back in love with his XR.

American DTX class star Justin Jones and heat winner took the point early for the Dresden Expert Open race on his Husqvarna, chased hard by reigning Champ Tyler Seguin on his Evans Racing Honda framer.

Lap one of the Expert Open National Feature race at Flat Track Canada’s Dresden fairground debut, and American Justin Jones holds the lead on his Husky from the Evans Rotax framer of reigning Champ Tyler Seguin. Jones netted fourth, top DTX bike, while Seguin went out with a broken hub.

Fellow split heat race victor Taylor was also on the move, soon taking second and setting out after Jones. The Yank held off the challenger for several laps, but Taylor eventually made a bold outside move in the final sequence to take the point.

Following his victory in the Expert Open Feature race at Dresden, new series points leader Don Taylor takes a victory lap on his 600cc Sehl Rotax single with younger son Ryan handing flag duties.

Dave Pouliot on another traditional framer Rotax was locked in an entertaining war for third with 14-year-old upstart Lian Caskie aboard a Kurt Bieger built framer Honda, and soon these two caught second placed Jones. Next, former champ Pouliot put on a charge and caught Taylor and pushed for the win.

Taylor hung on to grab first by three bike lengths, Pouliot second while Caskie got the best of a down-to-the-wire fight for the final podium spot against Jones. Fourth was some consolation for Jones, well ahead of sixth finisher Brandon Newman on a KTM.

Taylor now leads the feature Expert Open class points standings, passing hard-luck T.Seguin for the lead of the national championships at the halfway point in the season. Seguin has won the other two feature races of 2024.

The fight over seventh place in Dresden was a good one, Dominic Beaulac on another Sehl framer Rotax eventually getting the edge over Brandon Seguin’s Evans framer Honda. Eight went to Fred Duchesneau with a DTX class Kawasaki, ahead of the DTX Honda of Luke Rahm.

Action was heavy throughout the field during Flat Track Canada’s fourth 2024 National at Dresden: pictured, fight for seventh between the No. 24 DTX class Kawasaki of Fred Duchesneau and the No. 19 Evans Racing Honda framer of Brandon Seguin – Seguin got the spot.

The Expert DTX class provided more excitement, with Beaulac on a Picotte GasGas fighting for first heading into turn one’s low sun against the ever-entertaining Caskie’s Honda. Caskie moved into the lead mid race, but Beaulac put on a charge to take the win with a last-lap pass.

Late in the Expert DTX race at round four of the Flat Track Canada in Dresden, and 14-year-old sensation Liam Caskie (No. 8 Honda) holds off veteran hero Dominic Beaulac (No. 30 Gas Gas) heading into turn one – Beaulac would make a last lap pass work to earn a narrow win from Caskie.

Third went to Jones on his Husky, the first defeat of the season for the current king of the DTX category. Tyler Seguin (Honda) scored fourth from Pouliot’s KTM and another KTM of American Brandon Newman in sixth, with Honda mounted Luke Rahm seventh. Eight place belonged to Kawasaki’s Duchesneau.

Next event for the Flat Track Canada national tour is round five of seven at Flamboro Downs near Barrie, ON, on August 17.