Photos by James Lissimore

The 2007 Monster Energy Motocross Nationals are all said and done. It's hard to believe that the series is really over. Doesn't it feel like just yesterday we were in Ste-Julie, watching JSR, Carpenter and Cooke battle in the MX1 class, while Michael Willard did his best to hold back the hard charging Eric Sorby? Now we're at the end of August, waiting for the Motocross Des Nations to kick off in Budds Creek, MD on September 22-23 and then the following weekend, the Montreal Supercross celebrates its 30th birthday.       

Like every year, the series culminated once again at in the infamous Walton track. The track was filled with deep ruts, a few faces from down south, and great racing.

Everyone was excited to see Dusty Klatt's one and only debut in Canada this year. After parting ways with his Star Racing Yamaha Team in the U.S., he joined Team Toyota Yamaha/ BlackfootDirect.com/ Fox Racing for the final round. Unfortunately, after posting the fastest lap time in Sunday morning's practice, Klatt swapped out in a rut on the sweeper after the step-down and nailed a fence ...

... he was left three broken fingers. It's unlikely that Klatt will be ready for the Motocross Des Nations or the Montreal Supercross.  

Doug DeHaan also made his first and only trip up to Canada at Walton. After sweeping the Vet Master motos during the week for the championship, DeHaan went DNF-11 in Sunday's MX1 motos. DeHaan, leading Iain Hayden here, was the lone rider under the new Morgan Honda rig that showed up to Walton. Look for the Morgan team to hire some contenders for the Montreal SX. 

With Loretta Lynn's over and an off-weekend for the AMA nationals, there are always a few new names on the pro entry lists. Honda's Phillip Nicoletti graced us with his speed and won the first MX2 moto. Word has it that Nicoletti was still suffering from a broken collarbone, and he was unable to finish the second moto. 

Nicoletti chases down Tucker Hibbert in the first MX2 moto. Hibbert took second, but won the second moto for the overall. Considering Hibbert's bad luck in the West series, it was good to see him end his season in Canada on a high note. 

MX2 East champ, Michael Willard, has won the last two East/ West Shootouts at Walton, but he had to settle for second this year. In the first moto, "Little Willy" came back from 10th to third and in the second moto, he was leading until Hibbert passed him around the halfway mark. 

One of our Calgary Ignition Racing/ RXC Factory Rider's for a Day, Jared Allison, is another rider who made up for some rough luck in the West by putting in a great ride at Walton. Allison went 7-10 for seventh overall. His twin brother, Parker, had a great ride in the first moto with a 15th.

Havelock Jamboree or the Walton TransCan? The top three in the MX2 Shootout always earn a handsome Stetson, which went to Willard (left), Hibbert (middle), and Mason Phillips (right) in 2007.  Actually who cares about the three amigos, check out those cowgirls!

While Paul Carpenter already had the championship wrapped, the real battle was for second in the points between Jeff Gibson (102) and Colton Facciotti (10). In the end, Facciotti's 4-2 was better than Gibson's 5-4 and he took second by just one point. It's interesting to think what may have happened had Colton not suffered bike problems in Gopher or DNF'd in Morden ...  

You'd think that OTSFF Suzuki's Tyler Medaglia would have raced the MX2 class in Walton, but no. The third-place finisher in the MX2 East series is loving the big bike and proved his speed and strength on his RM-Z450 by finishing 6-5 for fifth overall. His little brother, Jeremy, didn't have his best ride in MX2, but came from dead last to ninth in the second moto. Could we see both brothers on big rig teams next summer?

Someone has to pick up this guy for `08! Jeff "Norcal" Northrop was basically racing the western 450 rounds on his own buck and wasn't sure if he would make it out east. Fortunately, he received some support and a bike from G. Bourque Kawasaki (Montes' sponsor) for SDL and Walton. It was a good move by both parties. Norcal went 6-9 for eighth overall in SDL and finished third in both motos at Walton for third overall.

Matt and Chris Lee awarded JSR with his very street in the town of Walton. Sort of. The main drag in the Walton pits will now be known as "JSR Drive." I wonder how long it will be before someone "borrows" it? Chris may have to hire a full-time security guard for JSR Drive. 

Carpenter may be the "King of Walton," but Mason Phillips deserves the unofficial "Style King of Walton" award. Phillips also went for the ironman award, riding both classes, but he lost it after DNFing the second MX1 moto. He made quite the impression on the small bike, however, going 5-3 for third overall.

Your 2007 King of Walton, Monster Energy/ Cernic's Kawasaki's Paul Carpenter! The champ definitely deserved the coveted Walton sword after sweeping both MX1 motos.