Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
MXP: Hey Newf! We all met up this week at Gopher Dunes for the Honda Canada/GDR/Fox Racing Team Intro. It was a great day for all involved. What are your thoughts on the day, the team, and their chances this summer in the Triple Crown Series?
RL: It was a great day. We don’t get many of these types of media/sponsor events in Canada, but being there showed why GDR feel that they are important. The team is ahead of last year regarding prep so that always carries a nice feeling coming into round one. As far as the riders go, I mean, you saw Dylan on the bike; he looks ready and comfortable. Yes, it to early to call the perfect season, but he will be extremely hard to beat. As far as Jake Piccolo goes, I would say he looks fit, more mature, and more confident than last year.
MXP: The big news out of the Monster Energy Supercross Series last weekend in Denver was the injury to Eli Tomac. It cost him the win, the 450SX title, and it may cost him his career. How shocked were you when you saw it, and do you think we’ll see Tomac back behind a starting gate in the future, or is this it for him?
RL: I think this injury has to be one of the biggest shocks to our industry that we have seen in a while. I’m so bummed for him and really couldn’t believe it was happening. Sadly I don’t think we will see him again. 2024 was going to be a question mark anyway, and it’s hard to say what the recovery will be on the Achilles. I hope I’m wrong, but I think he will retire.
MXP: With Tomac’s possible retirement, Cooper Webb out for a bit, and Jason Anderson not having a great season. This has allowed young riders like Chase Sexton and Jett Lawrence to succeed through championships. Looking ahead to the Sexton/Lawrence battle this summer in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championships, who do you think wins and why?
RL: Well, if the MXDN in 2022 was any indication, I think Jett will be hard to beat. He had little to no prep coming into that race and looked like he had been racing a 450 his whole life. Now, I do think Sexton will win motos, but the question remains whether or not he can clean up his mistakes. The only other rider who could get into the mix with those two would be Dylan Ferrandis, but he needs to be healthy, which has been a challenging thing for him lately. There will definitely be a lot of red up front in the 450 class this summer.
