Greetings! Welcome to another edition of the Monday Gate Drop, which as always is sponsored by Yamaha Motor Canada. This past weekend at Round 7 of the Triple Crown Series, the Blu Cru had a big day as not only did Jonathan Bergeron win the Yamaha Factory Ride Award, but MX101 Yamaha rider Preston Kilroy clinched the 2025 Triple Crown Series 250 class Championship. Also, Jess Pettis won the overall in the 450 class, moving him back into the top three in the 450 class series points standings. Next up for the Blu Cru is the final round of the Triple Crown Series, as well as the Walton TransCan next week at Walton Raceway.
Well, that was a crazy ten days for my family and I as we made our way out to Riverglade Raceway for Round 6 of the Triple Crown Series, and then back to Deschambault for the ECAN, and finally Round 7 of the Triple Crown Series two days ago. Yes, I say two days ago because this is Tuesday and not Monday. On the way home from Quebec on Sunday evening we got a flat tire while driving on the 407 near Whitby, and that delayed us two hours. So, what was going to be a 2:30am arrival at home turned into 4:30, and a very tired Palms yesterday. After everything that went down in Deschambault (more on that in a moment), and then the long drive home Sunday night, I couldn’t even put two thoughts together on Monday. However, with all of that said, I’m here now and ready to roll. So, let’s jump into the news of the past week, as well as what is coming up in the next few weeks.
As I said, this past week was both amazing and unforgettable. And just like motocross always is for everyone, for us, it was filled with some big highs, and unfortunately, some giant lows. The good news is that we made it out to Riverglade and back home as a family, and in the process we created some memories that we will never forget. During our trip, my son not only rode the Riverglade MX Park track for the first time, but also raced his first ever Pro National on the Sunday. It was an amazing experience, and I think the highlights for him were sitting P-12 after the opening qualifying session, and getting a third place start in the mud and rain during moto two. All in all, it was a great day of racing at the professional level, and I don’t think I could put into words how much he learned in the span of a few hours. Also, while in Moncton we finally made it out to Shediac and my wife was able to have some fresh Lobster. Actually, it was so good that we went to Captain Dan’s twice, as did a lot of the teams and riders. It’s only a short drive from Moncton, so very easy to get to. After Riverglade, we packed up and drove to Quebec City for a night, and then onto Deschambault for the ECAN. There is something special about the MX Deschambault facility and you feel it from the moment you drive through the gate. With added amateur parking this year, the main paddock had more space and it was certainly easier to get around. The Thibault Family always welcomes everyone with open arms, and this year was no different.
After two dry and dusty practice days, the track was in excellent condition for the opening moto on Thursday morning. From there, the first day of racing at the 2025 ECAN featured some exciting battles in every class, especially in the Supermini, 250 JR, and Youth classes, where they had to run qualifiers. With a great facility, a fun track, and the crew from AMO Racing running the competition side of the event, the entries for the week were over 800, and that was up from 2024. Even after some heavy rain moved through the area on Thursday evening, the track responded well from some Friday morning mud motos, and by the early afternoon is was back in great racing form. That moisture was exactly what the track needed, as the conditions were great for the remainder of the week. Unfortunately, after three solid motos (one in the mud on Friday when Ayrton went from 14th to 5th in the 250 Intermediate class) he had a massive crash (while running in second) in the second Open Intermediate moto over the infamous Deschambault double jump. For whatever reason, he did not get a lot of drive off of the take-off, and that caused him to come up well short. What happened after I think could be looked at in two ways. First, he went for a big ride as the bike hit the second jump with the rear wheel first, then it slammed the front wheel down (completely destroying the spokes and rim), and then with all of the forward momentum it catapulted him over the bars and down into the ditch on the left hand side of the track. It was a heavy and scary crash, but thankfully, the only real injury he received was to his left wrist. His right shoulder was sore for a day, but then felt better the next day. Right after the crash we travelled the short distance to a small hospital in St Marc des Carrier for further assessment, and after getting some X-rays no breaks were initially seen. However, with the amount of swelling around the wrist area, the Doctor said that we needed to get more scans once we got home and the swelling had subsided. So, that is where we are currently at, and hopefully tomorrow we will learn more. He is battered and bruised, but other than that his spirits are up, and Mom and Dad’s stress levels have subsided as well, which is also great news. As the current 450 Triple Crown Series points leader once said, “Sometimes, you have to pay the toll if you want to rock and roll.” Finally, thank you to everyone who reached out or came by our pit area over the weekend to wish Ayrton well. The moto family is a tight knit group, and when bad things happen, it’s nice to know that we all pull together and support one another. That is also the case with Bobby Gravel and his terrible incident during practice on Tuesday. Bobby is slowly improving in a Quebec City hospital, but he and his family needs our help for his long recovery. Here is the link to his GoFundMe page, if you’re able, can you please give a little to support the Gravel Family. It’s going to be long recovery for Bobby, so he needs all of our prayers and all of the help we can give him. This sport is so incredibly awesome, until it isn’t.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/bobby-gravels-road-to-recovery
In some big news that came out this morning. Team Canada announced their riders for the 2025 MXON at Ironman Raceway in October. Jess Pettis will lead first timers Tanner Ward and Sebastien Racine into Ironman with Canadian pride and hopefully some good luck on their side. Here is the official PR from Team Manager Kourtney Lloyd:
TEAM CANADA ANNOUNCES 2025 MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS LINEUP
From the Desk of Kourtney Lloyd, Team Manager – Team Canada MXoN
To the Canadian Motorcycle Association Board of Directors,
After an eventful and competitive 2025 race season filled with twists and turns, I’m proud to officially announce the rider lineup for Team Canada’s Motocross of Nations effort. Representing Canada at the 2025 MXoN will be:
- Jess Pettis
- Tanner Ward (MXoN debut)
- Sebastian Racine (MXoN debut)
(Class Designation will be determined at a later date)
This decision did not come lightly. After many productive conversations with industry leaders, including fellow team managers, manufacturers, and representatives from the Team Canada MXoN organization, we feel this group of athletes gives us the strongest possible chance at success on the world stage.
With this year’s event being held in the United States, the financial and logistical advantages allow us the unique opportunity to invest in new talent, and we are especially excited to welcome both Tanner Ward and Sebastian Racine to their very first MXoN appearances. This is a huge milestone in both of their careers, and we’re proud to provide them with the opportunity to represent Canada on such an iconic stage.
Jess Pettis returns to lead the charge with a wealth of experience and success under his belt. A multi-time Canadian Champion, Jess is no stranger to the international spotlight, this will mark his 4th appearance at the Motocross of Nations. His speed, determination, and leadership will play a key role in anchoring the team and helping guide our riders through their debut performances.
Sebastian Racine continues to rise as one of Canada’s most exciting young prospects. His progression through the ranks has been impressive, and his MXoN debut comes at the perfect time.
Tanner Ward has shown unwavering consistency and drive throughout the Triple Crown Series and has earned his spot through hard work and perseverance. His MXoN debut is a long time coming, and we’re excited to see him rise to the occasion.
This team was selected based not only on season-long performance in the Triple Crown Series, but also with thoughtful consideration of injuries, team dynamics, and overall rider interest and commitment. I stand behind these choices and truly believe this group will proudly and professionally represent Canada on the international stage.
We are also proud to highlight the incredible support behind these athletes. MX101 Racing, the team behind both Jess Pettis and Sebastian Racine. Team Manager Kevin Tyler continues to demonstrate unwavering commitment to Canadian motocross. Fresh off a championship-winning season, MX101 is well-positioned to provide top-tier equipment and support for both riders. Kevin’s dedication to the MX101 Racing program is unmatched, and we are confident that the same level of passion and preparation will go into Pettis and Racine’s machines as they take on this prestigious international event.
Tanner Ward’s team, Priority MX, has made a significant impact on Canadian motocross in just a few short years. Known for their no-compromise approach, they’ve proven that they don’t cut corners, especially when it comes to performance. The bikes they are preparing for Tanner are top-tier, equipped with everything needed to compete on the world stage. Team Owner Peter Knoop and Team Manager Justin Roney have shown that their equipment, professionalism, and dedication to the sport in Canada will be vital in supporting Tanner and Team Canada at the Motocross of Nations.
We are incredibly grateful to MX101 and Priority MX for allowing us to utilize their riders and equipment, and especially for committing their technicians and team personnel to help support our effort at Ironman.
Equally important to this program’s success are the people behind the scenes. I’m incredibly fortunate to have Assistant Team Manager Kyle Springman and Crew Chief Benedikt Schiermeyer. Together, Kyle and Benedikt are the backbone of Team Canada MXoN. With their extensive experience at the top level of racing, they bring critical leadership, structure, and technical expertise to the program. Their organization, advice, professionalism, and ability to manage the intense logistics of this event are unmatched. They are absolutely essential to the success of our team, and this effort would not function without them.
I sincerely appreciate the support of the CMA Board, the Canadian motocross community, and our partners who make this effort possible each year. I hope to see many of you trackside, waving the maple leaf, and cheering these three riders on as they battle the best in the world.
Thank you for your continued belief in Team Canada.
Finally, as the Triple Crown Series takes a weekend off, Phil Nicoletti is now your 450 class points leader heading into Round 8 at Walton Raceway. Phil put in a clutch performance this past weekend in Deschambault, and now sits 10-points up on Tanner Ward. Both riders have been very good at Walton Raceway in the past, so this showdown is going to be a good one. Throw in Jess Pettis, who still looks fast, despite his injuries, Dylan Wright, who also might be racing at Round 8, and you have a stressful but entertaining two motos ahead for Phil and Tanner. In the podcast I did with Billy Rainford back in May I remember saying that the 450 series was going to come down to the final moto of the year at Walton. Now, to be honest, I didn’t predict that this 450 title fight was going to come down to a battle between Tanner Ward and Phil Nicoletti, but these two have earned the right to be where they are, and their recent performances have been nothing short of amazing. I will go more into the Walton TransCan next Monday, but like everyone I cannot wait to head to Walton Raceway next week. This is the biggest race of our season, and it’s going to be another unforgettable Walton TransCan. I heard that Josh Woods (of GPF fame) is coming up this week to help get the Walton Raceway track dialed in. Josh was there last year helping out, so he’s certainly familiar with the famous Walton soil. The work is being done as we speak, so when we arrive early week the track and facility will be ready to host the biggest and best race in Canada.
Well, that is it for this week. Again, I apologize for not getting this done yesterday, but as I said, I couldn’t put two thoughts together on Monday. Finally, my pick for Rider of the Week is Kaven Benoit, who at 37 years old dominated the 250 Pro/Am class in Deschambault on Sunday. Racing with the #1 plate he earned last year, Benoit led every lap of moto one, and all but the final half lap of moto two, when he had a small tip over. Benoit still took the overall win on the day, and honestly it stands out to me as one of the best racing performances I’ve ever seen in Canada. Anyway, congratulations to Benoit, and thank you to everyone for tuning in this week. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at editor@mxpmag.com. Have a great final week of July!
