MXP: This past weekend you were with GDR Team riders, Dylan Wright, and Dylan Rempel at Wild Rose MX Park for a local Alberta race. With this most likely being the final Pro National in Calgary, are there any track changes or facility changes that we can expect?
RL: The facility as a whole was and is in great shape. Very clean and they did a lot of tree trimming etc. Track wise I really like the layout of the national track that we rode. Shaw valley has been slowed down and lap times are 5-8 sec a lap longer now which is nice. Soil wise it was a tough weekend, but what I can say, it wasn’t from lack of trying. Lee, the new facility guy, works his ass off, but man when it’s 20+ degrees, pure sun with not much shade and windy, there isn’t much they can do. They have a plan, so all we can hope for is ideal conditions and for it not to be windy and we will get a good track.
MXP: The gate drops this weekend at Fox Raceway for the 2026 Pro Motocross Championships. Who do you like for the win in both the 250 and 450 classes, and why do you think these two riders will come out on top at Round 1?
RL: It’s always so hard to predict, but what my feeling is for this round especially, is Haiden Deegan in the 450 and Chance Hymas in the 250. Reason I’m saying this, is I feel that both guys are coming in with much more outdoor prep than the rest of the riders. For example, Deegs with doing West coast SX, that schedule allowed him to get into outdoor prep early and with Hymas missing most of Supercross, he’s been 100% focused on outdoors.
MXP: Although it’s been a few years since you had to prepare (as a rider), for the Triple Crown Series, can you take us into the riders head of what they are feeling and doing in this final week leading up to the opening round in Calgary?
RL: I think it goes without saying that whether you are at the top or not, you’re always thinking, did you do enough work in the off-season, is the bike where I want it to be, and always nervous of the new riders in the classes. Guys will put on a confident face and say the right things in interviews, but deep down they are thinking it. This is what makes the good guys better, they are able to drown out the thought when the gate drops and push through the nerves.
