After winning multiple races during the 2025 Triple Crown Series but coming up short of the 450 Championship, Jess Pettis entered this year with high hopes of winning another title aboard his MX101 Yamaha Racing Team YZ450F. Unfortunately, his 2026 450 class title chase got off to a challenging start with a DNF at the opening round in Calgary, and then, to make matters even worse, Jess suffered a serious knee injury at Round 2 in Manitoba that took him out for the remainder of the Triple Crown Series. Jess underwent reconstructive knee surgery in early July, and since then it’s been a constant rotation of rehab, recovery, and doing a few things he normally wouldn’t have time for if he were healthy and racing every weekend. Now that the season is over, it’s time for Jess to begin thinking about 2027, and we caught up with him to find out what might be next for the multi time Triple Crown Series champion.
Good morning! What is going on today in the life of Jess Pettis?
Hey Palms! Not too much — just finished up a gym session and now I’m heading home to have some lunch. After that, I’ll go for a road bike ride, and that’s about it for today.
That sounds like a solid day for mid October and the early part of what is usually the off season for you. I guess the golden question is: how is your knee feeling?
Yes, that’s the big question, right? It feels really good actually, and so far we’re right on schedule with the recovery process. It’s been three months since my surgery, so this is the time when I have to be really careful and not overdo it. I can do pretty much everything, which is good, but the ACL still isn’t completely healed — that will take a little more time.
Unfortunately, you’ve been down this road before, so you know the recovery timeline very well. As you said, you just have to be careful and mindful of what you’re doing, but on the other hand, it’s good that you’re able to move more and do more things. I’m sure that’s good for the mental side of recovering.
For sure. Like any major injury, you go through both the physical and mental side of recovering. Especially as an athlete — all we want to do is go go go and keep trying to get better. When you’re unable to, it can be hard to deal with mentally. I’m a pretty strong willed person, Palms, but there have been some pretty dark times with some of these injuries. But as I said, things are progressing great, and each day I’m getting closer to getting back on the bike.
Well, the one thing everyone loves is a good comeback. Since you brought up getting back on the bike, what does that timeline look like for you?
Right now it’s looking like mid December for me riding again. That will make five months since my surgery, so that’s about normal. I think I’m going to head down to Florida at that point and just ease back into riding. The plan will be to ride for a few weeks and then come home for the holidays. Then in the new year, I’ll go back down south and just build from there.
That sounds like a great plan! I guess the other golden question is: what bike will you be taking down to Florida?
I knew that was going to be the next question (laughs). Right now, I’m still under contract with the MX101 Yamaha Team, so I can’t do anything yet. That contract expires on October 30th, so after that I’m sure I’ll be able to announce something.
Obviously, this is a small industry and everyone has heard different stories about what team you might be riding for in 2027. One rumour out there is that you could be headed to Australia to race their MX Championships. How strong a possibility is that?
Yes, that has been talked about for sure as an option for next year. However, a lot has to go into that decision, as heading down there would be more than just a racing decision — it becomes a big lifestyle decision. Their series, like ours here, consists of eight rounds, but in Australia the rounds are spread out over three months, so the time in between is a lot longer than here. So I’d either have to stay down there or fly home in between rounds. I mean, it can work — it would just be a lot, that’s all.
Is the structure of the teams and the level of bike you’d be racing Down Under similar to here in Canada?
I think everything is on par with what we have in Canada. Some of the teams might have access to certain factory parts, but I’m not completely sure. I do know that there are a decent amount of riders making good money in Australia, and they have a successful Supercross Series that is going on now. So it would be a cool experience — I just don’t know right now.
Well, I guess we’ll have to wait until October 31st to find out what you’re doing in 2027. Obviously, you’ve raced SX in the past at the highest level, and we know there is still part of you that would like to race indoors again in the future. So maybe a deal where you race in Canada all summer and then travel to Australia in the fall to race their Australian SX Series would be ideal for you?
That does sound good, Palms! I do love SX and I wish we could have a small but successful SX series in Canada. I miss the Triple Crown Series SXTour events — they were a lot of fun and allowed us to keep racing into September. Now we race the final round at Walton and then sit until the MXON. I love racing and I’d like to race more than just eight rounds per year.
I miss those SX/AX Tour events also. They gave us in the media more to cover and more stories to create. Anyway, you mentioned the MXON event. You’ve been a member of Team Canada on numerous occasions — what are your thoughts on how our riders did over in France two weeks ago?
I thought they all rode well, and to finish 14th overall was pretty good. Obviously, we are talented enough to be inside or closer to the top ten, but on that track and on European soil, our team did well in France and everyone should be proud.
As I said, you’ve raced that event several times, and you’ve also raced on that track, so you’ve been there, done that so to speak. Can you first talk about racing and trying to perform at your best under the pressure of an event like the MXON, and then talk about just how difficult the Ernee circuit is to race on?
When it comes to the pressure of racing for Team Canada, obviously it’s different for everyone. I don’t think the struggles we’ve had at this event come from not being able to deal with the pressure — I think it’s more from us just making mistakes or not being able to execute when it matters. People have to remember that this event is best on best, and everyone is going for it. To be successful on both Saturday and Sunday, you have to ride at your absolute limit the entire time. Sometimes you go past that limit and crash or make a mistake. It’s a fine line, as you know.
As far as the Ernee track goes, that is by far one of the toughest tracks I’ve ever raced on. Everything about it is challenging — the elevation changes, the start, and the dirt. On television it looks tacky, but even when it’s tacky it’s still slippery and it feels like you’re riding on marbles. And because they’re used to it, the Europeans just go so fast in those conditions. I mean, you saw Herlings — he looked like he was on a completely different level there.
Looking ahead to next year when the MXON heads to Assen and what will be a full blown sand track. Dylan Wright mentioned that he’s dying to go and race the MXON on a nasty sand track. What are your thoughts on 2027 and going to Assen if you were chosen for Team Canada?
I agree with Dylan — I’m all in! I love the sand and I think it would be such a cool experience to go to that track for the MXON. It wouldn’t be easy, as there are some world class sand riders over there, but it would be fun to race in those conditions and show the world how well Team Canada can ride in the sand.
Well, let’s hope 2027 goes well for you, and when it comes time to pick the riders for Team Canada, you’re at the top of the list. Jess, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. All the best in your continued recovery, and we look forward to hearing what might be next for you at the end of this month.
For sure! Thank you for calling, Palms. All the best to you and your family, and we’ll talk again I’m sure in a few weeks.
