Greetings! Welcome to this late October edition of the Monday Gate Drop Column, presented as always by the awesome folks at Yamaha Motor Canada. For the past several weeks, I’ve been doing some endurance testing on the new 2027 YZ250F, and so far it just keeps getting better. For 2027, the YZ250F now shares the same chassis as the YZ450F, so there has definitely been some break in time required. However, as the frame has settled, the overall handling of Yamaha’s new YZ250F continues to improve. I even rode some low key SX yesterday and was impressed with how well it turned on a tighter track. Hopefully, this nice weather lasts just a little bit longer so I can continue with more testing.
In keeping with more Blu Cru news, we should know in a week’s time who Jess Pettis will be riding for in 2027. He told us in an interview a few weeks ago that one option is heading Down Under to race in the Australian MX Championships next summer (of course it would be winter in Australia), but obviously there would be a lot of logistics involved in that deal. With his current MX101 Yamaha deal expiring on October 30th, nothing can happen until after that date. Will Jess be heading to Australia? Will he stay in Canada and join one of the main teams in the Triple Crown Series? Or, since the MX101 Yamaha Team has a first right of refusal clause in his current contract, perhaps he remains with Yamaha for 2027.
If I had to predict what will happen, I would choose option B. Australia demands not just riding for a new team in a far away country, but also a full lifestyle change for Jess and his family. Although a deal in Australia would most likely include a spot in the popular Australian SX Championships, and we know Jess still wants to race selected SX events , it’s still a massive move. Finally, I don’t see him remaining with the MX101 Yamaha Team beyond this weekend, as they currently have Preston Kilroy seemingly ready to challenge for a 450 title in 2027, Jonathan Bergeron set to make his rookie debut in the 250 class, and possibly one more top (soon to be announced) 250 rider who will replace Ryder Malinoski. So even if they wanted to bring Pettis back, their budget and lineup are full. That leaves option B: Pettis more than likely joining an already existing team here in Canada. Hopefully, we’ll know more next week.
Just like we have the “Where is Jess Pettis going to land?” question here in Canada, the USA currently has the same situation with Chase Sexton. Last week it was finally announced that he and Kawasaki had mutually decided to part ways. I’m sure it was a tough pill to swallow for Kawasaki, as they were fresh off a similar situation a year ago with Jorge Prado. However, if you’re Kawasaki, why keep a guy, and pay him loads of money — who clearly is not happy and likely will never be completely happy with the package you’re giving him?
It also hasn’t helped that Chase has been out with his knee injury all summer, so I’m assuming he didn’t get to ride the new 2027 KX450, which has an updated chassis and engine settings. To hear Kyle Chisholm and Brock Tickle talk about the laundry list of changes they made to Chase’s bike early in the season to get him more comfortable is astonishing. I have a lot of time on the older generation KX450, as well as a full day of riding on the 2025/26 model, and while I did notice some of the “heavier feel” that Chase apparently didn’t like, I personally really like the entire KX450 package. The bike is stable, predictable, and the power delivery is smooth. I also rode Phil Nicoletti’s championship winning KX450 last fall and loved it.
Perhaps given the level Chase Sexton is at, and the fact that they have to get a bike to work in SX as well — it was a struggle to find the right settings. However, for the other 99% of riders (who don’t have to compete for podiums in Monster Energy Supercross), the KX450 is a great bike, and the 2027 is supposed to be even better. As much as this situation sounds almost unbelievable for most of us — I mean, for the money Chase was getting paid by Kawasaki, why couldn’t he just be happy? I will say that as much as I applaud Kawasaki for agreeing to turn the page and look toward the upcoming Malcolm Stewart tenure, I also have to give credit to Sexton for being a stubborn athlete and doing what he felt was best for his career. He wants to win, and he knows he most likely has a shrinking window to accomplish his goals. Like Prado a year ago, he knows time is of the essence.
Anyway, it was clear that it was a no win situation for either party, and now we wait to hear where Chase is heading next. As of now, there is talk of him going to either KTM, Suzuki, or even Star Racing Yamaha. If Roczen decides to retire, then I can see Sexton going yellow in 2027. If Roczen keeps racing, then I can’t see them being on the same team, so maybe Sexton goes back to KTM? Star Racing seems like the biggest long shot of the three possibilities, as I cannot see the Deegan camp wanting Sexton there and being a threat each and every weekend.
This past weekend in Quebec City, the class of 2026 was honoured at the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame ceremony. Last year, the HOF welcomed two time Canadian MX Champion Doug Hoover, and this year that honour went to Marco Dube and Serge Gregoire. Robert Genereux was also inducted on Saturday evening. Congratulations to everyone, it’s such an amazing honour!
I spent a lot of time in the 1990s racing against Dube, and I can tell you he was one of the toughest and most determined riders Canada has ever produced. However, despite his determined style, he was one of the cleanest riders on the track, and I don’t ever remember having any issues with him. Even in the plethora of Quebec AX events we battled in, he was aggressive but never dirty. Off the track, he was also a class act. Even in the early years of his career, when he spoke very little English, he still made an effort to communicate. Marco certainly gave it everything he had each time he was on the track. So congratulations to him, and to all of the legends inducted into the HOF this past weekend.
Well, that is it for me this week. I hope everyone has a great week and a very Happy Halloween this weekend. Thank you for reading, and if you have any questions or comments, please email me at editor@mxpmag.com.
