Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
So that’s a wrap on the 2023 Triple Crown Series MXTour. On Sunday at Walton Raceway, we watched some solid racing in all of the classes, and it really put an exclamation mark on the summer. In the 250 class, Ryder McNabb did what he’s been doing all summer long: to remain fast and consistent. After winning the opening moto, Ryder rode smooth and smart in moto two to finish 5th, and in the process, he secured his second 250 title in a row. In the 450 class, Dylan once again dominated both motos to take the win and yet another 450 title. Dylan began this season a little slow by his standards, but as the summer went on, he got better and better, and Sunday at Walton Raceway, he had his best two races of the season. Overall, it was an entertaining summer of racing, and congratulations to all of the riders and teams who gave it everything they had. Here are your top ten overall finishers and how they got there.
250 Pro/AM Class
1.Ryder McNabb- 360 points
What a summer it’s been for Ryder McNabb and his KTM Canada Team. This kid is so wise beyond his years when it comes to his race craft that it blows my mind sometimes. He has it all, and the future is extremely bright for the soon to be 18 year old. He was the fastest 250 rider this summer and managed this championship well throughout the eight rounds. Will he be here next year? I don’t know right now, and I don’t think even Ryder knows. I hope he is, but I totally understand if he isn’t. Either way, it was sure fun watching Ryder’s speed and precision on the track this summer.
2.Josiah Natzke- 331
Josiah’s stock keeps rising in Canada as he once again proved that he could be a title contender. I love watching this New Zealander ride as he sees the track very well. Every team would love to have Natzke next year, but I feel like he’ll be back under the PRMX Tent in 2024 and be a 250 championship favourite as well.
3.Kaven Benoit- 295
Having Benoit back this summer was a real treat, and I’m not even sure if he thought he’d be so competitive. All summer long, Kaven kept his teammate honest, and if it wasn’t for his rough day at Sand Del Lee, he would’ve been in the title fight this past weekend at Walton Raceway. Kaven told me Sunday evening that right now, he’s 75-80% sure that he’ll be back next year. That is great news for everyone in Canadian motocross and the Triple Crown Series!
4.Mitchell Harrison- 279
What a comeback this summer it was for Harrison after a horrible opening round in Edmonton. At times Harrison was the fastest rider this summer, but sadly he started in such a points hole after Round 1. But he never quit, and it was a pleasure to watch him battle all summer long. It sounds as though he’s going to remain in the 250 class next year and battle for the championship. Mitchell loves it in Canada, and we love having him here. Also, look for him to be very fast in the upcoming Triple Crown Series SXTour.
5.Sebastien Racine- 222
Although Racine’s summer doesn’t look great on paper, I feel like it was the typical sophomore season for a young and talented athlete. I’m quite sure he learned a lot this season and that he’ll be able to use all these tools in 2024. The biggest things that any athlete has to deal with in their second pro season are pressure and expectation. At times, Racine appeared to be riding tight this summer and overthinking things that he hasn’t in the past. But that is the way it goes, and I’m sure he’ll be better next year.
6.Quinn Amyotte- 201
This was a great summer for Quinn as everything seemed to come together. His starts were better, his fitness was incredible, and his results reflected the hard work he put in during the off-season. If it wasn’t for his finger injury and having to miss one round, he would’ve finished 5th overall in the series. I heard Quinn wants to stay on Blue and move up to the 450 class in 2024. With Shawn Maffenbeier retiring, perhaps Quinn takes that spot on the MX101 Yamaha Team?
7.Sam Gaynor- 159
In my opinion, this was a great summer for Sam and his TLD/GASGAS/SSR Team. Originally, Sam was only going to ride a few rounds of the 250 Series and focus most of his efforts on defending his Pre-Mix title from last year. However, when Tyler Gibbs moved on from the team just a few weeks before the opening round, Sam got the call to ride the entire series. Considering he worked five days a week all summer and then flew into each round, I feel like Sam rode well all series long. After two injury-plagued seasons, I think Sam enjoyed racing this summer with little to no pressure and very few expectations. Hopefully, the confidence and endurance Sam built this summer will help him if he decides to do it all over again in 2024.
8.Tanner Scott- 156
It’s funny when I look back at my pre-series notes; I had Tanner Scott finishing the 250 Series in 8th place overall. Tanner rode solid all summer long and had some really good motos at Gopher Dunes and Deschambault, two tracks that he knows very well. I think it was a great learning season for the rookie rider, and next year he should be even more consistent. Finding success in the pro class is a process, even for the most talented riders coming out of the amateur ranks. I mean, look how long it took Dylan Wright to find his way to the front of the pack, and no one was better prepared for the pro class than he was. As I said, it was a solid year for Tanner, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does in 2024.
9.Noah Viney- 141
Considering Noah was a late addition to the 250 series and even missed two full rounds, I think he had a solid summer overall. With each race, Noah got better and better, and it was fun to see him lead a few laps in the opening moto this past weekend at Walton Raceway. Also, in talking to his dad last week, it sounds like the entire family loved spending their summer travelling across Canada, and they feel Noah learned a lot both on and off the bike. That is all you can ask for when it comes to a young rider.
10.Dylan Rempel- 134
Dylan had a quietly solid rookie season in the 250 class, and if it wasn’t for his double moto DNF in Kamloops, then he would be challenging for Rookie of the Year honours. This kid works hard and is very determined, so if he sticks with the process, I’m sure he’ll be even better in 2024. I know 10th overall is probably not what Dylan was looking for this summer, but it’s still a pretty solid finish for the young rider out of Ontario.
450 Class
1.Dylan Wright- 392 points
It was another incredible season for Dylan Wright and his GDR Honda Team in the 450 class. It wasn’t a perfect win season like it was in 2022, but I feel with the added competition of a healthy Jess Pettis, Dylan rode better this summer than he did last summer. Watching the evolution of Dylan’s riding this summer was also enjoyable, as he got better with each round. In my opinion, his best moto was his final moto on Sunday when he laid down lap after fast lap on the Walton Raceway track for 35 minutes. Dylan will now head south to race the final two rounds of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championships in the USA. I’m glad he’s doing two rounds so he can use this weekend at Budds Creek to get his feet wet. Honestly, a top-five finish at the final round at Ironman Raceway would not surprise me, as he’s riding that good at the moment. Congrats Dylan on another incredible season!
2.Jess Pettis- 332
This was exactly the summer Jess Pettis needed to take his career to the next level as far as success and longevity. After being injured for most of the past two seasons, the main thing Jess needed to do this season was remain healthy for the entire series. Ultimately, he did that and picked up two moto wins at the opening round and again in Calgary. It’s been a solid year so far for Pettis, and right now, he’s one of the few riders capable of giving Dylan Wright a run for the 450 title in 2024.
3.Tyler Medaglia- 263
This guy just keeps going and going! At 36 years old, it’s quite remarkable how solid Tyler was this summer, and he even got a moto win in Kamloops. He looked very fast in qualifying at Walton Raceway this past weekend, and with the track set up the way it was, Tyler might have challenged Wright for a moto win. However, a hard first-turn crash in moto one took him out for the day. Tyler will be back for at least one more year in 2024, and I’m sure he’ll be just as good as he was this summer.
4.Shawn Maffenbeier- 252
Maff was riding better through the opening three rounds than we’ve seen him ride in years. Armed with a new and improved YZ450F, Maff was headed towards a Moto win at some point this summer. But, a hard crash at Gopher Dunes caused him to miss Round 5 and lose most of the momentum he had gained in the early part of the series. The hardest part for any pro athlete is knowing when to walk away from the sport you love. With Sunday being his final pro national, I believe he’s making the right decision in his life and career. It’s been a great run for Shawn and his family, and I wish him all the best in the future. Over the years, he’s been a true professional and a great ambassador for motocross in Canada.
5.Daniel Elmore- 246
Through his speed and consistency, Daniel Elmore wasn’t far off finishing third overall in the 450 series. Danny would’ve earned enough points to leap ahead of Tyler and Maff if not for a few bad motos here and there. But he didn’t, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing for Danny heading into next year. I saw firsthand this summer how hard Danny works and how detail-orientated he is. Danny leaves nothing to chance with his training and preparation; all he needs to do is keep progressing and working on his race craft. Congrats on a solid summer, and good on Steve Simms for giving this kid a chance.
6.Jeremy Mckie- 194
Coming into the 2023 Triple Crown Series, I thought Jeremy Mckie was in for one hell of a summer in the 450 class. Well, it was unforgettable, that’s for sure, but not in the way we’d all hoped for. I honestly don’t know what happened this summer, as Jeremy’s speed and fitness didn’t appear to be there. Eventually, he and the Walton Kawasaki Team went their separate ways, and he was forced to race the final two rounds aboard a Yamaha. I’m not sure what is next for Jeremy, but I hope he has a solid off-season and can come out in 2024 with renewed confidence.
7.Tyler Gibbs- 190
Considering Tyler Gibbs switched bikes and classes just weeks before the opening round, I think his effort this summer was admirable. Tyler is a talented rider, and even though he didn’t have that one breakout moto this summer in the 450 class, his results are something he should be proud of. By the sounds of it, he’ll be racing the SXTour with support from the WLTN/Kawasaki/Seven Team, so that is great news. If Tyler can get a little stronger in 2024, then he should contend for top-five finishes.
8.Julien Benek- 184
This was a solid summer for Julien as he rode great in the 450 class. Unfortunately, he missed the Gopher Dunes round, but when he came back, he was a consistent top-six finisher. This kid is talented and fit, and I think he has a bright future ahead of him.
9.Andy Truyts- 173
Andy was solid this summer in the 450 class; having him in Canada was great. He did have some top-ten finishes, including a pair of sevenths in Calgary and Gopher Dunes. Hopefully, we see him here again in 2024.
10.Parker Eales- 172
Parker had a solid but quiet season in the 450 class. His best results were a 6th at Round 2 in Kamloops and an 8th at Riverglade. Besides that, he hovered around the top ten in most motos and rode solid. Also, remember that Parker flies back to BC each week to work a 9 to 5 job, so his training time is limited. However, he never uses that as an excuse, so I won’t either. I’m glad he fought his way into the top ten, as he really does deserve to be there.
