MXP: Hey Newf! You had a couple of weeks off from answering these thought-provoking questions, so we know you’re fresh. First up is the 2024 MXON from last weekend. Overall, how do you think Team Canada faired in the U.K.?
R.L.: It was a step in the right direction compared to last year. The boys easily rode into the A final, which I’m sure was stressful for the entire team because of what happened last year. From what I have seen and heard, Sunday had its ups and downs, but they did well at the end of the day. Kaven, I’m sure, would have liked to be better but said he just couldn’t get comfortable. Jess was solid, and Dylan had a really good final moto. With all that, as a fan, we want more, no question, especially when you look at the final results, and 10th overall was only a few points away. If I were to give the result a rating, I would have to go with a B+ for 2024. The guys that went were the best we could send, and the result is the result. Hats off to everyone that made it happen.
MXP: During their post-race interviews, all three of our riders spoke about how challenging the Matterly Basin track was and how, at times, they struggled. It feels like every rider said that, at one point, conditions looked tough. With the Triple Crown Series ending two months ago and no tracks around here that are like last weekend, do you think there was anything else they could’ve done leading up to the big race that would’ve allowed them to feel more comfortable?
R.L.: There is no question that the Triple Crown Series ending in the middle of August doesn’t help. The boys could have gone and done some U.S. Nationals, but that is also easier said than done, and with Dylan still trying to get back to 100%, it didn’t make sense. The level of all these countries has really stepped up, and the speed of all these guys on the gate is unreal. Our riders are inexperienced in international racing, even though Dylan did some MXGPs a few years back. However, with all of them contracted to race here in the summer, I don’t know how to fix that. Onto the track that was on a whole different level. How could you compare this track to any of the eight rounds that we have here in Canada? Dylan, Jess, and Kaven all trained and rode together as a team leading up to this, but there isn’t much more they could have done to be ready for the weather and track conditions that last Sunday provided. They tried their best, and I think that’s all we can ask for.
MXP: Other than cheering for Team Canada, we’re sure you loved watching the battles at the front of the pack, especially in the final moto. In particular, how impressed were you with both Jett Lawrence and Eli Tomac last weekend?
R.L.: That was honestly some of the best racing I have ever seen. Eli was a hero, considering how he was a last-minute addition to the team. The pace that he, Jett, and Gajser were going was mind-boggling, and just how they managed the track was something special to watch. I loved every minute of every moto, and I think the effort that all the teams put into it goes to show how special MXON is.
