When we look back at Jess Pettis’ first season aboard an MX101 Yamaha, there was certainly a lot of highs, unfortunately mixed in with a few lows. Right from the opening gate drop of the 2025 Triple Crown Series, you could tell that Pettis was comfortable riding at a very high level, and that he and his YZ450 had some great chemistry. However, after battling hard to secure a large points lead heading into Round 4 at Gopher Dunes, Pettis would suffer a hard crash during qualifying. That crash resulted in several painful injuries that would make the remainder of the summer very challenging, and would eventually cost him the 450 Championship. Fast forward to this past week, and while Jess was down south training for this weekends Paris SX he suffered a routine crash while navigating a flat turn, and immediately felt pain again in his left shoulder and ribs. Despite his efforts to keep riding and push through the discomfort, Jess eventually decided to load up and drive back home to Quebec, and cancel his plans to fly to Paris. We caught up with Jess to see how he was feeling, and what is next for our multi-time Triple Crown Series Champion.
MXP: Hey Jess! What is going on this morning? Did you guys get snow in Quebec during the past few days?
JP: Hey Palms! I’m not doing much, just running around doing some errands. We did get a lot of snow during the past 24 hours, and it’s still snowing. So far, we’ve gotten like a foot, so the ground is definitely white. Did you get snow in Ontario?
Yes, we probably have a few inches. It’s not snowing now, but it’s cold and grey. Certainly not the best time of the year. So, you were supposed to be getting on a plane tonight to fly to Paris, but unfortunately you had to change your plans. Can you take us through what happened?
For sure, although I feel so bad right now as the crash I had down south was so stupid. All I did was wash my front end out in a corner, but it happened so quick that I landed hard on my left side and instantly felt pain again. When I crashed back at Gopher Dunes, it was my left shoulder and left ribs that I injured. I had them feeling good again, but then I crashed at the MXON and hurt the same shoulder again. I ended up having to get a shot in the Alpinestar Medical Unit at Ironman, and that made it feel better. Before I headed down south to continue to train for Paris I had been riding near Ottawa at Jamie Powell’s SX track. The track was legit, and they even built me a good set of whoops, which I was very thankful for. I thought about just staying there and not going south, but I didn’t want to get to Paris and have that track feel really technical. So, I loaded up and headed to South Carolina to continue riding SX. I felt great, and we had the bike working great, I just had a small crash that unfortunately turned into something more serious.
Did you know right away that you were injured?
Yeah, I felt it right away, and because I had felt the same thing a few times over the past several months, I knew what it was. I tried to keep riding, but it was very painful. I went back to my pit and started to load up, but then I stop and thought about waiting to see if things would improve. I started to feel a little better, so I went out and tried to ride again. But, then while riding again, my shoulder felt weak, and then in one section my hand blew off the bars. At that point, I just decided to call it, and then I loaded up and drove home.
That must have been a hard decision after driving all that way and investing in all of the training for Paris? We know you’re not quitter JP.
I know, it was tough for sure. I was having so much fun riding SX again, and I really wanted to go to Paris and have fun racing that event. Even on my drive home from South Carolina I started to feel a little better, and I was thinking of turning around and trying to ride again. But, then I stopped for fuel and even pumping gas was painful. That was the final straw.
Well, that is certainly a sad story, but if your shoulder and ribs are still giving you issues, even after a small crash, maybe it’s a blessing in disguise that you’re not heading over to Paris, where something could really go wrong quickly.
That is what I’ve been thinking. Maybe it’s time to just shut things down for a few months, and rebuild the strength and mobility in my shoulder and left side.
Sounds like you’re going to need all the strength you can get to shovel snow (laughs).
I tried to shovel snow this morning and it hurt so bad!
I feel like shovelling snow is painful to even the healthiest people. But, in all seriousness, is that the plan now. Just to hit the gym and rebuild the body so it’s ready for 2026?
For sure, I’m looking forward to being able to just focus on gym-work and getting my body to feel more balanced. Even going back to my knee injuries from a few years ago, it created some hip issues as I was having to favour one side of my lower body for so long. So, we’ll get that all sorted out, get through the Christmas and New Year season, and then start thinking about heading south to do it all over again for 2026.
Sounds like a great plan. Looking back to this past season. Obviously, you had a lot of great moments and you and your MX101 Yamaha looked to be in perfect sync on the track. But is there one moto that stands out as perhaps your best? One of those motos that racers wish they had all of the time.
I would say the second moto at Round 3 in Ste Julie. I won both motos that day, but in the first moto I was struggling with a few things. In moto two, I was able to pull a big lead, and I felt like I hit all of my marks and didn’t make any mistakes. You’re right, we wish they could all be like that.
Yeah, that was a great day for you. Unfortunately they aren’t always like that. Well Jess, heal up and enjoy some relaxing time with your family. We’re already at the mid-point of November, so Christmas and the New Year will be here before we know it. As you mentioned above, soon it will be time to start thinking about heading down south to train for the 2026 season.
Thanks Palms! And thank you for reaching out. Say hi to your family and if we don’t talk before the Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I’m sure we’ll talk before then, but thank you.
