Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
When you look up the meaning of role model, it comes back as a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated. This describes Eve Brodeur perfectly as, over the years, she has ingrained herself in the hearts and minds of fans and her fellow riders across Canada. Each year she appears to come back stronger and better than the previous year, and just when we think she cannot possibly go any faster, she comes out the next season and rises to a new level. Last season, Eve got tested like never before as her summer-long battle with American WMX rider Jamie Astudillo provided some of the best racing we’ve ever seen. In the end though, Eve once again came out on top and was rewarded with a new two-year deal with the Thor/GASGAS/Race Team. Eve is a role model on the track and off the track; that is why we wanted to celebrate her accomplishments and catch up with her before the 2023 race season.
Photos by James Lissimore
MXP: Hey Eve, how are things going as you get ready to head into spring?
EB: Hey Chris! Things are going well on my end. Obviously, I’m still very involved with school, and we’ve been spending a lot of time at the races since my boyfriend has been snowmobile drag racing this winter, so we’ve been very busy as usual, but we’re loving it and having fun! I’ve been working hard to start getting in shape to get back on the bike and to make sure I hit the ground running when I get the chance. I’ve also been very busy helping my dad get through a big injury and trying to help him rehab as much as he can since it’s quite literally my job (or at least it will be in 1.5 years!), and we want him to recover as much as possible.
MXP: Yes, we were all shocked and saddened to hear about your dad’s accident. It’s good to hear that he’s doing better. We know you’re busy with school but have you been able to get down south at all?
Yes, this semester has been keeping me busy for sure! I was just on spring break, so I had initially planned on going to Florida with the guys to train during that time. Still, unfortunately, we had a few logistics issues with going there at that time. My dad needed a lot of help at home after his big crash, so we decided to push everything back to a bit later to ensure my time there would be well spent and as useful as possible!
MXP: Okay, that makes sense. What are your upcoming plans for riding and training for the 2023 race season?
So, as of now, the plan is to go south for about ten days at the end of march for a good week of training. After that, I will finish my semester around mid-April, allowing me to invest 100% of my time and energy on motocross to prepare for the season! I don’t have much more of a plan other than that, but I can say that I will be fully ready to go for round 1 of the west coast.
MXP: Well, this isn’t your first rodeo, so we trust you when you say that you will be ready. It’s hard to believe that the Walton TransCan was seven months ago. What did you do after Walton and through the fall?
Seven months? Wow, that seems like forever ago… Well, I actually started my third year of university just a few days after Walton ended. I was then in class full-time until mid-October and since then, I’ve been doing a full-time internship with school at a local hospital in the psychiatric ward. I was there until Christmas and then went back to regular class after the holidays! Honestly, it was pretty quiet, but after the summer we had it was nice to just relax. Oh, I almost forgot. I also went to do a race in South Carolina in October against some of the WMX racers in the US for an event hosted by Vurb Moto. It was an awesome experience, and I surprised myself with how well I did! After a second position in moto one, moto two was a lot harder considering my lack of training. But I had a blast, and I am happy with the end result.
MXP: Do you enjoy your time away from riding, or do you miss it quickly?
Honestly, I kind of go through both stages! At first, I’ll be glad to get a break away from it. Racing and all that comes with it can be a lot mentally and physically draining, so when the season ends, I’m always glad to be able to rest a bit. Also, the fact that I always jump straight into school as soon as the season is finished helps with that since I take my mind off of it really quickly. However, when the holidays come around, and I see my friends going south to ride, I realize how much I miss it and how excited I am to return to it! Having a break from September-October to March-April has always worked well for me and my program and allows me to come into the season 100% rested and ready to fight!
MXP: Okay, let’s talk about last summer. It’s been a while since we’ve witnessed battles like that in the WMX class. In almost every moto, you and Jamie [Astudillo] were close for the entire. Our first question is, did you see this battle coming before the WMX East Series began?
It’s also been a while since I’ve done battles like this. Out of all the things I expected before Round 1 of the East Coast at Walton, this was definitely not one of them. I was just hanging out in our pits with my dad and Marco, and I saw Jamie walking down the paddock. That’s when I realized I was in for a tougher battle than expected. At first, it freaked me out a bit. Knowing Jamie fairly well from my past WMX experience in the USA and knowing what she had been up to the last few seasons, I definitely didn’t think I would be up to the challenge. I am glad to say that, in the end, I was able to win the title and achieve my goals again. It was a tough fight for sure in every moto!
MXP: Your battles with Jamie were most certainly entertaining to watch. Were they fun to be a part of?
I think the first weekend I wasn’t ready to say they were fun yet. I was super nervous and so far out of my comfort zone that I wasn’t enjoying it yet. Once I talked myself down and came into Round 2 knowing what to expect, I was able to ground myself a bit more and actually find some fun in what I was doing. Jamie and I joked all through the season that the level of challenge we were giving each other was actually kind of fun, but that the fact that we made it through almost all the season with only a six points difference was incredibly stressful. But that is was true competition is all about, and I’m glad I was able to be a part of those epic battles.
MXP: During that series which moto are you the proudest of?
Two motos particularly stood out to me. The first one would be the first moto of the season! As I mentioned, I was floored and didn’t think I had it in me. So, to come out and actually win it the first time around, I couldn’t believe it, and it gave me such a big confidence boost that it set the tone for the rest of the series in my head. The second most thrilling moto would be moto one at Riverglade! I had a bad start and kept making mistake after mistake, but I actually ended up being able to win, which was surprising because so far, it had been “whoever makes the least mistakes wins” since we were so close in speed. However, the second moto showed just how quickly things changed between Jamie and me because she won that one, and there was nothing I could’ve done more about it!
MXP: In the end, you came out on top. What do you think the difference was that allowed you to persevere?
Honestly, I don’t think there was really a difference. Jamie and I were basically the same speed all season long, and it mainly varied on the mistakes that were made and the starts we got! In the end, I was just able to stay a bit more consistent, but again, it was so close that it’s really hard to say! I also think I benefited greatly from my team and the knowledge they shared with me whenever I needed it. A support system like that makes all the difference in the world.
MXP: Well, congratulations again! That was quite a series to watch and a big win by you. It’s also very exciting that you and your GASGAS/CMS Team have partnered with Parts Canada for 2023. You’re going to look good in Thor MX Gear.
Oh yes! We are beyond excited. Throughout all my years of racing, I’ve never had the chance to try out their product, so I’m excited to get acquainted with it and start promoting the Parts Canada brand. I also think it’s quite crazy what this means for our team. Considering this was our first full year as a complete team, it’s unbelievable to see how far we’ve come, what we accomplished, and all the opportunities that opened up for us after such a short time. I’m definitely proud to be a part of the Thor GASGAS Race Team.
MXP: It’s been exciting from our perspective as well to see how far your team has come in such a short time This sport is extremely difficult and hard on the body. Can you take us through your training program?
As I mentioned, I always try to take it a little easier during the winter. I train a little bit, but more doing cardio. Starting in February/March, I start to make a big push towards building muscle for the season. I train really hard in the months coming up to the first round, and once the season is officially on the way, I try to “maintain” a bit more and keep my energy for racing weekends! My last year looked a bit different since I was doing a full-time internship up until after the west coast, so I definitely couldn’t ride as much as I needed. I had to compensate by training a lot more in the gym. Considering I will be done with school this year in April, I will spend a lot of time riding before the opening round.
MXP: Eve, you have been a great role model as well as an inspiration to other WMX riders. What advice do you have for younger girls just starting the sport?
Yes, that is a role I have taken over throughout my last few years of racing, although it is always a weird feeling for me because, in my head, I am just a regular girl. One piece of advice I always give is to believe in yourself and not give up. I know it’s hard to do because I still struggle with it sometimes, even after 11 seasons of racing at a national level, but it is the core of how I got here today. My dad taught me to always show up, believing that I can do whatever I want, even if that is winning. He also taught me that it’s okay to have bad days but that the only thing you can do about it is get up, get back on, and try again. Now, I try to teach this to the next generation!
MXP: That’s amazing Eve! When it comes to racing and competing at the level that you are, do you take racing year by year, or do you have a multi-year plan?
For a while, I was always doing multi-year deals. As we get closer to me finishing school and starting my “adult life” I think I am beginning to consider it more as a year-by-year plan. I know I still have contracts for 2023 and 2024, but after that, it is still undecided, and I will see once we get closer!
MXP: Looking ahead to the future and when your racing days are over, what do you see yourself doing? Basically, what do you see yourself doing in, say, ten years?
Honestly, my 10-year plan does not differ much from my 5-year plan. I have two years left for my degree, so I plan to stay invested in my racing career while doing that. Once I finish school, I know I’ll want to start my Occupational Therapy career fairly quickly and follow it up with a family not too long after that. My plans for my racing career will depend on how all of that goes. The only thing I know for sure is that I want to stay involved in racing one way or another! Marco and I both value a lot the place that motocross holds in our lives, and I don’t think we would ever be fully capable of letting that go.
MXP: We’ve spoken about this before, but I love that you and your family are still so close and that they’re so involved in your racing. What does it mean to you to have them still so involved?
I definitely think having my family with me has taken a whole lot more meaning now that I’ve become an adult, and I don’t “need” them there. It’s more of a choice. Joining the GasGas/CMS team last year also brought a whole new meaning to this family life because not only did I gain a new family, but we also found a way to all get involved as separate individuals with different responsibilities. My dad was the truck driver and my mechanic, my boyfriend Marco found his place as Mitchell [Harrison] mechanic (and mechanic of the year, might I add!), and my mom helped every weekend she was there with the food and the cooking. I am more than grateful to see that they are all still willing to sacrifice parts of their “normal” life so we can keep this passion going as a family. I am proud to have been able to turn this sport into somewhat of a job this summer and make this as cost-free as possible for all of us, to thank them and give back in a way.
MXP: Eve, thank you for doing this, and again, all the best to your dad! Before we go, do you have any parting words?
Thank you for this great opportunity, Chris! Before I say goodbye, I want to thank all of my 2022 and 2023 sponsors. From the ones we had to part ways with to those just joining our program, I thank all of you for allowing me to do what I do best. The same goes for Alex Parker, team owner of Thor GASGAS Team for taking a chance on a WMX rider and believing in me. Again, I’m eternally grateful for my family, but also for all of you out there who have been supporting me throughout my career. I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of you! See you this summer!
