This past season has been quite a successful one for Jess Pettis. After battling through injuries, and then coming close to winning the 450 class Triple Crown Series Championship on a few occasions, Jess finally was able to achieve this lifelong goal this past summer, by winning the 2024 450 Championship. However, during his career Jess has always been a rider, and a person who is always looking for a new challenge. So, with that in mind, after winning the 450 class Championship it has been announced that Jess has signed with the MX101 FXR Racing Yamaha Team for 2025 and 2026. This is obviously big news for both parties, and we caught up with Jess right after his first day, of being the newest member of the bLU cRU.
MXP: Good Morning Jess! We’re both up early this morning so we could call this interview “Coffee Time with Jess and Palms” (laughs).
JP: Yes, I don’t know about you but, we’re always up early around here. Whether it’s to go training, or get the kid off to school, we have to get moving early.
Well, whether it’s 7:30 in the morning, or 7:30 at night, it’s always good to catch up with you. Also, when you have a new bike to ride and are part of a new team, it’s probably a little easier to get up and start a new day?
For sure, there’s a little more excitement in the air when you sign with a new team. It’s been a while since I’ve been in this position as I was with KTM for a long time. But, we’re back with the team where I won my first title, so I’m really happy right now.
First off, congratulations! This is such a big deal for not only yourself, but for Kevin Tyler and the MX101 crew, and also for the fine people at Yamaha Motor Canada. It’s been a while since they made this big of a splash in motocross.
Thank you! As I said, I’m beyond excited to turn the page and start this new chapter. I’m headed to a team that I know fairly well from being with them before, but this time I’ll be racing in the 450 class. Also, it’s kind of a full circle moment as when I left MX101 to go to KTM, I took the #1 plate with me, and now I’m bringing one back to them.
Yes, your shiny blue YZ450 is going to look great with the big #1 on it next summer. So, you had an amazing summer and won the 450 Triple Crown Series title. Like most people, I thought that you would just resign with KTM Canada and your off-season would be much like it was last year. But, that is not the case. Obviously, you can’t say too much, but can you take us through some of the process that led you to leaving KTM and going to the MX101 Team?
It’s hard to put into words, or even say that it was just one thing. I’m not going to lie, there were some issues that kind of grew over time and were really bothering me. We had made some big improvements this summer with the bike, but there were still some things that I felt were holding me back from being even better on the track. At the MXON last month I felt really uncomfortable as the track got rougher and more challenging. The tracks in Canada are super tough, don’t get me wrong. However, the track at the MXON was next level tough, and I struggled. So, there was that part that was concerning me heading into next year. Also, I wanted to do some other races like the WSX Championships, but those weren’t an option. I get it from a team perspective that extra races carry some risk also, and you don’t want your rider getting injured. But, I feel like I’m in my prime right now and I want to do some more racing outside of Canada. Anyway, as I said, it wasn’t just one thing, it was a few things on both sides and sometimes even the best relationships eventually come to an end.
So, you could’ve continued on with KTM if no other offers presented themselves?
Oh for sure! We won a title this summer and we both would’ve done everything we could to do it again next year. I didn’t know there were other options out there, but then this one presented itself and the more we talked the better feeling I got from Kevin and Yamaha. You know, as a rider and athlete you want to feel wanted and appreciated. I’m not saying that I didn’t get that feeling from my previous team, it’s just that the feeling I got from Yamaha and the MX101 Team was on a whole new level. As I said, the more we spoke, the more it felt like this was a great move to make at this point in my career.
We’ve seen it in other sports, and even last year with Chase Sexton in the USA. Even the best relationships have a shelf life before parties need to hit the reset button. You mentioned that this was a great move for you to make right now. Take away the fact that you’re switching teams and all that goes with that change, I feel like this is a good lesson for all riders out there. If you want to best the best, and continue to be the best, you have to make tough choices, you have to search out new challenges, and at the end of the day, you have to be selfish.
Exactly! I left a great program with some really good people to get out of my comfort zone and take on a new challenge. Yes, I won the 450 championship this summer and I’m super proud of that accomplishment, but that is in the past now and I have to focus on being even better next year. It’s a new year next year and I have to have new goals.
It’s great that you recognized that part of being a champion while you can still do something about it. What I mean is that now you’ve transition from being the hunter to be the hunted. All winter your competition is going to be training with the goal of trying to take the #1 plate away from you. The same way you’ve been motivated by trying to beat Dylan [Wright] and take the #1 plate from him. Now, you have to adjust and make improvements, and it sounds like this new adventure is a big part of that process?
That is pretty much what I’ve been thinking. A few weeks ago I wrote some things down about what I need to do to be better next year. As I said, I thought there was still some improvements needed on the bike side of things, but also I wanted my training to be better, my preparation, my mental state, these are all things I want to work on for 2025. I don’t know, this is just a fresh start and it has me so excited for next year.
I don’t think anyone can fault you for simply wanting a change and wanting to take on new challenges. It’s a gutsy move for sure, but so was Tom Brady leaving the Partriots for Tampa Bay a few years ago, and that turned into yet another Superbowl win for TB12. You mentioned that you did a photo shoot this week with the MX101 crew. How is the bike and what are the plans now, in the coming weeks and months?
The bike is amazing and even though I’ve only been on it for a couple of days, I feel very comfortable. As far as my future plans, we’ve been getting lucky here in Quebec with the weather. The local tracks are incredible right now, so I’m just going to keep riding as long as I can until it gets cold. Other than that, I have some house projects that need done, obviously there is a lot of gym training in my future, and I might even head south at Christmas and ride for a few days. We’ll see what happens, but right now I’m like a kid with a new toy and I just want to ride (laughs).
Well, congratulations on becoming the newest member of the bLU cRU. As you said earlier, you won your first title as a member of the MX101 FXR Racing Yamaha Team, and now you’re headed back to where it all started. Have a great day and thank you for sharing your early morning coffee with me to chat.
No problem Palms! I just want to thank the KTM Group for six awesome seasons, they certainly stuck by through some challenging times. But, yes, it’s great to be back with the MX101 Team and hopefully we can win some championships.
