- Newf is busy this week with the Rimbey AX so we called up Brett Lee to answer this week’s 3 Q’s.
MXP: Hey Brett, we hope everything is going well. Newf is busy this week with the Rimbey AX, so you’re getting the call. This is the time of the year when many of our top riders begin to make their way down south to ride. As a team owner, is the time of the year logistically challenging to organize bikes and parts so that your riders can head south to start riding?
BL: Our Team situation in 2025 is a little different as the riders we are working with in 2025 are currently racing under other contracts. But, the big thing is balancing when guys go, how they prepare and so they don’t find themselves getting burnt out or peaking too soon. Riders are contracted to race Nationals, and that doesn’t start until June. On my calendar that is still four-plus months away.
It is different for teams and riders. If you are coming off an injury, you riders may want to wait, heal up strong, and then push hard through March, April, and May. If they are riding other series you may not even hear from them until May, but if they have been inactive since the fall they’re keen to get south now. For us, it is organizing, sponsorships, and planning. The better you plan, the more organized you are the better your program is.
MXP: We watched some great racing in Glendale last weekend. The Triple Crown races have become some of the best rounds of the year with three main event format. Unfortunately, Jett Lawrence had an incident that damaged his knee badly. This is the second year in a row that Jett will miss a significant amount of time with injuries. A knee injury like this isn’t good for anyone, but for Jett, do you think another shortened season will hurt him long-term?
BL: No, I think it hurts financially for sure. It is not a small number when you add up bonuses and endorsements that come from holding a number one SX plate. There is a machine behind Jett Lawrence that needs money, from the riding facility, trainers, health, lawyers, coaches etc that cost money. So for sure that all hurt him.
As a star of our sport, I think this does hurt his legacy goals of reaching the benchmarks set by some of the great riders in history. McGrath, RC, and even Eli have won a lot. It really shows how hard it is to string seasons together and avoid injury. He didn’t crash, he simply dabbed his foot and now is out for at least the entire SX Series. To challenge the all-time numbers of the greats you have to be at all the races, firing at your best and winning.
But, will he win again? Of course, he will. In the end, this will hopefully be a small blip, and I would bet that he will win many more races and championships. If he’s able to make the opening round of the Nationals this year, he may pick up right up right where left off. He is young and extremely talented.
MXP: This week the KTM Canada Red Bull Race Team announced that Dylan Rempel has signed on to be their 250 rider for 2025. Dylan is a hard worker and has been steadily improving over the past two seasons. Do you like this signing, and does this signal that KTM Canada has once again made a full commitment to racing in 2025?
BL: I do think it is a good signing for both. I’ve gotten to know Dylan personally over the past few seasons and he is a great kid and everyone forgets how young he is. It is a good signing, and to be honest we would have welcomed him to our team. GDR Honda also wanted him. Everyone saw last summer that he was coming into his own.
KTM has a good program, despite what is happening. Matt [Deroy] knows how to run a solid program, JSR is a champion, and it’s a good spot for a young rider who has the potential to win races. If Dylan locks in on what needs to be done and listens to his team, he could have a great year.
