MXP: Hey Newf! Well, those two west rounds went by quickly. Let’s first talk about how the Cold Lake National was. It was a first time event and in the past that hasn’t always worked out well. However, this time the track looked good for Round 2. What were your thoughts on the weekend at Mason Watt Raceway?
RL: Yes it was a good weekend. I really liked the location with it being so close to town. Hotels, grocery stores etc were all within 5min to the track. The facility itself was great with good parking and you could stand in one spot and spectate the whole track. The track was decent but typical Alberta dirt which is hard to maintain but overall they did a good job for there first time. It did race ok and was pretty one lined compared to some of our other tracks but that’s part of racing. In the middle of nowhere but I could see us going back.
MXP: Last year, Dylan Wright left round two down 27 points to the eventual 450 Champion Jess Pettis. This year, the bad news is that he’s down 28 points heading into round three, but the good news is he will be a lot healthier this time around when the gate drops in Quebec in a few weeks. Your thoughts on Dylan’s injury last week, as well as his DNF on Sunday?
RL: Yes, I didn’t have this on my bingo card after two rounds. Unfortunately, the crash during the week set him back but, in true Dylan fashion he dug deep and was able to push through and was on-track to come out of the weekend looking pretty good. The DNF in moto two when he was challenging for the lead was maybe the lowest point of my time spent with GDR and it was just a fluke thing that happened. If there was a way to turn back time, trust me I would do it but, now that the dust has settled, it is what it is and we just need to regroup for the East. Dylan is going to be 100% come Ste-Julie in a few weeks and we all have our heads down to close in on points every moto. There is not a whole lot to loose at this point and we just have to win!!
MXP: Final question this week Newf. After finishing second in the opening three motos of the 2025 Triple Crown Series 250 Pro/Am class, Ryder McNabb finally put it all together in the final moto on Sunday and led wire-to-wire to take his first win of the season. What was Ryder’s mindset heading into that final race this weekend?
RL: The charge he put on with 5 laps in Moto one is what made him believe he can do this and reminded him that he is the best guy on the gate. He was focused in-between moto’s and was ready to go. Even if Kilroy didn’t tip over that was going to be Ryders Moto. We all have to remember that Calgary was the first gate drop he did dating all the way back to June 2024, so almost a full year of no racing. I’m excited to see what he does come East.
