MXP: Hey Newf! This weekend in Medicine Hat, the Triple Crown Series resumes. It doesn’t sound like Cole Thompson is going to Round 2, which is disappointing. We’re back to a real AX in Medicine Hat, as the venue is normally a hockey arena. Will this be another uncontested win for Mitchell Harrison, or will someone new step up?
RL: With the race returning to the traditional style hockey arena, I think we see some new winners. There is no question that Mitchell Harrison will be good, but the racing will be a lot closer and super start-dependent. This style of racing will suit guys like Jake Piccolo and Julian Benek. I know that both of these guys have been working hard since Gopher SX and really want to come out swinging. Harrison has made a team switch for the 2024 SX Series to the PRMX Team, so he has been testing the Kawasaki. It will be interesting to see how he is when jumping back on the GASGAS. Either way, I think Medicine Hat will produce some good close racing, which we will all love to see.
MXP: We’re into the off-season in the USA, and in recent days, we’ve seen the announcements that Jo Shimoda has signed with HRC Honda and Chase Sexton has left HRC to sign with Red Bull KTM. Do you like these changes for both riders?
RL: Both riders needed a change, in my opinion. Chase has had his struggles with the Honda, but at the same time, he has been so good. I really think he wants to get away from the Lawrence Brothers and be on a team where he gets 100% of the attention. It’s really hard to say if the KTM is the right move for Chase as we have seen guys struggle with the new KTM, but I would have to think Chase and the people around him have done their homework, and they feel this is the best move. The same goes for Jo. He’s going to a team that is a proven winner and will have a lot more focus on him. One thing to watch for is how Jo will handle the added pressure of being part of the HRC Team. This is going to be a crazy amount of pressure, whether he likes it or not, so it will be interesting to see how he reacts.
MXP: Tonight, there is a get-together at Gopher Dunes that will be attended by legendary Canadian riders like Ross Pederson, Doug Hoover, and Blair Morgan (just to name a few). When you think of the history of our sport in Canada, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
RL: I think about how gnarly these guys were and how different things were back then. What I admire about the sport’s legends in Canada is these guys raced. They raced different-sized bikes on the same weekend and would travel in the off-season to race. Look at guys like Ross. His career was successful all around the globe, and he’s famous not only in Canada but all around the world. We don’t see this anymore from our current riders. Times have changed, there is no question, and things are more difficult to execute these days, but that is what I loved about the old guys. If there was an off weekend, they were racing a local race, a US National, or whatever race to better themselves and make money.
