Greetings! Welcome to the final Yamaha Motor Canada Monday Gate Drop Column of September. October arrives tomorrow and with it, is usually the final month of any decent riding weather in Canada. Here is Southern Ontario we’ve had pretty much a month of beautiful fall weather. The days have been sunny and we’ve seen very little rain where I live. It’s actually been too dry and we do need a little rain. However, I hate to say that, as Mother Nature usually evens everything out so, we most likely have a lot of rain on the horizon.
Last last week I travelled to Sand Del Lee for the 2025 Yamaha Media Ride Day, and as usual we all had a great time. On Thursday evening we all gathered at Montana’s for dinner, and then on Friday morning we met up again at the SDL track and spent the day test riding the new 2025 YZ’s. Kevin Tyler had his MX101 Yamaha Team there so, it was fun to ride with Sebastien Racine, Preston Kilroy, and Austin Jones. The SDL track was in excellent condition, and we all rode until we couldn’t ride any longer. The YZ models didn’t see many changes for 2025 as both the YZ250 and YZ450 are both new generation models. So, for next year, there have just been a few tweaks here and there. In my opinion, the YZ450 continues to be one of the best 450’s on the track, while a few mapping changes have increased the YZ250 lower end power. We had a great day riding, and it was also great to catch up with Kevin Tyler and his riders. It sounds as though Austin Jones has had enough and will not be racing in 2025. He will still be with the MX101 Yamaha Team is some capacity, just not as a rider. As for Racine and Kilroy, barring any big changes both riders will return in 2025. There is some talk of adding a third rider, but as of right now it’s just conjecture. It was also good to chat with Jonathon Bergeron, who was there for a few hours to hang out. The Bergeron Family were getting ready to fly to the UK that evening to begin their British Yamaha Super Finale adventure. This is definitely an experience of a lifetime and it’s good to see the Bergeron Family making the most of it by flying out a few days early to take in the sights and sounds of England, before things get more serious next week. Kevin Tyler is flying out tonight so spend some time with our young Yamaha riders (Talon Medaglia and Chandler Powell will be joining Bergeron tomorrow in the UK) and make sure they have everything they need heading into this weekend.
Speaking of the MXON, it sounds as though Team Canada is ready to go as everyone is beginning their journey to the UK tonight. Our three riders are flying out together from Montreal this evening and will spend Tuesday sight seeing in London, before making their way to their home away from home near the track. Like last year, Team Canada is made up of our top three riders, two of which won their respective championships this past summer, and the third rider is widely considered to have the best raw speed. This talented line up obviously doesn’t guarantee good results, but this year it just feels like the team is in a better position to finish well. First, leading up to their departure for the UK all three riders have spent some time riding together in recent weeks. This ‘team bonding’ can only help once the pressure begins to build this coming weekend. To know that your teammate has your back is an important element to success in any team competition. Second, we have a very experienced team heading over to England, and I don’t think this should be overlooked. All three riders have international experience, as well as success on the world stage. Other than lining up against the top riders from around the globe, nothing should faze our boys as they’ve been there and done that. Finally, all three should feel like they have something to prove this weekend, and that certainly will be a motivating factor when the gate drops. Jess Pettis is fresh off his first ever 450 Championship, and that should give him some great confidence in the MX1 class. Whenever you win a title at home, you want to test your speed against other champions, and this gives Pettis the stage to do so. As for Dylan Wright, he obviously didn’t have the summer he wanted in Canada, or the MXON he should have had last year. Both of these setbacks should have him locked in to possibly have the best ride of his career this weekend. Maybe even better than Red Bud two years ago! Finally, Kaven Benoit has to be itching for the gate to drop this weekend as back in 2016 he had the ride of his life at the MXON in Italy. I’m sure he’s looking to do the same this weekend, and with his speed and experience, he brings a lot to the table in the MX2 class. Of course, Team Canada’s (and the other teams as well), luck will hopefully begin on Friday when everyone’s gate picks will be determined through a random draw. With cool temperatures and rain expected on both days this weekend in the UK, a good gate pick is even more important for Saturday’s qualifying races. The forecast I saw this morning is calling for a high of 13c on Saturday with a 60% chance of rain. If that is accurate, it will certainly make for a cool and possibly wet day of racing! I am not heading over to the UK, but our trusty and talented photographer James Lissimore will be attending and will of course be posting his usual incredible photos this weekend! Let’s Go Team Canada!
The reason I’m not heading over the UK this week is that tomorrow I’m heading out to Washougal for the 2025 KX250 media launch. I’m beyond excited to head out to the West Coast to test ride this exciting new KX250 as Washougal in one track that I’ve never been to. As I mentioned, I fly out early tomorrow to Portland where I will meet up with the wonderful people from Kawasaki, as well as my media colleagues. We will spend the day riding the main track on Wednesday and Thursday before flying home on Friday. We will also get the opportunity to ride the all-new KX250X on the trails that surround the Washougal track. It’s going to be a fun couple of days and I’m anxious to ride this new generation KX250. There hasn’t been too much information released on this new bike, but I do know that, like the 2024 KX450, the 2025 KX250 has received a new chassis, as well as some engine upgrades. Stay tuned for my impressions as they will be out at the beginning of next week.
In other news, Tanner Ward debuted his new Priority MX KTM yesterday at Auburn Hills Raceway, and took home the win in the Pro Class. This deal has been talked about since the Walton TransCan back in August so it was really just a matter of when Tanner and the Priority MX Team would announce it to everyone. This deal is for the 2025 Triple Crown Series, as well as some 2025 AMO Racing events in Ontario, and also includes an apprentice type program for Tanner to get started in a trade for his post racing life. It’s a great deal for Tanner and his expanding family (he’s going to be dad in February), and he’s back on the brand that gave him a lot of success when he first turned pro. Unfortunately, this means that the WLTN Kawasaki Team is now searching for a new 450 rider for 2025. I asked Brett Lee about Tanner’s departure and he had this to say, “We have nothing but gratitude for the two years this guy spent at the helm of WLTN Kawasaki. Tanner is the guy you want in your corner at all times, and you’ll always find us in his. He’s a steady supporter, ambassador to the sport and someone we’re incredibly proud to call a friend. WLTN Kawasaki might not be home anymore, but Walton always will be. Cheers TW84.” So here is a question for everyone. If you were Brett Lee, who would you go and try to get to fill Tanner’s spot in the 450 class? Finally, in other WLTN Kawasaki Team news, Caden Lee, who served as Tanner’s mechanic this summer, just got a cool winter job in California as mechanic for the MCR Smartop Honda Team. Caden flew to California yesterday and got picked up at LAX by Tony Alessi. He will begin his tenure with the team by serving as Noah Viney and Cullin Park’s practice mechanic as both riders prepare for the upcoming WSX Championships. Congratulations to Caden on his exciting new job in the USA.
Well, that is it for me this week. I hope everyone has a great opening week to October. Also, good luck to Team Canada this weekend at the MXON, as well as our young Yamaha riders who are competing for the first time at the Blu Cru Super Finale event. Thank you for reading and if you have any questions or comments, please email me at editor@mxpmag.com.
