Greetings! Welcome to this Labour Day Weekend edition of the Monday Gate Drop Column. This week, like every week this column is sponsored by the awesome people at Yamaha Motor Canada. The Blu Cru, is getting ready for a busy September with upcoming events like the Corduroy Enduro, and multiple Yamaha Appreciation Ride Days. Also, MX101 Yamaha Team riders Jess Pettis and Sebastien Racine are getting ready to begin their preparation for the 2025 Monster Energy MXON, which takes place at Ironman Raceway on October 4-5. After a few weeks off to recover from the Triple Crown Series, it’s time to get back to work for Pettis, Racine, as well as the third member of Team Canada, Tanner Ward.
Well, I hope everyone is having a great long weekend. Unfortunately, the AMO Racing event that was scheduled to take place this weekend at Sand Del Lee was cancelled due to a low water supply in the near by ponds at the track. These are what the SLD track crew use to water the track, So understandably you cannot head into a busy race weekend with no water. I’m sure a lot of people were excited to get back racing this weekend before the kids head back to school. I did hear that Walton Raceway offered to open their gates if AMO simply wanted to change venues this weekend, but for whatever reason it did not happen. So, riders in Ontario (if they wanted to race) could either head to Baja Acres for the Baja Brawl, or to the Area 51 track in NY State for the Can-Am event. Or, you could do what my family and I did this weekend, stay home and ride our home track.
As we kick off September there are a couple of big events this coming weekend. South of the border is the opening round of the 2025 SMX Playoffs at zMAX Dragway in Concord, NC. This three race SMX Playoff Series is going to be exciting as all of the top riders are now healthy and ready to return to racing. Jett Lawrence will have to not only deal with his brother Hunter, Justin Cooper, and Eli Tomac, but also Chase Sexton and Cooper Webb. I attended the opening round at zMAX Dragway last year, and it was one of the best events of the year. These SMX Playoff events are the perfect mix of MX and SX, and overall, they’re extremely fan friendly. I found the racing to be very entertaining last year in Charlotte, and I also found the vibe to be somewhat relaxed. I conducted an interview last weekend with Feld Motorsports Director of Public Relations Sean Brennen, and he spoke about how well received these SMX Playoffs rounds have been. Also, Sean spoke about the importance of extending the SMX season, and how it’s been vital to keep our sport in the public eye longer. It was a really interesting interview and you can read it all right here: Fox Racing Canada Presents MXP Chatter With Sean Brennen – Motocross Performance Magazine
Also, for a 10% discount on SMX Playoff Tickets, please click this link: https://www.gofevo.com/group/SMXWorldChamps2025-MXPMag
This coming weekend also marks the return of Cole Thompson to the race track, as he will be in Charlotte aboard his Bud Racing Kawasaki. Cole has been training down in South Carolina, and even went over to France for a week to test his WSX Championship race bike. I spoke to Cole last week and he told me how much he’s enjoyed riding his new KX250. Judging by Cole’s posts on Social Media, he looks great on green, and I cannot wait to see how he finishes this weekend at the opening round of the SMX Playoffs. I would think that we’re going to see him qualify for the main event in the 250 class. Cole’s main goal right now is preparing for the upcoming WSX Championships which kicks off in Kuala Lumpur on October 18th.
This coming weekend will also see the Future West Moto Series resume at the scenic 100 Mile House track. In talking with Ryan Lockhart last week, he mentioned how happy he’s been with the rider turnout in 2025, and with three races remaining in the FW Series, he’s hoping for a solid conclusion to the season in BC. Newf also confirmed that Dylan Wright suffered a fracture to his T4 Vertebrae last weekend in Budds Creek, and that Dylan will be off of the bike for at least a few months. After dominating the Triple Crown Series 450 class for multiple years, the past two seasons have certainly been challenging to say the least. Crashes, injuries, DNF’s, as well as a fast and motivated Jess Pettis, have made championships, and even race wins hard to come by for Dylan. Heading into the off-season it will be interesting to see what Dylan does to change up his 2026 season preparation? Does he go down south for a few weeks here and there before the new year to test and remain in good riding shape? Does he find a way to race more between now and the opening round of the 2026 Triple Crown Series? Whatever Dylan does, I think we all can agree that he has to do something different during the off-season, as you just can’t keep doing to same thing and hope for different results. Dylan is too talented, and works too hard to keep having the results he’s been having for the past two seasons. Finally, this coming weekend at the home of Dylan’s GDR Honda Team Frank Schuster is hosting his annual Vet Race which takes place on Saturday on Gopher Dunes’ back track. It all kicks off on Friday night with an unbelievable steak dinner and get together at Frank’s shop. Tickets to Friday nights event are still available for $50, and can be purchased by either calling the Gopher Dunes Pro Shop, or visiting this link: Vet & Vintage Steak Dinner 2025 — Gopher dunes
Well, that is it for me this week. I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday Monday on this unofficial end of summer weekend. For this week, my pick for Rider of the Week goes to my fellow +50 Class rider Bill Van Vugt. As he always is, Bill, who I believe is 81 this year, was on the starting line with me and a rather large +50 class a few weeks back at the Walton TransCan. It was an honour to be racing with Bill and it makes me so happy that he’s not only able to still ride, but race too. Good job Bill, and hopefully we get to do it again in 2026. Thank you for reading, and if you have any questions or comments, please email me at editor@mxpmag.com.
