Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
Who is up for grabs?
Canadian motocross is in a unique position where a lot of talent is looking for homes in 2023. If you are a team manager there is a lot to look at when building the 2023 team.
Here is a quick look at where the top 10 from the 2022 250 National series riders are or may go in 2023. We added a small sprinkle of young riders just entering the conversation for National support to give a full “look at the land”.
Jetwerx Triple Crown National 250 Class
Number One Ryder McNabb – McNabb earned his first championship and became the youngest to do so at 16 in 2022. Many (including the McNabb’s and GDR) thought there was a US deal coming from Phoenix Honda for 2023, but that deal fell through in the final hours. There is nothing in stone for the public to view, but indicators are that McNabb will be joining KTM Canada to defend his title on a one year deal. There is a push by McNabb (McNabb is represented by Jett Lawrence’s agent Lucas Mirtl) to race Supercross Futures and some US Nationals in 2023 so it will be interesting to see if that is included.
Number Two Mitchell Harrison – Mitchell Harrison was a new addition to the series, and it didn’t come without some controversy. Without going too deep, there is/was a rule that restricted riders from competing in the 250 class. Now depending on who you ask the rule was followed or abandoned but Harrison was allowed to race. And you know what? It was good. He added value to the class, he didn’t walk away each week and was a genuinely good person to have at the races. For all those reasons the Cobequid GasGas team gave Harrison a two year contract extension to race in Canada for 2023 and 2024.
Number Three Sebastien Racine – Racine, in his first full season as a Pro really rode well and came within ONE corner (insert the sad face of his mother) of winning his first National moto. It appeared the 16 year old would be orange for many years to come, as he had been on the KTM throughout his entire amateur career but NO. He is headed to MX101 Yamaha in 2023. This will be a good fit. Kevin Tyler runs a strong program and makes sure his riders are given the very best he has to offer. Racine is a gamer and will receive much attention under the MX101 tent. Could be good.
Number Four Jeremy Mckie – The two time Fox Instinct Bronze Boot winner started 2022 on his own program aboard KTM’s. As the series turned east, he began to knock on the podium door. KTM picked him up to replace the injured Jake Piccolo for the final 2 rounds and he took another step up in results including second overall at the final round. McKie is a big kid which hurts him on the 250, but he is very confident in his abilities which is a good quality for an 18 year old racer to have. There are no offers to him yet and McNabb may have eaten the budget at KTM for 2023, leaving Mckie out. He has said he will ride 250 or 450 this season, actually leaning toward the 450. He may be a sleeper pickup for 2023.
Number Five Quinn Amyotte – Amyotte improved in 2022 and landed on the podium for the first time in his career. It felt like Quinn could have busted a podium out at any of the east rounds but he never got himself in position to make it easy on himself. In 2023 he will be one of MANY who have the speed to hit the box but has a nod in class experience. Where does he land for support? He is still linked to Manluk Yamaha, but it isn’t firm for 2023…yet. Amyotte isn’t afraid to move to the 450 class but feels he has unsettled business in the 250 class.
Number Six Jake Piccolo – Piccolo did not have the season that either he or KTM Canada hoped he would have. He showed the speed was there, but a lot of questions circled about his focus. It was obvious before the final round that the relationship with KTM was in trouble. It appears that GDR Honda Fox racing will pick up Piccolo. GDR demands riders spend a lot of time at the Gopher Dunes facility, and this may be the attention Piccolo needs to get his form back to 2021 levels. He has speed, and GDR will demand the work.
Number Seven Josiah Natzke – Most will agree that Josiah was the surprise rider of 2022 in Canada. Mostly because he was completely unknown. Natzke, who is from New Zealand, brought some international flair to the series and it was clear that he understood what the opportunity was he had here. He was workman-like. His 250 results (winning WaltonONE and Gopher Dunes in the first two races) were impressive but what made everyone raise an eyebrow was his speed at the final round on a 450 (and the year’s most insane crash). He is said to be back with PRMX for AMA 250 Supercross and 450 Canadian Nationals in 2023.
Number Eight Wyatt Kerr – The first year pro did what rookie pro riders need to do and that is to be consistent. He constantly logged 7-9 week in and week out. He didn’t fade or do anything crazy, and that may not get you a lot of attention but it set him up for 2023. In 2023 he will roll with the guidance of another workhorse, Liam O’farrell on the privateer back team Priority Mechanical KTM. Don’t sleep on this team, good technical support, funding and good race minds make them a perfect landing spot for Kerr to keep moving forward.
Number Nine Marco Cannella – What do you say? When a rider is as fit as Marco and fast, but struggles in the moment it is usually confidence in themselves that holds them back. Cannella just never looked confident in 2022, and when a nagging injury popped up he ghosted. It is unlikely he will be back with MX101, certainly not on a 250. He has reached out to some teams for 2023 – but the market is soft for him right now. Only Marco knows what his plans are for 2023. He could show up on his own 450 program at round one, podium and nobody would be any more surprised than if we never see him race again.
Number 10 Tyler Gibbs – Gibbs showed up at round one and gave zero F**KS about what other racers thought. He was there to be a boss. And nobody was tougher to get around than him in Kamloops. That is a hard line to maintain all season and he was never that spicy again (until Sarnia arenacross) in the series. He ended up getting hurt in Riverglade but was in the battle with Amyotte, and McKie for a top 5 series overall till then. The GasGas TLD SSR bikes were good and while smaller, a solid team for a rider like Gibbs. Assuming the team is back for 2023, it seems like a good home for Gibbs who with some luck and consistency, will be battling for a series podium in 2023.
Interesting ones:
TJ Scott – Perhaps the most highly touted amateur in many years, 16 year old TJ Scott put in some solid top 10 rides in Pro racing this season as an Intermediate. He is young and seems to have lots of upside. He is also a “racer” and mentioned to many he wants to try Supercross Futures and get his AMA Pro license in 2023. How fast he can develop Pro level training and preparedness will dictate much of 2023. He is fully on the market and looking for someone to take a shot on him.
Dylan Rempel – The other highly touted Intermediate rider in 2022 was Dylan Rempel. He just turned 15 and was on Supermini last year making him one of the youngest on the line in 2023. Asked anyone he has the talent to run close to, if not on the podium in 2023. The kid has speed. Here is the but: he rarely looked as fresh in moto 2 as in moto 1. He holds a coveted spot on the Kawasaki team with guys nipping at his heels for a team spot, but he seems fine with the added pressure. Like so many young racers just hitting the start of their Pro careers, what he does in the gym and fitness he creates in the next few months will determine as much as anything for 2023.
Preston Masciangelo – Masciangelo is a name that gets forgotten often. Mostly because he spent a lot of time in the US racing and hasn’t been around as much as others, he also has gotten injured at inopportune times in his amateur career. At 16 years old, he is young and part of the elite group of teens in Canadian motocross. He has discussed with PRMX Kawasaki to ride AMA 250 East Supercross/Nationals, along with Canadian Nationals in 2023.
Julien Benek – 2022 served up some lickings to the BC kid. A crash at Daytona Supercross left him with a broken tib and coming into the 2022 season behind on his program. Another crash at Gopher Dunes left him with a broken collar bone in July just as he was getting back up to speed. He took another hard hit in arenacross recently. If he can get good guidance, stay healthy, and build some base he can land on the podium in 2023. As the saying goes — if “ifs and buts were candy and nuts….”. He looks to be headed back to PRMX in 2023 to do AMA 250 West Supercross and then 250 Canadian Nationals.
