round 20
Big week at Spec! We’ve officially launched our first group of 2025 sponsors, and we couldn’t be more excited to shout their names from the rooftops. Securing these incredible brands in our first year is a huge achievement—it’s what makes everything we want to do possible!
As the weather warms up, surprisingly more and more Canadian riders are heading south. As we mentioned in Fun Fact Friday, over 12 WMX riders are training in Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas this off-season. While the 2025 WMX schedule has yet to be released and no WMX Semi team partnerships have been dropped, the grind hasn’t stopped. With 11x champion Eve Brodeur retired, the next WMX champ is in the making!
Supercross heads to Seattle this weekend which is Western Canadas closest race which usually brings out some Canadians. We know International Triumph Riders Julien Benek and Blake Davies will be on the line, and Yamaha Canadas Tyler Gibbs will also line up for his first SX of the season after spending some time in California training on the 250. We will also see Preston Masciangelo, and top 2025 Canadian Cole Thompson.
We asked Tyler how he’s feeling going into Seattle:
“Got to ride a lot last week felt like I made some big strides on the bike on the track with cleaning up a couple things. I definitely missed SX learning all the stuff on the track is fun to me getting a whole SX track down is one of the coolest things on a dirt bike. Just happy to be here.”
Tyler Gibbs 2024 AMO Chilliwack Champion
Photo: Tree Three Media
The Bikes, Berms, and Brews podcast with Danika White and I—now dropping every two weeks, with a video version on YouTube! While we focus on WMX, we cover all things Moto, with women in the sport as our main audience. It’s not for everyone, but for those looking for more voices in the space, we’re excited to create something we’d want to listen to!
Wyatt Kerr is set to join the Priority GasGas team in Thor Gear for 2025. After finishing 5th in the 250 class last season and narrowly missing the podium multiple times, we can expect a breakout year if he keeps up the momentum.
We asked Wyatt how training down south is going and how he is liking the new GasGas 250
“It’s been going so good down here! Been loving the program with torqfit and Zacho. I’ve been primarily riding with Tanner ward just bouncing from track to track down here In central Florida.
Zachos been out a bunch to the track a bunch and we’ve had a really good group of sx/mx guys to cycle with. I’ve really been enjoying the new brand and loving the setup, we got some time in with Colton a few weeks ago and have been constantly moving in the right direction.”
Wyatt at Deschambault 2024 (2025 GasGas Thor Gear)
Photo: Tree Three Media
Rumors swirled about GDR Honda adding a WMX rider for 2025, but team owner Derek Schuster confirmed although they did try, it didn’t come together. Meanwhile, under 2024 MRC rules, Ryder McNabb wouldn’t be eligible for the 250 class in 2025 yet the team announced that’s where he’ll race. With MRC yet to release the 2025 rulebook or confirm a rule change, it seems that GDR did get an answer.
Derek filled us in:
“We did send out a couple of offers but nothing transpired from it for 2025. We will certainly start on it earlier to make it happen for 2026. In the meantime we are looking at some options on possibly supporting some Honda wmx racers on a per weekend basis.
Yes the rule has been officially changed and McNabb is racing 250.”
GDR Team Tent 2024
Photo: Tree Three Media
The newly added WMX Vet class for Walton TransCan 2025 is gaining traction on social media.
Top WMX riders are hinting at signing up, but one of the biggest names already confirmed is Jolene Van Vugt. A Canadian moto legend, Jolene is one of the most recognizable figures in the sport. She played a huge role in Nitro Circus alongside Travis Pastrana, with unforgettable moments like their iconic Grand Canyon jump.
Jolene was clearly raised to be a badass her father, Billy, still races at Walton every year, finishing 20th in the Vet 50+ class last season. If I’m not mistaken, he’s turning 80 this year!
I could go on for days about Jolene Van Vugt’s accomplishments, but we’ll save that for a full feature if she’s down this summer! The real takeaway? She’s signed up and calling people out to follow her lead.
Top Canadian WMX legends like Heidi Cooke will be at the race with son Talon as he is now one of Canadas up and coming stars. Other big WMX moms that are expected to be at Transcan with kids racing? Jocelyn Facciotti and Jackie Seitz which leads us to assume they will be on the gate?!
Jess Foster has hinted at making the trip east, while Amber Giroux teased running an off-road bike.
The buzz around this is building fast, this could lead to some incredible motos and the exciting return of Canadian WMX heroes to the track.
Cant express how much fun this add to Walton Transcans for the WMX crowd!
Thats it for this week, stay tuned for Seattle SX updates this weekend and keep hope alive for a dry one!