round 22
Its here, regional racing starts across the country this weekend!
AMO Racing kicks of their season at Gopher Dunes with King of Ontario having the biggest pay out series in the country. Forking out $30,000 over the 6 round series.
Future West also kicks of their season at Kelowna in BC.
Riders are heading back from south to get racing underway here in the North.
Big Changes This Week!
The AVL team out of New Brunswick has started announcing some of their associated brands, including the news that they’ll be running Canada-based OGs gear.
This marks the end of the long-standing partnership between Sam Gaynor and TLD, coinciding with his switch from GasGas to Husqvarna. It's shaping up to be a big year for Sam.
While his race class hasn’t been officially announced, AVL dropped a graphics teaser featuring a red #1 plate, hinting he might line up for Pre-Mix. That said, don’t rule out the possibility of Gaynor running double classes.
We asked Sam how he’s feeling about the changes:
“It’s going good!
Planning to get on the bike Saturday. I’ve had to balance trying to let my wrist heal and when to start riding. My wrist is 35% healed so we will give it a go!
Super excited to be in OG gear with the AVL Husqvarna racing team! I was very thankful to be a part of Troy Lee Designs for the past 5 years! They were amazing to work with and I am so thankful for everything they did for me!
I plan to race the 450 class! The team was great to work with last year and with the addition of Daniel Elmore I’m sure we are in for a great season!”
It’s that tricky time of year, silly season was wild, and with no new bike or gear photos yet. Sam 2024 Sand Del Lee.
Photo: Tree Three Media
Quinn’s Vlogs Are Back in Full Effect:
One thing Quinn nails, and something many Canadian riders overlook, is building a personal brand. While producing a vlog isn’t easy, his consistent effort sets him apart. That extra hustle is likely a key reason so many brands have lined up to support his solo program this season.
Quinn aboard his KTM, decked out head-to-toe in Fox gear, might be the ideal solo setup, and it could lead to the best results of his career.
While being part of a team can ease the load, it can also come with baggage that affects performance. Not saying that’s been the case for Quinn, but some riders thrive when they’re fully on their own program, and this could be one of those seasons.
Quinn spends his winters down at Dreamland and we asked him how its going so far:
“Has been a successful boot camp with Kody Renzland here at Dreamland MX! Im feeling comfy on the KTMs and looking even better with the new FOX kits!
Ready to head home this week and start racing at AMO! The crew over at Guaranteed Comfort Racing have stepped up to support me through the Triple Crown Series so Im really thankful for that opportunity and excited to see where we stack up in the 450 class!”
GDR Honda Fox Racing Sets the Tone for 2025
The GDR Honda Fox Racing team is already standing out in 2025 with a strong preseason social presence. From fun rider insights, like favorite hockey team and go-to foods, to something rarely seen in the sport: full transparency around rider salaries.
They’re setting a new standard for openness, and fans are here for it.
One standout detail from the GDR post: riders can earn more through bonuses than their base salaries.
That got us thinking, during Dylan’s perfect season, he likely cashed in big. It adds serious weight to what he told us a couple years back in a press conference when asked why he stays in Canada: “for the money.”
This really drives the point home, if you're delivering results in Canada, there’s real money on the table. It’s proof that a rider can build a solid life in the sport without leaving the country.
While no other teams have shared similar info, we asked a few team managers for their thoughts, and whether they’d consider doing the same.
Kevin Tyler from MX101 said:
“Nah we won’t be releasing”
Mel Hodgson from WLTN Kawisaki said:
“I think it’s interesting that they shared them, but we do not have plans to follow suit.
Our riders and staff and independent contractors and if they want to share their salaries they have the right to do so. But it’s not my business to share someone else’s personal details.
I don’t even know what my best friends make annually, why should I have the expectation to know a professional rider’s salary?”
Now at ClubMX, Daniel Blair recently shared a video featuring our 2024 Canadian Champion Jess Pettis and KTM Canada Team rider Dylan Rempel, and NZ rider Dylan Walsh coming to racing for WLTN Kawasaki. a solid spotlight south of the border.
We haven’t heard much about Tyler Medaglia lately. Last season ended with a bummer injury to his elbow at a off-road race. It was sort of announced that GDR would have him on board as an off-road rider, but rumours have also swirled about a possible move to MX101.
So, we caught up with him to find out what his plans for 2025 really are:
“Trying to finalize all my stuff but have been busy with Talon and his racing. Also been working for my dad helping with his move to Nova Scotia.
I think I’ll likely be doing my own thing but the goal is to do the FMSQ series, Riverglade National, Southwick national and take Talon to big am races. We are also starting a series called Flat out sprint enduro 4/5 rounds out here one of which is the Switcheroo race that I put on, on may 4th.”
PR-MX has been a staple presence with their semi at the Canadian Nationals for years, but 2025 might mark their first absence in a long time. For 2025, PR-MX is setting its sights on the U.S. National schedule, a big move for the Quebec owned team.
We asked team owner Julien if we’ll see him back up north, and he said:
“For full series not going to happen.
If anything major changes but I doubt it”
PR-MX Team Owner Julien
Photo: Tree Three Media
2024 West Champion Eve Brodeur won’t be returning to defend her #1 plate in the West. Meanwhile, East Champion Jamie Astudillo will be back to defend her title in the 2025 East series, proudly running the #1.
Jamie will also be competing in the U.S. WMX Series, held on Fridays alongside 5 of the AMA Pro National events with Pala being Round 1, a busy and exciting season ahead for the champ.
We caught up with Jamie about her plans for 2025, heres what she had to say:
“I’m excited to head back up to Canada this year and to be able to run the #1 out east. I’m going to stick with just racing east but I am racing the entire AMA WMX championship.
So I’ll still be racing quite a bit this summer. I’m excited about it as it’s most likely my last year racing full time.”
Jamie in 2024 during her Championship Day at Deschambault
Photo: Tree Three Media
New BC Track Build is Underway!
After the loss of the Kamloops facility midway through last season, both BC and Canada lost a major piece of the sport. For months, rumors have swirled about a new track being built nearby, just down the same road, in fact. Now, an Instagram page has confirmed that construction is officially underway!
The team behind the project has stated they won’t release the exact location until insurance and all logistical details are finalized. If you happen to know where it is, please respect their wishes and keep it under wraps, for now. Let’s help ensure Canada adds another top-tier track to its lineup.
Tough Break for Hayden Dupuis
Injuries are an unfortunate part of the sport, and it’s never easy to report them, especially when a rider has been on an absolute tear. Hayden Dupuis announced on Instagram that he broke his femur during the last GNCC round.
No doubt he’ll be hungry to get back on the bike, and we’re all wishing him a smooth and speedy recovery. Stay strong, Hayden, we look forward to seeing the journey back to the top!
One final note, Cole didn’t make the trip to Philly for this past weekend’s East/West Showdown. We asked him if there was any reasoning behind it he said:
“Decided to sit the weekend out & get ready for Denver. Been a rough few months of sickness & injuries”
Cole at San Diego SX 2025
Photo: Tree Three Media
That’s a wrap for this week!
Time to gear up for a weekend of racing and enjoy some Easter dinner (and chocolate, of course).