round 23
Racing Has Begun in Canada
The 2025 season is officially underway, kicking off in Ontario where AMO launched things with a bang, just as expected. With 737 signed up, it's safe to say the province is alive and thriving. The Pro class drew 25 heavy hitters, and the cash purse brought out some serious talent, including GDR's Dylan Wright, who dominated both motos. According to LiveLaps, he won the first moto by almost a minute.
While we couldn't be there in person, we had Kailey Moffatt on the ground to bring us a race recap. Welcome to the roster, Kailey!
Here is her recap:
Future West launched its season in Kelowna with an impressive 471 riders on the gate. As Lockhart pointed out on the CMXU podcast, it felt like an Alberta takeover, no surprise, since Alberta Racing doesn’t kick off until this weekend at Wild Rose with the Spring Super Series.
From the results alone, Julien Benek made his intentions clear, going 1-1 in the Pro class and sending a strong message that he’s locked in for 2025. We’re looking forward to seeing him line up at the Nationals this summer.
Notably, a few Canadian racers have yet to return from the U.S., staying south to train ahead of the opening round in Calgary on June 1. Still plenty of time for them to head north and get some gate drops in before the big show kicks off.
World Minis in Mesquite, NV went down over the long weekend, an event that usually sees a strong Canadian presence. This year, though, numbers seemed lighter. We’re SPECulating here, but with the current exchange rate, it’s no surprise fewer riders made the trip. Racing in the U.S. isn’t cheap right now.
We still had four Canadians lining up, along with one honorary Canuck: Preston Kilroy. As I told Kevin Tyler this week, race in Canada for one season and you earn full Canadian citizenship.
Here are some results from the weekend at World Minis:
There are so many Canadians racing Area Qualifiers across the U.S. right now, it’s nearly impossible to keep track. It’s a great sign for the sport and sets the stage for an exciting year at The Ranch as we rally behind our crew repping the maple leaf! We will give a update when we get to Regionals.
The 2025 Surfin’ Berms schedule is out, and it’s shaping up to be one fun summer chasing the crew from track to track and even with pedals this year!
Wildrose Track Announcement: Super Series Track Schedule Out Now
Round 4... a surprise track?!
Here’s my SPECulation, with absolutely no inside info, but how wild would it be if they connected the East Track and Main Track? It doesn’t seem too far-fetched to pull off, and it would be insanely exciting to see something fresh like that drop mid-series!
Regradless of what it is, racing gets underway in Calgary this weekend with 3 back to back weekends of racing.
Atlantic Action Starts This Weekend in Clyde River, NS!
AMRA just announced official Media Credentials for photographers and videographers, granting trackside access with a neon vest requirement. As insurance regulations tighten, tracks are stepping up safety protocols. It’s a smart, necessary move to keep the races rolling while supporting the media that covers them. It is something I personally have thought of at tracks I’ve shot at looking around and possible other media that are professional camera operators but not within the sport.
Although it sounds kinda of lame, standing on the side of the track can be very dangrous if you are not paying attention to where you are, and even then bad things can happen.
Many of us remember this year’s Supercross incident, where Chase from SwapMoto was standing in a relatively safe spot, yet still got hit by a bike flying over a berm, resulting in a serious leg break. Unfortunately, it’s not rare. Camera ops getting clipped is a real risk in this sport.
If you're behind the lens trackside, awareness is everything: know where to stand, where not to, never turn your back to the riders, and never cross a hot track. These are things seasoned media understand, but someone new, like a well-meaning family photographer might not. That gap in awareness can create a dangerous environment for everyone.
So hats off to AMRA for implementing Media Credentials and stepping up safety. My only suggestion? Ditch the hi-viz vest requirement and consider a branded photo vest program or at least offer it as an option. Hi-viz over a photo vest is bulky, awkward, and not ideal for working efficiently but when I am there I will be happy to take part. Kudos AMRA!
The Toughest Part of This Sport…
I usually keep things factual on SpecMoto, but this one comes with a bit of personal perSPECive.
This weekend at Supercross, we were all reminded of the harshest reality in motocross. Jerry Robin went down in what looked like a relatively routine crash, something we’ve all seen a hundred times. But this time, it was different.
He landed headfirst and, sustained a spinal cord injury.
It’s moments like this that shake us, make us question everything we love about this sport, and remind us just how real the risks are. All the love and strength to Jerry and his family as he begins the fight ahead.
It’s a reality we all know deep down when we throw a leg over a bike, but it lives way in the back of our minds, almost hidden. Then something happens, and it all comes rushing to the surface. You’re forced to rethink everything.
For me, I always come back to the same place: I wouldn’t want to live my life any other way. But not everyone feels that, and that’s okay. For some, the risk just isn’t worth it, and in moments like this, that perspective is completely understandable.
We’re sending all our strength to Jerry and his family. The entire community is behind him, loudly. That’s what makes this sport so special: no matter how small it may seem to others, to us, it means everything. And in moments like this, we rally as one.
Here is a link to the Road2Recovery Fund Raiser: https://www.road2recovery.com/athlete-causes/jerry-robin/
That’s it for this week! We’re heading into a weekend where most of you are loading up and heading to the track, enjoy it.
Race season is officially here!