round 26
This past week was full of Canadians doing big things, lets get into it:
Sawyer Saunders of Sechelt, BC made his way to Salt Lake City, UT for the final round of the SX KTM Jr. race, an invite-only event reserved for winners of previous rounds. After clinching a victory in San Diego, Sawyer earned his spot on the gate in SLC. It was already a big deal to see a Canadian in the lineup, but Sawyer went one better, grabbing a podium finish with 3rd place in the main event, right in front of the massive Utah crowd.
It’s great to see the Saunders family finding success on the track. Known for their involvement with their family business Rental Equipment, they’ve supported the sport, backing events, riders, and the racing community as a whole. Now, they're making their mark both on and off the track.
Congratulations!
Sawyer and Doug Saunders at San Diego SX after the win that got him to SLC
Photo: Tree Three Media
Julien Benek also headed to SLC for Supercross but unfortunately crashed on a triple during the first lap of practice, ending his day early. He says he’ll be ready to race at Round 1 in Calgary—as expected.
The Surfin Berms crew out of Calgary hosted their first community builder at Wild Rose MX Park recently, drawing nearly 50 ladies to the event. The group continues to grow, and the energy is nothing short of contagious. At the heart of it all is Danika White, the driving force behind the movement, who's doing an incredible job bringing it to life. The event was packed with snacks, activities, and all-around good vibes.
It’s inspiring to see what the Surfin Berms crew has created. The younger generation is clearly taking note, following the lead of the older girls, helping each other out, building each other up, and carving out their own space in the sport together.
Danika Leading the Pack
Photo: Eden Schell
Wild Rose MX Park recently released a survey following the Super Series events, with around 75 responses submitted so far. While the park hasn’t shared any details from the feedback yet, the hope is that it leads to positive changes and continued improvements for the facility.
GDR hosted their annual media day on Wednesday, welcoming media and industry members for an exclusive look at their race bikes and upcoming plans for the season. The highlight of the day was seeing all three team riders hit the track on their race-prepped machines for the first time.
After spending a few days at the facility, it’s clear the team dynamic is thriving. Dylan Wright has naturally stepped into a mentorship role, almost like a big brothe to the younger 250 riders. He’s become a true role model, both on and off the bike. Ryder McNabb brings a wild, infectious energy to the team, eager to ride and, by all accounts, absolutely “flying at the test track”. It’s also great to see Noah Viney back in action after a shoulder injury early in the Supercross season had some wondering if he'd be ready in time. Judging by how he’s riding now, he’s more than ready.
Check out our full video of the day and chatting with all three riders along with GM Ryan Lockhart and Team owner Derek Schuster:
Every two weeks, we’ll be releasing a new Tech Spec video featuring a product we've tested alongside Charlie from CJR Suspension, presented by Matrix Concepts Canada. This week we highlighted the new Renthal Lock-on Grips.
Priority MX also released their race press release, great to see from a Canadian team. It's always refreshing when a team takes control of their own narrative, and this is a strong step in that direction.
We caught up with former CMRC President Mark Stallybrass to talk about the sport’s past, present, and future. It was a great conversation with someone who’s had a lasting impact on Canadian motocross. Stay tuned for the full video to drop next week.
It’s a packed weekend for racing across the country, especially in Western Canada. Wild Rose is hosting a CAMS race, Lethbridge has an ACM round, there’s a SOR Enduro event, and Future West is rolling into Revelstoke. With so much happening at once, it’s hard to believe there are enough riders to fill all the gates but we’ll see who pulls the biggest turnout next week.
Also in Ontario, AMO is hosting Round 3 of their series at Sand De Lee, with the Canadian Champion expected to get some gate time before the national season kicks off in a few weeks.
No Supercross this weekend so you know its time to get out on the bikes and head to the track!