The busiest time of the year for Canadian moto is here.

WCAN kicks off today, we’re halfway through the Canadian Nationals, and all the Walton AQs are wrapped up. Let’s dive into this week’s news!

Rain hit Ste. Julie over the weekend, sparking plenty of chatter in the pits. We won’t rehash it all, just know the AM program was a muddy mess with a low turnout, which carried into a rough National Sunday. Only 25 riders were reportedly signed up by Wednesday, for Saturday racing, which is a concern in itself.

The big win of the weekend? MX101 sweeping both 250 and 450 overalls for the first time. A great moment made even better when the track announcer brought team owner Kevin Tyler on stage, his reaction said it all. No shade to other teams, but MX101 has built the kind of team atmosphere everyone aims for, positive, tight-knit, and full of energy. There are always smiles under that tent, and this weekend’s double overall proves that a strong vibe delivers strong results.

WLTN Kawasaki struggled through the weekend, dealing with two bike issues for Dylan Walsh and an early moto tip-over for Phil. It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially with the money well spent to have both riders battling at the front. This is where racing can be a brutal game.

Another rider worth mentioning is Alek Guadagno. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a photo or video, but we saw it firsthand, an incredible first moto start right up front in his very first national. Just a year ago, Alek was on a supermini. Instead of taking the usual route through Junior, he and his family made the bold call to jump straight to Intermediate and tackle some nationals in his first year on a big bike. That start alone proved it was the right move. He went down early coming down one of the hills, a rookie mistake that’s almost expected, but got up and charged the rest of the moto.

WCAN practice kicks off today at Wildrose MX. Despite being a last-minute addition, the ACM crew has stepped up, putting in serious effort to make it a great event. Off the track, there’s plenty to enjoy, Saturday night features the Fox Holeshot Challenge, and with the Calgary Stampede starting today, those staying at the track can catch the fireworks show from their campsite. Want more? A quick trip downtown gets you on the rides, at the chuckwagons, or front row for the FMX show featuring legends like Twitch, Vicki Golden, and Keith Sayers, hitting the ramp multiple times a day.

Track prep has been a hot topic heading into WCAN. After a rocky start to the season that resulted in staffing changes, Lee Jenkinson has stepped in as the new facility manager. Since his arrival, feedback on the track has been overwhelmingly positive. Looking forward to the change and hoping all thing WCAN are a huge success.

Last week’s mid-season Surfin’ Berms event at Wild Rose started under sunny skies, until 4 PM hit and the rain came down hard. For 30 minutes, it poured. We thought it was game over, time to hang under the tent and eat donuts. But the ladies had other plans. As soon as the rain stopped, they were out of their rigs, geared up, and ready to ride. Turns out, they’re not made of sugar, and they weren’t afraid to get muddy.

The national series heads to Gopher Dunes this weekend, promising action both on and off the track. The first three rounds haven’t scored high on rider reviews, leaving many frustrated with track conditions. And while no one’s thrilled about racing in 35+ degree heat on Canada’s toughest sand track, everyone knows what Gopher brings, brutal conditions that separate the fit from the fading. This weekend will be a true test of who’s got the grit to go deep in the dunes.

As always, we highly recommend checking out Quinn Amyotte’s vlog, arguably the best content coming out of Canadian moto right now. Pair it with everything we dropped this week for your full moto media fix.