The KTM Canada Red Bull Race Team secured a trio of podium finishes at Round 3 of the 2023 Canadian Triple Crown Series in Calgary on Sunday, with defending champion Ryder McNabb taking the overall round win, Kaven Benoit taking third in the 250 Pro Class, while Jess Pettis took home P2 in the 450 Pro Class.
Off the back of a successful second round, McNabb’s form continued over the weekend as he topped the qualifying timesheets early in the day. Beginning the opening moto up front, McNabb took the lead on the third lap and would extend his margin to six seconds by race’s end. A convincing runner-up result in the second moto powered the number one plate-holder to his second overall round victory of the year.
Ryder McNabb, KTM Canada Red Bull Race Team 250 Rider: “Good day here in Calgary, beginning with P1 in qualifying and carrying that speed into moto one for the win. Second moto, struggled to find a flow and ended up going down, but I was still able to get the overall win and extend my points lead. Solid day overall and the track was super-gnarly with the ruts, but I’m happy to carry this momentum into the next one.”
250 Pro Class teammate Benoit battled McNabb for the top spot in qualifying, ultimately stopping the clocks just 0.093s behind his fellow KTM 250 SX-F rider as the duo sat over a second above third position. Two consistent motos saw the number 126 land a 2-3 moto scorecard, which gave the returning former champion third place overall.
Kaven Benoit, KTM Canada Red Bull Race Team 250 Rider: “Another solid day for me here at Round 3, with two good starts and running up front. Feels great to be back on the podium and I’m now looking forward to heading to the east coast in a couple of weeks time to continue my championship push.”
450 Pro Class contender Pettis hit the ground running at the Wild Rose MX circuit, notching P2 in qualifying to set the tone for the day. An opening moto holeshot saw Pettis power his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a wire-to-wire victory, crossing the line with a commanding 11-second margin.
Another good start in the second encounter resulted in an eventual second-place position after a race long battle with Dylan Wright, which sealed him second overall on the day. It was a continuation of his impressive early-season form.
Jess Pettis, KTM Canada Red Bull Race Team 450 Rider: “I’m happy with the progression we achieved at Round 3, where 1-2 moto scores and a good fight until the end in moto two was a strong way to see out the day! Second overall here, we’ll now go back and work hard for the top step of the podium at the next round.”
Mathieu Deroy, KTM Canada Red Bull Race Team Team Manager: “The team is leaving the west coast swing with great momentum, winning every overall so far in the 250 Class. Everyone is feeling good and looking forward to the east coast sand tracks.”
Next Race: July 9 – Courtland, ON
- From KTM Canada, Inc.
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