Defending 250 Pro Class Champion Ryder McNabb wins the 2023 Canadian Triple Crown Series MX Tour 250 title at this weekend’s Walton National, securing the championship with third place overall on Sunday. Teammate Kaven Benoit was third in the final 250 Pro standings, with 450 Pro contender Jess Pettis claiming runner-up in class for the outdoor season.
In what has marked a dominant campaign in the 250 Pro Class, McNabb secured four round wins and has not finished off the podium across the eight-round series onboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. Walton proved to be no different, as the number one plate-holder topped qualifying, then charged to the first moto victory. Fifth in the final moto was enough to seal P3 for the round and a second-straight MX Tour crown.
Ryder McNabb, KTM Canada Red Bull Race Team 250 Rider: “I’m so pumped with how my day went here at Walton! We managed to get the MX Tour Championship and finished P1 in the opening race here today. Fifth place in moto two gave me third overall, and I’m just super-pumped about the whole season – the team has been amazing this year and made my job much easier. Thank you to everyone who supports us!”
The Walton round saw Benoit continue to race back toward his early season form, with a consistent 4-3 scorecard giving him fourth overall. The 2023 season marked a successful comeback for the returning former champion, who raced to the opening round victory in Edmonton.
A big fall sustained at the Riverglade MX round hampered his championship hopes, however, the number 126 earned third position in the 250 Pro Class standings, despite spending four years on the sidelines prior to making a remarkable comeback to the sport this season.
Kaven Benoit, KTM Canada Red Bull Race Team 250 Rider: “Overall, I’m really happy with my comeback season! I was able to notch that first round win and had a couple of moto wins in there also. The last stretch was very difficult physically, as I was nursing the injury from Riverglade, but I am proud of my efforts and I never gave up. Third overall is satisfying for me – thank you to the team.”
KTM Canada Red Bull Race Team 450 Pro Class front-runner Pettis qualified third at Walton, before circulating the first lap of the first moto in 17th place. He would charge all moto long and race into the third position by moto’s end. An eventual sixth in the second moto saw him finish the round fourth overall.
Piloting the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in 2023, Pettis finished the MX Tour Championship in the runner-up position, and will set his sights on going one better next season.
Jess Pettis, KTM Canada Red Bull Race Team 450 Rider: “Overall, this year is one that I am proud of. Stoked to finish the season healthy and in good shape, and second overall in the championship is a great result for myself and the entire team. I would have loved to have been closer to the championship, though I am really hungry for next year – we have a great platform to go hard after it.”
Mat Deroy, KTM Canada Red Bull Race Team Manager: “I’m proud of what we accomplished this year. The team has worked super hard to get those results and it paid off. Both 1st and 3rd overall in the 250 class and 2nd overall in the 450 class shows that our program is working.”
Results 450 Pro Class – Walton National
1. Dylan Wright (CAN), HON, 1-1
2. Tanner Ward (CAN), KAW, 2-2
3. Shawn Maffenbeier (CAN), YAM, 4-3
4. Jess Pettis (CAN), KTM 3-6
OTHER KTM
9. Parker Eales (CAN), KTM
14. Max Filipek (CAN), KTM
16. Seth Hughes (CAN), KTM
21. Ryan Derry (CAN), KTM
23. Brendan Sipple (USA), KTM
25. Anthony Spadaccini (CAN), KTM
28. Easton Block (CAN), KTM
29. Jordan Melanson (CAN), KTM
35. Dustin Sikorski (CAN), KTM
Results 450 Pro Class – Championship Standings after 8 of 8 rounds
1. Dylan Wright, 392 points
2. Jess Pettis, 332
3. Tyler Medaglia, 263
Results 250 Pro Class – Walton National
1. Josiah Natzke (NZL), KAW, 3-1
2. Mitchell Harrison (USA), GAS, 2-2
3. Ryder McNabb (CAN), KTM, 1-5
4. Kaven Benoit (CAN), KTM, 4-3
OTHER KTM
20. Noah Porter (CAN), KTM
21. Tristan Dares (CAN), KTM
22. Bryce Wadge (CAN), KTM
23. Leith Ness (CAN), KTM
24. Ethan Lawrence (CAN), KTM
25. Aaron Henry (CAN), KTM
27. Danny Perry (USA), KTM
32. Jesse Westfall (CAN), KTM
34. Justin Barnhart (CAN), KTM
35. Kyle Gonzalez (CAN), KTM
38. Joseph Pilsner (CAN), KTM
39. Kyle Dillin (CAN), KTM
40. Corentin Dietz (CAN), KTM
Results 250 Pro Class – Championship Standings after 8 of 8 rounds
1. Ryder McNabb, 360 points
2. Josiah Natzke, 331
3. Kaven Benoit, 295
- From KTM Canada, Inc.
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