Eli Tomac’s debut on a KTM, the impressive performances of Ken Roczen in SX1 and Max Anstie in SX2 in Buenos Aires, which teams are looking in good shape, plus Canada’s homegrown hopefuls, we have you covered for the top stories to look out for at this weekend’s race.
Eli Tomac sent shockwaves through supercross when he announced that he would join KTM. The American racer has spent his career battling against bikes produced by the brand – and has now joined forces with them.
Tomac, who joins Round 2 as a wildcard, has been putting in the time getting used to his new ride in Colorado but will make his competitive debut at the BC Place where he will be going up against some stiff competition.
Tomac won Canadian GP in 2024 but he will be adjusting to his new ride in ’25, most notably of which will be how quickly he adapts to the steel frame KTM after spending his entire pro career on aluminium frames.
Tomac will face fierce competition from another longtime rival in Ken Roczen, as well as Jason Anderson. Former teammate Justin Cooper, making his last wildcard appearance of the season, will offer a valuable benchmark to his former Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team as well.
For Tomac, this switch represents a late-career roll of the dice. Fiercely loyal to Japanese machinery throughout his professional career, this marks his first appearance aboard an Austrian steed and this is, of course, still early days in the KTM partnership, so no jumping to conclusions.
However, it will offer Tomac a yardstick in which to measure against by competing against some of the best riders on the planet right now. It is going to be one heck of a contest on Saturday!
Max Anstie was in a class of his own in the SX2 category in the Buenos Airies City GP. The Brit completed a clear sweep in qualifying, Superpole and won all three races to take away the maximum points.
Anstie looked in impressive form, however, Shane McElrath is out for redemption this weekend while Enso Lopes was much-improved in the main race in Buenos Aires, leading to some hope that he too will come into contention at the weekend.
This weekend will be an altogether different test given the temperature and dirt used in Buenos Aries – will that translate to a different outcome?
Canada welcomes two of its own riders to their home GP, as Noah Viney and Cole Thompson will both race under the Maple Leaf Flag.
Racing with the #2 number plate, Thompson rides for Venom Bud Racing and has well over a decade of professional racing experience, especially in the vast North American indoor stadia. Still Canada’s best supercrosser, he has recently represented Yamaha and KTM teams and has raced overseas.
Viney, who has the number 39 plate, is another one of the younger riders hoping to ruffle the established veterans of World Supercross. He came to the attention of the American industry and motocross and supercross paddock with a top three finish at Loretta Lynn’s: the biggest amateur stage for the sport in North America.
After a tricky start in Buenos Aires, where Michael Hicks was penalised for exceeding the power output of his electric Stark bike, the newest team in World Supercross will be hoping for a better result in Canada.
More will be expected from experienced racer Vince Friese, who many had predicted to make a lightning start on his new bike.
The post-race scrutineering from governing body, the FIM, did placate some of Stark’s rivals, who had earlier expressed some concerns about how the power was regulated and monitored on an electric bike.
