Canada has been a regular presence at the Motocross of Nations over the years, and behind every Team Canada effort is a huge amount of work that often goes unseen. Kourtney Lloyd has been at the heart of that process since taking on the role of Canadian MXoN team manager in 2016, dedicating the past decade to helping put the country’s best riders on the world stage.
With the 2026 MXoN heading to Ernée, France, Lloyd once again finds herself responsible for bringing everything together, from rider selection and equipment to logistics and making sure the team is ready when the gates drop. This year, Dylan Wright and Dylan Rempel will be joined by Tanner Ward, who steps in following the late change to the original line-up.
We caught up with Lloyd to discuss the challenges of selecting the Canadian team, what it takes to organise a transatlantic MXoN effort, the importance of giving Canadian riders international opportunities, her hopes for the team at Ernée, and whether 2026 could mark the end of her ten-year stint as Team Canada manager.
GateDrop: Kourtney, you’ve been the Canadian MXoN team manager for many years. What year did you start the role and what keeps bringing you back? I guess it’s just passion!
Lloyd: I started in 2016, so it’s pretty crazy to think it’s been ten years now. Honestly, it really is just passion. I love Canadian motocross and I’m extremely proud to represent Canada. There is so much work that goes into getting a team to the Nations every year, and there are definitely moments where you wonder why you put yourself through all the stress, but once you get there and see our riders lined up with the Canadian flag on the world stage, it makes everything worth it. I love this sport, I love our Canadian motocross community, and I want to do everything I can to help showcase our riders to the world.
GateDrop: Canada have confirmed their 2026 MXoN team — how difficult was it to make the final rider selections this year?
Lloyd: It’s never an easy decision. Canada has a lot of talented riders and there are always different things you have to consider — results, speed, consistency, experience, the classes, equipment and who is healthy and available. Dylan Wright and Dylan Rempel both won Canadian championships this year, so obviously they were very strong choices. We originally selected Sébastien Racine as well after the way he represented us last year, but unfortunately circumstances changed and Tanner Ward has stepped in. Tanner has represented Canada before, so we know what he brings and I’m really happy with the team we’re taking to France.
GateDrop: How much discussion goes on between yourself, the riders and the federation before the final team is decided?
Lloyd: A lot more than people probably realize. It isn’t just me sitting down one day and picking three names. There are conversations throughout the season with riders, teams, manufacturers, the CMA and the people involved with Team Canada. You need to understand who is available, what equipment and support can be provided and which class makes the most sense for each rider. There are a lot of moving pieces, so communication is huge.
GateDrop: Dylan Wright is back on the team this year, I really rate him highly. Are you looking forward to seeing him race against some of the world’s best riders again?
Lloyd: Absolutely. Dylan is an incredible talent and I think everyone in Canada knows how fast he is. He’s also someone who takes a lot of pride in representing Canada. He has MXoN experience now and he knows exactly what this event is about. When Dylan is healthy, comfortable and riding with confidence, he can do some pretty special things on a motorcycle. I’m really excited to see what he can do against the best riders in the world.
GateDrop: How important is experience at the MXoN when making your selections, given how different the event can be from a normal Canadian national?
Lloyd: Experience is definitely important. The Nations is unlike anything else. Everything from the schedule to qualifying, the amount of people, the pressure, the track and even getting around the paddock can be overwhelming the first time you experience it. Having riders who understand that environment is valuable. At the same time, you have to give new riders an opportunity at some point too. Dylan Rempel is getting that opportunity this year and I’m really excited for him. You try to find the right balance between experience and giving the next generation a chance to experience the world stage.
GateDrop: How do you manage three riders who are normally competing against each other, but suddenly have to work together for one weekend? Can that be tricky?
Lloyd: It can be, but I think once everyone puts the Team Canada jersey on, the mentality changes. These guys race each other hard all summer, but at the Nations they understand that they are representing something bigger than themselves. Every position matters and every result affects the team. My job is to make sure everyone understands their role and that we have a positive atmosphere around the team. For that weekend, we’re all pulling in the same direction.
GateDrop: Logistically, what’s it like for Canada planning for this event? We see it every year with USA, they struggle! But you guys seem to knuckle down and sort it out without too many issues every year!
Lloyd: I’m glad it looks that way from the outside! Behind the scenes it can be absolute chaos. There are flights, bikes, engines, parts, mechanics, transportation, accommodation, credentials, freight, sponsors and a million little details that people never see. Going to Europe makes all of that even more complicated. We’re also not working with an unlimited budget, so we have to be creative and rely heavily on relationships within the industry. I’m very fortunate to have some amazing people around Team Canada who work incredibly hard to make it happen. It really is a massive team effort.
GateDrop: What sort of setup do you expect to have at Ernee this year?
Lloyd: Our goal is always to give the riders the best setup possible so that when they arrive at Ernée their only job is to race their motorcycles. We have a lot of people working behind the scenes on bikes, equipment and logistics. SR Motoblouz Honda will house us and Tanner will be getting support from SC Sporthomes Husqvarna. By the time we arrive at Ernée, we want everyone comfortable, organized and ready to go.
GateDrop: What would you consider a successful weekend for Canada? Is there a specific finishing position you’re targeting?
Lloyd: The first goal is always to qualify directly for the A Final. At this event you can’t take that for granted because the depth of countries is incredible. After that, I want us to put together six solid motos and see where that puts us. Canada has shown in the past that we can be around the top ten, and obviously we always want to be pushing toward that level. But the Nations can be unpredictable, so for me success is having all three riders perform to their potential, minimizing mistakes and leaving knowing that we represented Canada as well as we possibly could.
GateDrop: How do you assess the current strength and depth of Canadian motocross? Do you feel the country is producing enough riders capable of competing on the world stage?
Lloyd: I think Canadian motocross has a lot of talent. The difficult part is that there is a big jump between being successful nationally and getting the opportunity to prove yourself internationally. We have riders with the speed and ability, but racing at that next level requires money, support and opportunities. That’s why an event like the Nations is so important. It gives our riders a chance to line up against the best in the world and show people what Canadian motocross has to offer.
GateDrop: How important is it for Canadian riders to have opportunities to race outside Canada, particularly in the US or Europe?
Lloyd: Extremely important. You can learn so much by putting yourself outside your comfort zone. Racing in the US or Europe exposes riders to different tracks, different conditions, deeper fields and a different level of intensity. You find out very quickly what you need to improve. I would love to see more Canadian riders getting those opportunities because I think it raises their level when they come home as well.
GateDrop: What do you think Canadian motocross needs to do to continue developing riders capable of racing in US or MXGP in the future?
Lloyd: We need to keep developing young riders and, most importantly, create a pathway for them after the amateur level. Talent is only one piece of it. Riders need good coaching, good equipment, financial support and opportunities to race outside Canada. We also need the industry to work together. Manufacturers, teams, promoters and the federation all play a role. Canada isn’t a huge motocross market compared with the US or Europe, so we have to make the most of the resources we have and help our best young riders get exposure internationally.
GateDrop: What is the hardest part of being an MXoN team manager that people watching from the outside probably don’t realise?
Lloyd: Probably the number of things that are completely outside your control. You can spend months making a plan and then a rider gets hurt, a bike situation changes, a flight changes or something happens with freight and suddenly you have to rebuild that plan. You’re constantly solving problems. People see the three riders on Sunday, but they don’t see the hundreds of emails, phone calls and conversations that happened to get those three riders onto the starting line.
GateDrop: How much pressure do you personally feel when you’re responsible for Canada’s result at an event as big as the Nations?
Lloyd: I definitely feel it. I care a lot about this team and about representing Canada properly, so naturally you put pressure on yourself. At the same time, once the gate drops there’s only so much I can control. My responsibility is to make sure the riders have everything they need and that the team is organized and prepared. If I know we’ve done everything possible before that point, then I can live with whatever the racing gives us.
GateDrop: On a personal level, what is a weekend like for yourself at the MXoN? It must be very busy!
Lloyd: Busy is probably an understatement. I don’t think I really stop from the moment we arrive until Sunday night. There are meetings, credentials, schedules, riders, mechanics, media, sponsors and always something unexpected that needs attention. Race day is probably the easiest part because eventually the gate drops and you can’t do anything except watch. But I love it. There’s nothing quite like standing there during the opening ceremonies with Team Canada. No matter how many times I do it, that moment is still special.
GateDrop: How long do you see yourself continuing the role of Canadian MXoN team manager?
Lloyd: I actually said this as being my last year, and I told everyone that at the final national. But since then, quite a few people within the Canadian moto industry have asked me to reconsider, which honestly means a lot to me. So I’m going to give it some more thought and see how I feel after this year’s Nations. I’ve put so much into Team Canada over the years and it’s obviously something that means a lot to me, so it’s not an easy decision to make. I really don’t know how to answer that one yet (laughs).
