After several seasons in the MXGP paddock, Cornelius Tøndel made the move across the Atlantic for 2026 and has quickly shown that he belongs in the ultra-competitive AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Racing for the International Supercross Race Team Kawasaki effort, the Norwegian has been edging ever closer to the top ten, displaying impressive speed, strong first laps and growing confidence with each passing round.
We caught up with Tøndel to discuss his winter preparation at GPF in Georgia, adapting to life in America, his progress in the Pro Motocross series, racing on a Kawasaki, his ambitions for SMX and the Motocross des Nations, as well as his thoughts on the dominance of the Lawrence brothers and the influx of European talent making the trip Stateside.
GateDrop: Cornelius, let’s start with your off-season, in Europe your first race would be in February but this year with you only doing 1 SX, you had a lot of time to prep. How did all that go?
Tøndel: The prep went really good. To be honest, I actually had a small injury to my finger and that was bothering me a bit for a couple of weeks there, early on. After that, it’s just been really good. I put the work in, and I’ve just been down there in Georgia at GPF, I’ve been training with Shea Bentley there. I’m just so thankful for those guys and so thankful for being able to be in such a good place to train and to prep for the season.
This has just really great for me, I’ve never had this consistency in my prep. It’s just been like four or five days a week of riding every single week since I came over here. The prep was really good. The first couple of rounds, we had a couple of issues but got some stuff figured out, some stuff we didn’t but we’re just working on it. We are just getting everything figured out.
GateDrop: We are four rounds into the season and you’ve been pretty good – consistent in the top fifteen and getting closer to the top ten. How would you reflect on the start of the season?
Tøndel: We are getting closer to that top 10 every single race. We just had an unfortunate incident there with Dylan in the second race at High Point. It would have been a top 10 pretty clearly and everyone could see that. It would have been a top 10 overall and top 10 in that moto so the riding is just getting better every single race. I feel stronger and stronger for every race weekend – I’m just excited for what’s coming.
GateDrop: The tracks in America seem to allow riders to be more aggressive – is that something you’ve had to adapt too?
Tøndel: I mean, I raced here in the US for three rounds of the series last year. I feel like I’ve already adapted a bit to these tracks and I just feel really good on them. I have my signature sprint first lap speed that I have been missing for the last years. To have that back is amazing, I just go from 30th place to top 10 on the first lap pretty much every moto, pretty much.
We obviously have to get those starts dialled to be there from the beginning. It seems like it doesn’t matter where I start, I’m top 10 anyway. The aggression is definitely not an issue.
GateDrop: Is there anything that’s surprised you about the series at all and if so, what?
Tøndel: I’m not really surprised. It’s more about the expectations, right? The tracks are just amazing over here and they work in a different way. Obviously, a lot of the guys have been complaining about the mulch on the tracks.
I don’t find it a problem, really. I like it. At home in Norway and in Sweden, when I was training, when I was a kid, we always rode on tracks like that so I’m pretty used to it. I think, to be honest, I think the tracks are amazing so there’s nothing to complain about and there’s nothing I’m surprised about, really. It’s just super wide, super big tracks and they’re very safe. They take good care of the riders over here.
GateDrop: There’s been a lot more about Kawaski in America with Jorge Prado and now Chase Sexton. How did you feel when you first got on the bike? It seems to be working well for you!
Tøndel: I feel good on the bike and I feel good on the chassis. We figured out the suspension and everything seems to be working very good. We’re lacking some power compared to the factory bikes, obviously but that’s nothing new. We know how it is and we’re down on power – that’s just something we have to deal with. We have to ride the best we can with what we have. I think we’re doing that pretty well at the moment. I’m enjoying being here.
GateDrop: What has life been like off the track for you and adapting to America – are you enjoying it?
Tøndel: It’s just a grind. In the off season, I didn’t really do so many fun things, let’s say. I’ve just been grinding, just doing my days on the bike and having my girlfriend over here, and that was really nice. We can spend a lot of time together and I have my Brother over here as well. I’ve been having a good time.
I’ve been enjoying the grind and just enjoying being around the people that I have been around. I just really appreciate, like I said, every person down there – they’ve been so kind to me. They just help me try to be the best version of myself so it’s been great.
GateDrop: What’s your goals for the rest of the AMA Pro Motocross series?
Tøndel: My goal is obviously to get inside the top 10 and I am capable of doing it. I just have to get those starts and stay out of trouble and that top 10 is in reach every single weekend. That’s my goal for the rest of the season.
GateDrop: If you get enough points will you do the SMX races – is that something you’d be looking forward too?
Tøndel: I’m looking forward to the SMX races for sure. Even if I don’t have enough points to qualify directly, I have enough points to be in the top 30 already so I’m in that LCQ. I think those tracks are going to suit me pretty well. It looks like there’s going to be more and more sand sections the further into the finals we get. I don’t mind some sand and I can run my scoop tyre so I’m happy.
GateDrop: I have to ask you about the Lawrence brothers, they’re pretty incredible – right? What impresses you most about them? The Coenen’s also showed they’re really good at Thunder Valley!
Tøndel: They are indeed incredible. Both Jett and Hunter, they do things that you don’t think is possible and they just step up every single weekend. It’s just every other weekend, it’s Hunter or it’s Jett every other weekend, you just know one of the two is going to win.
Jett has been struggling a bit with his ankle but he’s just adapted to that so good. I just think he just knows exactly what to do, exactly when he has to do it and it’s just incredible to watch. I mean, everything about both of them just impressed me a lot.
It was really cool to have Lucas and Sacha over here. I had a good chat with them both on Friday and Saturday. It’s enjoyable seeing more Europeans over here and they kind of feel like family. We go together when we are European guys over here so that’s super cool.
GateDrop: You could still have one race in Europe in Ernee – you should get picked for Norway so would you be looking forward to that and racing the MXoN?
Tøndel: I would love to race in MXoN at the end of the year. The Motocross of Nations is a big race and it’s something I would love to take part in. I think we already have a pretty good plan for it so I would obviously love to race it.
GateDrop: Are you on a one-year contract with your current team or is it longer?
Tøndel: The current contract is one year, that’s what we have for now. We will see what the future brings.
