Dylan Wright returned to the Motocross des Nations in 2026 with Team Canada, marking another chapter in an international career that has seen the Honda rider compete at some of the world’s biggest motocross events. Back at Ernée, France, a few years after a difficult Nations appearance that ended with him leaving the circuit in an ambulance, Wright was determined to make it through the weekend in one piece — and this time, he did exactly that.
The Canadian rider helped Team Canada secure 14th overall at the 2026 MXoN, with Wright admitting that the technical and unforgiving nature of the Ernée circuit presented a major challenge. With limited opportunities to ride tracks of that style in North America, Wright had to adapt quickly while finding the balance between pushing for a stronger result and avoiding the mistakes that can so easily happen on such a demanding track.
Now 29, Wright is showing no signs of wanting to hang up his boots just yet. The Canadian champion remains motivated to race at the highest level and, before eventually calling time on his career, has his sights set on competing in Europe more regularly — and ideally completing a full season overseas. A lover of sand tracks, Wright also has his eyes on a potential return to the MXoN at Assen next year, while admitting that a race at the brutal Riola Sardo circuit is firmly on his bucket list.
We caught up with Wright at Ernée to discuss his return to the MXoN, adapting to European tracks, Team Canada’s result, the level of racing back home, his future ambitions and why he still believes he has plenty of good years ahead of him.
GateDrop: Dylan, we haven’t seen you for a few years in Europe. Did you enjoy that out there? That was rough going!
Wright: I’m enjoying leaving in one piece. The last time I was here I left in the ambulance. We got through the day, but yeah, it is not my favourite track. It’s tricky man, we don’t ride a lot of stuff like that in Canada/North America. But you know, it was fun. I sort of enjoyed myself until I got arm pumped in the first moto and then I was like, dang it! But it’s okay, we got through it.
GateDrop: I mean, you’re riding with a lot of international riders there that have a lot of experience riding tracks like this. I feel like, I know you did do some GP’s during Covid but you didn’t see much other than Arco. And as you said, you don’t see tracks like that in Canada, so to adapt that, how difficult is it for you?
Wright: Yeah, not easy. I felt like a fish out of water, especially yesterday I was like, oh boy, this is going to be a long weekend. But I slowly got more comfortable. You learn the track, learn the lines a little bit, and the pace kind of comes with it. I feel like I could have for sure maybe performed better, but I would have probably crashed. So for me it was like finding the fine line of what can get us a good result without eating shit. So that was kind of the goal of today.
GateDrop: I mean, I thought you looked pretty comfortable out there. I’m pretty surprised you’re saying it was tough, because you looked like you belong out there to be honest. Did it feel like that, maybe not so much at the start?
Wright: Yeah, I think I definitely belong out there. It’s just I wish I could feel a little bit better on the motorcycle so I could push like I do back home, because then I could probably be a few more spots ahead. But I mean, such is life. It’s the same dirt bike track for everybody. I just have to be better and we’ve got some stuff we need to work on. I need to try and find some gnarlier tracks like this back home, which might be a problem. But yeah, I think all in all we can leave happy. We made it to the A final this year, and we had a couple of good results. So all in all, we take it home and hopefully go to Assen next year in the sand, because I love the sand, so hopefully I can go to that one.
GateDrop: And just on Canada, I mean, how happy are you? You know, no hiccups this year. I think the last time in Ernee was a complete disaster…
Wright: It was a complete disaster so I think we’re somewhat happy. I mean, I think the whole team’s happy, just with the overall result, with finishing 14th. It’s okay. I don’t think it’s where we want to be. We’d like to be closer to the top 10, but I mean, there’s a lot of good fricking guys here, man, from different countries. It’s awesome. I feel like the level just keeps getting higher and higher, and it’s cool that we’re kind of following the mix a little bit. But we had a little bit of hiccup with the two guys in the first moto, those crashes and stuff like that but that’s kind of the nature on this track. I mean, you see France just kind of threw it away today so it’s just one of those tracks. You’ve got to respect it.
GateDrop: For someone that doesn’t know, can you talk a little bit about the racing in Canada? I know it’s like a triple crown thing. You’ve got motocross, supercross, arenacross. Do you enjoy racing in Canada, or would you like to maybe spread your wings a little bit and get over to America or Europe more in the future?
Wright: Yeah, I mean, I’d love to race overseas more, because I’m more of a motocross guy than a supercross guy, so I’d love to race overseas more. But at my age, man, it’s all about making a dollar. You know, I get paid fairly well to race the Canadian Series, so business-wise it makes sense for me to do that. But I think in the future I’d like to, you know, before I retire eventually do a little bit more stuff over in Europe. I love it over here, I love the people and I love the vibe. I mean, you see all the people here today. It’s insane, you know, riding on the hot lap, and it’s just people going crazy. So that’s what I think real motocross is, and that’s why I love coming over here.
As for Canadian moto, you know, we’re a smaller moto nation, I would say, just because of our climate, right? It’s cold as crap in the wintertime. But it’s a great community. You know, a lot of people ride dirt bikes and we’ve got some good kids coming up right now too, so, you know, the future’s bright for a lot of them because I’m getting a little bit older. I won’t be able to do the Nations every year here coming up, so the young bucks will take my spot eventually.
GateDrop: How would you describe the level in Canada? Do you feel it is getting better? I think you are a champion this year and I mean, guys like Lars Van Berkel and Phil Nicoletti have been going over, so that probably helped…
Wright: Yeah. I think, every time we get some international guys, like Harri Kullas was up racing this year so we get some international riders. I think it goes to show what our level is, you know, that we are able to beat those guys when they come over, and it helps we know the tracks. It’s like coming over here, all these guys are better on this stuff than we are, but they come to Canada, and we kind of kick their butt sometimes because we’re just good on our tracks. But that’s just life, and that’s just, we grew up in different environments, different tracks, so it’s good. The level’s good. I think, like I said, there’s some kids coming up that are very talented, so we’ll see what happens in the next few years.
GateDrop: You mentioned, you’re not getting any younger. How many years do you see yourself still racing for? You’re not going to call it just yet, are you?
Weight: No, no. I mean look at Jeffrey at 32, he’s still dialled in. I just turned 29, so at least I have three or four good years left in me, you know, so… But for me, I still enjoy riding my dirt bike, man, and that’s the biggest thing in the sport, just enjoy riding your dirt bike and having fun with my friends, and I just happen to be able to make a living doing it, I’m pretty freaking lucky.
GateDrop: And you did say, before you retire, you’d like to come to Europe, or, I’m sure, America. Have you had any talks or anything yet, or…?
Wright: Yeah, when I came and did those GPs a few years ago, I had a few offers and stuff like that to come over. Business-wise it didn’t make a lot of sense, but, I mean, hey, my phone’s always on to come do some international races and stuff like that, so… But, I mean, for now, I’ve got a contract in Canada that I’m going to have to honour, but what I’d love to do 100%, before I retire, I’d like to do a full season somewhere, just to have more time on tracks like this so I can get more comfortable and then be further up and beating the guys that maybe I think I should. So, maybe in the future.
GateDrop: And Kourtney told us in an interview this might be her last year being team manager. Just on her, it’s been 10 years now. If this is the last one, just a message for her and would you like to see her come back to Assen?
Wright: I don’t think it’s her last year. I think she says that, but it’s like a baby to her, and I think with us doing half decent this year, I think she comes back, so I ain’t going to say a goodbye message yet because I think you’ll see her with us in Assen next year.
GateDrop: Just on Assen, if you do make it, you weren’t on the team the last time the Nations was there as I don’t think Canada went, but would you like to make it to that race?
Wright: I like the sand. I know it’s not everybody’s favourite, but something that’s not concrete will be good for me. This isn’t my forte, neither was Arco. I like a little bit more sandy stuff where I can send it a little bit more.
GateDrop: Would you watch the sand GPs like Lommel and Arnhem? I was at Arnhem this year… Kay de Wolf and Jeffrey Herlings, my jaw was on the floor watching them guys (laughs)…
Wright: They’re the next level. I’d like to learn from them, watch them a little bit and see what I can do, but I think some of the other guys I could probably show more of a wheel in the sand than out here a little bit. My favourite track I’d like to do eventually do is Riola? That one looks sick to me. It’s one of my all time. I just want to race it one day. So, who knows? Maybe in the future I get a bike and just send it.
