After a challenging run of races filled with bad luck and first-turn chaos, Australian talent Jake Cannon finally broke through at the latest round of the EMX250 championship — and in style. The Bud Racing Kawasaki rider landed his first podium finish with a solid 3-4 scorecard, a result that not only marked a career milestone but also a major confidence boost. With his family in Europe for the first time this year, it made the moment even more special for the young Aussie. We caught up with Cannon to talk about his big result, adapting to life and racing in Europe, and what it’s like to be part of a motocross-mad family.
GateDrop: Jake, finally, how does it feel like to get on the podium? You were pretty close at the start of the year but then things haven’t been clicking, so finally to get on the podium, how does it feel?
Cannon: Unbelievable, I’ve been in a bit of carnage for the last few races so it’s kind of stopped my momentum and I haven’t really shown what I’ve been able to do or can do, so now I’m stoked I can go out and get a 3-4 for third overall, my first podium. Definitely more to come, this is now boosting my confidence and I’m over the moon.
GateDrop: And seeing the Australian flag up there, it’s been a while, maybe the Lawrences were the last time to get a podium in this paddock that I can think of, how does it feel to put your country on the map in European motocross?
Cannon: Unbelievable, I know there’s a lot of people back home watching me and I’m just glad I can do them all proud and yeah I’m just happy.
GateDrop: Your family is here this weekend, your dad, your sister, what’s it like to have them in the paddock?
Cannon: It’s so good, it’s refreshing, I haven’t seen them in over six months, it’s the perfect way to end the weekend with the podium with them here, they’re loving it.
GateDrop: And your dad, what’s it like for him, he’s obviously got you and Charli to worry about, it’s not easy for him, so what’s it like having him here?
Cannon: He’s kind of a stressful at the moment, Charli’s just come back from America racing the WMX and my brother, my younger brother’s back home having a race this weekend.
GateDrop: Oh he races, what age is he?
Cannon: He’s young, so he’s on the 85cc, but he’s riding really well at the moment, so all three of us are just doing our own thing in different parts of the world.
GateDrop: It must be quite cool to share this sport with your younger brother and Charli as well, it must be amazing…
Cannon: Yeah, it’s very good.
GateDrop: What was your thoughts on the track, completely different, yesterday was flat out, but they watered it overnight, a bit more technical, but it didn’t seem to matter, you were good both days…
Cannon: The track was very slippery this morning, they watered it a lot, so it wasn’t too deep, it had a really hard base, but I knew I just had to get a good start, which I did. I just executed the race without any crashes, I had a lot of mistakes at the start, but I just held my groove, and I think I did better overall.
GateDrop: The last few rounds I would say probably haven’t gone according to plan, how frustrating has that been, because you probably know that you have the speed to run at the front?
Cannon: Yeah, I’m always coming in from the back, I always seem to get caught in the first turn pile-ups, which is really annoying. I know my speed’s there, it doesn’t show on paper, but I’m just glad I can do it from the front of the pack, and not start from dead last and come through.
GateDrop: With the few bad rounds, did you ever have any doubts, or did you know eventually it would all click and you’d finally get on the podium?
Cannon: I knew I had the speed to get on podium, it’s just a matter of time and all the stars align I guess. This weekend I did it with my family here, and now I’m just happy.
GateDrop: And your teammate Francesco Garcia is really fast, what’s it like having him as a team mate?
Cannon: Oh yeah, it’s very good, because he’s obviously one of the fastest in the EMX250 class, so it’s good to train with him and see where his speed is at, and it pushes me also to go better.
GateDrop: It’s obviously your first year racing EMX, just how are you finding it all? When people come to Australia sometimes they’re shocked at how everything is over here, how did you find it all when you got here?
Cannon: It’s definitely different, just with the weather also, and the riders are so much more aggressive, so I’ve definitely been just trying to find my feet and just see where I’m at. At the moment I’ve been up and down, I haven’t really gotten to a place yet, so I’m hoping that I can just be more consistent.
GateDrop: I think you’re on a two-year contract with Bud Kawasaki, so that must help, you know they trusted you to give you a two-year deal without even seeing you in Europe, so that maybe takes pressure off a little bit, because you know this year is just learning.
Cannon: Yeah for sure, this year is just learning, and I still want to do good, I still don’t want to just write it off, but yeah, it gives me a bit more room for error.
GateDrop: Have you got any plans to race an MX2 GP this year? Maybe Lommel, or are you just going to focus on the EMX class, would you like to do a GP?
Cannon: I would like to, but with the EMX we’ve got a lot of racing and with the French Championship, so it’s a lot of work for the team to get everything sorted to do a GP. It would be cool, but I’m happy with what I’m doing so far.
