KAMLOOPS, BC – The KTM Canada – Red Bull – THOR Race Team kicked off the 2022 Triple Crown Series in Kamloops with a pair of steady podium finishes in the 450 Pro and 250 Pro classes, thanks to hard-fought performances from teammates Jess Pettis and Jacob Piccolo in their respective divisions. Additionally, team rider Sebastien Racine had a strong debut in the 250 Pro class with an impressive third-place podium finish in his first moto.

Making its return to the west coast for the first time since 2019, the first round was a much-anticipated event for fans all across the country. Coming into the weekend with a weeks-old wrist injury wasn’t the ideal start for Jess Pettis and his bid for a first premier class title but he made the most of it with a podium finish at Round 1. He was a bit slow off the start of moto one but he fell into a rhythm as the race went on, finishing a solid fourth. Looking for redemption the second time around, Pettis came back swinging with a stronger start in moto two, positioning himself inside the podium battle right away. With 14 solid laps of racing, Pettis’ third-place finish was enough to secure third overall with combined 4-3 moto scores on the day. 

Jess Pettis, KTM Canada – Red Bull – THOR Race Team 450 Rider: “The first round of the nationals is done and I’m pretty happy with the day. The first moto, I struggled to find a flow but I ended up P4. I wasn’t too happy about that but we made some changes and rebounded for the second moto. I got off to a good start and found a good flow, rode some good laps and ended up third in the second moto. Overall, I want to be at the top and try to win but considering my circumstance – I’ve been having a couple weeks with a broken wrist and no time on the bike – it’s not too bad. It’s a good start to the season and something to build from.”