Story: Noel Flatters | Editor | Enduro.Media & Superfine Media
Calgary, Alberta | 2023-12-11

Note to readers: This interview was conducted over telephone. Minor edits have been made to the structure of the interview structure for story flow and ease of reading. Italicised text indicates information added for clarity.

News broke this morning that Canadian ISDE World Trophy Team member Tyler Medaglia had signed a contract with Canadian MX team Honda Canada/Gopher Dunes Racing (GDR)/Fox Racing. This move came after his previous team (Thor GasGas Racing Canada) folded operations several days ago. We had been hearing rumours over the past month or so that things were ending for the team, so I was definitely interested to see where Medaglia, currently one of Canada’s best ISDE riders, would end up.

Tyler was kind enough to give some time to Enduro.Media earlier today to chat about the change, his new team, and how the team was looking at his Enduro/Off-Road racing program.

Enduro.Media
So congratulations, Tyler! Good to get your new contract sorted out. You’ve signed with Honda/GDR/Fox Racing, which seems like a great fit. It’s a team that, from the outside looking in, seems like they've really got it together. And you rode for them way back in the day, too!

Tyler:
Thank you. Yeah. I kind of like kick started the Honda portion of their team (in 2012) and mainly the reason why I left is because it was so new and so you know coming from the ground up and getting sponsorships that in that like quality season was really, really tough. Yeah. And there was just so much up in the air, and I just had a kid and I was putting pressure on myself to pay the bills. So that's why I had to leave initially. I was with them, like you say, from the beginning of the Honda thing in 2012. So, it's pretty cool that I'm full circle here.

When the team (Thor GasGas Racing) officially folded the KTM Group told me that they were maxed out in terms of what they could help me out with. I just kind of felt like I did a lot for them for a lot of years, and that when I needed them to step up a bit they didn’t want to. It is what it is, and I’ve gone through this so many times that you almost have to expect it.

Enduro.Media
And, well, you've always got to be ready right?

Tyler:
Exactly. And that's pretty well it.

Enduro.Media
So the wording I saw (in the press release) was that you’re signed for the 2024 motocross season and that you’re going to race the 250 class for them.

Tyler:
Yep.

Enduro.Media
So how does that feel for you to switch up (from 450)?

Tyler:
It's good! This year, running the 450, even with the good races and, you know, winning the moto in Kamloops (British Columbia at the Triple Crown Series) and having a couple of weekends where it was really, really good, it's not as enjoyable riding a 450 as it once was. I like riding cross-country and I like training in the woods, and it's fine. I can do it on whichever bike. But I go through phases like, you know, for a bit I’ll be into the two-strokes for a while and then I'll switch and ride 450’s in the woods. For cross-country 450 is okay because you know it's fast and that but I don't know, it’s just is not as enjoyable for me.

It's kind of hard to describe. It’s just one of those things that kind of clicks in my head. This fall I got Heidi (Tyler’s wife) a 250 and I stole it on her a few times to do some racing like the Corduroy Enduro and FMSQ. Those races kind of lend themselves to the 250.

 Enduro.Media
When you talk about those phases of two-stroke or four-stroke, I was covering Endurocross this year and it was crazy how many guys were switching up to two-stroke down there.

Tyler:
Yeah, it's crazy how each bike has its place. For example, ISDE in Argentina is the place for a 450 with all the deep silt. And races like the Big Kahuna (British Columbia), it’s a mega 450 race. And that those are the times where I just love riding 450. And then, for me and the way and where I ride the bike and use the power, I struggle to ride like endurocross type stuff on a two-stroke. I'd much rather be on a four-stroke myself. But I like playing in the hard enduro and the trials type stuff on the two-stroke. Especially out here (in Nova Scotia) where we’re trying to build stuff where we, you know, just push the envelope. We're trying to build stuff that we can't really get up. On a 450 you’ll be mid-puzzle and have to stop and take a break because the thing is puking out coolant.

Enduro.Media
Yeah, I watched a lot of bikes volcano at Endurocross.

Tyler:
Yeah, exactly. I mean you but you can put a fan on a four stroke, run Evans (coolant) and you can do stuff to make it a bit better but at the same time I was just training on my practice bikes from motocross and stuff! 

Enduro.Media
Have you had much discussion with the team or Honda about what your enduro and cross-country season, and ISDE, look like this year?

Tyler:
From the team standpoint they're excited about that because they're obviously getting the importance of how big these events are. The Big Kahuna is huge, the Corduroy Enduro sells out, and the last round of FMSQ this year had over a thousand entries, and thousands of spectators. It's a huge deal. And these are grassroots people that are buying their machines.

And it just keeps on getting better. The more trail networks that we have, just like we're doing these group rides and there's more and more people showing up willing to have fun and try to get up these stupid hills and blast around with their buddies and have a beer afterwards.

On the competition side of things it’s the same thing. There's a market there obviously, you know and that's a lot of the OEMs primary focus because it's got the eyeballs and the coverage and stuff. But for me it's just like, yeah, it's just to keep me motivated to keep riding because with my son being as competitive as he is and he wants to do it full time. For me to give him the tools and, and show him how to do what needs to go into it, there's no sense of me stopping if I enjoy it. If he's nipping at my heels ideally it'd be just him stepping into my position when I'm done.

Enduro.Media
That's part of, I think, one of the things that I see in Canada and the US with Enduro. Out here in Alberta and some of the kids from B.C., some of the kids I've seen online from Quebec and Ontario who are coming into this, there’s just a huge pack of kids and young guns that are riding fast as hell off-road. The next generation of North American enduro and off-road talent looks very bright.

Tyler:
Yeah. A lot of it has to do with, with technique and always being taught proper fundamentals and mechanics. The kids find it fun to race motocross jumps and they still enjoy that bit. But the racing aspect, the woods thing, you go and you get a lot more money's worth. Motocross and Enduro complement each other totally. And that's why it's good to do it all. Have your primary focus for you. You have your ‘A’ goal. And then you, fill in the blanks in the schedule, when you have time and when it makes sense, with other types of racing. And that's just the best way to do it and in my opinion and gives you the most motivation.

Enduro.Media
No matter what discipline you're riding, it's just going to make you better in the other ones.

Tyler:
Right. I honestly think that I should have started riding in the woods competitively a lot sooner and a lot more often than I did. But at the same time, it's like, okay, well, right now like even today, when I was cutting trails, I just love it. I like to be in the woods and tying my trails together. It's just a wicked way to spend time.

Enduro.Media
So what is your enduro cross-country season looking like for 2024.

Tyler:
Yeah. I'm thinking it’s going to be a lot like my calendar last year. My goal is to race all the big Canadian events and ISDE. Anything else otherwise is just kind of like a bonus. Like if I do two GNCC’s in the spring and Day in the Dirt, you know, when it's wintertime, to keep myself preoccupied when I'm training down south in the US.

So I think with the exception of maybe the first round, FMSQ’s come pretty tight to the first round of motocross, but after the moto season is done I’ll do the last two or three. The team is stoked on that and I guess kind of appreciates the added bonus of exposure in a different discipline.

Enduro.Media
I think that's got to be true from the Honda or Honda Canada perspective, also.

Tyler:
Yeah. Even just me riding the bike the other day the motocross one when we were shooting that intro video (for the new team announcement), I got out in the woods at Gopher Dunes (home track of the team) and [the Honda] so nimble and nice and easy to ride and it's going to be a weapon in the woods. I know that the CFR X is going to be awesome and I’m going to get out there and do my best to advertise for it.

Enduro.Media
Has the thought of rally ever entered into your head?

Tyler:
That's one of the things I think would be cool. But the amount of money it takes to get involved with that. And just seeing what happened to Kade Walker (at Baja 1000)… There’s a lot of sort of booby traps, but there's some kind of stuff that you’ve got to be very switched on to do that, and be very dedicated. It's not something to play around with, you know? That's a mindset that we have with motocross. Playing around in the woods the risk versus reward is pretty low, you know? You low side your bike and just pick it up and keep going. Low side one of those big rally bikes and you know you're breaking stuff.

Enduro.Media
And has there been any discussion that maybe you can avoid having to use a rental bike in Spain for ISDE?

Tyler:
I'm not doing another ISDE ever again without my own bike. 

Enduro.Media
That is perfect. I'm glad to hear that.

Tyler:
I’m definitely looking for redemption for that race, for sure. That's a huge target again this year.

Enduro.Media
When you're talking about targeting ISDE, what would be your main goal there?

Tyler:
Well my ‘A’ goal this year would be the Canadian championship for motocross.

And then I just want to be sure about my lessons learned from all the stuff that happened this year with ISDE. I was very limited to how I could perform just given the circumstances.

Enduro.Media
Well, yeah, I mean, having your suspension stolen on the way to Argentina, and then using a rental bike…

Tyler:
Yeah, that type of stuff is just kind of nonsense. So. But with my own bike, I plan to be competitive. I want to be inside the top three and in my class for sure.

Enduro.Media
Well, you were killing it for those first three days given the circumstances.

Tyler:
Yeah, I was doing okay. I mean, I was riding as hard as I could, but there were just sections where I would come out of a turn and, and going up a hill, I felt like I could get off and run up the hill faster. And I watch like replays of the guys on the 450s just taking 2 seconds to get up those climbs. In the end it really it didn't matter because I couldn't ride (after Day 3). When I put that thorn through my hand. (Tyler ended up with a tough infection that night after getting the thorn stuck in his hand and had to withdraw from the race.)

Enduro.Media
So FMSQ. Are those races something, like you mentioned earlier, to build off-road speed and fill in the gaps?

Tyler:
I just love those events. They're excellent. They're organised to perfection almost, and the courses are really fun. It’s just a good weekend. I know a lot of the guys, I get to see my friends, and the races aren’t that far from Nova Scotia And it's just wicked racing. One of those things I'm going to do it regardless of what sort of racing I'm doing. Obviously mid-season is tough and I can't really do it, but I’ll do as many as I can.

Enduro.Media
Which GNCC races would you likely be targeting for the spring?

Tyler:
I would say Florida because pretty close to everything. And then and then I think Camp Coker.

Enduro.Media
Are you going to be able to make it out west for the Kahuna or anything like that? 

Tyler:
Yeah. Yeah. I talked to Jared (Stock – KTM Canada/SOR Enduro) today about that. His race is likely the next weekend, so it makes sense to do the two weekends. The Big Kahuna is such a wicked race. It’s the same thing as FMSQ. I love that style of racing. It's a lot of fun.

Enduro.Media
Thanks so much for your time, Tyler, and congratulations again on the new team deal.