Team Canada Starts Ernée Qualifying With Ward, Rempel and Wright
Team Canada is into Saturday qualifying at the 2026 Motocross of Nations in Ernée, France, with Tanner Ward in MXGP, Dylan Rempel in MX2 and Dylan Wright in Open. The live lineup matters because it supersedes the earlier roster announcement that listed Sébastien Racine. Canadian trackside reporting on October 2 confirmed Ward, Rempel and Wright at opening ceremonies and start practice, with Ward cleared to ride after a Thursday practice-track crash.
The lineup Canada is actually racing
Ward carries number 64 in MXGP, Rempel number 65 in MX2 and Wright number 66 in Open. Direct Motocross reported the three riders at Ernée on Friday and identified their class assignments. It also reported that Canada drew fifth gate pick, a useful starting advantage before Saturday's class qualifying races.
The distinction between an announced roster and the team on the ground is important. Racine appeared in the original selection, but Ward was subsequently selected as the replacement for the MXGP position. Wright shifted to the Open class, while Rempel remained Canada's MX2 rider. Readers following the national team should use the live event roster rather than the first announcement.
What Saturday decides
Saturday's program gives each class a free-practice session followed by a qualifying race. The official Ernée broadcast schedule places the MXGP qualifying race at 2:20 p.m. CEST, MX2 at 3:20 p.m. and Open at 4:20 p.m. local time, MX2 at 3:30 p.m. and Open at 4:30 p.m. The national qualifying result determines which teams advance directly to Sunday's main program and influences gate choice.
The team format rewards depth. Each Canadian competes against the corresponding riders from the other countries, and the combined result is more important than one standout lap. A strong ride by one member cannot completely erase a costly fall, poor start or mechanical problem elsewhere. That makes clean execution and usable scores the first objective.
Why the three riders fit the assignment
Ward brings current 450-class pace and international-event experience to MXGP. Wright, Canada's 2026 450 champion, gives the Open position another proven premier-class rider. Rempel arrives as the 2026 Canadian 250 champion and makes his first Motocross of Nations appearance in MX2.
The class labels do not mean the riders operate independently. Bike setup, track information and start observations move through the Canadian pit, while team management has to judge risk across all three qualifying races. Conditions can also change quickly as the large field reshapes ruts, braking bumps and take-off faces.
The Ernée test
Ernée is built into a natural amphitheatre and is known for elevation changes, heavy crowd presence and a track surface that develops multiple lines. The venue has hosted the event before, but that familiarity does not reduce the pressure on a Canadian team travelling across the Atlantic with a finite supply of motorcycles and parts.
Ward's Thursday crash adds a practical point to monitor. Friday reporting said he was good to go, which supports describing him as active, but fitness and bike condition still have to be proven in timed competition. Any later medical or roster update should take priority over assumptions based on start practice.
What Canadian followers should verify
Official classifications, not short social clips, should settle the qualifying story. A video may show a good start or a pass without revealing the final position, a penalty or a later incident. The meaningful Canadian update will identify each rider's official class result and the nation's combined qualifying rank once all three qualifying races are complete.
Sunday's three races then mix two classes at a time. That format creates traffic between riders on different machinery and makes consistency valuable. The lowest combined national score wins after the permitted discard is applied under the event rules.
Why this matters beyond one weekend
The Motocross of Nations tests the pathway from Canadian national racing to international competition. Riders, mechanics, sponsors and donors have to turn domestic results into a functioning national effort overseas. The team's performance therefore reflects both rider speed and the support structure behind it.
For dealers and clubs, the event is a useful entry point for conversations about sanctioned tracks, coaching and protective equipment. It should not be used to blur the gap between professional race preparation and recreational riding. The safer message is that high-level performance rests on controlled venues, maintenance discipline and experienced support.
Canada begins Saturday with a corrected, current picture: Ward in MXGP, Rempel in MX2 and Wright in Open, and qualifying now underway at Circuit Raymond Demy. Their official qualifying classifications are the next facts that will determine the direction of the weekend.
