Faces at the Races | 2025 Mini O’s | Callus

By Billy Rainford

Brought to you by Callus Moto

It’s time for a look at the non-track side of the 2025 Mini O’s at Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Florida, with another edition of ‘Faces at the Races.’

With more Canadians racing than I think I can ever remember, it was a busy week for me! Just when I’d try to head to the van for a short break, there would be 3 Canucks in the very next gate drop. It was a nice problem to have.

Congratulations to everyone who made it to the line and raced the biggest single amateur event in the world!

Did I ever tell you about the time I raced here in 1985…….YES!

As soon as you see this big Dunlop tire and the palm trees there’s no mistaking where we are.
When I spoke to Brett Lee before heading south, he told me I had to meet the Watsons. I got lots of photos of them but I never did actually talk to them! We’ll fix that this spring.
I know this column isn’t about racing, but when you go from holding your hand up for a 2-minute hold to…
…grabbing a big, juicy holeshot, I’m going to make an exception.
Yep, I’m exactly this immature.
I mix up the Kukielka boys’ names on occasion, but I know this is Ryan, right?
The top 5 in one of the Women’s MX Heats were all from Europe, led by World Champion #401 Lotte Van Drunen. She didn’t disappoint.
#67 Piper Bell is from SS Marie, just not the one in Canada.
If you’re in the Calgary area and need work done on your vehicle, Hatt Automotive is your first and only stop. Thanks, gang.
With the first name “Moto” your fate is sealed. And nice gear, eh Mitch? That’s Moto Harris. CJ is the man behind Pax Trax in Bunnell, Florida.
Ryan Sipes is still at it and still winning!
Oops, riding photo, but the future of WMX is in the most capable hands we’ve ever seen.
Absolute rippers on the horizon that include Raycin Kyler and Hannah Jamison.
Pretty sure I also saw “Mamma Twig” or something like that?
Hey, Emerson Judge, your dad, Mike Judge, just kept Barry Carsten honest, so his input carries newfound weight.
I’m telling you, remove the ponytail and you’d have no idea.
If you’re old enough to remember Ryan Millar racing and doing interviews, this last name just reminded you of him. I did one at Oak Hill and he must have said it like 5 times.
These are the kind of photos I find myself going looking for 10 years down the line.
I’m curious about what the story is behind this nickname.
Almost every future Pro star has leaned against these rolls of hay.
Unfortunately, Landon Hartz’s week came to an early end.

From his Instagram page:

Hayden Dupuis had his manfriend, Cody Groves, with him again. Hayden turned some heads this year, for sure.
Cole Maxey now calls Florida home. Oh, and remember the name Easton Graves.
I wanna see where this guy goes. He loved fist-bumping and high-fiving riders as they headed to the gate.
#112 Rosaly Sylvestre from Quebec.
The announcers had some fun with the name Mulisha Miller.
Sponsor plug break! Callus Moto
There’s always someone getting some good line info in this corner by the start line/mechanics area during the Supercross portion of the week.
World’s fastest WMX racer Lotte Van Drunen heading to the line.
It seemed like Olivier Sylvestre was on the track every other moto later in the week!
I don’t know if they give their medical staff any awards but this guy has been my pick at least 10 years running! I think I was told his name is Andy?
Jonathan Getz left the track early, but I’m not sure what the issue was.
The rumours continue to swirl about Vincent Wey heading north to race in Canada a-la Drew Adams this coming summer.
Deacon Denno showed he was in the running for top A Class rider.
Kade Johnson would fit in well up here in our series too but we’ll see where he lands.
Max Shane has probably woken up from a nightmare or two with Wyatt Kerr chasing him down. They found each other almost every moto.
Pre-race nerves for Owen Covell.
Carson Wood took the 250 Pro SPort win with 3-1 motos.
That’s Ashton Oudman from Washington.
Kade ended up 5th in 250 Pro Sport.
Vincent held off Mikkel Haarup to win the first 250 Pro Sport moto.
4-2 put Denno 3rd.
We had some very solid finishes this year and Mason Murdy was one of the young riders who provided a few of them.
Parker Hatt came all the way from Calgary and I hope they can make it a yearly trip because he fit in well with the top riders.
Head over to the site and grab some deals on 2025 Callus Moto gear!
Hannah Hodges was 2nd to Van Drunen in the Women’s 12+ Supercross Main.
The name Boone Lloyd should be one we all get to know very well in years to come.
More future #throwbackthursday candidates.
New school and old school.
Great to see SHawn Rife with a big smile on his face. (The capital H is a nod to his Facebook)
Jannie enjoying the heat of the early part of the week. It got cold later.
Mike Judge updating Kiana Kurtz on track conditions.
It was great to see the Burke Family at the Mini O’s. Beckett showed some really good speed.
It’s going to be fun to watch Beckett and Chadler Powell work their way up through the ranks battling each other.
Like I’ve said before, if you’ve ever raced the Mini O’s, Larry has pointed at you. He’s recently retired but stopped by to say hello.
Harold from Motoplayground posted up here and was capturing moments on and off the track. Maybe I’ll make it to Ponca this year, Harold.
Love him or like him, I think it’s cool to see Jason Lawrence at the races again.
Canadian Nationals mainstay, Michael Fowler, said he hasn’t been on the bike much lately but he was down to have some bar-banging fun.
I told you everyone does this.
Andy Kerr handing Wyatt a little bottle of Mikra go juice before a gate drop.
“Hi, I’m Kenny Bland.” Ya, I know, Kenny! Lol
With a good start, Hayden Dupuis showed a lot of people that he can run with the little big dawgs.
If you go to the Mini O’s, a photo with all this stuff in the background is a must.
I met Evan Thalman for the first time right here when he couldn’t get his bike re-fired. He didn’t care that he was heading to the LCQ, he just wanted more time on the track.
It’s always good to see Tegan Kortenbach and his dad at these big US races. And they had Marty the Dog with them, and that’s always a bonus. One of the best dogs you’re going to meet.
Mike Bottos and his wife were pretty happy with his finishes at this year’s event.
Many of the riders went with the sand tire.
I know this is a non-riding column, but this Seth Dennis move was pretty cool, so…
Mike and Barry Carsten became fast friends this year.
The Kenny Bland/Love Brothers story is both heart warming and heart wrenching. Great to see these guys ripping it up.
Kolton Love and #828 Karson Love are “living with Usher Syndrome, a rare disease that affects hearing and vision. They were there to spread awareness and show the world that nothing can hold you back. Only their second year racing and first time at Mini O’s.”
They had these little Challenge Boards made up to remind them of what they were trying to work on.
Future champions?
Probably listening to a news podcast.
Kolton and Bowynn Rivett hanging out in staging.
Check it out, we made ‘Faces at the Races’!
You’re in charge of reminding me I have this photo in 10 years.
And #159 is Kipton Rivett from Everett, ON.
A preposition is anything a squirrel can do to a log.
That’s younger Sylvestre brother, Theo.
Try to cheer up, Jacqueline Ross.
I’m blanking on Mike’s wife’s name, so they get 3 shots in here.
I don’t always have to type something!
I have spent an awful lot of American Thanksgivings at the Mini O’s.
I like to plug Hatt Automotive in Calgary when I get the chance. Plus, I think this is funny.
Morning motos later in the week were actually very cold. And I’m not just saying that, it was -1C early on.
Even Ottawa winter-hardened Canadians like Adam Powell had their hoods up!
The top 10 have to stay in this corral after each moto to make sure there are no protests. I’m protesting that number font…
Chandler Powell watching the live broadcast to check out the track conditions.
While we had some time during MX practice, Andy Kerr took me around the pits in a golf cart and we caught up with as many Canadians as we could find. That’s Tegan inside the Thalman trailer.
But we found Evan and actually did a little video interview with him. It’s up on our YouTube channel.
Doing some tire work in the Kurtz pit.
I joked with Niko Holmes that he fell in love with Lotte Van Drunen. He ended up chasing her around a lot in the MX portion of the week.
Pretty trick-looking bikes in the Raycin Kyler pit. Are the cool kids still saying “trick”?
I’m sure I heard these kids say it!
Sometimes I forget what it’s like to be at these races as a kid…
That’s Kade and Parker making wure this little 1-second section is properly prepped for Hayden’s big move.
We were looking for Canadian plates and found #506 Audrey Rosser from Strathroy, ON in her pits.
Not Canadian but this will be memorable when he’s the 2039 Supercross Champ.
Kyle Snelgrove ready for another moto with Nathan.
Here’s the obligatory shot for #737 Tavin Krutop from Sun Peaks, BC. Hey, my sister used to live there!
Mike Jones in the house!
2008 flashback!
Kiana Kurtz raced Women 12+ and 250 C Junior in MX.
I was a little cold one morning and J-to-the-Ro told me she had a hat I could wear. This was that hat.
Olivier Sylvestre had some good rides in Florida.
Ryan and Austin Kukielka heading to the line.
Inside gate for Hayden. I like his attitude.
Hey look, it’s SHawn Rife again.
Jason with Bryson Burke.
I never did talk to the Watson guys.
It was extra cold for Florida locals like Greg Brotman from Rad MX.
Little kids probably look and just see some guy standing at the side of the track. But that’s Buddy Antunez, man!
I don’t remember who this ripper is, but he thanked Dirt Care, so he makes it in.
When your name is Rydin Williams, the die is cast.
Wyatt Kerr grabbed 2nd in Collegeboy.
That’s Tyler Shewchyk and Chris Egan from Guaranteed Comfort Racing. Tyler tried to get in but it was sold out.
Jacqueline and Joe Ross.
Mayla Herrick was the only North American on the Women 12+ MX podium in 2nd.
Van Drunen with the win.
Sorry, Chandler.
Parker Hatt with a coveted Mini O’s trophy.
That’s #23 Beckham Smith getting the Bronze Boot Award. His speech was classic.
A couple of beauties right here. That’s Brendan Goldstein and Kyle Swanson.
Tristan Prueitt stood out on the #7 all week.

And then we all hopped in our vehicles and headed for home. It rained and then snowed my entire drive north. My plan was to pull over a couple times and try some new MTB spots, but the weather put an end to any of that.

Another great week of racing with probably more Canadians than I’ve ever seen at this event. The only way the Mini O’s can get bigger is to keep adding days to the schedule. What a crazy problem to have!

“See you at the races…zzzzzzz“
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