Out of the Blue | Amélie Croteau | Brought to You by Schrader’s

Out of the Blue | Amélie Croteau | Brought to You by Schrader’s

This week, we feature National #8 Amélie Croteau in our ‘Out of the Blue’ WMX column brought to you by Schrader’s

By Jensen Amyotte

Name: Amélie Croteau

Date of Birth: April 10, 2007

Hometown: I was born in Victoriaville, Quebec, and moved to Ontario a couple of months ago

Grade or Occupation: I didn’t graduate high school, as I started working for my dad’s welding business at 15 while focussing heavily on riding. This year, my goal is to graduate, pursue a career in either paramedicine or nutrition, continue working, and ride as much as possible

Race Number: 8

Bike: Guaranteed Comfort Racing Team Honda 250F

Race Club: Triple Crown Series

Classes: WMX

Who inspired me to get onto a dirt bike?

My sister Isabelle Thibault inspired me to get on a dirt bike. I grew up watching her and admiring the constant effort she put in without ever giving up. She didn’t have it easy, but she became a champion. 

I’ve been around this sport forever, but I’ve never seen someone so dedicated to winning, even after going through heavy crashes. She fell eight times but got back up nine. She scared us a couple of times (lol), but she always walked out of the hospital stronger. 

She was aggressive, fearless, and an absolute badass on the track. I hope I can be even half of the rider she was.

Today, she’s the best mom ever, and she still inspires me to be the best version of myself every day . 

Do you have any pre-race rituals?

I would say my pre-race rituals have always stayed the same. I roll my hands over the grips, shake my hands, ALWAYS, give a hug to the person that’s on the gate with me, say a quick prayer, tell my close people that I love them, and try to focus as much as I can telling myself that I’ve got this no matter where I finish. 

I’m also superstitious in funny ways. If I had a good moto wearing a red gear, black gloves, a black helmet, and white boots, I’ll always want to wear that same setup again without changing any details. 

What’s your favourite track and why?

I’d have to go with MX Deschambault as my favourite track. I’ve ridden a lot of tracks in my life, but there’s never been a single time I went to Deschambault and didn’t have fun. The hills, the sand, it’s just such a fun and challenging layout when it gets rough. It’s one of my home tracks, and I simply love riding there.

What kind of track / dirt / terrain do you feel you have excel at most and why?

I’ve always been stronger and faster on sand tracks. Growing up, I rode in the sand weekend after weekend, so it’s where I feel the most confident and competitive. It really suits my riding style.

Hard pack tracks are more challenging for me. I’m not always as comfortable there, but I see that as an opportunity for growth. It’s something I need to keep working on and I’m focused on becoming a more complete rider on all types of terrain.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to any female at any age who wants to start riding?

If I could give one piece of advice to any female, at any age who wants to start riding, it would be this: Don’t let anyone, especially men, tell you that you can’t do it or that you’re not capable of achieving what you dream about. Your goals are valid and you belong in this sport just as much as anyone else.

If you truly want to improve, don’t be afraid to put in the hours on the bike. Progress comes from consistency, hard work, and pushing yourself a little further each time. Be willing to do the extra laps, the extra training, and the extra work that’s where the difference is made. Believe in yourself, stay dedicated, and never be afraid to take up space. 

What are your plans for the upcoming season and any specific events you’re looking forward to? 

For this upcoming season, I’m especially excited to race out west for the first time. It’s a new challenge, and I’m looking forward to experiencing different tracks, competition, and conditions. 

My goal this year is to get as many gate drops as possible and stay consistent throughout the season. I plan on competing in AMO events, Challenge Québec, and the full Triple Crown Series in the WMX class. Performance wise, I want to be a consistent front-runner, fight for top 5 finishes at every round, and continue building toward championship-level results.

More than anything, I want to show growth every time I line up on the gate and prove to myself that the work I’m putting in is paying off.

What’s one of the biggest lessons racing has thought you?

The biggest lesson racing has taught me so far is that you can be going through a lot in your personal life and still show up. You might not always perform at your full potential during those times, and that’s okay. What matters most is that you don’t quit or give up when things get hard.

Racing has taught me resilience, to keep fighting, to stay patient with myself and to trust the process. If you truly love the sport, you owe it to yourself to keep showing up, keep putting in the work and continuing to believe until you achieve what you’re chasing.

I would be lying if I said I’ve never lost a lot of motivation along the way. There have definitely been moments of doubt. But those moments don’t define you. How you respond to them does!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

That’s a great question and one I really like. More than anything, I want to grow up to be the best mom I can possibly be. I want to raise strong, resilient kids who know how to fight through challenges and believe in themselves.

I want to be someone they can look up to, but also someone they feel safe talking to, their biggest supporter. I hope to share my love for racing with them and show them how fun and meaningful the sport can be. At the end of the day, I just want to lead by example and teach them that with passion, hard work and heart, anything is possible.

Who would you like to thank? 

I want to start by thanking the people closest to me, my boyfriend Chris and his dad Steph. Without their support, guidance and belief in me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. They’ve stood by my side through the highs and the lows, constantly pushing me to be better while reminding me why I love this sport. 

I also want to thank my team, Guaranteed Comfort Racing. The owner, Chris Egan, and the team manager Brayden! Without their trust and support, I wouldn’t even be lining up on the gate. Being part of this team means a lot to me and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent them.

It truly takes a strong group of people behind you to chase big goals, and I don’t take that support for granted.