Frid’Eh Update #12 | Sebastien Racine | Brought to You by Dirt Care

Frid’Eh Update #12 | Sebastien Racine | Brought to You by Dirt Care

Frid’Eh Update #12 belongs to Sebastien Racine from Casselman, ON and is brought to you by Dirt Care cleaners and lubricants.

By Billy Rainford

Welcome to Week #12 of the DMX Frid’Eh Update brought to you by Dirt Care. Yes, all our snow is gone here in London, but it wasn’t easy! In fact, we got some fresh stuff just a couple nights ago. It stayed for a couple days before the daylong rain took it all down the gutters and into the river.

So, now the weather is getting better but I’m getting worse! You’ve read me complain about being a little sick after getting home from Daytona and Indianapolis, well, it developed into my first bout of pneumonia. Fun stuff.

I woke up in the middle of the night absolutely freezing and shaking uncontrollably. It’s called Rigors, apparently. I had been staying downstairs in an attempt to help Emily avoid catching this nonsense. Of course, I wandered upstairs and asked her what was up – it was 4:00am.

Em has worked in Emerge and a nurse for many years, it’s touch to impress her with an illness or an injury, but when she saw this action, she knew I was dealing with more than a silly “Man Cold” this time.

We went into the hospital in the morning and had a chest X-ray and even one of those damn COVID nose rooters too! Yep, turned out there was a nice little bit of pneumonia going on, so I was prescribed some antibiotics and off I went.

Needless to say, it put an end to my thoughts of heading south again to the Birmingham Supercross on Saturday. I’ll just get back to lying on the floor in front of the TV.

That being said, I’d like to apologize for my lack of production this past week. It’s been a pretty long few days of basically doing nothing and not enjoying it. Relaxing is fun when it’s not forced on you. Just like being alone. What I’m also trying to say is…this Update will be brief.

Sebastien Racine is career #12 and it’s his week for the Update Interview. Three of the biggest things any racer can change are changing for Sebastien in 2026 – he’s moving up to the 450 class, he’ll be riding new bike brand, and will be on a new team.

We’ve seen him ride a 450 before and he looks great on them. We saw this particular bike and team win the 450 title in 2025, so you’d think all of these changes should be made at least a little easier given these details.

I’ve chased Seb and his family around for about as long as I’ve been back in Ontario covering races! I’d see him at all the big American Amateur Nationals across the USA when he had the big #2 on his bike.

He’s currently down south training. He’s with some close friends from Canada but not with the rider who will be his 250 teammate, Vincent Wey. Vincent is currently racing the Amateur Nationals and the SMX Next series.

I stopped in at GPF on my way north from Daytona. Sebastien was done riding for the day but we did a little interview:

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A post shared by DIRECT MOTOCROSS (@directmotocross)

Here’s what he had to say when we dug a little deeper this week:

Direct Motocross: Hello again, Sebastien. We just saw you down at GPF a couple weeks ago and did a short video interview with you there. I’ll add that in here. But let’s get into a little more detail on things with you. You finished 3rd in the 2025 Canadian Triple Crown Series 250 Motocross Nationals. You were on the podium 3 times and took the win at your old team’s home track at Sand Del Lee. Take us through what that win meant for you and them. I remember you were very close there before. 

Sebastien Racine: 2025 had its share of ups and downs, but overall it was a successful season. Getting my first win at Sand Del Lee meant a lot, especially after coming so close in 2022. To finally achieve it in 2025, in front of the hometown crowd and alongside the whole team, was an incredible feeling.

Speaking of the series, as a racer, what are your thoughts on the series only being 8 rounds and not going into BC? Would you comment on that?

I get paid to race dirt bikes, so I can’t complain too much, but it would definitely be nice to have a longer series. We train for four months to prepare, and the series only lasts about two and a half months. At the end of the day, I still get to ride my dirt bike and do what I love.

For you, what’s the biggest thing you had to learn when you jumped up to the 450?

I’ve always loved riding the 450 and have always felt comfortable on one, so the switch has been pretty natural. That said, learning the new bike is where I’m growing the most right now. I’m figuring things out and improving every day.

This isn’t as dumb a question as it sounds at first, but are you faster on the 450?

For sure, I think my riding style suits the 450 really well, and it allows me to be much more precise and much faster.

Going from Yamaha to Kawasaki, what was the biggest thing you had to get used to on the track?

I’d have to say the weight of the bike. It’s not much heavier, but it has a different feel when cornering. That’s been the hardest thing to get used to so far.

How did your time at GPF go? Did you have a good group to ride and train with?

GPF was good, but very busy! I was down there with Ayrton Pomeroy and Ryan Mott, so it was great to have a few friends to ride with, talk about the track, and relax with after the riding was done.

And now you’re at Club 57 at WW Ranch in Florida. How are things going there? Do you train with Brad Jerominski?

So far, it’s been amazing! I do my riding with Brad, and I do my own gym work using a program that Rob Mouland set up for me.

And I know your old friend Jess Pettis is also there. Sure, it’s just training right now, but I know you’re both paying attention to it: How is your speed compared to his?

It’s been great riding with Jess! It gives me a clear idea of where I need to be to be competitive in the 450 class. My speed is there, but I need to focus on my longer motos so I can maintain that pace for the full race.

Do you guys hang out for cycling or anything now that you’re on different teams and in the same class?

Jess and I are good buddies. We spent pretty much all of last winter training together. Just because I changed teams doesn’t mean I won’t go see him or talk with him!

I’ll ask that again after Round 2. Lol Are you tempted to race any of the big Amateur Nationals down there this winter and spring to get gate drops or no?

For sure. There was the Pax Money Race I really wanted to do, but I’d only had a few days on the bike at that point. Right now, the focus is on getting the training in and dialing the bike in exactly where I want it, then we’ll line up and go racing.

How long will you stay down south? The snow is gone up here!

I’m staying down here until April 11, and then I’ll start making my way to Ontario for the first AMO, which will be at Gopher Dunes. I’ll be at Gopher Dunes and definitely at Sand Del Lee. Other than that, I’ll see what else comes up, maybe I’ll get the chance to race a few more before are season starts.

And how is Steve Simms to deal with now that he’s the team owner over there at SSR Kawasaki? 

Steve has been amazing so far! Anytime I have ideas about the bike or requests for the suspension, he’s on it right away.

I guess I’ll end it with this question that I’m sure you saw coming: What are you expecting from yourself this summer and what will it take for you to call your rookie 450 season a success?

I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself since it’s my first 450 season on a new bike, but I definitely want to grab some podiums and learn as much as possible. I think if I bring my speed and skills, there’s no reason I can’t mix it up with the top guys.

Thanks, Sebastien, and good luck. Who do you want to thank?

Thanks.

Kawasaki
Steve Simms Racing
Drink Kelo
Silkolene Fuchs
TCD
Dunlop
Renegade
HRF
Og’s
Hinson
DID
Backyard designs
Journey plumping
Boyesen
Mechanix wear
FLO
Mika
ASV
X-Trig
Tm designs
P3 carbon
80 grit
HLS pools
FCP
RP race wheels
RP exhaust
Guts
Twin air
Works connection
Motomaster
Acerbis

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RIP Larry McCaw

Losing Larry McCaw hit me pretty hard when I heard the news. Back when I first moved back to Ontario from Vancouver, Darren Pilling AKA Pillow on MX Forum and I flew out to New Brunswick for the 2007 River Glade National.

Earlier in the year, I’d lost a bet with Pillow about Josh Hansen finishing on the podium in Supercross that season. He actually dropped out of the series. Oh well, a loss is a loss, and I don’t welch!

The loser of this bet had to drink 12 warm Budweisers. Yes, you heard me.

Well, Pillow thought Amateur Day on Saturday would be a great place for me to pay my debt, so that’s what we did.

“I’ll tell you what, wherever you are, let’s all raise a glass to Larry as the gate drops for the 450 Main at the Birmingham Supercross Saturday night.”

Darren went into the liquor store right by the Big Stop and grabbed the 12-pack of Bud that was sitting farthest from any kind of refrigeration. In cans.

I knew they were only going to get worse, so I started right away. I was right too, because some people in the pits even got out heat guns to warm them up further! Some held them in the inside of their bent knees to help too.

Anyway, as I worked my way through my debt, Larry kept up with it all very publicly over the PA system. I remember him asking what number I was on and how I was doing. I think in 2007, I was only known as my surfing nickname, “Bigwave Billy,” so that’s what he kept saying.

Larry was keenly interested in this debt payment, and I think maritimers just enjoy this type of thing more than most anyway, but I remember throughout the entire day hearing him ask how it was going and keeping everyone up to date on my condition. It was 2007, of course I made it!

From that day on, we were buddies.

I also remember when I did the Pirate Radio audiocasts from the Nationals in 2009 I could always count on frequent radar weather updates as the race days progressed: “There’s a pretty good-sized cell due to hit you in about 35 minutes!” He was on the money for the Ste Thecle race that summer!

A few years ago, Larry stopped being the guy in the booth. It was pretty well known that he was dealling with some health issues, but I didn’t know exactly what they were.

Let’s all raise an ICE COLD drink in his honour this weekend. I’ll tell you what, wherever you are, let’s all raise a glass to Larry as the gate drops for the 450 Main at the Birmingham Supercross Saturday night. I’m in! But just one…

To Larry!

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I know this Update was a little short, and I will be sure to remedy that for next week as the Monster Energy AMA Supercross heads to Detroit. Speaking of which, I think I should have some tickets to give away for the race at Ford Field, so keep an eye out for how you can win.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend. Oh, if you were wondering if Emily managed to not get sick? She just messaged me from work and the answer appears to be a resounding…NO.