Australian teenager Jake Cannon delivered a career-best performance over two motos across the weekend at Matterley Basin, securing his first-ever EMX250 podium with third overall at the British round of the European Motocross Championship.
Racing for the Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki team, Cannon came into the weekend with momentum after recent progress in the French Elite series and used a strong qualifying result on Saturday to set up his best performance of the season.
In the opening moto on Saturday, Cannon nailed a top-five start from sixth gate pick and slotted in behind teammate Francisco Garcia through turn one. Showing composure beyond his years, he settled into a race-long battle with the series leader, making two calculated passes at the halfway point to move into second and form a Bud Racing 1-2. He held off the pressure for several laps before eventually conceding a position in the closing stages, crossing the line in a hard-fought third place.
“I’m very happy with how everything went all day,” Cannon reflected after moto one. “I always knew I could do it, but it was all in my head. Today I put it together—P4 in Free Practice, sixth in Timed Practice, and then a top-five start. I rode to the conditions and got through to second behind my teammate. It’s a great feeling to be up here and a nice birthday present for the boss to put both of us on the podium today.”
On Sunday, Cannon backed up his Saturday success with another confident ride in changing track conditions. The Matterley Basin circuit had been heavily watered overnight to combat the previous day’s dust, creating slick and deeply rutted terrain. Still, the young Queenslander made another strong start, passing through the pits in third on the opening lap. He briefly lost a couple of spots but regained composure by mid-race, executing a clean move to reclaim fourth. From there, he sprinted clear to the finish, earning fourth in the moto and sealing third overall for the round.
“I’m over the moon—finally on the podium!” Cannon beamed after Sunday’s race. “I had a consistent weekend and finally showed everyone what I’m capable of. The track was really wet and slippery today so you had to hit your marks. It’s been a special moment, especially with my family here this weekend all the way from Australia.”
The result marks a major milestone in Cannon’s debut European season, lifting him to 13th in the EMX250 standings and just 24 points outside the top seven. His 38-point haul over the weekend was a clear statement of intent heading into the final rounds.
Team owner Stéphane Dassé was thrilled with the performance from both of his young riders, with Garcia going 1-1 to win the overall and Cannon joining him on the podium.
“What a weekend for the team, with a double win for Francisco and the first podium for Jake in the European championship,” Dassé said. “They truly gave me a nice birthday present! We’re very happy with them—they work hard, train well, and bring a great atmosphere to the team. We made a good choice when we signed them.”
With the confidence of a podium finish and the support of a strong team, Cannon now turns his focus to finishing his rookie EMX season on a high.
