WILSON SECOND, McADOO THIRD AS KMG DELIVERS STRONG WORLD SUPERCROSS OPENING ROUND IN CALGARY!

Dean Wilson has finished second overall, while Cameron McAdoo secured third in SX2 as Konsky Motorsport Group (KMG) opened its 2026 World Supercross Championship campaign in Calgary, Canada, with a strong weekend of results despite a dramatic and weather-affected conclusion to the opening round.

KMG fielded four riders across the SX1 and SX2 categories, with Wilson and Christian Craig competing for Quad Lock Honda in SX1, while McAdoo and Brodie Connolly represented the team in SX2, McAdoo racing a Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki.

The opening round delivered a mixture of strong qualifying performances, podium results, valuable championship points and, ultimately, frustration after the final SX1 race was cancelled due to severe weather.

The third and final SX1 race was stopped before completion after a torrential storm hit the venue, with powerful winds blowing banners, track markers and debris onto the circuit. With the conditions becoming unsafe, officials made the decision to cancel the race.

While disappointing for the riders, particularly with Wilson sitting comfortably in second and Craig running third at the time, KMG Team Owner Yarrive Konsky acknowledged that the decision to cancel the race was the correct one.

“It was disappointing because Dean and Christian were both in a really strong position and we were heading towards what could have been a very strong final race for the team,” said Konsky.

“But once the wind and rain came through, it became unsafe. We had track markers and debris being blown onto the circuit, and ultimately the riders’ safety has to come first. Cancelling the race was the right decision, awarding no points wasn’t.”

McAdoo returns to racing through KMG, under Pro Circuit!

In the SX2 category, KMG operated a unique program with support from Mitch Payton’s Pro Circuit team, with Payton making provisions for Cameron McAdoo to compete under the KMG licence.

McAdoo has a long-standing relationship with Konsky, having won his first professional race for Konsky’s Australian team at the 2018 Aus-X Open in Sydney.

Returning from an injury sustained earlier in the season, McAdoo approached the weekend with a measured focus on getting back into race conditions rather than immediately chasing the overall result.

The American finished third overall and leaves Calgary with valuable championship points and, perhaps more importantly, confidence.

“Firstly, what a cool event, a new venue, new fans and a really cool experience,” said McAdoo.

“Yarrive asked me to race, Mitch was cool with it, they have worked together before with his team and Ben Townley, and I have raced with Yarrive before, so it all came together pretty naturally.

“Overall, my result was solid. Sure, I would have liked to be further up, even on the top step, but this weekend wasn’t really about that for me. It was about getting gate drops, racing and having fun on my motorcycle again.

“I am happy with the points I bagged and I’m looking forward to Round 2.”

Connolly impresses in World Supercross debut

Quad Lock Honda’s Brodie Connolly made his Supercross debut with the team and produced a solid performance, finishing equal fifth overall and sixth on countback.

For the young New Zealander, the objective for the opening round was straightforward: finish, learn and build confidence.

Connolly improved throughout the night, with his second race providing a particular highlight as he ran within half a second of riders with AMA race victories to their names.

“I got better as the night went on, with my second race being the highlight,” said Connolly.

“I was less than half a second a lap behind guys who have won races in the AMA, so that gives me a lot of confidence.

“My goal and the team’s goal was simple, finish, learn and find my feet. We did that.

“I’ve got two months until Round 2 and I’m excited to get back to work. This weekend has done a lot for my confidence.”

Wilson qualifies fastest as Quad Lock Honda shows its pace

In SX1, Dean Wilson and Christian Craig were competitive from their first laps on Saturday.

Wilson qualified fastest, taking P1 in qualifying, with Craig third fastest, providing an early indication that the Quad Lock Honda package had the pace to challenge at the front.

The result was particularly significant given the team was competing against two established factory-backed operations.

“We are racing against two factory teams and we were competitive,” said Wilson.

“The bikes were solid and I was happy with qualifying. The team has put a lot of effort into this and it was good to see that reflected in the times.”

Craig also praised the team’s response after struggling with the altitude during Friday’s practice sessions.

“On Friday in practice we struggled with the altitude and the bike wasn’t where it needed to be,” said Craig.

“The team and I went over everything, and I have to say thank you to everyone because they didn’t stop working on it.

“The turnaround was next level. It was a completely different bike on race day. This team is coming around and I’m really grateful for the work everyone has put in.”

Wilson and Craig finished third and fifth respectively in the opening race, both riders having to work their way forward after difficult starts.

Wilson backed that up with another third-place finish in Race 2, while Craig was forced to settle for 11th after a heavy crash.

After two races, Wilson sat second in the championship standings, with Craig eighth.

KMG raises parity concerns over electric motorcycle

While Konsky was pleased with the team’s performance, he remained critical of the decision to allow an electric motorcycle to compete against conventional naturally aspirated internal-combustion motorcycles without specific measures to account for the significant change in operating conditions created by altitude.

The issue, he says, is not opposition to electric motorcycles competing in the championship, but the need to ensure genuine performance parity when fundamentally different powertrains are competing against one another.

Calgary’s altitude highlighted the issue.

Naturally aspirated internal-combustion engines rely on atmospheric air entering the engine. As altitude increases, air density decreases, meaning there is less oxygen available for combustion and, unless compensated for through the engine’s systems, less potential power.

An electric motorcycle does not rely on atmospheric oxygen to generate its power. Its power delivery therefore does not experience the same fundamental reduction associated with air density.

That means the relative performance of the two technologies can change as altitude increases.

Konsky believes that if electric and internal-combustion motorcycles are to compete directly, the governing body has an obligation to properly understand and control those variables before allowing them to race for the same championship points.

“I was opposed to Stark Racing entering the championship because my concern was never about electric motorcycles, I actually think the technology has a place in racing,” said Konsky.

“My concern was always parity. If you are going to put two fundamentally different powertrains into the same championship, you have to understand how the conditions affect each of them and have a system in place to make sure neither technology is given an uncontrolled advantage.

“Altitude was a major factor in Calgary. A naturally aspirated combustion engine is fundamentally affected by reduced air density because there is less oxygen available for combustion. An electric motorcycle doesn’t have that same dependency on atmospheric oxygen.

“That doesn’t automatically mean the electric motorcycle is faster everywhere, but it does mean the relative performance can change significantly depending on the conditions.

“We were told by the FIM official that altitude had not been considered in the parity assessment. For me, that is a significant concern.

“If we’re going to have different technologies competing for the same championship, the governing body has to be ahead of these variables, not discovering them once we’re at the race.

“I don’t have an issue with electric motorcycles racing. I have an issue with putting different technologies on the same start line without properly establishing and controlling parity.

“That is about protecting the integrity of the championship for every manufacturer, every team and every rider.”

Weather brings an early end to SX1 finale

The final SX1 race initially appeared to be setting up for another strong result for Quad Lock Honda.

With four laps remaining, Wilson was comfortably positioned in second, with Craig immediately behind him in third. Both riders had established a significant gap over fourth position.

Then the weather arrived.

A torrential storm swept across the venue, with strong winds blowing banners, track markers and other debris onto the circuit. The podium structure was also knocked over as conditions deteriorated.

With rider safety compromised, officials cancelled the race before the field could complete the required distance for championship points to be awarded.

The cancellation denied Wilson and Craig the opportunity to finish what had been shaping as a strong final moto.

Wilson nevertheless leaves Calgary second in the championship standings.

“We had the bike tonight,” said Wilson.

“I got filled off the line and in some of the corners I couldn’t see because there was so much dirt in my eyes in both races, so that was a bit of a bummer.

“But there are plenty of positives. We qualified first, we sit second in the championship and I’m happy with where I’m at.

“Bring on Round 2. These are literally two home races for me, so I’m excited.”

Craig currently sits eighth in the championship, although his final position does not reflect the pace he showed throughout the opening round.

For KMG, the Calgary opener provided a strong foundation across both classes, with Wilson establishing himself as an early SX1 championship contender, McAdoo returning to racing with a podium, Connolly building valuable Supercross experience and Craig demonstrating the pace of the Quad Lock Honda package despite a difficult second race.

The championship now moves into its next phase, with the team returning to work ahead of Round 2.