Australia has long been a country that produces World class riders and be it in the AMA or FIM series, Aussies have stood tall. You would need to go back to the 1980s when Jeff Leisk was the first Australian to make waves around the World with a Yamaha factory team in USA and then signing with Honda.

Leisk scored several top three results in the AMA 125cc motocross and AMA supercross in 1987 and followed that up with the same in the 500cc motocross in 1988 and a couple of top three results in the AMA 250 supercross championship, but by the end of that season, he was off to Europe to battle for World honours, finishing second in the World in 1989, before retiring back to Australia in 1990s.

What followed was obviously Chad Reed, Brett Metcalfe, Micheal Byrne, Andrew McFarlane, Todd Waters, Dean Ferris, and the Lawrence brothers, all keeping Australia on the World map in the sport of motocross.

Now, in 2025, while the Lawrence brothers fight back from injuries and will no doubt find more success in USA in the future, another young Aussie has put his hand up to continue the love affair Australia has with Grand Prix motocross.

Back in 2023, a young Australian called Jake Cannon arrived in Bucharest for the World Junior Championship and placed a very impressive fifth overall behind names like current MX2 chargers, Mathis Valin and Janis Reisulis. It was just the start of what would become a desire to race in Europe full-time and in 2025, that opportunity came with the Bud Racing Kawasaki team, in the EMX250 championship.

Now, as the 2024 MX3 Australian champion, Cannon arrives in Europe as a 17 year old without family, something we have seen time and time again with young racers from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. For these international racers, the test of their characters is enormous. We just had to catch up with Cannon and ask him about his goals for 2025 and is Europe what he expected it to be as a teenager trying to find his way.

MXLarge: Tell me, 17 years old and without family. I am always impressed with people who do that, because compared to Australia, Europe is a very different place. How has that gone so far?

Cannon: It is definitely hard living by myself, living in a place not many people speak English, but I am lucky, I am in a good area, right next to the team and they help me a lot, so they are like family. That has made it easy to adjust, so its been good. I feel like I have adjusted pretty well.

MXLarge: You hear so many stories and I remember when a young New Zealander came at a young age and he said he used to cry himself to sleep sometimes. You haven’t had any moments like that?

Cannon: It hasn’t been too bad just yet. Sure, as the racing begins and if I have a bad weekend, I might get lonely and want to go home, but its been pretty good so far and I have talked to my parents every night, so it isn’t too bad.

MXlarge: Your sister is Charli Cannon right?

Cannon: Yes, she is my sister and hasn’t done too bad for herself. She has done some Women’s World championship rounds.

MXlarge: You have raced in America, this year also for the Bud Team, but is that the end goal or you just wanted to do that for fun?

Cannon: I watched all the GPs since I was little and also the AMA supercross and motocross. I wanted to get my name out there. I am from Queensland and won the Australian championship last year (MX3) and thought, I want to go somewhere else, expand and come here. It has been a dream to race MXGP, but whether I end up in America, or stay in Europe, wherever.

MXlarge: The Bud team seem pretty open minded in racing difference series and you raced in America. How did that go?

Cannon: I went early in January and trained for the one SX Future race. I qualified P3 in the last qualifier and was just learning the track as the day went on. I was P5 overall, but close in times. The race didn’t start well, as I came off in the start straight and that ended my race.

MXLarge: With the Bud team, will you just do EMX250 or also some supercross for the team in France?

Cannon: I believe I might do some of the French supercross and depending how that goes maybe some World Supercross at the end of the year, but for now, the main focus is the EMX250 championship. Try and stay safe for that and then do some supercross, as I feel I am good at that also. We have spoken about maybe going back to America to do the futures for the motocross later in the year, but again, we will just see. I want to go back next year and give it another crack with the team and have some fun.

MXLarge: What was the goal as a kid, AMA or Grand Prix racing?

Cannon: I mean, I have had the goal to be World champion and I am into the MXGP and AMA pretty much the same way, similar interest. I didn’t care where I went, just race World class riders and I am now here.

MXlarge: Any chance of doing a wildcard ride for the Australian Grand Prix in September?

Cannon: I mean, it would be cool to do it, but I also have the French motocross rounds and it would be a lot for the team to go, but if the opportunity arose, I would be happy to do it.

MXLarge: Do you have hero’s in the sport, or follow the other Aussies racing around the World?

Cannon: I admire a few people, but I don’t have a specific person I look up to, I just take notes of everyone and just try and learn.

MXLarge: How would you describe yourself as a person, but also your riding style?

Cannon: Probably, I don’t know really to be honest. I am kind of a calculating rider, but I really cannot give you an answer on that. I prefer tracks with clay and deep ruts, I go better in those conditions. I am good in sand, but it isn’t my preferenace.

MXLarge: I would assume coming to Europe and being along here, you really find out a lot about yourself. Have you found that?

Cannon: It is an eye opener, talking to new people, meeting new people, something I don’t usually do. It has been great and I have learnt a lot, not just about motocross, but also about myself.

MXlarge: What are the goals for the EMX250 championship?

Cannon: Definitely be a front, top three, but I would be happy to be top five in the championship. I do want to be top three, and I would be disappointed if I didn’t get that.

Bud Racing images