Spanish-based former Albertan Ethan Reardon made history today in Valencia, Spain, becoming the first racer from Canada to qualify for the newly renamed Motul MotoMINI World Championships, taking place in support of the final FIM MotoGP World Championship event of the season this weekend.

Canada has entered a team for the past three seasons in the Ohvale 160 spec division, starting with Champ Michael Galvis and Ben Hardwick in 2023, the 2024 squad of Champ Lincoln Scott and Jager Stockhill and this year’s qualifiers from the Nationals, new number one Stockill and Ethan Reardon. All bikes, spec tires, Giuseppe leathers, KYT helmets, and related items are provided for the contestants to ensure the levelest possible playing field.

Wednesday’s on track action opened with Free Practice Four (FP4) on a cool but dry surface, Polish racer Jan Babiarz racing for the Czech Republic setting the best time at 43.87 seconds. Reardon set a “hail Mary” 44.9 last lap, about a second from his best time set of the event – so far. In the second warm-up, Malaysia’s Al-Adam Mikail was best at 45.06 seconds, Stockill tenth with a tour at 46.51.

These results moved Stockill into the upcoming Q1 sessions, with the bottom 19 racers in the field out to determine their grid spots for the afternoon’s Q races. Reardon was in better shape, not in his top 12 but also not in the bottom 18, meaning he would advance to a separate Q2 session at lunch time, based on the complicated World rules.

Stockill was tenth in the Q1 session with a tour at 46.12, while Hong Kong’s Cheung Yan Kit set the pace with a 44.86 edort. Even though he was sliding the rear tire more than he would have liked, Stockill was satisfied he was ready for his next race. The Canadian Champ also faced the reality that he was one of the biggest and heaviest competitors on track in the 160 division, with most of the physically larger competitors on the big wheel 190 Ohvales.

Moving on to Q2 for the midfielders, and Reardon was pushing early, setting the seventh best time to earn a transfer directly to Thursday morning’s first race – although it took a little time to confirm his position. Reardon set a strong lap at 44.81, close to pace setter Muhammad Ali (not the legendary boxer!) at 44.58. At just .23 seconds od the ultimate pace, Reardon had lots to be proud of, and the strong Canadian contingent on hand was thrilled.

Stockill would need to place in the top two in his first race to be sure of a race start on Thursday, and an od-track trip in turn five after a shifting issues meant that 13th was the best he could do, turning a fastest lap of 45.75 sec. This meant that Stockill would start his second Q race from 14th on a grid of 22 but require a win to advance.

Stockill pushed hard in race two, and made it up to 12th overall, just ten seconds back of winner Yan Kit. Stockill best lap was a 45.51, with the winner setting a solid 44.77 pace.

After the race, Stockill was please with his consistency, in his last ever race on an Ohvale 160 after two solid years in the series – a move to the planned-for-Canada next season 190 category might be in the cards.

Former double National Bridgestone csbk Pro Super Sport Champ “T.V. Tommy” Casas (a Honda 125 and 250 spec racer decades ago), on hand to coach the Canadians, indicated that “Stockill was at a large disadvantage, but kept working and came in from his last race with a big smile after riding consistently at a strong pace – it was just what he needed.”

The Thursday Schedule in Valencia calls for Reardon’s opening 160 race at 9am local time, with Race Two at 10:30am. After lunch, the final 160 Ohvale race will start at 1 pm, with double points awarded compared to the single points only available in the first two races.

The Championship podium Ceramony is slated for 14:35pm.