What began as a chance meeting between an ambitious young Estonian rider and a Canadian racing coordinator quickly grew into a two-decade partnership that continues to connect Canadian motorsport infrastructure with Estonia’s top athletic talent.
Reflecting on that 2005 season, Laansoo noted that ending up in the United States was more than a dream come true, even though an early injury cut his racing goals short in North America. That setback eventually pushed him toward a new chapter in life. Today, Laansoo operates the main Honda dealership in Tallinn, running the sole single-brand motorcycle dealership of its kind in Estonia. Operating a power-sports business in a small northern nation with a six-to-seven-month riding season presents significant operational hurdles. Laansoo credits his family, dedicated dealership staff, and the discipline he developed through international athletics for keeping the business thriving despite the long winter offseason. Laansoo pointed out that Myre possesses his own brand of persistence, remarking that only someone with exceptional dedication could remain a reliable fixture in the motocross industry as a supporter for so many years. Former Estonian Motorcycling Federation chief Rauno Voldek echoed that appreciation, recalling when he first met Myre when they organized Team Estonia’s participation in the 2018 Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in the United States together. Over two decades, Myre has served as an essential operational coordinator for Team Estonia during international competitions, handling everything from team gear production to venue logistics and translation services.
Photo gallery
Scenes of Team Estonia at Motocross of Nations in the past
Supporting Estonian riders is a complex logistical exercise and a matter of deep personal commitment for Myre. When the Motocross of Nations is hosted in North America, Myre organizes the team’s entire operational footprint, sourcing motorcycles, transport trucks, accommodations, and catering. Even when the event takes place across Europe, Myre manages team apparel manufacturing out of Canada to optimize currency exchange rates and eliminate local European tax burdens for the federation. He also manages media relations and paddock operations, leveraging his native French language skills when the competition takes place in French-speaking venues. Myre emphasized in a recent interview that Estonia consistently outperforms expectations on a modest budget of roughly 70,000 euros, funded almost entirely through private support and small government grants. While powerhouse teams such as the United States, Australia, or Canada operate with multi-million-dollar budgets, Estonia regularly contends for top-fifteen and top-ten finishes worldwide.
Myre credits this ongoing success to the fierce patriotism, intense physical conditioning, and professional focus of Estonian athletes. Wherever the national team competes across the globe, dedicated Estonian supporters appear in significant numbers to wave flags and cheer from the sidelines. The sport in Estonia also involves family legacies. Tanel Leok, a longtime pillar of the team who holds the world record with over twenty career appearances at the Motocross of Nations, recently retired from full-time competition to transition into team coaching alongside his wife, Karoliina Leok. Laansoo observed that a new generation is now stepping onto the world stage, such as Tanel’s fifteen-year-old son, Sebastian Leok, and his peer Lucas Leok. This fourth generation of the Leok family carries forward decades of accumulated motorsport knowledge, moving directly from junior ranks into international competition.
By providing local transportation, lodging, and logistical guidance, Myre helped create a welcoming environment for young athletes far from home, allowing them to gain critical international experience early in their careers.
Myre’s involvement has also extended to helping young Estonian talent transition to North American tracks outside of the national team context. Over the years, he has assisted riders such as Harri Kullas, Gert Krestinov, and Jörgen-Matthias Talviku when they first ventured across the Atlantic to compete in American Supercross and National Motocross events. By providing local transportation, lodging, and logistical guidance, Myre helped create a welcoming environment for young athletes far from home, allowing them to gain critical international experience early in their careers.
This year’s Motocross of Nations, taking place in Ernée, France from October 2nd to 4th, presented a fresh test of resilience for Team Estonia. Just weeks before the competition, team veteran Harri Kullas suffered a dislocated hip. Jörgen-Matthias Talviku stepped up to assume the role of team captain in the MXGP class, while young Sebastian Leok made his debut in the MX2 class. With Kaarel Tilk filling out the three-man squad in the Open class, the team recalibrated its expectations, aiming for a solid top-fifteen performance.
Team Estonia secured 12th overall against the world’s elite programs, with Belgium taking the overall win. On Saturday, Jörgen-Matthias Talviku finished 7th in the MXGP qualifying race to send Estonia straight into the A-Final, later earning an impressive 10th overall individually in his classification. The trio overcame late roster uncertainties and made a strong impression for Estonia on motocross’ biggest stage.
