Seized bikes linked to fugitive ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding include Ducati GP liveries and other ultra-collectible machines
Authorities in Mexico have seized a massive collection of motorcycles believed to be owned by Ryan Wedding — a former Olympic snowboarder now wanted by US authorities over allegations he ran a major international drug trafficking operation.
The FBI’s Los Angeles division announced the seizure on Monday, saying the motorcycles were located after multiple search warrants were executed in Mexico earlier this month. The collection is believed to be worth around US$40 million.
For motorcycle tragics, the collection is jaw-dropping. While it’s impossible to confirm which machines are authentic factory race bikes from the photos alone, the sky-high valuation suggests that many may be the real deal. The foreground of the warehouse shot shows Ducati GP liveries and numbers associated with racing legends including Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi, Andrea Iannone, Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso. Also visible are what looks to be a Marc Márquez Moto2 machine, a Rossi 125cc GP bike, and a mix of other highly collectible, exotic competition motorcycles including a Hailwood era Ducati 1980 NCR860.
Wedding, 44, is a Canadian national who competed for Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. He was charged with multiple drug offences in October 2024 and remains a fugitive. The US government is offering a reward of up to US$15 million for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Wedding is also listed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and has been publicly compared to major historical figures in organised crime, including Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Pablo Escobar.
The FBI has urged anyone with information to come forward, stating: “If you have any information concerning Wedding, please contact the FBI via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram at (424) 495-0614. You may also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online.”
Earlier this month, the FBI released a newly obtained photo of Wedding and said he is believed to be residing in Mexico. The bureau also warned he should be considered armed and dangerous. After his Olympic appearance, Wedding was convicted in 2009 for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and served time in prison until his release in December 2010. Federal prosecutors allege that, after his release, he established the trafficking enterprise at the centre of the current case. Authorities allege Wedding routinely moved hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California, with shipments allegedly destined for Canada and other locations across the US. He is also accused of ordering multiple murders, including the killing of a federal witness in January 2025.
