MX Vice Magazine - Issue 1 by MX Vice

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WELCOME Well, here we are. It has taken a while, but like everything, we were keen to get this right; it was important to be proud of the end product. From the beginning, we [MX Vice] have always had one eye on a magazine, but a digital one, rather than print. It was important for us to put out a magazine that not only looked premium from the outside, but also had content that was well thought out, interesting and something a little different to the usual paid offering. I am not an editor, and I do not call myself a journalist. I am just a fan that saw an opportunity to try and push motocross forward in the UK. I have never been one to just sit back and moan, but someone who is willing to make a difference to something I feel passionately about. Now that the first magazine is out, I can let the team drive forward with the second edition, while I can cast my attention to what I personally think will be a game changing motocross series in the UK: the MX Nationals. The first round is creeping up, and I have a lot of work to do to bring people from outside of the sport to Culham and show them how great motocross is. In an ideal world, I would love the industry to pick up this magazine and think â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;you know what, I like these guys, they are giving it one-hundred and ten percent and trying to make a difference; it would be great to get involvedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. MX Vice, and the MX Nationals, is here for motocross, they are platforms to promote the sport and offer an affordable alternative for brands, manufacturers, product owners, dealers, distributors and service based businesses. I would like to thank my colleagues at MX Vice; Lewis Phillips, Elliot Spencer, Jonathan McCready, James Dunford, Kev Reid and Jon Bolton, who have all been instrumental in driving MX Vice forward in the past three years. I would like to personally thank every advertiser in this magazine for having the confidence and foresight in supporting us on getting this first edition out. Quite simply, this would have never happened without their backing. Not one to rest on our laurels, we are hard at work trying to drive mxvice.com forward with frequent updates and great content. Of course, we are already busy working on the second issue of this magazine also! Words by James Burfield

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FEATURES THE KING OF BRITAIN: KRISTIAN WHATLEY 16 - 17 THE MX VICE AWARDS 20 - 21 THE VOICE OF MOTOCROSS: ROGER WARREN 24 - 26 BEHIND THE SCENES: THE PULPMX SHOW 28 - 31 DAVID BAILEY: THE ICON 34 - 38 THE MAN SPEAKS: ROGER DECOSTER 40 - 41 THE APPEAL OF AMA SUPERCROSS 48 - 49 POINT OF DEBATE: MOTOCROSS COACHING 52 - 55 2013 MAXXIS BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW 58 - 61 TIME FOR CHANGE: THE MX NATIONALS 62 - 63

CONTRIBUTERS

James Burfield Lewis Phillips Jonathan McCready Elliot Spencer James Dunford Kev Reid James Lissimore

Warren Field Eric Johnson Adam Sterry Elliott Banks Browne Simon Cudby KTM Images

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THE OFFICIAL MOTOCROSS VIDEOGAME

4 1 0 2 H C R A TH M

OUT 28

GET MORE ACTION AT pqube.co.uk/mxgp 6 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1

“2”, “PlayStation ”, “PS3”, “À” “Ã“ and “Õ” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Windows, Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox LIVE are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. MXGP, The Official Motocross Videogame 2013 Published and Developed by Milestone S.r.l. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2013 Youthstream - All rights reserved. © 2013 Milestone Srl – Tutti I diritti riservati. Milestone è un marchio registrato di Milestone Srl.

VICE VOICE BOX: KEN ROCZEN VS. ELI TOMAC

The 2014 Monster Energy Supercross season has been a hot-topic of discussion in recent weeks, for a variety of reasons. Obviously, the fact that both Ken Roczen, and Eli Tomac have joined the premier 450SX class has been a point of interest for most. So, before the start of the season, we asked you how you thought the two rookies would fare this year. Obviously, Eli crashed and injured himself at Anaheim 1. However, we still thought that it would be interesting to see how all of your predictions have panned out thus far. So, here are a handful of the best, most detailed answers that we received when we asked this question before Anaheim 1: Who will be stronger this year, Ken Roczen or Eli Tomac? JASON MEARA (FACEBOOK): Roczen will be faster this year, as his style suits the 450 a lot better than Tomac. Tomac rides a bike very hard, which won’t be easily done on a big bike, whereas Roczen rides it very smoothly and doesn’t rev the engine a lot, which will mean fewer mistakes.

RICHARD HEMMINGS (@HEMMINGS318): [Ken] Roczen will have the edge this season; he beat Tomac at the Motocross des Nations, which was a huge statement. Plus, he is training with Aldon Baker. ADAM KEEFE (FACEBOOK): I reckon Ken will start off well and be consistent all season, whereas Eli will start off poor but improve rapidly by the second half of the season. GARY CAMPBELL (FACEBOOK): I think [Eli] Tomac will consistently do better over the course of a season. Roczen might have a few races of sheer brilliance and better results than Tomac, but I feel his style will see him crash more than Tomac on a 450.

GLENN LINNET (FACEBOOK): Tomac takes after his dad; his work ethic is stronger than anyone out there. But, Roczen has more talent – you put the two together and you have a battle.

STEPHEN WADE (FACEBOOK): Roczen, for two reasons. Firstly, Roczen has out performed Tomac in the handful of times that both have ridden 450 as wildcards. Secondly, Roczen is training with Aldon Baker, which shows that he is willing to change his program to be successful – Aldon Baker makes champions!

GIBB GAVIN (@G1BS_G1VNR): I think Tomac will be, because his program is solid and proven. Eli doesn’t wear out as the season goes on, and he only worries about himself.

CRAIG MARSDEN (FACEBOOK): I think Roczen’s style will suit the bigger bike better, as he is a lot smoother. Tomac’s too aggressive – he needs to mellow out a bit like [Justin] Barcia has done this year.

CHARLES HANKIN (FACEBOOK): I think Eli, because of the simple fact that he has kept his head down and shows amazing speed when he is focused. Roczen is the faster of the two, but his head always seems to be doing other stuff; he almost seems too relaxed with his speed.

SHANE MILLWARD (FACEBOOK): I think Roczen will be stronger than Eli and have the edge on him, as long as the KTM doesn’t have any problems like [Ryan] Dungey’s bike did last year!

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HOT

ADAM CIANCIARULO: It is not unusual for a rookie to come out and win the main event at his first Monster Energy Supercross round. However, it is rare, hence why a lot of people were surprised when Adam Cianciarulo grabbed a victory at the opening round of the 250SX East series. Since then, Adam has continued to silence the doubters, as he has proven that he is a legitimate title contender. Will he become one of the few riders that win a supercross title in their rookie season? He is certainly in a good position to claim the number one plate (at the time of writing). MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS: The Monster Energy Supercross series has been very exciting so far, hence why the title fight has received quite a lot of attention thus far. It seems like when the gate drops at Anaheim 1 each year, everyone expects the greatest season ever. Well, the start of this season indicates that it could be one of the best; we have seen multiple winners, a lot of last lap passes, and plenty of surprises also! What more could you

NOT

INJURIES: It is not like these injuries have come as a surprise; we now expect them each year. But, the injury bug has been particularly harsh this offseason, as a lot of riders from all over the world have been forced onto the sidelines. Unfortunately, some of the biggest names in motocross are healing up at the moment. Injuries are a part of the sport, but it is rare to see so many frontrunners succumb to injury. Of course, the guys on this side of the pond have a little bit of time on their side to get ready for the start of the title campaign. But, the injured riders in the USA are not so lucky, as their 2014 season is already in tatters. GEICO HONDA: In recent years, the Geico Honda team has enjoyed a lot of success. However, they had a rough go of it thus far this year, as they have only made a handful of trips to the podium, and their riders have been struck down by injuries. Fortunately, Wil Hahn has had some strong rides for the team in the premier 450SX class, so they have had some positive results to take from the races. However, aside from that, it has been a pretty dismal season for them.

want? We are very excited about the rest of the title fight! BRITISH MOTOCROSS: With the start of the 2014 season just around the corner, a lot of hype is starting to build around the Maxxis British Championship and the MX Nationals. It is an exciting time to be a fan, as no one knows who is going to win or what to expect. It is the same every year, as the hype and excitement reaches unprecedented levels in the lead up to round one. There are so many unknowns heading into the fast approaching season, so it will surely be a great year of racing!

THE WEATHER: It is a common problem for all of us British Motocross riders; the weather is making life difficult for us at the moment. Whilst some guys have decided to travel over to the USA and Spain, others are busy putting in motos in the deep mud at home. Although it has been difficult for the weekend warriors, imagine how frustrating it must be for the pro riders that are trying to prepare for the 2014 Maxxis British Championship!

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THE KING OF BRITAIN: KRISTIAN WHATLEY Kristian Whatley was tipped to achieve a lot of success from a very young age, as it was apparent that he was a special talent; some would say he is a chip off of the old block. However, it has taken a handful of years for Whatley to fulfil his potential, as injuries, team issues and a lack of focus have hindered him in the past. But 16 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1

finally, in 2013, Kristian showed what he is capable of, and like buses, all of his titles came at once! Whatley was crowned the 2013 MX1 British Masters champion, the 2013 MX1 Red Bull Pro Nationals champion and the 2013 MX1 Maxxis British Champion last year. Whatley has been through a lot in his career, as a youngster he ended up riding the illfated 250f CCM machine. But that experience ended with a broken wrist at the British GP at Mallory Park. In 2011, Whatley finally found a team and the right people to get the best out of him when he signed for the squad now known as MBO Sport Yamaha. It allowed him to challenge Brad Anderson for the British title, and everything

seemed to be going well. However, everything starting to go downhill quickly when Kristian moved to the PAR Honda team for 2012. Whatley just was not the same rider, and was a shadow of his former self.

the likes of Jonathan Barragan and Tanel Leok for the title. But, as each round passed his confidence grew, until he eventually became the man to beat, not just in his own head, but in the minds of everyone else as well.

Thankfully, he returned to the MBO Sport Yamaha squad in 2013, and this time Whatley had learnt from his previous experience, and both sides knew what was needed in order to succeed. Whatley knuckled down, the team rallied round him and provided everything that he needed to win the various championships that he was going for.

What was the key to this success? Well, Kristian put it this way: “I have some good people behind me, and it has obviously showed.” The team spirit and guidance that the MBO Yamaha team have provided has been key to unlocking Whatley’s potential. They almost did it in 2011, and last year it all came together for one of the best seasons in the team’s history.

Initially, Whatley seemed surprised that he was challenging

At Farleigh Castle, the final round of the Maxxis British

Championship, Whatley registered three breathtaking rides to clinch his third 2013 title. With the pressure on, Kristian showed the signs of a true champion by raising his game when it mattered most. Whatley holeshot the first two races and simply walked away from the field, even an on-form Matiss Karro had no answer to Whatley in race two. Karro threatened to close the gap in the early laps, but Whatley responded by putting the fastest lap of the race in. Karro couldn’t stay with the MBO Sport Yamaha rider, and Whatley crossed the line as the 2013 Maxxis British champion. The extensive celebrations showed just how much the victory meant to both Kristian

and the team. However, there was still one more race to go, and this time Whatley did not holeshot; he went down in the first turn. After picking himself up, Whatley went into the pits. He could have called it a day, he was already champion and had nothing to prove – but he didn’t. The newly crowned British Champion was still motivated, and was desperate to win the overall victory. The team cut the brake cable, leaving Whatley with no front brake as he rejoined the race more than half a lap behind. From there, Whatley maybe put on his best performance of the season. Inside, outside, carrying huge corner speed and unique lines, Whatley sliced his way through

the field. The riders didn’t even have a chance to retaliate, as Whatley was already surging ahead trying to pass the next competitor. With just a few laps to go, Whatley was in tenth but he needed seventh to be sure of winning the overall. So, Whatley continued to move forward and got to seventh with two laps to go, but he still was not content! Whatley kept charging, and passed Jamie Law on the final lap in the final turn to nab a superb sixth place, and in doing so he proved why he won the championship. The ride had the rest of the paddock complimenting his performance, in what was the best way to end the season.

re-signed with MBO Yamaha in 2014 and has vowed to work even harder in the winter in a bid to get even faster. With the speed he has shown at the first two rounds of the 2014 Garmin Arenacross series, it appears Whatley will be even better this season than last. Kristian will have a target on his back this year, and with a couple of British GP riders coming back to the series, he will need to be on top-form to defend the British title. But, if he does it (and he can), it could open the door to a full time GP ride – that is where Kristian truly deserves to be seen. Words by Jonathan McCready

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In ten years, FreestyleXtreme have established themselves as the leaders when it comes to selling extreme sports clothing. Fortunately we [MX Vice] were given the chance to head on down to Bristol to see what FreestyleXtreme is all about – it is fair to say that we were not disappointed in the slightest. Honestly, the FreestyleXtreme facility is extremely impressive; it is ideal for a group of action sports enthusiasts, which is the best way to describe everyone at FreestyleXtreme. If there is one thing that I learnt from my visit last week, it is that the guys behind the company are like you and I – they love all action sports. In fact, it became clear that FreestyleXtreme stemmed from the passion that they have for motocross, among other sports. Personally, I was rendered speechless by all of the memorabilia that they have showcased on their premises; the place is full of signed jerseys, and images! But, that is not all – they have kept a majority of the passes that they have received from various events worldwide too. Put simply, FreestyleXtreme is full of some amazing souvenirs, and all of those things have some cool stories behind them. So, where did FreestyleXtreme come from? Well, their tale began in Ireland ten years ago, in 2003. Simply, they saw a gap in the market and felt as though they had the potential to offer a service that motocross fans are deserving of. FreestyleXtreme found it’s way onto the web not too long after this,

which is where they reside now, as their site (freestylextreme.com) is where you will find most (if not all) brands associated with motocross. It has been intriguing to watch the company grow over time, as they are now at a point where they are recognised worldwide for their quality and customer care. FreestyleXtreme has built a solid foundation now – they have built a great relationship with a number of athletes from many different sports worldwide, which is why you have probably seen so much signed memorabilia appear on their site for competitions. In my opinion this is what is cool about the company; their interest stretches much further than FreestyleXtreme, it seems. FreestyleXtreme has now branched out into the virtual world, as well, as their logo appears on a handful of cars, among other things, in popular games such as ‘Dirt Showdown’ and ‘Grid 2’. It is a novelty to see a company related to motocross on mainstream stuff – this is exactly what they [FreestyleXtreme] have achieved in recent years.

from the impressive list of brands listed on their site. Already they have acquired the ‘Seven’ casual wear that James Stewart sports, which you can purchase. Personally, I was not aware that the ‘Seven’ stuff was even available in the UK. However FreestyleXtreme already have it available, among many other things, including complete ranges from Fox Racing, Volcom etc. Remarkably it seems as though FreestyleXtreme are going to continue to grow in the coming months, as they have a number of cool things coming up that you will definitely want to look out for. At the moment, the business is multi-lingual; they trade in many different languages, to ensure that everyone can benefit from the remarkable customer service that they offer. It is this specific area that they thrive in, which they are clearly proud of. After reading a few reviews online, this seemingly does not go unnoticed by their customers either. In March this year they will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the website. But, it seems as though they have got their eye on the years following this, already.

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urgent to say, you just tap the guy on the shoulder and leap in. But, I have to bear that in mind, and like I said, there have been some instances where it has been a little difficult. But, the

you have a good relationship with them now? Roger Warren: I do now, because I have done it for a number of years. I know the way

of the crowd, the atmosphere, and what went on with [Stefan] Everts and [James] Stewart. I have done every MXdN since then, apart from the ones in America.

other riders are very shy, like Tanel Leok. You work out who is best at it, eventually. But, it is down to timing really. You have to be fair to them – they are out here to do a job.

MX Vice: You must have commentated on a few GPs this year where there were a low amount of riders. What do you think of that? Is it harder as a commentator?

MX Vice: Is it hard to be unbiased when commentating at races like the Motocross des Nations?

Roger Warren: Not really, no, because the top riders are there, and they are the ones that are doing the proper racing – so everyone is watching them. The

Roger Warren: I try to not be. But, if Tommy [Searle] gets the holeshot, you hear me get a little bit excited. But, I try to concentrate on everybody. Some of the other commentators don’t do that, they just talk about their

The first Motocross des Nations that I did was Matterley Basin back in 2006, and nothing has come close to that, because of the size of the crowd proof that it is working is that I have already been asked back to places like Valkenswaard, Maggiora and Kegums for next year. MX Vice: So, the homegrown commentators do feel like you are stepping on their toes at first? Roger Warren: Of course they do. I would feel the same if some guy turned up that I didn’t know, and stole the microphone. Some of these guys do have an ego. I would like to think that I haven’t; the riders are the stars at the end of the day. No one comes to see me – they are here for the riders! I’m just a guy on the end of a microphone that says what everyone is seeing. I’ve got no ego, so it doesn’t matter to me. But, some of these guys are big characters, and they like to think that they are quite famous. But that means nothing to me; I like to keep anonymous – it works better! It is quite funny, because when I see people at races, they don’t know who I am. But, as soon as I start speaking they recognise the voice! MX Vice: Is it Youthstream that keep asking you to return? Do 26 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1

that Youthstream works, and I know all of the Youthstream people. At the start of the year, Giuseppe Luongo called me into a meeting in Qatar, and he said that he likes what I do – he wants me at as many GPs as I can get to. But at the end of the day, the promoter employs me – they are the guys that have to stump up the money. So, it still comes down to whether they want me or not. I think that the long-term plan is for me to do some more GPs. The MXdN is a no-brainer. All of the countries are there, and most of them speak English. If you think about it, there were probably more English-speaking people there than people that spoke German. MX Vice: So, what year did you do your first GP, and your first Motocross des Nations? Roger Warren: The first GP I did was 2004 at the Isle of Wight. It was fun, it was brilliant – we had a great time. The reaction from the crowd was superb, and the racing was unbelievable! So that really did start it off. The first Motocross des Nations that I did was Matterley Basin back in 2006, and nothing has come close to that, because of the size

riders like [Antonio] Cairoli and [Clement] Desalle are the ones that everyone is focused on. With respect to the others, no one is really watching what is going on down in twentieth - it’s good. At the end of the day, Youthstream can do whatever. They take a lot of criticism, but I know how hard they work. It’s not up to me to agree, or disagree. I have my own personal views on some of the stuff. But, they work hard, and they put on an amazing show. MX Vice: What sort of relationship do you have with the foreign riders? Obviously, you are quite well known in the UK. But, are the GP riders forthcoming when talking to you? Roger Warren: Yeah, that is something that I learnt very early on. You have to know when, and where to talk to guys. If you go up to them when they are on the starting line, they aren’t going to talk to you. You need to be sensible. These guys are out there to do a job, and most of them are happy to speak. Some are better than others, obviously. Ken Roczen is superb, and so are the Americans. Some of the

own country; I think that is a little bit unfair. But, if Great Britain is on the podium no one is going to keep me away from the microphone - trust me. MX Vice: So, what is next for you? Do you have any plans for the future? Roger Warren: You can’t plan in this business. At the end of the day, work comes in, and work goes away. Luckily, I have a day job (working for an energy company), so this is still a hobby – I have to fit it in with everything else. But, like I said, it’s gone in a slightly different direction now. So far this year I have done World Trials and MotoGP, as well as Motocross. I’ll take whatever comes along. I’m just living the dream.

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segments and bench racing. Sometimes I will text three guests and none will get back to me, then I will text two more and then all five are coming on. But again, I can’t believe how big it has got. MX Vice: The podcasts with both of you and Jason Weigandt have been really good, where did that idea come from?

So, we are just essentially recording that and it has got us in trouble a few times, because we make fun of people. We get tons of tweets and letters saying that fans feel we really take them behind the scenes and into the pits and hearing funny things that happened. Like Weege talking about Mike Alessi finding a golf ball – you don’t get that anywhere else!

Matthes: I don’t know about an idea, it was just like; ‘hey this happened, let’s talk about it.’

MX Vice: What happened with Ricky Carmichael and your fall out or his dislike of you?

MX Vice: It is something really unique that had never been done before in the sport.

Matthes: I have always kind of thought he

Matthes: I have the Racer X podcast race reviews, then I have the podcast with a star rider like Johnny O’Mara, then I do the PulpMX Show. We even do a pre-race ‘Pulpcast’ at the track, but I really try to do everything different. The race review is not what we talk about on the PulpMX Show. The race review is more in depth about what happened on the weekend, whereas the PulpMX Show is a more general look at the sport. My goal is to do something different every time. MX Vice: The dynamic works well between the three of you, you bounce off of each other well. Thomas: We talk all of the time too, we know how our dialogue goes, so it is pretty easy to take that into a podcast and know where someone is going with a question or whatever. Matthes: I room with Weege going to the Nationals, and we will lie at night and just crack on people and bench race for hours.

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paralyzed. I didn’t even think about it, but he said ‘I don’t think he is going to do anything for you.’ So that is when it started. I think those articles combined with me being a mechanic and it kind of went from there. He has shit talked me a lot to a lot of mutual friends, and I have done too, so at this point no one probably knows where it started, or who did what, but having said that I would do an interview with him tomorrow. I would talk about our differences; I would never refuse him anything. But, he doesn’t need to do anything for me – he is Ricky Carmichael. MX Vice: Do you think he had something to do with Kenny [Watson] leaving the show?

“ RC hates Stewart. They hate each other.” was a bit douche, maybe because Timmy has told me stories and stuff – but nothing that bad. After I got out of being a wrench, I don’t think he was a fan, but we were ok. But then I got into the media thing and a couple of things I wrote, one being that I thought the GOAT was a stupid nickname, and I still do, because McGrath has got him covered in supercross and then I did an interview with Stewart about RC being called the GOAT and RC hates Stewart. They hate each other. Around the time of these interviews, and they were close together, Ricky called Davey Coombs to see what I was doing. There was a guy that got paralyzed in Canada and I called Scott Taylor – his gear guy in the Fox days. I said: ‘Hey Scott, could I get a jersey from Ricky, it doesn’t need to be a race jersey, but just something for this guy that got

Thomas: Absolutely. Matthes: I don’t think he said, ‘Kenny, you have to leave the show.’ Thomas: I think he put a negative emphasis on it. Matthes: Yeah, one time somebody told me that he [Carmichael] went: ’yeah nobody even listens to that show,’ and the guy said, ‘no dude, a lot of people do actually listen to that show!’ MX Vice: Jason, do you find it difficult going to the media having been a rider last year and still being friends with Chad Reed and those guys and trying to report without offending them? Thomas: Really, the only difficult part I notice is a lot of hesitation on Chad’s part to tell me things now. Before it was an open book between both of us and he would tell me whatever was going on. It is a little bit tougher, also, because I am not in Florida

“ We did lose some listeners by losing Kenny, but we gained more on our stats.” everyday as well – I would just know stuff because I was there. When I talk to him about stuff I can sense him not wanting to fill me in. But, I feel like our friendship is our friendship and the media side is the media side, but I still notice he is a little nervous at times. So, that is really the only downfall but the rest of it is fine, you have to be careful around some guys and their feelings. You don’t want to upset people because it is a small sport, but the transition has been great. I like what I am doing now more than the racing I did last year. Racing had just kind of come to an end for me, and it has been a good change, honestly. Matthes: Guys that I am good-friends with like [Ryan] Villopoto, James [Stewart] and Chad [Reed]. Guys like that I will say, ‘hey, is there anything you want to me to say for you?’ They give me a lot of information, and they help my career out, so I am not scared to say, ‘Can I help you?’ Like I text Chad after he left for Lake Elsinore to see if he needed anything, and to say I will help you out. They can use the media to get

their message out, and to put pressure on a sponsor. The smart guys use the media to help them, and the dumb guys do not. James has done that; he has asked me to ask him a certain question. I am like ‘sure, if you have a feeling on it I will ask you.’ That’s the give and take of being a good media guy and having a rider that knows how to do it. MX Vice: Is Stewart difficult to deal with sometimes? He seems great with the media and other times he distances himself from everyone? Matthes: He has been good this year [2013] man. He has never lost like this – he has never lined up on a starting gate and just not been the guy. I think he has got older and he realises he has to talk to us guys and maybe we can help him. Let’s face it, he is still James Stewart, he is still badass and he has been great. He and I have always gotten along – he likes my stuff. Sometimes, like that time we talked about, he says something, but he tells me and I would rather have that.

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DAVID BAILEY THE ICON 34 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1

David Bailey is an American legend, and an inspiration to many. Born on the 31st December 1961, David began riding motorcycles at three years old, seventeen years later he was USA Amateur Champion riding a Kawasaki, and by the end of 1986 he was known as the best rider in the world. His accomplishments include four US national championships including the supercross title in 1983, he won five Motocross des Nations titles as well as American GPs and the prestigious Bercy supercross.

Known as the little professor during his career, he was famous for his in control textbook riding style. Indeed it was Bailey who, in conjunction with Johnny O’Mara, invented tapping the rear break to lower the front wheel in the air. Fellow professional riders watched Bailey and tried to learn something from him, even a very young Stefan Everts was heavily influenced by his graceful, smooth style.

doing, what they weren’t doing, and what they should be doing! David was very perceptive of a riders strengths and weakness – during a supercross race in 1998 he was watching Ricky Carmichael, and he declared that Ricky would go on to change the sport and set records, because he wanted to win more than anyone else, not just at the weekend but also during the week.

That was why, in January 1987, the motocross world was shocked at the news that David had been paralysed in a crash. The fact that it happened to the smoothest rider of his generation made it all the more hard to take for the fans and industry, but most of all for David, his new wife and his family.

David also renewed his interest in triathlons and decided to compete in the World Championship in Hawaii. The gruelling event lasts 140 miles split into three different disciplines – swimming, cycling and running. Of course, Bailey would have to do all that with his arms. He won his class at only his third attempt, beating a former navy seal in the process.

After a tough period of re-adjusting to his new life, David reappeared on the motocross scene as a colour commentator for ESPN in the 1990s, bringing his well-analysed thoughts on what the riders were

In 2006 David rode a specially made motocross bike again for the first time since that crash in 1987. It was an emotional and momentous

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occasion that saw him riding with his son. But shortly after that event things took a turn for the worse, the riding had helped expose sores that had developed from sitting, forcing David to lie down, unable to sit upright for months seriously ill. For months on end he had to lie on his front while he waited for funding to have an operation that would try and save his life. Fortunately, the operation was a success, and just to celebrate David did another Ironman in 2009, almost ten years since his victory, where he finished an incredible second after leading the event! David is also back commentating on selected motocross races, giving his opinions on the current motocross stars, and as you will read in this interview, he is not afraid to give his opinion on a variety of topics. MX Vice: David, looking back at your career, what were the highlights? David Bailey: Well, ‘83 was a good year, I finally blossomed and won a supercross at the first race and kind of like Dungey (in 2010) I won everything. ‘84 was good because I switched up to the 500 class. ‘86 was good because I won the first supercross at Anaheim, after a good race with Rick Johnson. Then one of the last races I rode was Bercy, Bologna, and the Motocross des Nations in Italy, where we had a perfect score. Those were the good years I had, but the races I looked forward to most were the US GPs at Carlsbad, the GP at Unadilla or the Motocross des Nations in Europe. I had already been to Red Bud and Mt. Morris a million times, but to go overseas driving down 36 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1

some road and all of a sudden there’s the track you have never seen before – that is exciting! MX Vice: The 1980s were a very competitive era. David Bailey: Everybody was always racing, so now that supercross is so stupid and guys are getting hurt all the time, they get hurt during the week. So, not all the best riders are there. It’s possible for the era today to be as competitive as when we raced, I guess you could argue whether they had the same amount of heart as we did, I don’t really want to compare it like that. But I guess what I see is there are so many injuries now, and such a fear of getting injured that riders don’t ride with as much heart or determination or commitment and desire as they used to, but hey, you know if I was making two-million dollars a year I may not be as aggressive! MX Vice: What happened the day you got injured? David Bailey: I was really concerned about riding on the edge, so I practiced riding faster and taking more chances you know? So, I went to a pre-season race, and I wasn’t thinking things through like I always do, and I tried to jump a little section. It wasn’t a double jump, but I tried to make it into one and I just clipped it and rode the nose and obviously fell wrong – that was a bummer. It took me a few years to kind of get through that, Shaun was just born, I had a lot of money taken from me, my parents were getting divorced and I was a new father – all of these things happened at once

and it was really difficult to adjust. But, in hindsight, it was kind of good to have a lot of things happen all at once to just kind of get everything over with so I can go ‘hey, it happened, so I can either sit around and bitch about it or I can make the most of it.’ It took me a little while to make the most of it, but I think I have. MX Vice: Was it hard mentally to go from the best in the world to being paralysed? David Bailey: Yeah, I had a long way to fall. It was tough; I was the best and expecting to win that year. Maybe Rick Johnson would even tell you that I might have won that year (1987) and then to go all the way down – that was hard. The hardest thing was that I kept thinking I could get better, because I had always been able to overcome injuries and stuff before, so this, it’s a little bit more serious, but if I just put my mind to it I should be able to overcome it. So, I held on to that for too long and it just held me back. My wife could see it, my mum and dad and other people could see it, but I couldn’t. I was like ‘I’m going to get better, I’m going to walk again and I’m going to race.’ I hung on to that idea for a long time and it made me mad, it made me more depressed and it kept me from embracing the idea that, okay life had changed, get used to it and make the best of it. I had won enough, it’s not like I had anything to complain about there, everything I dreamed about as a kid I got to do and accomplished. So, instead of shifting gear and saying ‘Oh well it’s over’ I whined

It took me a few years to kind of get through that, Shaun was just born, I had a lot of money taken from me, my parents were getting divorced and I was a new father – all of these things happened at once and it was really difficult to adjust.

about it, fought it, I made it miserable for everybody around me – I was a pain in the ass for a while! But, it came around to where I was racing again in wheelchair’s doing marathons, triathlons and travelling getting my confidence back and my strength. Then TV showed up, and I don’t think that would have ever showed up for me if I hadn’t got my act together. In fact, they told me years later that they saw I was doing better and had a better attitude – that’s when they approached me. So, in some ways you make your own luck a little bit. MX Vice: You started working on the ESPN coverage in the supercross and motocross series and doing a really good job, how was that experience? David Bailey: I thought it was going to be easy, when they asked me I was like, ‘yeah, piece of cake.’ Then Atlanta was my first one, and I had to do a piece to camera and got nervous. I talked too long and they would say you only have forty seconds to say all of that, they are counting me down and some guy is trying to tell me stuff. It feels like when

you are on the phone and somebody else is talking to you, but in TV you have about four things going on at one time, focus on the race, when you need to go to commercial, when the other guy needs to talk and not just talk about what’s happening, because anybody could see that, but why did he pass him. I had really good help in the beginning with Dave Despain, he was a great guy to work with, and he knew I wanted to be good at it, so he shared ideas with me. Then I had Art Eckman, who was in radio and TV for a long time. So, they both taught me in the early going how to be better, without them I probably wouldn’t have done it as well.

building my own cycles and kayaks. I knew I would be talking to people in the future who would say, ‘it was easy for you, but for me, I have this problem, and I have that problem, I have no money or this and that.’ But, I can say ‘hey, I was exactly where you are and I still did it.’ It is not about getting and doing an ironman, it is about getting better and having some hope. So personally it was a fun thing for me to go and do, but I also had another motive, to have leverage with others who are going through a tough time and say ‘hey I have been right where you are and if you put your mind to it, you can get through it’

MX Vice: What made you come back to the Ironman in 2009?

MX Vice: Do you think that looking back you have become a bigger inspiration after the accident than you would have become as a rider?

David Bailey: I wanted to celebrate, personally, that I was able to make an amazing recovery (after being seriously ill). Secondly, I thought it would be fun to have that under my belt, especially when I was in such a bad shape and when I am talking to somebody in a wheelchair and people that I come into contact with, because I am

David Bailey: Well, yeah it is more obvious to people. If you see somebody in a wheelchair you are like, ‘oh no, what if that ever happened to me.’ But then, if you can do ok, and manage, and do an Ironman or something, you are more of an inspiration.

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“Yeah, of course. Villopoto is the best guy we have right now. Of course it hurt us not having him today. You know, we came with the best team that we can bring – that’s all we can do.”

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THE MAN SPEAKS: ROGER DECOSTER INTERVIEW Shockingly, team USA failed to win the Motocross des Nations (for the second successive year) at Teutschenthal last year. Following the race, we caught up with the manager of the American team, Roger DeCoster. However, we (along with the rest of the industry) were very surprised by what he had to say about how the team performed, as he was brutally honest.

MX Vice: So, Roger DeCoster, tell me how this year’s Motocross des Nations went from your perspective. Roger DeCoster: It was a little bit disappointing, because we did not win. But, Belgium were really good – they did a great job. We had a little bit of bad luck with Eli Tomac crashing in the first moto – he would have been second or third, you know, it was close to the end of the race. He made one little mistake and cross-rutted; he threw the handlebars out of his hands, and had a huge crash. I am happy that he is not hurt. I have to say congratulations to the Belgian team, and to Cairoli as well. Overall, there were five or six European teams that could of won, as well as Australia. MX Vice: Is it bittersweet, seeing as it was the Belgians that beat you? Roger DeCoster: Of course. If we [the American team] are not going to win ourselves, then my first choice is that Belgium beats us. You know, I still have a lot of friends on the team. It’s good to see them do well – they have had so many second places in a row in recent years. It is really good for them to win this one. MX Vice: The lead up to the race wasn’t ideal for team USA, as Ryan Dungey had some travel issues late in the week. Was this a factor? Roger DeCoster: Yeah, that did happen – but it is no excuse. We had problems with late flights, missed connections. Ryan was stuck in Amsterdam for twenty-four hours. But we’re not using that as an excuse. MX Vice: So, where did it go wrong? What do you think cost you the win? Roger DeCoster: Well, obviously the crash from Eli. He was just moving into second when he lost it, and he went from second to almost last. He came back to finish sixteenth – he tried his best. Eli was really fast; he was pretty even with Ken. Even if he had finished third of fourth we would have had the overall.

Mentally, he is not focused on finding the best solution on riding, and finding the best lines. You know, it’s not a bike issue. It was not a setup issue – he used the same setup as Ken Roczen. I mean Cairoli is on a 350, but he has the same options. Ryan needs to look at himself, right now, and deep inside he knows that. MX Vice: What about Justin Barcia? He looked very fast, but he had some bad luck. Roger DeCoster: Justin did a good job to come back from where he was, he was down on the ground in that pile up off the start, and he came back to eleventh place. It was a really good ride. MX Vice: Justin mentioned in the press conference that the track was very different to what they have in the USA. Do you think that was actually a real problem? I mean, it’s hard-pack – a common surface. Roger DeCoster: Well, the track is the same for everybody. It is a tough track – it’s the type of place where you have to have a lot of respect for the track, because there are a lot of square edges. Although the bumps are not huge, they are very hard, and there are a lot of them. There is also poor traction with the hard, sharp edges. It’s just unpredictable. MX Vice: So, I guess you wish that Ryan Villopoto were on the team now. Do you think that would have made a difference? Roger DeCoster: Yeah, of course. Villopoto is the best guy we have right now. Of course it hurt us not having him today. You know, we came with the best team that we can bring – that’s all we can do. MX Vice: Although it wasn’t a good day for the USA, it was a great day for KTM, which is obviously a brand that you represent. You must be happy about that? Roger DeCoster: Yeah, you know, what they have done in Europe is especially impressive. But, we still have to keep working to win supercross, also.

MX Vice: I saw Dungey making a lot of bike changes throughout the weekend, specifically with the shock. Was he struggling with setup over the two days?

MX Vice: Finally, the MXdN is in Latvia next year – we’re going back to a sandier circuit. What are you going to do to get back on top?

Roger DeCoster: Ryan thinks the bike was the problem – it’s himself.

Roger DeCoster: We’ll keep working, and keep testing. You know, 41 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1

REACTION TO ROGER At the 2013 Motocross des Nations, Roger DeCoster shocked the world by openly criticizing Ryan Dungey in an exclusive MX Vice interview. Since then, the interview has reached quite a few different corners of the world, as the comments were put under scrutiny by most. So, we have decided to join in the debate, and we got an industry expert to help us out. Lewis Phillips (MX Vice): Wow! I cannot believe that Roger DeCoster was so brutally honest! In motocross, most of the people that are involved with the riders and teams tend to remain tight-lipped a lot of the time. It is hardly surprising; they obviously do not want to jeopardize their position in the industry. Roger DeCoster is an exception to this rule though, as he tends to be very open when talking to the media, evidently. I was still shocked to hear him criticise Ryan Dungey in the manner that he did, as the two have a very close relationship. 42 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1

At the Motocross des Nations, I noticed that Ryan Dungey was making some bike changes all weekend long. The KTM pilot was making a few changes to his shock, in the practice session, on Sunday morning. You would think that a rider of his calibre would have his setup dialed in by that point, right? Well, according to the people around Ryan, he struggles when testing. It seems like he does not know what direction to go with his setup for different tracks. So, now the comments that DeCoster made in our exclusive interview are beginning to make sense! Obviously, his frustration stems from Dungey constantly pointing at bike setup as a problem, rather than looking at himself. DeCoster revealed this in the interview – what he said cannot be perceived in any other way: “Ryan thinks the bike was the problem, it’s himself.” It is a bit shocking that he continued to berate his rider following that comment. It makes you wonder what went on between them before, and after, the interview was conducted. Obviously, this has led most to question whether his comments could potentially damage their relationship. I do not think that this is the case. For all we know, Ryan could have read his comments, and agreed with them! I would bet that this is not the first time that Roger has made his feelings known to his factory KTM rider. Ultimately, the industry does need more people like Roger; I think that his honesty is a breath of the fresh air. In other sports, criticism such as this would not be shocking. So, why is motocross any different?

“ that’s all Roger was doing, being honest in his opinion of what happened to Dungey on this day “ Steve Matthes (PulpMX): I was very surprised at DeCoster’s comments after the MXdN, in regard to Ryan Dungey’s sub-par performance. As a former mechanic for a long time, I know that what he said is indeed felt inside the pits when it comes to a rider’s performance on a given day, but rarely is it expressed publicly. A rider can indeed overcome a poor working motorcycle in this sport, that’s what makes it awesome, but one thing that is overlooked many times is that a rider not only has to be great at twisting the throttle, they also have to be great at setting up their motorcycle. And in talking to a few people over the years, this might be where Dungey’s weakness is. Roger DeCoster has been around a long time, he’s won at the highest levels and he’s worked with some of the best who have ever raced, and while I feel a team manager’s role can sometimes be overstated, it’s important that a manager be able to work honestly with his riders and crew. And that’s all Roger was doing, being honest in his opinion of what happened to Dungey on this day. I’m sure what he said wasn’t anything that he didn’t tell Ryan in private but it was a rare admission from a manager that was, I think, as frustrated as anyone in Germany.

Jonathan McCready (MX Vice): Roger’s comments could work both ways. It could motivate Dungey and force him to look at the difficult truth rather than the easy excuses or, it could drive a wedge between the two people that have achieved a lot of success together. Roger DeCoster doesn’t suffer fools gladly; he is old school and expects results. I believe that DeCoster is honest enough to accept when he (or the team) has made a mistake or there is a problem that they can rectify. But if, as appears the case here, Roger feels this is all on Ryan, then he will remove all possible excuses and lay the blame squarely at Dungey’s door. DeCoster is a winner, a five-time world champion, and he doesn’t like losing. I feel that along with the riders DeCoster was hurting and, after the beating Villopoto inflicted on Dungey in supercross and motocross – this may have been the straw that broke the camels back. If I were Dungey the area that would be most worrying is that DeCoster said Ryan Villopoto is “the best rider we have” (along with praising fellow KTM men Cairoli and Roczen). Yes, RV beat Dungey all year. But, I would want my team manager to back me publicly, and believe in me, especially as Dungey’s confidence is “shattered” according to Jeff Emig. Dungey may just be wondering if DeCoster believes in him quite as much as he used to, or if will he turn to Ken Roczen as the man who he believes can challenge Villopoto. This could be a decisive moment in the Dungey/DeCoster relationship. The next few months will tell us if Dungey has the mental strength to rebound, or if this could be the beginning of the end for the Dungey/DeCoster era.

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When the gates dropped on the 2014 Monster Energy Supercross series, back at the season opener, millions of people were watching intently. But, what makes this series (which is the strongest championship in the world, according to most) so captivating? When the lights began to dim inside of Angel Stadium on the first weekend in January, we all (no matter where we were) fixed our eyes on the high-intensity action that took place on the ground that has been the stage for 46 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1

multiple historic sporting events. Although we have many motocross series in the UK, most fans elect to divert their attention to the bright lights of the USA a lot of the time. Honestly, who can blame them? The Monster Energy Supercross series is appealing for a number of reasons, after all. Of course, most of the guys that populate the starting line in the Monster Energy Supercross series each week are the best in the world. Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, James Stewart and many, many more high-profile riders battle it out over seventeen rounds. Now, those names alone are enough to attract an unprecedented crowd. Obviously we enjoy following some of bigger names in our sport, like those riders mentioned above, hence why it is crucial that we (the fans) follow them in Monster Energy Supercross. It is the riders that make the show, at the end of the day. So, having all of those guys behind the starting gate results in breathtaking

action more often than not. In comparison, some of the other series around the world donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have as many elite contenders. So, occasionally, the racing does suffer. Evidently, this is not a concern for all of the guys involved in the Monster Energy Supercross series â&#x20AC;&#x201C; rarely does the racing leave more to be desired. The Monster Energy Supercross series has a lot of race win contenders in either class, which means that we (the fans) head into each weekend not knowing who is going to finish on the top of the box. I have heard many people mention that this is why they are so excited about the series - the parity is unrivalled. After all, there have been two different 450SX winners in the first two rounds (at the time of writing). Whereas, you can predict who is going to clinch the win heading into a round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. Undoubtedly, the championship has gone

from strength to strength since FELD Motorsports started running the series. FELD have produced a lot of different events, in the past, ranging from Monster Trucks and Nuclear Cowboyz to Ice Skating. So they do have a vast amount of knowledge to call upon when it comes to running a professional event on a very large scale. In part this is what attracts the public and casual fans to the series; the opening ceremonies that take place each week are unrivalled within motocross. It is the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that is ultimately the biggest draw for a lot of people. Obviously, the sport is much more appreciated by the general public, in the USA, which gives the promoters an opportunity to explore some different media outlets. It is this that leaves a lot of us envious of what they have available to them over there. Monster Energy Supercross is a series that is very popular across the country. You could argue that this has something to do with the superb TV package, which showcases each round live and in a prime time slot on Fox Sports 1. Of course, this helps expose supercross to new fans all of the time, which helps them to continue growing. Overall, it just seems like the Americans are much more interested in the sport than most of the other countries, as you will find the Monster Energy Supercross riders on different news channels and talk shows. In the UK this is extremely rare, which does not help the growth of the sport. It seems like this is something that we are never going to be able to enjoy over on this side of the pond, as many have tried and failed to reach the general public like the FELD Motorsports crew do with their series. I think that part of the reason that the Monster Energy Supercross series is so popular is that they can host the races in cities. In my opinion, part of the problem with exposing motocross to the general public is that most casual fans do not want to travel to a muddy field that is in the middle of nowhere. Obviously, this isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t something that can be helped, as it is the nature of the sport. Overall, there are many factors that aid the growth of the Monster Energy Supercross series. Evidently, the series is going from strength to strength at the moment. So, FELD Motorsports are seemingly doing everything right, but they still keep looking for ways to improve on what they already have. There were some major changes made to the stadium floor this year in an effort to improve the presentation of the series. FELD introduced an all-new managers tower and some new graphics beneath the finish line structure, among other things. The Monster Energy Supercross series is very popular for many different reasons, evidently. So, it is really surprising that we are all watching eagerly each week? Luckily, the series has only just begun, so we have a lot more racing to enjoy in the coming months. Words by Lewis Phillips 47 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1

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have had a structure and coaching during their career. Ricky Carmichael was coached by his mum throughout his entire career and had a corner track until he retired. He also recruited Johnny O’Mara in the early stages of his pro career. Stefan Everts had his dad in his ear, even when he was world champion, and Jeremy McGrath hired Gary Semics to fine tune his skills. France had a motocross academy headed by Jacky Vimond in the 90’s, and he brought through riders like Sebastian Tortelli, David Vuillemin and Stephane Roncada. The best guys are not afraid of coaching, because they realise motocross is a sport that requires a very high skill level. In the UK, Tommy Searle has had James Dobb guiding him, and ensuring that he maximises his full potential. Our latest world champion, Conrad Mewse, has Justin Morris in his corner helping him with both riding technique and mentality. Back at the British GP, where Conrad lifted the European 85cc title, Morris explained the necessity of having someone to guide you at the top level: “When you are talking about competing with the best riders in the world, it is the little things that matter, and as a rider, when you cannot be bothered sometimes and there is nobody pushing you, you don’t bother. But, if there is someone pushing you, you are going to do it. Hopefully that is what I bring to the occasion here.” But, despite these examples, it still doesn’t seem to be as prevalent as much in motocross 54 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1

as other sports. Our very own James Dunford is also involved in car racing, and as shocking as it seems in a sport where the driver isn’t as important as the rider is in motocross, James says the coaching for the driver is way ahead of motocross coaching. Dunford explains: “The closest comparison we can get to motocross has to be in the shape of our four wheeled cousins; single seater and touring car racing. Although the basics are roughly the same (a track, an engine and some wheels), that is where the similarities stop.

to succeed build up a team of people around them. This ranges from trainers to mentors and right across to a psychologist - it’s all about trying to reach the maximum potential of any one driver. At the end of the day, motocross is a very different sport - but arguably, one where raw talent can get you much further. Differences in car racing are often hundreds or even thousands of a second, whereas in motocross it can be anywhere up to three seconds for a really quick rider on any given day.”

“ many riders do not seem to feel the need for a coach”

If you’re a young racing driver looking to get into Formula 1, you’ll start in Karts and move into single seaters. The first element of any good team is a driver coach. The coaches aren’t necessarily world champions, rather good ex and current drivers who are making an extra wage. Starting with testing, after each session both the driver and coach will watch the onboard footage, lap by lap. That in turn enables them to see which lines worked and which didn’t, along with telemetry and potentially footage from teammates. That is a really easy technique that we could transfer to motocross, even if it’s not with a coach. Alongside driver coaches, drivers who want

As James mentions, a lot of these techniques can be applied to motocross and possibly be even more successful, due to the fact that the rider in motocross is ninety-percent of the ingredients required in order to win. We spoke to two of the UK’s top coaches to get their take on the importance of coaching, and some of the problems they face. Former British champion Gordon Crockard has won at every level, and also runs a successful riding school in Spain every winter, so we thought he would be an ideal person to talk to on this subject. Gordon said: “I definitely feel there is a market for every rider to continue to learn, even top riders. I have worked with top riders and there are lots of circumstances where I can offer them advice and teach them things

that I learnt in my career. There are continually opportunities for people to learn. Riders that think they have peaked have if that is what they think. They are not going to learn if they do not want to learn,” explains Gordon. “I love working with guys that have room for improvement, and I think there are some cases where there is more room for improvement than others just because of the attitude of the individual, but I definitely think that there is a big market for coaching.” “I was graced with the presence of my father throughout my career,” admits Crockard. “He helped me to the point where we were winning world championship events, and challenging for the world title. He was there constantly giving his input. If you look at Stefan Everts and many other examples throughout the years like Millsaps, Carmichael and the Pourcels, it is the same. They are constantly engaged in a learning process of some kind, and with an advisor of some sort.

evidently, as he had this to say on coaching in motocross. He admits: “Coaching is still being overlooked far too much in motocross, and for some reason the parents don’t realise that it is a massive part of the future of the sport. Don’t get me wrong, it is getting better and I have a lot of customers who come with me regularly. But, there is still an attitude within the sport where people don’t think they need coaching. They prefer to spend their money on engine tuning and stuff like that. I’ll use football as an example, it is the biggest sport in the UK but the importance of coaching from a young age and all the way through up to the professionals is everything. They go training and meet their coaches and their fitness guys every single day.

Jacky Vimond went back into the sport in that form and worked with the likes of Sebastian Tortelli, and a lot of great riders who have won a lot of races. For sure it is a very important part of improving, and it is something a lot of people can gain from.”

You can see the improvement quickly, now maybe not so much with adult riders who have been with me for a long time, because they are looking for a half second. I can see the improvement, but for a top British Championship rider [the change] is not as dramatic as the younger riders. At that age, we always do lap times,” explains RMJ. “We do technique work, line choice, qualifying practice and race practice. So, when we do the qualifying practice and race practice, we log all of that, so the younger kids can see a lot more improvement in their lap times.”

Richard-Mike Jones had a successful British Championship career, and now works very closely with the up and coming Adam Sterry. RMJ is very passionate about coaching,

“With kids one of the most difficult things is not getting them to do the new lines or technique that you are working on individually, but the big thing with that is

trying to convert it into fast laps. When they try and go as fast as they can, they forget the techniques. So, to prevent that we try and explain why they do the techniques and then do repetition, we make them do it over and over again then eventually they do it in laps. Motocross coaches including myself are so under developed compared to football coaches. The level of coaching provided compared to football is worlds apart. There is so much room for improvement. In my opinion, there is a void, but it also exciting, because I have so many ideas of what we could do to take coaching to another level. I do not think that it would be very difficult to do, because it has already been done, but just in other sports.” Hopefully in the future motocross will catch up with other sports in having a coaching mentality and the governing bodies will provide more accredited coaches so that talented riders and even beginners can maximise their potential and enjoyment of this great sport. Imagine if there was a set up in the UK where all our riders had access to top coaching, surely the quality of our riders would rise, and British world champions would not be as few and far between. The blueprint is there from other sports; it is up to motocross to follow it more closely at every level.

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ALEX SNOW PHEONIX TOOLS HONDA

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MX1 Honestly, the MX1 class in the Maxxis British Championship did not pan out how I expected it to. Obviously, with both Steve Ramon, and Tanel Leok disappearing midseason, the predictions most made prior to the start of the year were rendered moot. But, whilst the pre-season title favourites started to fall by the wayside, one rider continued to post consistent finishes each week. In total, Kristian Whatley found himself on the box in ten of the motos last year. But, it is the fact that he finished outside of the top five in only three races last year that impressed me most – that consistency was not matched by anyone else in the MX1 class! It proves how strong the MBO Sport Yamaha team is, as they did not have a single mechanical failure, which is also unprecedented. I was quite surprised to see that he won just four motos over the course of the season, but it is still an impressive feat nonetheless. Remember, it was only one year ago that Whatley was really struggling aboard a PAR Honda, hence why he came into the season as an underdog. It proves just how vital it is to be in an environment that works for you – he had that last year. Jonathan Barragan finished a respectable second in the MX1 class this year. However, I think that everyone expected a lot more out of him. In a way, I am sure that he too did not expect to be beaten by Kristian Whatley on a consistent basis. In total, Barragan has seven GP wins to his name. So, he certainly has both talent and speed on his side. However, the STR KTM rider walked away with a single 60 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1

overall win, and no moto wins last year – he looked like a shadow of his former self. Although Barragan did not win a moto, he managed to finish on the box in twelve of the motos. However, his bad rounds (Lyng and Farleigh Castle) cost him a lot more points than he would have liked, and of course he had a DNF in the first moto at Foxhills. Oh, what could have been for Matiss Karro! Unfortunately, injuries struck the Latvian down, once again. However, when Matiss was present, he was very fast, and arguably the best guy overall. In fact, he was up on the podium in thirteen, of the fifteen races that he completed; this included six moto wins – there was a stage where he seemed unbeatable! If he can find a way to avoid getting injured, he will enter the MX2 class in 2014 as a favourite. But, Karro has proven to be a bit injuryprone thus far, which is unfortunate, as he seemingly has potential. Although he missed two rounds, Matiss managed to finish third in the standings, which is both surprising and impressive – that achievement should not be overlooked. I would not say that the season was a disaster for Brad Anderson, but I would not say that it was good, either. Obviously, it was far from easy for him, as he struggled with disappointing machinery in the first half, and then had to get accustomed to a new bike in the final couple of rounds. Evidently, switching to a Buildbase Honda was a positive change, as he had some better results following the move, including a moto win at Farleigh Castle. In the end he was just one point shy of finishing in the top three in the final standings. So, Brad salvaged a solid

result in this difficult year. In the two years that Nicolas Aubin has raced in the Maxxis British Championship, he has not achieved what we all thought he would. Like Jonathan Barragan, Aubin has a very impressive list of accomplishments to his name. However, he has seemingly lost that edge. It seems that his biggest downfall was that he very inconsistent this season. At times, the Frenchman had the speed, as he won two motos. But, he did not score any points in six of the motos, also. So, it was not a great year for him – he only finished on the moto podium five times (including his two race wins). Honestly, I would expect a little more from a rider of his calibre. I believe that Scott Elderfield, Shane Carless, and Luke Hawkins all broke out last year. Shane especially shone through, as he collected his first overall podium back at Milton Park. In fact, Carless improved so much that he earned himself a full-time contract with Oakleaf Kawasaki. Shane was successful this year, despite the fact that he had a normal job as a carpenter. Just imagine what he will be able to do next year when he can focus solely on his riding! Overall I don’t think that Luke Hawkins had a great year. But, his ride at the season finale proved that he has a lot of unearthed potential, still. Scott Elderfield has always been looked at as a rider that has a lot of natural talent. However he has made some misguided decisions in the past, which has ultimately stopped Scott from achieving the type of success that we know he is capable of. I feel like he moved forward in 2013 though, as he finished eighth in the MX1 standings – a commendable achievement.

“ Although he missed two rounds, Matiss Karro managed to finish third in the standings – that achievement should not be overlooked.”

MX2 I am certain that the right man won the MX2 Maxxis British Championship title; Elliott Banks Browne was evidently the strongest all-round rider over the course of the seven rounds that were run – consistency was key, in his title defense. In total, he finished up on the podium in fourteen of the twenty motos that he started, which included five race wins. Actually, I am a bit surprised that he did not win more than he did. But still, EBB won more than anyone else in the class. So, he did exactly what he needed to. Although his form in the MXGP series has left a lot to be desired, the fact that he led our domestic series from start to finish was really quite impressive. At the Farleigh Castle finale, the battle for second in the MX2 standings was hotly contested, as the two riders vying for the position (Steven Lenoir, and Neville Bradshaw) had an outside shot at the title as well. In the end, Steven Lenoir acquired the spot, which capped off a solid season for him; the improvements that he made were overlooked by most. Although Steven didn’t achieve his primary goal of clinching the title, he enjoyed some success, as he took his first moto win in the series back at Milton Park, and then followed that up with a race win at Hawkstone Park. Unfortunately, Neville Bradshaw ended up five points shy of second in the series. But third is still a respectable result, and he has two other titles to his name from this season, as well. Of course the greatest achievement for the South African was his overall win back at Foxhills, as he was seemingly elated to get that monkey off

of his back. I am surprised that Bradshaw did not win a moto; he definitely had the speed required to do so. Honestly, I believe that he should have finished second in the standings. However, a slow start to the series meant that he lost some valuable points early on. Bryan Mackenzie had to climb out of an even bigger points hole at the beginning of the year, as he had to overcome a knee injury that restricted the amount of riding he could do. But he was back at the front by the time Lyng rolled around. Obviously, the highlight of his year was winning round five of the series, Desertmartin. Like Neville Bradshaw, the victory was a huge weight lifted from his shoulders, as he had been trying to achieve that feat for many years. It seemed to light a fire beneath him also, as he became a consistent threat for wins after that. In fact, he probably should have won the overall at the final round; in the final two motos he proved to be the fastest guy. But, he was one point short of standing atop the podium again. It was still a great way to end the year – 2014 could be even better for him. Honestly, I think that Graeme Irwin should have finished higher up than fifth in the series, as he has proven that he has the potential to finish in the top three. Overall, the season really was not as good as he would have expected. Obviously the highlight was one race win at Desertmartin. Surprisingly, Irwin had just three moto podiums to his name (including that win) this year. I was actually shocked at this – he had just one overall podium too! It was not a great year for him. I think that this is the right time for him to move to MX1, as the change should revitalise the Irishman. Nathan Watson and Adam Sterry were very impressive; they proved that they were more

than capable of battling up front. Watson caught the eyes of most, as his rides at Lyng, and Hawkstone Park were just amazing. Although he was slightly inconsistent, it is expected from the younger guys. I expect him to head into next year ready to contend for a title; he showed that he is more than fast enough when he took that sensational win at round seven. Adam Sterry definitely had a breakthrough season, as he spent a lot of time right around the top five. Although he did not always finish there, it was quite clear that he had the speed. At the season finale he grabbed his maiden moto podium finish too! So he seemingly exceeded the expectations that most had of him. Interestingly, Steven Clarke made an unexpected return to the Maxxis British Championship, back at the Milton Park round of the series. Obviously, after missing the opening two rounds of the series, Clarke wasn’t a factor in the title chase – he was a bit of a wildcard, each week. Evidently, his decision to return to the UK was a positive one, as he enjoyed some success at a few of the rounds. Winning a moto Foxhills was an obvious highlight for him; he has shown that he has the speed to contend for a title on a Dyer and Butler KTM in 2014. However, he still needs to figure out how to put it together over the course of a season. Although the 2013 Maxxis British Championship was a successful one, 2014 has the potential to be much stronger. Steven Clarke will be making a full-time return along with Jake Nicholls, Shaun Simpson and Mel Pocock. So, the future certainly seems bright – roll on Sunday!

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One of the key things for the series is to drive the crowds back – there is nothing better than seeing five-thousand motocross fans leaning over a fence, cheering on the riders, and being entertained. In order to get the fans back the key thing is to make it affordable; we are determined to get families watching motocross again, and to also bring in new faces at the same time. I’m a great believer in motocross being as accessible as possible, and I do not just mean in cost (although that is a valid issue at the moment). I believe in making motocross accessible in a lot of different areas. After all, you cannot expect a family to pay the equivalent of a theme park ticket to get in, especially if you want to attract local families that are looking for an alternative day out. I also think that people who follow the series as spectators during the year should be rewarded for their loyalty. At our proposed ticket price of six pounds (with one pound donated to charity) and kids under-ten getting in for free, the sport that we adore becomes more cost effective. If we can hand out enough passes for riders, mechanics, partners etc, it helps make the weekend more affordable and encourages the whole family to get involved. I guess we are hoping that the people attending the series respect what we are trying to do, and will feel compelled to take their rubbish home and not cause a

disturbance that results in security having to deal with drunken behaviour instead of protecting our bikes and property from being stolen. The proposed ‘Fastest 40’ makes for accessible racing, because if you feel you are fast enough to compete with the professionals, you can give it your best shot. You do not need the best equipment or the biggest van – it is down to sheer ability and determination. You are there, because you have earned the right to be. Every part of the series has been analysed right the way through, from timing to the registration fee through to making the series accessible for brands, products, businesses and dealers. We actually want every motocross-related business involved, and to welcome new people from other areas in to get a taste of how great our sport is. It seems that many different promoters have different ideas on how to tackle the media, interestingly. Some series are trying to take ownership of their series and brand. Of course, it is there right to make those decisions; it is their series, after all. But, that has been the source of a lot of debate recently. Currently, five of the best videographers in the country are not allowed to film British motocross (aside from the odd exception to the rule).

photographers who have a passion for the sport, and produce some stunning work. Nowadays, most teams are savvy enough to know that media helps them acquire more sponsors, and the bigger the reach, the bigger the reward. So, the team managers need media guys close to the action helping to promote their team. Without the teams you have no event or championship. So, if you are going to prevent the teams from promoting, they will snap at some point. If you are in the media and looking to cover the MX Nationals, you will be welcomed with open arms, as long as you are not trying to create a video on your iPhone to post on Facebook, and you have the appropriate insurance. Again, it is all about being accessible. I genuinely believe that the MX Nationals has the potential to be huge. I had the same kind of excitement when I first started MX Vice! If everyone pushes forward in the same direction, this could be a very exciting time for British motocross! If you can get to the first round (at Culham Park on March 22nd and 23rd) to watch, we will be giving one pound of every ticket to the ‘Forever Friends’ cancer unit that is supporting Mark Hucklebridge at the moment. So, not only will you get a great weekend of racing, you will also get the chance to make a difference. See you there!

We have an abundance of great

63 | MX Vice - March 2014 - Issue 1