Who's the next Chad Reed?

CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAYWho’s The Next WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE With Chad Reed now 30 years old and hinting he might CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA o n l y ra c e a n o t h e r s e a s o n o r t w o , a re t h e re a n y y o u n g CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY A u s s i e s w h o a re w i l l i n g a n d a b l e t o t a k e h i s p l a c e?

WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN We w e i g h u p t h e c o n t e n d e r s .

LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL DINSDALE JOSH CACHIA CALEB GROTHUES DYLAN LONG LUKE CLOUT HAYDEN MELLROSS JAY WILSON JOEL

sport PROFILES

CHAD REED? ANDY WIGAN & KADE MOSIG

y the time he turned 16 and graduated from Juniors, Chad Reed was itching to get a crack at the country’s best Pro riders. Leapfrogging the 125cc class, he jumped straight onto a 250cc two-stroke and, within a year, was crowned 1999 Australian 250cc Supercross Champion. Reed won all six rounds, embarrassing his rivals, and set his sights on the international race scene.

In 2001, an opportunity ‘finally’ arose with the factory Kawasaki team in Europe. The 18-year-old Aussie grabbed it with two hands and finished a brilliant second to the great Mickael Pichon in the World 250cc Motocross Championship. And that was exactly what it took to get Reedy noticed in America; the moto Mecca where he’d always dreamed of racing.

At just 19, Reed took America by storm. He claimed an SX Lites title in his first year, before going on to win two premier-class AMA Supercross titles and finally, in 2009, the AMA Motocross title that had always eluded him. Chad Reed is now widely acknowledged as one of the sport’s alltime greats, and still reckons there’s a title or two left in him.

But Reed’s astounding success has been the result of much more than raw talent. As anyone who’s uprooted their lives to race overseas will tell you, ability on the bike is only one part of a much bigger equation. Riders rarely succeed overseas without also having a certain mental fortitude, plus

92

ANDY WIGAN, MATT MUIR, NUNO LARANJEIRA

the ability to learn and adapt, avoid too many injures and surround themselves with the right people.

And those are the attributes that have stood Reed in good stead for his decade in the USA. In recent years, we’ve seen Americans such as Justin Barcia, Eli Tomac and Zach Bell all make a successful transition into the Pro ranks from age 16. And in Europe, Ken Roczen and Jeffrey Herlings were knocking on the door of World MX2 titles when they were just 16 years old.

But what of Australia’s young motocross and supercross talent? Who will spearhead the next wave of Aussies to rattle the cage of the world’s best in Europe or America?

Who is most likely to be the next Chad Reed?

With a once-in-a-generation talent like Chad Reed, that’s a tough question. But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask it in the first place. And with fellow Aussies, Michael Byrne and Brett Metcalfe, also in their twilight years in America, it’s a more relevant question to pose than ever. We put this issue’s Guest Editor, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Kade Mosig, in the hot seat and asked him to rate the chances of the young Australians who’ve been standing on podiums this year.

Tough gig, we know. But as a guy who’s raced on factory and privateer teams, in the 250 and 450cc class, in Australia and the USA, Kade’s well placed to know who’s got what it takes to succeed in the cutthroat AMA series. In fact, Kade will be racing the west coast Lites himself with the recently formed ADR Kawasaki team in the 2013 AMA Supercross.

SUPERCRO

SS ISSUE

sport PROFILES

luke clout

A

fter a Junior career that brought him plenty of national titles, Luke packed his bags and headed straight for the Millsaps Training Facility (MTF) in the USA and got to work. He made the most of the opportunity during a two-year stint there and came back to Oz a far better rider. His return at the Moree round of the MX Nats was impressive and he certainly turned heads, but he was inconsistent in the Supercross later in the year. He’d post scorching qualifying times and then crash in the main event. Luke reminds me of myself when I first stepped up into

CALEB GROTHUES

L

iving in WA, this guy has been a bit of an unknown on the east coast – until he won the 65cc class at the FIM Junior World Motocross Championship in Bulgaria a few months back, that is. The fact he also climbed the podium at America’s super-competitive Loretta Lynn’s in 2012 – and went on take two class wins at the 2012 Australian Junior MX Nats – not only proved that the world title was no fluke; it also demonstrated that, unlike many young riders from WA, Caleb is quick on both sand and hardpack. What this kid did in Europe, America and Australia was pretty impressive as you don’t often see 12-year-olds with

the Pro classes. I wasn’t cocky, but I thought I was going to be the fastest guy straight away and I was riding on that confidence. And that kind of sets you up for a reality check. Luke has a heap of talent and speed, but he’s still got that hot-headed impatience about him. He wants to make it all happen now. He can be too aggressive and we’ve seen that cost him good results this year. Then again, it’s easier to stop a fast guy crashing than it is to make an average guy fast. Having signed on with Serco Yamaha, Luke now has the chance to stay on that steep learning curve. He’s definitely a hot prospect.”

that sort of consistency. It’s obviously been beneficial that his parents took him over to America to race the Loretta Lynn’s a few times. That would have really helped his confidence and his speed on a variety of terrain.

The real challenge for young guys like Caleb is to navigate through that period when they turn 15 or 16; when they run into all the teenage temptations of girls and parties. If he’s got the right people around him and he commits to making a career out of racing, then he’s got a big future ahead of him. Because the sort of international experience and success he’s had at such a young age puts him well ahead of the eight-ball.”

95 SUPERCRO

SS ISSUE

sport PROFILES

DYLAN LONG

T

he guy was the standout in his final year of Junior racing in 2010. But he was plagued by injury during his debut year in the Under 19s in 2011 and never able to show his true potential. This year in the Under 19s, he ran a strong second in the MX Nats, but a disappointing fifth in the Australian Supercross after crashing out of the series opener at Dubbo. Dylan’s got so much skill and he can do awesome things on a dirt bike. He has proved he’s got the

speed and technique on hardpack and in the sand, but I think there are some question marks over his abilities in the mud. Plus he’s been a little hot and cold this year, so I guess he’s got to ask himself if he’s properly preparing himself mentally.

Finding the right mindset to channel your aggression – but to also know when to back off – is one of the hardest things for a young rider to balance. But it’s a key part of the puzzle if you want to be a top guy.”

JAY WILSON

W

inning the 2009 Junior World Motocross Championship on an 80 made Jay Australia’s first ever World MX Champion, but I think the expectation and added pressure that came with it didn’t do Jay’s racing much good for a year or two.

He’s a pretty quiet guy, so I think he struggled to deal with all the attention that world title attracted. But he’s developed into a really good, strong, switched-on kid, and in season 2012, he ran a solid third in the Under 19s class at both the MX Nats and Australian Supercross Championship. He’s got the determination, dedication to training and the raw talent. And on hardpack and technical, jump-oriented tracks, his technique and speed is exceptional.

He’s strong in the mud and is working on his speed in the sand. From what I’ve seen of Jay this year, I think he still needs to work on his aggression on the bike. He’s got the ability, but needs to find the magic recipe and get all the little pieces in place. And I think he will because he’s got the right attitude and work ethic.”

96

JOEL DINSDALE

I

n Junior racing circles, Joel has been a real standout over the past two seasons. Not only has he won everything; he’s also creamed his opposition in lap times – which is exactly what guys like Chad Reed and Brett Metcalfe did back in their day. A few injuries have slowed his momentum, but Joel has the sort of determination and a hatred of losing that’ll help him get past that. Some reckon that’s a trait that has come straight from his father, Steve, who was a top Mister Motocross rider for years. Joel will make his long-awaited debut in the Under 19s ranks in 2013, but I hear the Mackay-based 16-year-old will start the season coming off wrist surgery. It sounds like he’s got his head screwed on because he modestly says 2013 is mainly about establishing himself in Seniors.”

97 SUPERCRO

SS ISSUE

sport PROFILES

A World Of Opportunity W

hat’s changed in the decade since Chad Reed first got to America? Is it harder to score a ride these days? Are American race team managers looking to sign guys fresh out of the Amateur ranks, or do riders in their early and mid 20s still stand a chance? Does their perception that Aussie riders have a strong work ethic still apply, or have managers returned to their hire-Americans-first tendencies?

We pressed Kade Mosig about his take on the modern-day AMA race scene and its opportunities for young Australian riders:

Is hiring young riders more important than it once was for the American teams?

I think age is a factor for American race team managers, but not really a deal breaker – unless you’re pushing 30, that is! It’s more a case that the AMA Lites teams are now grooming Amateur riders and then signing them the second they turn Pro. And they’re always going to sign a young American guy they’ve invested in ahead of an Aussie.

So, looking at it that way, you could say that it’s become harder for the new generation of guys to follow in Chad’s footsteps. It’s worked with young talents such as Barcia and Tomac, but there are a lot of examples where the gamble hasn’t paid off. Team managers also know that a guy in his early 20s is more experienced, plus physically and mentally stronger than a 16-year-old. So I still think Aussie riders like Dean Ferris, Todd Waters, Lawson Bopping, Luke Styke, Ford Dale and Matt and Jake Moss are by no means seen to be past their used-by. Just because some of those guys might be in their early or mid 20s doesn’t mean they’re off the radar.

But if they are going to tread in Chad’s footsteps, they need find or create opportunities for themselves pretty soon. Opportunities are much more likely to open up if you’re racing in America, and that’s why I’m now over here ... for the third time. When opportunities are limited, you have to make the most of anything you can get.

What makes Chad so special – aside from talent?

It’s hard to compare riders to Chad because he really is one-of-a-kind.

He ran second in the premier class in the World Motocross Championship in just his first year and he killed it right from the start in America. Chad figured out how to put all the pieces in place really quickly and made sure his preparation was always flawless. But what’s helped Chad most is that he’s just such a mentally strong person, and he can adapt to any situation that he’s thrown into. He took himself out of his comfort zone the second he had the opportunity, and it’s paid off. I mean, how many young Australian riders would be prepared to pack up their lives, buy a small motor home and spend a year on the road racing the World Championship in Europe?

People forget that’s what Chad and Ellie did as teenagers.

Has the speed differential between American and Australian riders narrowed in recent years?

For sure. In 2004, when Chad came back to race the Gosford supercross, he lapped up to second place. But he can’t do that any more. The pace and the depth of talent now in Australia is so much better than it’s ever been in the past, and we’re really not that far off the guys in the USA – especially if we had access to even equipment. That said, it’s a big step up from being a Junior champ to being successful in the Pro classes in Australia. And then it’s a much bigger step again to go to America and be competitive there.

There are a lot of kids coming through, but the ones who are going to stand

98

the best chance of stepping in Chad’s footsteps are the ones with the right sort of family support to help them focus on the goal and not be distracted.

How do you see the opportunities now in the USA? The economy is tough and a lot of teams are cutting back on the number of bikes they run, so I think there aren’t as many opportunities now compared to when Chad Reed first went to the States 10 years ago. And in America, you really need to be on a good bike if you want to be able to make a name for yourself like Chad did. A lot of the guys in the Under 19s class are now investing in going over to the Millsaps Training Facility (MTF) in America, and I think that’s the way to go if you’ve got the family support that allows you to do it. Not only do they get access to so many awesome tracks, they also get more fast guys to ride against on a daily basis. And that’s what makes you faster. But I also think riders shouldn’t build their whole preparation for an Australian series around that because the tracks, the dirt, the bikes and the racing are all so much different back in Australia.

What’s your take on the Under 19s class in Australia?

I find it weird that a lot of our Under 19s guys now head to America to expose themselves to high-level competition. If they’re doing that, why not just race in the Pro Lites or Pro Open class back here instead of the Under 19s? The Under 19s is a good idea in that it helps younger guys make that transition in the Pro classes and keep riders in the sport.

But it can also mean that riders stay in their comfort zone too long.

There are a lot of benefits of being thrown in the deep-end, too. When I came out of a successful Junior racing career, I went straight into the Pro Lites class in 2006 and got to gauge my speed against all the top guys. The next year, when I was 17, I stepped up to the Pro Open class and raced a 450 against Craig Anderson, Cody Cooper, Daryl Hurley – all these experienced guys who you can learn so much from. That fast-tracks your development as a racer. I know the Under 19s class guys are always comparing their lap times to the Pro classes, but there’s no substitute for getting in there and mixing it with the top guys on the track.

Are there any dark-horse talents in Oz? There are a heap of other young guys who’ve shown talent, either in Australia or America, or who I’ve heard good riders talk up – guys such as Jesse Dobson, Jackson Richardson, Dylan Leary, Aaron Tanti. But the guy who I really think has huge potential is Jacob Wright. He’s just 17 and already rides a 450 really well. In the lead-up to the 2012 ASX, I trained with him a lot and saw him repeatedly do stuff on a dirt bike that just blew me away. He had a lot of success in the Juniors with the Honda team, but he’s gone through some pretty bad injuries in the past year or two. Once he gets the right opportunity, though, I believe he’s the one to watch out for. He has this incredible capacity to just keep stepping it up.

HAYDEN MELLROSS

H

ayden’s a real talent and, along with Luke Clout, has spent quite a lot of time training at the MTF in America. He’s got so much skill and is really good to watch. In fact, he rides very centred on the bike and reminds me of Chad Reed sometimes. He won the 15 Years 250F class at the 2011 Junior MX Nats and led the series standings in the Under 19s class at this year’s Australian Supercross Championship ... until a disastrous final round, which allowed Kale Makeham to beat him to the title by one point. For a 16-year-old, he’s so strong. I don’t know what they’re feeding this younger generation of

kids coming through, but they’ve got more muscle and facial hair than guys I raced against at that age. Hayden’s a level-headed guy who flows around a track really nicely, but the most striking thing I’ve noticed about him is that he’s got balls and just goes for it. When the other riders are just doing the basic jumps, he’s often the first to step up and hit the bigger or more technical sections. While that’s a big plus and can often pay off for him, he’s also got to know when to put a lid on it. There’s no doubt he’s determined to make a career out of his racing and I believe he’s got the right work ethic to get there.”

99 SUPERCRO

SS ISSUE

sport PROFILES

KALE MAKEHAM

H

e’s a Victorian guy who’s a few years younger than me, so I’ve watched him through Juniors and at state rounds for years. Kale’s been riding since he was seven and was always a solid rider, but he’s really pieced together all those little things in the past 12 months and that’s resulted in winning the Under 19s Supercross Championship – on a two-stroke, too. After starting the 2012 season with a second-hand bike and gear and travelling to the races with his dad, he’s come a long way fast.

He only finished fifth in the Under 19s at the MX Nats, but I think the turning point for him came mid-season when

JOSH CACHIA

J

osh is another guy with a huge amount of talent and dedication.

And, as a lot of people who’ve heard him interviewed will know, he’s also a colourful and amusing character.

He absolutely loves the sport and is prepared to do whatever it takes to win. It’s incredible how the guy just continually strives to get better and better. As he took a little longer than average to develop physically, I think that spending a few years in the Under 19 was good for him. And now that he’s 20, his riding has really blossomed.

He’s a lot fitter and stronger these days and he was right there in the hunt for the Pro Lites MX Nats title this year. I was looking forward to racing 100

against him in the Supercross, but he decided to sit the series out after he got the eleventh-hour call-up to join the Australian-owned and run J-Star JDR KTM team in America. That deal gives him the perfect opportunity to make a successful transition into the American race scene, and I really hope he can do well for himself and the team. His challenge is to not get too excited and to keep it on two wheels.

If he can do that, there’s no telling how far he can go. Josh is nothing like Chad Reed as a person, but what the two do have in common is that they’re both very mentally strong. That’s what Josh has to use to his advantage this coming season in America.”

he qualified fastest. That really gave his confidence a boost and made him believe he belonged at the front, and it paid off in the supercross – where he proved he’s good in muddy conditions, too. He’s only 19, but mature for his age and definitely got the right attitude and mindset.

The real test will be to see how he makes the transition into the Pro Lites class for 2013. He sees himself as more of a supercross rider, so he’ll have to work on bringing his motocross speed up to match it. I’ve heard him talking about having to adapt to the Pro Lites class, which means he’s already thinking the right way.”