After 15 years working alongside Craig Dack under the CDR Yamaha awning, Shawn Hodgetts, the motocross industry’s most successful wrench, has opted for a change of scenery and is heading into a whole new world of generator rentals.

We caught up with the 34-year-old Geelong resident to get to the bottom of his defection, and relive the memories of winning 20 championships for the blue corner.

Shawn Hodgetts is departing CDR Yamaha and motocross after 15 years with the team. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Shawn, leaving two rounds into the 2012 championship has come as a surprise to many. What are your reasons for heading for greener pastures?


I guess my family is pretty high on my list of reasons, I want to spend more time at home with my three-year-old son Hunter and nine-week-old daughter Tahlia. An opportunity came up to work for East Coast Generators in Melbourne, and I didn’t take the decision lightly, but it was time for change of scenery.

What will your new role entail?

My new position will be rental manager, so I’ll be dealing with the companies who need generators for on-site power and lighting. The guys do a lot of big operations such as Formula 1, the Spring Racing Carnival, Melbourne Cup and the Big Day Out, etc.

We also do a lot of industrial and emergency shutdowns and planned maintenance, so that should be challenging. You never know when things are going to go wrong.

After so many years working as a race-team mechanic I’m sure you’re used to dealing with crises under pressure!

[Laughs] yeah mate, I’m ready to go.

What was your highlight year?

I guess every year where you win a championship is a highlight year and I definitely remember them all. I’ve spent 19 or 20 years playing with dirt bikes after starting at Co-op Honda in Palmerston North, New Zealand. I was there for four years, then have worked with Dacka for 15 years.

The first championship with Daryl Hurley in 1999 was memorable, because it was the first, then all nine of the titles with TC [Troy Carroll] were tough as we were on the road a lot. Then to end with, Jay Marmont’s four-in-a-row, plus a supercross title to make it five championships in four years, was really special.

You’d have to be the winningest mechanic in the pits with a record like that.

Yeah I guess I am. I think CDR’s won about 20 championships since I’ve been here. One of the other things that stands out now – it probably didn’t at the time – was working with Chad Reed at Woodville in 1996, knowing just how far he’s gone now.

How’s it been working with Dacka? You’ve obviously got a pretty good relationship with him.

We’ve worked together since 1998 so we have a very good relationship, I wouldn’t have stayed this long if we didn’t get along with both him and Gary Benn, who has only been here one year less than I have. Dacka and I have differing strong opinions on some things, but we meet in the middle and that’s what makes it work. We’ll be friends forever.

CDR Yamaha including Hodgetts celebrate Jay Marmont's 2011 Super X title. Image: Alex Gobert.

What’s the one key value you need to be a successful, long-standing mechanic?

Enthusiasm. You can’t be scared to work some late nights and head to the track with your rider when you have a day off. We proved that when [Cheyne] Boyd was here, he was struggling a bit, so we’d head out to the track when we were supposed to be having a break. As a result he won seven rounds in a row in 2007. The results come if you’re willing to put the hard work in.

Who have you worked with in Australia?

I started with Daryl Hurley, then worked with Troy Carroll, then Boydy. After Boyd I moved into an engine development role, where I worked closely with Boydy and Jay, then Jay and Josh [Coppins] building their engines.

What do you think has been the biggest technology breakthrough you’ve seen?

The four-stroke without a doubt. The progress they’ve made with the engines has been huge. Little things like EFI have played an important part, but as a whole, the four-stroke revolution has changed the motocross landscape into what it is today.

Thanks for the chat, mate, and all the best with your new gig.

Cheers mate!