KTM privateer Kale Makeham has been one of many standouts in the 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals, riding a 250 SX two-stroke in the MX Development category for Under 19s contenders. Makeham finished the series in a promising fifth overall, with a bright future to come. He is the subject of MotoOnline.com.au’s latest UNPLUGGED! feature.

Kale Makeham rode his KTM 250 SX to fifth in the Under 19s class of the MX Nationals. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

My Way

Greatest moment of your career?
Winning my first national race at Hervey Bay. I’ve come so close before finishing second so many times and even qualifying first, but that was the first time I’ve ever won a national race as a senior or junior

Toughest race ever?
A mud race I competed in in Indonesia. It was a 15-lap main and they didn’t shorten it at all – it ended up going for 56 minutes!

Long-term goal?
To win an Australian Lites Motocross and Supercross championship and represent Australia at the MXDN all in the same year and use that to start a career in America

Favourite track?
Coonabarabran!

If you weren’t a racer, you would be?
Rich haha

Arch-rival?
I don’t really have an ‘arch-rival’, I get along with everybody pretty good. I always seem to find Jay Wilson on the track this year, but we get along fine

Greatest inspiration?
Definitely Jay Marmont, watching him win the Super X at Canberra in 2009 beating Chad Reed only two days after the passing of his baby daughter Lila is the most inspiring thing I’ve ever seen

Superstitions?
My throttle getting stuck on, it scares the hell out of me!

Training methods?
Turning my weaknesses into strengths whatever that may be. I spend a lot of time on the bike getting my technique right and I love to go running and lift weights in the gym

Goal for 2012?
My goal was to just be consistent and get a top five finish in the U19s and I’ve pretty much locked that down now. So my new goal for the rest of the year is to be the fastest guy every time I’m on the track and go for the win in every race and hopefully that shows everybody my potential and earns me a team ride!

Off the Wall

Best all-time moto DVD/video?
Inside the Outdoors

Non-bike related hobbies?
Wakeboarding, BMX, snowboarding, golf

Do you read your pit board?
Never. Sometimes Dad will use his fingers to tell me what position I am in in qualifying, if he is just shaking his fist that means I’m outside the top 10 and I need to go faster!

What do you drive?
Holden Colorado ute

Favourite magazine?
Dirt Action

What’s on the iPod?
Any of the DJ sets from www.lodgie.com!

Best thing about the MX Nationals?
It’s getting bigger and better each year and turning motocross into a well known mainstream sport

Other sports you like?
I love watching the MotoGP

Who will win AMA SX 2013?
James Stewart!

Tell us something we don’t know about you?
I work full-time at a sawmill as a fully qualified machinery operator. I’m also doing a personal training course through the Australian Institute of Fitness.

One or the Other

Traditional motos or mixed formats?
I like the mixed formats we have now but it would be better if each race were longer

Jay Marmont or Todd Waters?
Todd Waters, because its great to see a young Aussie doing so well and hopefully he can start a successful career in America

Monster, Red Bull, Rockstar?
Red Bull

PC or Mac?
Mac

McDonalds or KFC?
Maccas

Europe or USA?
USA

Two-stroke or four-stroke?
Two-stroke, but I would rather race a four-stroke!

MX Nationals or Supercross?
Supercross

Print or Digital (iPad) magazines?
Print

Blonde or brunette?
A blonde with brains… she needs to be able to use a stopwatch and write on my pit board haha