After a 2012 season he’d rather forget, Bourke’s Tye Simmonds is working hard to get his career back on track in 2013. After signing with Craig Anderson’s Berry Sweet Yamaha team for the upcoming season, Simmonds is now living with the Andersons in Newcastle to keep himself on the straight and narrow. He also raced his first race on the blue bike at the Lakes Motorcycle Club over the weekend and is anything but happy with how it went. We caught up with the 20-year-old and threw five “why” questions at him.

Tye Simmonds has joined forces with Craig Anderson aboard Yamahas in 2013. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

First up, Tye, you had your first race on the YZ450F on the weekend, but by all accounts you weren’t happy with it. Why not?

I’m just not happy with how I rode. I’ve been riding and practicing during the week, but that’s completely different to the intensity that comes from racing. I rode tight all day and we had a few little issues with the bike set-up that we’ve sorted out today. I’d only been on the Yamaha for a week before the Lakes race, so I wasn’t used to the bike and its power delivery. It was a good learning curve and we’ve fixed a lot of those set-up issues now.

Why do you think you’re going to be stronger and faster this year compared to 2012?

Well I’m not coming into the first round with only two weeks preparation! I’ve had more time up my sleeve and this year I’m 100 times fitter than last year. In 2012 I didn’t have a bike sorted until two weeks out from the round one of the MX Nationals at Conondale and I feel like I didn’t get my shit sorted until rounds three and four. Obviously, by that stage it was too late. This year I’ll be fitter and more in-tune with the bike and we won’t be chasing our tails trying to tie up the last-minute deals.

Why aren’t you happy with last year’s results?

It was good to do something different and a lot of people stepped up to help me get to the start line, but I feel like I let everyone down. Coming into the season I wasn’t fit, both on or off the bike, and when I started to improve I had a big practice crash and it forced me out of the series. I wasn’t ready coming into the supercross championship and had some personal issues I was working through that affected my performance. Staying with Dan McCoy before the series and getting in lot of ride-time helped, but it wasn’t enough. All in all, I’m disappointed with 2012.

Simmonds wasn’t satisfied with his 2012 campaign, but still managed two MX Nationals podiums. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Why are you living with the Andersons instead of out at Bourke?

The whole team is based out of Newcastle now, so it didn’t make sense for me to live out at Bourke. It’s a lot different living with the Andersons, but I’m so pumped on the set-up. We feel like family and Ando and I do everything together, day-in and day-out. It can be a bit stressful and we butt heads now and again, but you have to push through the bad days in order to strengthen the relationship and to ultimately win races. I’m really happy with the set-up and I can’t wait to get to round one of the MX Nationals.

Why aren’t you teaming up with your father this year? You two always seemed inseparable.

[Laughs] yeah Dad has bought a truck takeaway shop at Bourke, and he got engaged the other day. They’re expecting a kid in April, so he’s going to have a lot on his plate! With so much going on he’s had to focus on doing his own this year. My mechanic this year is Luke ‘The Grizzly Bear’ Jones from Victoria. He’s spent a lot of time with Ando and he’s really good at his job. We have a great relationship going on.