Berry Sweet/Lucas Oil/Yamaha’s Tye Simmonds is a genuine bush kid. Growing up out the back of Bourke, the 21-year-old spent his youth either racing bikes, playing league or hunting pigs.

MotoOnline.com.au caught up with the likeable MX1 contender and got to know a bit more about him with this classic instalment of Unplugged.

Tye Simmonds currently sits sixth overall in the 2013 MX1 standings. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

My Way

Greatest moment of your career?
Racing the AMA Supercross and Motocross in 2011 and getting ninth overall both at Millville and at the Vegas supercross. I was on a tear at Millville and came from 20th through to seventh, passing guys like Windham and Weimer.

We’d keep similar lap times, but I’d leave them for dead by manualling through those big Millville whoops. I pushed too hard though, and got heat-stroke. I can’t remember that second moto at all, but I finished 11th I think.

Toughest race ever?
It’d have to be at Mt Morris when living with Zach Osborne in my amateur days. My left grip was loose and it was pissing down rain. We thought we’d fix when got back in, but four corners into the race the grip came off.

The killswitch had this sharp edge to it and it cut the piss out of my thumb and hand. Two laps later, in the same corner, my other right-hand grip came off! It was a wild mot that I still managed to win by about a second.

Long-term goal?
Win some championships. That’s what I’m chasing. If get another shot at the US I’ll go there, but otherwise I want to focus on winning here in Australia. I’ll make my career last as long as I can, then I’ll go back to Bourke and just go walkabout [laughs].

Favourite track?
Red Bud is one of my favourites, but you can’t beat the tracks I’ve got at home. They’re so much fun when they’re prepped. My uncle Pete has a 2000-acre property and we have another 100-acre farm.

Over the two of them I’ve got a huge variety of tracks: three supercross tracks, two arenacross-type tracks, a jump track in a spot called The Gullies with about 100 jumps to play on, three kilometre and five kilometre Motocross tracks we can lengthen or shorten, rut tracks, the works. The place is sick.

If you weren’t a racer, you would be?
I’d either be playing rugby league or a professional pig-hunter chasing pigs and shit.

Arch-rival?
At the moment it’s myself, but all through juniors Todd Waters and I had some gnarly, crazy battles. We’ve never taken each other out and get along great off the track, but we have had some epic races over the years.

Greatest inspiration?
My Uncle Pete, my Dad and my Pop because they’re all hard workers. Dad won an Australian horse-riding title and represented Australia in the US. He sucked and had no talent at all, but worked hard at it. That’s why he gets frustrated with me – I’ve got a lot of natural talent but I’m lazy as f#*k.

Superstitions?
I do but I don’t talk about them. I don’t like people knowing my superstitions.

Training methods?
Since I’ve been with Ando we train every day. We do four days on the bike, with some deep moto days and some sprint days. I do a lot of swimming and running and throw a bit of core in there as well. My fitness has always sucked but this year I’m seeing a big difference because Ando’s pushing me.

Goal for 2013?
To win a championship. Firstly I want to win as many races as I can, and if I do that, the championship will come.

Off The Wall

Best all-time moto DVD/video?
Mini Warriors 3 was unreal. I looked up to Zach Osborne and Austin Stroupe, and not long afterward I lived with Zach in the States for two years. Moto 4 is pretty cool too.

Non-bike related hobbies?
When I’m at home I do whatever it takes to have fun, otherwise I get bored. I do a lot of pig-hunting, which is my other passion. I don’t use a gun or anything – I just go out with the dogs and a knife. My biggest pig to date is a 120 kilogram boar. He was a big bastard.

Simmonds likes to hunt pigs when he’s not out at the track. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Do you read your pit board?
I can’t read so no, not really! [laughs] Nah, I read it here and there, but Ando and I have four or five hand signals we use to send different messages when I’m out racing.

What do you drive?
I bought a new Mercedes Vito van in Newcastle and at home I have a V8 Landcruiser flatbed ute that I can throw pigs and four-wheelers on.

Favourite magazine?
Dirt Action

What’s on the iPod?
It’s full of country music. Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson…. I’ve got a bit of the new shit on there but it’s mainly country.

Best thing about the MX Nationals?
This year it’s the return to the 30-minute motos. I’ve had shit starts so it gives me a chance to make up some points. I’m really happy that we’ve gone back to the traditional format.

Who will win AMA MX 2013?
I’d have to say Villopoto for sure. He has the momentum at the moment

Tell us something we don’t know about you?
If I’m partying in the off-season I always end up naked!

One or the Other

Traditional motos or mixed formats?
Traditional motos

Chad Reed or Jeff Leisk?
Leisky, because I get on so well with him. There’s never been a faster black ranga! [laughs]

Monster, Red Bull, Rockstar?
Red Bull!

PC or Mac?
I bought a Mac a couple months ago and it’s pretty good, although it took a bit to get used to.

McDonald’s or KFC?
McDonald’s

Europe or USA?
USA definitely

Two-stroke or four-stroke?
I love the two-stroke, but nowadays it’s all about the four-stroke. My heart is still with the two-stroke.

MX Nationals or Supercross?
Supercross – I love jumping

Print or Digital (iPad) magazines?
Online because it’s easier to access and get information. It’s good to grab a magazine once in a while, though..

Blonde or brunette?
Whatever I can pick up on the night! [laughs]. Nah, I’ve gotta say brunette otherwise my missus will kill me.