MotoOnline.com.au catches up with one of the hardest-working privateers in Australian motocross, Brock Winston, and throws him some left-field questions to see how the easy-going Queenslander copes.

Queenslander Brock Winston raced to third in the MX2 national championship this season. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

My Way

Greatest moment of your career?
It’d probably be the last round of the MX Nationals at Coolum this year. I led the opening MX2 moto for 26 minutes over Luke Styke. Ever since I started racing my goal was to win a moto at a national level and I came really close to doing it. It was fun and exciting, there were people leaning over the fence and towels waving all around the track. It was really cool.

Toughest race ever?
Probably that same race! I’ve never been out the front of a moto like that before and it’s a lot different to racing in second or third place. Straight away the heart-rate is higher and it’s harder to relax.

Long-term goal?
I want to win an Australian Motocross Championship one day, whether in MX1 or MX2.

Favourite track?
Coolum. I live on the Sunny Coast, so it’s close to home and I know it inside-out. All my friends are there pushing for me, which is always helps you dig a bit deeper. I’ve never ridden it as rough as it was for the final round of the MX Nationals before. I’ve never seen it so chopped up.

If you weren’t a racer, you would be?
I’m a part-time concreter, so I’d probably be laying concrete day-in and day-out. It’s kind of what I do now anyway!

Arch-rival?
Probably Kale Makeham, I’ve never really raced him before this year but I was keen to try and beat him in the championship this year. It didn’t work out and he finished second and I placed third, but we seemed to swap good and bad motos and had some good battles over the last couple of rounds.

Greatest inspiration?
Ricky Carmichael. When I started racing he was dominating and I loved watching him. I can’t believe someone could smash out two clean seasons in a row. That’s just crazy at that level.

Superstitions?
I used to clap my hands a few times to pump myself up before the 30 second board came out, but then I started having bad starts, so I stopped. I don’t have anything now.

Training methods?
This year it’s been a lot of bike time and running, and in the off-season I cycle a lot and I’ve just started Crossfit. I listen to my body, which is something I only learnt this year. Up until 2013 I’d go balls to the wall with my training but I’d wear myself out. My approach is a lot more balanced now.

Goal for 2014?
If I end up riding MX2 I’d like to go for the championship or at least be a big contender, for sure. If I ride MX1 I’ll focus on riding well and ticking off good, consistent motos.

Off The Wall

Best all-time moto DVD/video?
The Great Outdoors Endless Summer. I loved how they got behind the scenes with the riders and showed what they got up to away from the track, not just about the racing. Australia needs to get a film like that.

Non-bike related hobbies?
Going to the beach, getting tattoos, staying active, cycling and running in the mountains near home. I’ve also been hooked on Crossfit lately; I signed up after Coolum and I’ve been going every day.

Do you read your pit board?
Well I didn’t have one at the start of the year. It wasn’t until Conondale where I joined the Choice KTM team that I had a mechanic and someone to pitboard for me. I tried to remember I had one to read, but at Coolum I was too scared to take my eyes off the track while leading.

What do you drive?
Volkswagen Transporter.

Favourite magazine?
Racer X is the goods.

What’s on the iPod?
I don’t have an iPod. I don’t like paying for music, so I don’t bother [laughs]. I went to a Machine Gun Kelly concert a few weeks ago and I’ve been pumping his CD hard out since then.

Best thing about the MX Nationals?
I think it was being on the Choice Motorsports KTM team and hanging out with the boys. Even at Coolum, which was only 20 minutes from home, I went and stayed in the motel with the guys, just because it was so much fun.

Who will win the Monster Cup?
I hope Davi Millsaps wins, but really, if Villopoto rides it, you can’t bet against him.

Tell us something we don’t know about you?
I played 10 years of rugby league before I got into motocross. I started at the age of three and played until I was 13. Sometimes I miss it, like when I see the boys I played with get contracts with teams and make good money, but now that I’m doing better at racing I don’t regret it at all.

One or the Other

Traditional motos or mixed formats?
Traditional 30 mins is a lot better. That’s what motocross is about.

Chad Reed or Jeff Leisk?
Leisky for sure.

Monster, Red Bull, Rockstar?
Monster. because they sponsor the MX Nationals. Gotta support the ones who support us.

PC or Mac?
I don’t have either. I have an iPhone and use that for everything on the internet, so I guess I’d go a Mac.

McDonalds or KFC?
I haven’t eaten either for ages, but if I had to choose I’d go KFC.

Europe or USA?
Europe. I’d rather be called a World Champion than an American Champion. It just sounds cooler.

Two-stroke or four-stroke?
Initially I wasn’t a fan of the two-stroke but I kinda like it now. I’d still choose a fast four-stroke over a two-stroke, but it depends on how much money you want to spend..

MX Nationals or Supercross?
MX Nationals. I’m not riding supercross.

Print or Digital (iPad) magazines?
Print for sure.

Blonde or brunette?
Brunette all the way!