My Way

Greatest moment of your career?

It’d have to be the Phillip Island round of the 2012 Australian Supercross Championship. I’d been based in China the week before, then came home and finished second to Gavin Faith. Then the next week I broke both of my arms while training, so I went from a massive high to a huge low.

Toughest race ever?

Wonthaggi 2013, not because of the track, but because I’d broken my sternum and my T5 and T5 vertebrae only a month beforehand. I probably shouldn’t have ridden as it felt like I had a steel pole up my back, but I nearly won the first moto, which was pretty funny. I left everything out there that race, so the second moto was really tough, especially after I hit my chest on the bars and could barely breathe for the whole race. I think I finished 17th or 18th in that one.

Long-term goal?

To finish the sport healthy and to try and find a way to make an income out of it.

Favourite track?

I love rough sand tracks like Wanneroo and Rosebud as I grew up about 30 seconds from Rosebud and I’m used to riding the sand. My all-time favourite track though is probably Pala in California. It’s such a fun, interesting track to ride and the jumps are big and perfectly shaped.

If you weren’t a racer, you would be?

I’d be a pimp [laughs]. I honestly have no idea. Dad’s a builder, but I’d hate to do that as it’s so boring. Even if I wasn’t a racer I’d probably just ride motorbikes every day anyway.

Arch-rival?

I don’t really have one as everyone’s quick these days and I don’t seem to find any particular rider on the track the whole time. I do love going to the track with my mate Tim Vare – he rides really well during the week and it’s always fun to battle with him when we’re practicing supercross.

Greatest inspiration?

My dad. He’s always put up with all my shit and hasn’t necked himself over it yet.

Superstitions?

Yeah, mine’s a bit complicated. After I put my right knee brace on first I put my right boot on, then I do all the buckles up, then undo the top buckle, then put the left boot on, do all those buckles up, then do my right top buckle up last. I’m weird, I know!

Training methods?

I work with my personal trainer Mark Simpson during the week for all my weight and gym training, then I do a heap of work on the spin bike at home. Victoria doesn’t have the best weather for cycling so I just do it inside.

Goal for 2015 supercross?

As always, it’s get through healthy. I think my results should be up there and I’d like to finish the season in top five. Last year I struggled with my shoulder but 2015 should be better – I have a great team and a good bike.

Off the Wall

Best all-time moto DVD/video?

I love watching Bar to Bar 2002 and 2005. The Pontiac race in 2002 was the best race ever as Ricky Carmichael crashed and went from last to nearly passing Nate Ramsey for the lead. In 2005 the race at San Diego where Reedy passes RC on the last lap for the win is just insane.

Non-bike related hobbies?

Taking girls to the drive-in movies.

Do you read your pit board?

If it’s in a good spot on the track I will. A couple of tracks had such badly placed mechanics areas this year that it was impossible to read them.

What do you drive?

A 2006 Mercedes Vito. I bought it at the end of 2013 with 160,000km on it. Now it’s done 330,000!

Favourite magazine?

Racer X.

What’s on the iPod?

I don’t own one. I mainly just listen to the radio but if I’m doing long drives I’ll throw on the Pulp MX podcasts and listen to those.

Best thing about the MX Nationals?

They’re really well organised and you know they’re going to be there every year. The track prep for every round this year was great too.

Who will win the 2015 Australian Supercross Championships?

I’d love to see some good battles but it’s hard to go past Matt Moss going on his statistics of having a perfect season last year. If Gavin Faith rides like does in Germany he’ll be a threat too.

Tell us something we don’t know about you?

I was in the accelerator program at school and skipped a year of school. I went from Year 9 straight to Year 11, so I finished Year 12 a year early. No-one would believe me hey! I put it all to good use and became a motorbike rider.

First and last

First bike?

A Honda QR50 when I was in kindy. I bent the forks on it.

First kiss?

I was way too old; I kissed a chick in high school behind the lockers. But I made up for it this year and got the job done with the same girl!

First proper injury?

I busted my collarbone when I was 12 after I went over the bars at the Warnabool Open on my 85.

First time you got in a fight?

I used to fight with my brother at home but that probably doesn’t count. In primary school me and my best friend got into one. I punched him in the face and gave him a blood lip.

Last album/song you downloaded?

Dr Dre – The Next Episode.

Last movie you watched?

I watched Get Hard over the weekend, which is funny as I had a decent brunette in bed next to me.

Last holiday?

It was still moto related, but I went to the US in 2013 when I had my shoulder reco and hung out there in California and went to the Monster Cup.

Last big crash you had?

I crash all the time so I don’t count them. The last big, big one was when I broke my back and sternum at Broadford at the start of 2013.

Last time you got road rage?

Every day. I hate everyone on the roads.

One or the Other

Two 30-minute motos or mixed moto formats?

Two 30s for sure.

Monster, Red Bull or V?

V. It’s actually a problem how much I love them.

PC or Mac?

PC.

McDonalds or KFC?

Maccas.

Europe or USA?

I’d definitely love to live in the US but I’d also love to try Europe again as I got sick over there last time and that probably made it harder than it probably is.

Two-stroke or four-stroke?

Four-stroke, but I’ve still got a CR125 that I do local A-Grade races on. It’s f**king hard work, but I’ve had some of the most fun you can have on that bike.

MX Nationals or supercross?

As an event, MX Nationals, but I prefer racing supercross more.

Blonde or brunette?

It depends if they’re a head case or not. Most blondes are head-cases.