Johnson City's Brown gives Husqvarna first Endurocross win

Johnson City Press

April 10th, 2015 10:48 pm by Jeff Birchfield

 

Racing for a brand better known for its chain saws than motorcycles, Mike Brown cut the competition down to size at the latest GEICO Endurocross Series race in Salt Lake City.

The Johnson City rider’s No. 3 Husqvarna was the fastest bike all weekend during the series’ most recent race. After being the best on the holeshot for a second straight event, Brown led the entirety of the race, which included successfully navigating his way through obstacles of rocks and blocks of wood.

“It had been a year since I had won a race so it was good to be back on the winning podium again,” Brown said. “It was a good day, started out good in practice and I won everything all day long. It was good for sure to get back up there.”

It was a big win for the Husqvarna brand which is trying to make itself better known in the United States for its motorcycles as well as the outdoor power equipmment.

Brown, who enjoyed great success, racing under the KTM banner, talked about a 1-2 Husky finish with his teammate Colton Haaker.

“It was the first time Husky had won an Endurocross race like that and they’re pushing it harder than the other brands,” Brown said. “I was glad to be the first one to get them the win like that.”

It’s another milestone in Brown’s legendary career.

He was the AMA 125cc motocross national champion back in 2001.

Eight years later, he captured the World Off Road Championship Series title and has added two X Games gold medal and five gold medals from the International Six Days Enduro, an event that was first held in 1913 and has been called the “Olympics of Motorcycling.”

The 44-year-old continues to not only race, but outperform riders half his age. He is currently third in the series’ point standings with the next event scheduled for May 1 in Las Vegas.

“I hope we can challenge for the championship,” Brown said. “I’ve got three more weeks of good practice riding before the next race. I would like be in the lead after the next race, but it’s a long season and the goal is to be consistent, to be up there each and every week. If you can stay close to the front every week, you have a good chance of winning.”

In Endurocross, it’s even more important than motocross to limit the number of mistakes.

“I know some of the guys are so good at getting through the technical stuff,” Brown said. “It’s harder for me to do that, but last weekend I just did the best I could with no mistakes. I was quick on the rest of the track so it worked out.”

As far as the dreadied retirement word, Brown said it’s not in his plans right now. As long as he’s healthy and competitive, it remains fun to compete on a national stage.

“I still love riding and I still love racing,” Brown said. “I do the proper training and I’m still not burned out on it. I don’t think I could still do the motocross like I was, but this still feels new to me and I still enjoy it.”

One motocross event he would love to do is the AMA Tennessee National at his home track of Muddy Creek. However, that race on June 6 will again conflict with the dates of the X Games to be held in Austin, Texas.

Beyond his racing career, Brownie is serving as a coach to some of the younger riders including a pair from Argentina.

Brown is arguably the most well-rounded rider in history, competing at the highest levels in motocross, Supercross and even in endurance races like the Baja 1000.

As he has evolved as a racer, so has his equipment. The Husqvarna FE 350 he currently rides is far advanced from the bikes he started out with.

“Nowadays, the kids are training hard and pushing the bikes harder than ever before,” he said. “Everything about the bikes have changed. The engines are faster, but the suspension is the main thing.”

For now, he’s proving that an old veteran can handle the new bikes just as well as the young, fearless kids. The latest shot of confidence has Brown feeling like he’s one of those kids again.

“As a rider, you kind of get down when you’re not doing well, and feel like you’re losing a little bit,” he said. “But after winning, it gives you another boost. I think I will keep going as long as I have a chance to be up there on the podium and riding my best. I don’t want to be back in sixth, seventh, eighth-place all the time. When it’s like that, it will be time to call it a day.”