No need for an introduction for Dave Thorpe, but I will do it anyway. Without question the greatest British motocross rider of all time. Three World 500cc championships to his name in an era when the 500cc class was at its strongest. 22 GP wins, a MXoN victory as team manager, and a respect in the sport that he has earnt not just through his racing results, but through his kind, polite manner.
Dave Thorpe is always a pleasure to talk to, and as he gets older, you can feel the emotion of his life in the sport. As a kid and growing up in a family with little money, he snuck into the motocross events. That young boy who sat in trees around the circuit, played in the sand, and just enjoyed spending time with his father grew into one of the toughest, and most admired motocross riders in the World.
We talked to DT about his experiences at the Grand Prix of Great Britain, as a young boy, as the pride of England, and also as a now retired legend, who still has motocross running through his veins and enjoys watching just as much as when he was a small lad.
MXlarge: Firstly, thanks for doing this Dave. British Grand Prix this weekend, that event must hold some great memories for you, as you were in an era, possibly the greatest British GPs ever?
Thorpe: I mean, British Grand Prix is always special. It tends to be more about the British rider, because obviously a lot of people come to see them. The atmosphere is always good and with Matterley Basin being early in the season, people tend to come and watch the early races, rather than the bits in the middle. It will undoubtably have a good atmosphere.
MXLarge: The weather last year around this time was horrible, like Valkenswaard something like -10 degrees, but this time around it looks like we are going to have really good weather, which is great for a motocross event. Matterley Basin with good weather is one of the best tracks in the World. What are you most looking forward to?
Thorpe: I am pleased the weather has changed for Steve (Dixon), because he puts his heart and soul into this. A couple of weeks ago we had torrential rain all week, and I was thinking it doesn’t look like it is going to fall right, but this week the weather looks good for the whole week. There is no better watering than natural watering, so I think the rain we had will be good for the venue. Once they prepare it, there will be a good level of moisture in the ground, so that should create some great racing.
MXlarge: There are three guys in MXGP from the UK that could all get close to the podium or on it, Anstie, Searle and Simpson and also three in the MX2 class with Watson, Sterry and Mewse, so there will be something for the British fans.
Thorpe: Absolutely. Max rode amazing at the des Nations, and a British guy with a little confidence and the crowd behind him, anything is possible.
MXlarge: What are your greatest memories of this event for you personally?
Thorpe: Obviously, the one everyone remembers is Farleigh Castle in 1985, when I had a good race with Andre (Malherbe) and then the second race when I went down in the start and came back to get to the front, to battle with Andre and we had a great race. The memories for me was the crowd running from one side of the track to the other. It was generally like being in a football stadium, with the roar of the crowd. So that fits in my mind, but another one on a personal level, was Hawkstone Park in 1984. In 84, whilst I had won a race in Sweden, I was still a relative new comer at winning a Grand Prix. I went to Hawkstone as a real underdog against all the sand specialists, and it was an extremely hot day, so the fitness really helped me. I came away from there with a double win, and the following week in Belgium I won both races and I also won both races in Italy, and that kind of set me up for 1985 and 1986, where I went into the winter training and really confident.
MXlarge: You were obviously good under pressure, otherwise you don’t win World titles and so many GPs, but what is it like for a British rider at their home Grand Prix?
Thorpe: For me, it was huge. I remember one year at Farleigh, going from the pit box, down to the start line on the bike, with the crowd cheering and people tapping me on the back. I had to sort myself out on the line, because I had tears in my eyes, because I wanted it that bad. When you are a Brit, and you have the people behind you. I know I am bias, but for a Brit doing well, with the crowd behind them, there is nothing better.
MXLarge: What was your first GP as a fan?
Thorpe: When I was young, the first one I really remember was Donnington, my dad took me there, I remember watching there. Then, I went to Ladies Mile and I remember watching Joel Robert and Sylvain Geboers. As a youngster, in those days, my dad used to say to me, right, I see you back here at 4.30pm, as an eight-year-old child. In todays World that just wouldn’t happen. It was the norm and as a kid I used to climb trees and watch, and walk around and watch, then I would be back to where my dad said at 4.30pm. How the World has changed.
MXlarge: Yes, unfortunately. Did you ever see DeCoster race a GP as a kid?
Thorpe: Where I watched Roger a lot in the early years a lot, was they used to have a race called the Hans Grand International, always run on a good Friday. At Matchems Park, and a young boy, my dad used to get there at 5.30am, so we didn’t have to pay. Same story, we parked up and you be back here at 4.30pm.
MXlarge: Did you have to hide behind trees when the officials turned up?
Thorpe: As a child growing up my parents didn’t have a lot of money. And in those days, they didn’t have a lot of security and my Dad had worked out the people didn’t get there until 6.30am, so if we got there before 6.30am, we just rolled in.
MXLarge: I remember when we went to the races as kid, our Dad would put us in the back of the station wagon and throw a blanket over us until we were inside the track and past the payment area. Funny times, but it seems like back then it wasn’t considered that bad. Do that now and it is a police offence.
Thorpe: Yes, you would be hung dried and quartered.
MXlarge: I was speaking to Steve this week, and Matterley Basin has really become a circuit that belongs with Hawkstone Park, Foxhills and Farleigh Castle as Motocross royalty as far as circuits go.
Thorpe: Yes, I mean, it is an amazing venue for the spectators, and you can see it all. As for the riders, a lot of lines and it creates good racing. With a bit of good weather, we are good to go.
MXlarge: A lot of injuries already this year, a lot of guys, but still there seems to be a dozen riders in each class that can put on a great show. How impressed are you with the MXGP championship at the moment, with the amount of really quality riders?
Thorpe: I think the vision, that was set out very early, there were a lot of doubters, that MX2 was going to be a feeder for MXGP, but the quality in both classes is big now. I agree with the age rule for EMX250, because that class was designed to feed MX2, and it wasn’t always like that. Sure, some riders heard late, which was disappointing for them. The guys who were above age, I feel sorry for them, but as always Youthstream are never shy to make decisions and MX2 is quality and MXGP I love to watch it. There was a period of time I wasn’t that interested in some of the motocross going on, but it sure has reignited the fired to watch it on television or go and watch it live. The action in Argentina, was, just really fast. I haven’t been there, one of the fastest modern tracks I have seen, and I felt those boys were right on the edge.
MXlarge: I loved Argentina, and the technical sections in that track let the riders really show their skills, but it was wide open this year, which if course is good to watch, but pretty dangerous if you crashed. Seems like the jumps and corners were made perfect to show the riders skills. It was like supercross in fast-forward.
Thorpe: Sure. Matterley, you have the big jumps in the middle, but most of it is natural terrain, with off chambers and a lot of lines and opportunities.
MXLarge: Thanks again for your time Dave and see you on the weekend.
Thorpe: Always a pleasure Geoff, see you there.
Interview from MXLarge.com