Millsaps, Wilson Talk Training

DEAN WILSON TALKS TRAINING WITH DAVI MILLSAPS & HIS RACING FUTURE

On Nov 29, 2022 Last updated Nov 29, 2022

DEAN WILSON INTERVIEW

Obviously, Dean Wilson is well known as number 15, which he has now worn for much of his career. However, I think of the born in Scotland rider as number 108. This was the number he wore back in 2010 when I first met him in his Pro racing debut. His impressive fourth overall Outdoors in the 250 class that season earned him the 2010 “Pro Motocross Rookie of the Year” title. Furthermore, it was only one year later, when Dean captured the 2011 250 motocross championship. Later when Wilson moved up to the 450 class, injuries slowed his progress. Nonetheless, Dean finished just off the 450 Pro Motocross Championship podium in 2017, and he was just outside the top five in the 2018 and 2019 450 Supercross Championships. Now, Dean has left Rockstar Husqvarna and decided to stop racing Outdoors, in order to pursue WSX and AMA Supercross on the Firepower Honda team, with big changes both professionally, and personally (becoming a father). 

BY JIM KIMBALL

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DEAN, CONSIDERING THE EXTENT OF YOUR INJURY DURING SUPERCROSS, HOW WAS IT TO FINISH OFF YOUR FINAL PRO MOTOCROSS RACES? It was okay. It was good for me to be out there. I knew this would be the last year outdoors of my career, so I really wanted to be out there. It was just hard to come back from that injury because my body went anemic after my injury in Supercross. I really had to build my blood system back up after that injury. With coming back, I mainly just wanted to earn myself a spot with Team Great Britain for the Motocross Des Nations team. I did that and got a few top tens, so it wasn’t too bad.

BEING ANEMIC MUST REALLY MAKE IT HARD BECAUSE IT ZAPS THE STRENGTH FROM YOU. I lost so much blood that I almost needed a complete blood transfusion but did not end up getting it. So, I had to naturally let the blood build back up. That is what took me so long on getting back for that blood to build back up.  

THIS PAST YEAR WAS YOUR LAST OUTDOOR SEASON, BUT YOU ARE RACING SUPERCROSS IN 2023. WHY LEAVE MOTOCROSS IF YOU’VE HAD GREAT RESULTS OUTDOORS IN THE PAST? Yes, that is true. But I have had torn both of my ACLs in me knees so many times, and have had so many knee injuries that my knees just really cannot stand the outdoor grind anymore. Outdoors is just too hard on it on them, I just can’t handle it. It’s just too much load, so that is what really made my decision. If I could at least just get by in Supercross that would be ideal, and hopefully extend my career a couple more years.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS NOW? I’ll be racing AMA Supercross and World Supercross, plus I will be racing the Australian series and living over there for a couple of months. That should be fun, and I would enjoy that. There is some good money to be made still, and that is the plan.

YOU REALLY SEEM TO BE GOOD WITH ALL OF YOUR SPONSORS. HUSQVARNA AND O’NEAL GAVE YOU A GREAT SEND OFF BEFORE SWITCHING TO HONDA AND FLY RACING. I have always tried to have a good relationship with all my sponsors. Being loyal and having a good relationship is important to me, and I had that. Rockstar Husqvarna and O’Neal did a lot for me. Of course, I will now be with Honda and Fly Racing, and believe I will grow my relationship with them, while still maintaining my past friendships and relationships.

I THINK ITS SO IMPRESSIVE HOW YOU LEFT ROCKSTAR HUSQVARNA AND A COUPLE WEEKS LATER YOU WERE RACING WORLD SUPERCROSS ON FIREPOWER HONDA. It was a big load for sure. It was not ideal to just jump into a race like that with no time on the bike, but it was just what I was signed up to do, so I did it. Sure, it didn’t go the greatest, but I still gained a lot of good racing experience and I learned a lot with the bike. It was good in a sense as well. 

YOU IMPROVED FOR ROUND TWO IN AUSTRALIA. Yes, I got a little more time on the bike and by Australia, I was quite a bit better. Unfortunately, I got a flat tire in one of the races, so that really screwed up my score, but I was in the top four. My speed was pretty good in qualifying and I was definitely looking a lot better. Unfortunately, just needed more time, that was all I really needed. 

OVERALL, IT WAS GOOD PREPARATION FOR 2023 RIGHT? Yes, I felt pretty good coming back from it, I just knew that I was not that prepared going into it, so it was not really my best performance. It was good to see that I had some decent speed, but I just really need to work on the bike and work on myself and get it ready. That is what I really needed. The next time I line up, I will be definitely a lot better off.  

THERE ARE LIKELY SO MANY DIFFERENCES FROM YOUR ROCKSTAR HUSQVARNA TO YOUR NEW FIREPOWER HONDA, IS THERE ONE THAT STANDS OUT MOST? They have a lot of their own different characteristics. The engines are different, the Austrian to Japanese frame is completely different. Obviously, it feels like a Japanese bike, as it should. It reminds me of the Pro Circuit days when I was on a Kawasaki. The Austrian (KTM/Husky) bikes are a lot different, so I’m still learning the Honda, but I am liking it a lot so far.  

YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN VERY BUSY RECENTLY, YOU’VE GOT A NEW RIDE AND TEAM, YOU’VE BEEN TRAVELING A LOT AND YOUR WIFE JUST HAD A BABY. It has been a crazy few months for sure. Adjusting to a new team, having a baby boy, just a lot of things, so it has been a big adjustment period. But I have been plugging away, and now feeling I like where I am at. I really enjoy being a dad. It is a lot of different way of thinking now, but I like it.   

YOU ARE LIVING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; WILL YOU STAY THERE THROUGH SUPERCROSS? I will be back to Florida eventually once the series goes east.

DOES THE FIRE POWER HONDA TEAM HAVE A PLACE IN FLORIDA? Yes, their team is based out of MTF (Millsaps Training Facility) in Cairo, Georgia. 

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH DAVI MILLSAPS; IS THAT TRUE? Yes, I am, and it has been good. I only recently hired Davi, we worked together for a few weeks now, and it has been good. I wanted someone to help me on the track. This might be my last year of racing so I really want all the help I can get. I always really liked the way Davi rode on the motorcycle, and I felt like he could help me with my riding and training. It was just an opportunity that was available. So far so good. I am enjoying it and it is good to have someone that has been there before helping you.  

 

I DID NOT REALIZE THIS COULD BE YOUR LAST YEAR OF RACING COMPLETELY? Yes, we will see, it just depends on how my body feels. It’s a very dangerous sport and if you are not making good money and are not getting the stuff you want, it is not worth it, because it is just too dangerous. 

I SAW IN YOUR VLOG THAT YOU ARE IN THE MIDST OF YOUR TRAINING BOOT CAMP. That will probably go all the way till the first race, and then you know it is a seventeen-round series, so we will adjust from there. You are always constantly adjusting because you must listen to your body and see how you feel and try to get the most out of what you can.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TYPE OF GOAL OR EXPECTATION FOR SUPERCROSS IN 2023? I would be happy with a top ten in the championship—I would be happy with that. Obviously, better than a top ten would be better. It is a stacked class within the top ten, so I think it is good for me and where I am at. If I do better than that, that would be awesome.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON WORLD SUPERCROSS? I enjoyed the World Supercross. It was good for me for where I am at in my career. It is another avenue to make money racing—so it is good. You get to travel the world, and race Supercross. I cannot complain, and I felt like it was run well. There were a few little things that could be better, but that is the same as in American Supercross too.  

Owyhee...A Real Historical MX Track

Idaho motorcycle club added to the National Register of Historic Places

      Owyhee Motorcycle Club

The Owyhee Motorcycle Club has been around since 1935 helping develop the sport of off-road motorcycle racing in Idaho.

Since 1946, riders have trained and competed on a track in the Boise Foothills, providing 80 acres of land for pro-racers and up-and-comers alike. Now the club has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the first one to do so in the United States.

A member of the Owyhee Motorcycle Club, Michelle Webb and the Outreach Historian for the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office Dan Everhart joined Idaho Matters to talk about the significance of the listing.

Listen to the story here;

www.boisestatepublicradio.org/show/idaho-matters

Matrix Black Friday Sale 50% Off

USE DISCOUNT CODE GUIDE Use BF22 for 50% discount on Stands, Cans, Ramps, Mats, Garage / Track, Custom ID,  & Tie-Downs. Use BFT22 for 30% discount on ALL Chairs, Toolboxes & Tables.  Tents, Accessories & Casual are already marked down no code needed.  If you use different codes you must place separate orders for each code, system only accepts 1 code per order. Offer expires 11/30/22 at midnight.  LEARN MORE ABOUT SEZZLE PAYMENT PLAN AT CHECK OUT

Fast Is Simply Fast... In Any Era

Watch Supercross, Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross in 2023

Watch Supercross, Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross in 2023.A comprehensive international streaming package has been outlined for the 2023 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), which will offer Monster Energy Supercross, Pro Motocross and the SMX playoffs/finals series on the same subscription platform.

The SuperMotocross Video Pass will become the official, exclusive home of SMX in its inaugural season, featuring live broadcasts from all rounds, as well as extensive additional Race Day Live coverage and an archive that spans over a decade of Supercross and Pro Motocross events.

It’s an integral merger that will streamline viewing options for overseas audiences at an annual subscription cost of $159.99 USD, inclusive of all 31 events. There is currently a limited time ‘early bird discount’ that reduces the price to $129.99 USD. Visit www.supermotocross.tv for complete information.

Streaming within the United States will be exclusive to Peacock as part of the previously-announced five-year partnership with NBC Sports. That will be available in addition to broadcasting between NBC, USA Network and CNBC.

GODSPEED! ANDRE MALHERBE (1956-2022)

Andre Malherbe was  a three-time 500cc Motocross World Motocross Champion (1980, 1981 &1984).

Born in Huy, Belgium, the son of a motorcycle dealer, Andre Malherbe began racing at an early age and earned his racing license in 1973. He rode a Zundapp to win the 125cc European Motocross Championship in 1973 and 1974. Before moving to the 250 class in 1977, where he finished third in the 250cc World Championship

Andre then moved to the 500 class in 1978 and finished in sixth place for the KTM team. In 1979, he was picked up by the factory Honda team, where he joined Graham Noyce. Noyce would win the 1979 500 World Championship ahead of Suzuki’s Gerritt Wolsink. Andre Malherbe was third.

In 1980, he captured his first 500 World Championship and successfully defended his title in 1981 and in 1984. At the time of his retirement, Malherbe was fourth on the all-time winners list.

After his motocross career ended, he races the 1987 Spa 24 Hour in the World Touring Car Championship and was interested in an auto racing career. But he turned his attention to Rally racing. Unfortunately, while competing in the 1988 Paris-Dakar Rally he crashed and suffered a serious spinal injury and was paralyzed. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Andre returned to motocross to run the Johnson Honda private 500GP team with George Jobe as the team rider in 1989.

With the passing of Andre Malberbe, all of the Belgian 500 World Champions of the 1980s are now gone—Andre Malberbe (1980, 1981 & 1984), Eric Geboers (1988-1990) and Georges Jobe (1987, 1991-1992).

Baja Tough...Tanner Janesky

You are looking at the best, toughest, long distance desert #motorcycle racer in the world: Tanner Janesky.

Yesterday he dug very very deep into human potential and went superhuman.

He won the #Baja1000 Ironman class (solo) by 90 minutes over his closest competitor. There were 21 Ironman entries made up of the best riders from all over the world. Less than half even finished. In 828 miles of the absolute roughest terrain, Tanner’s preparation, resolve and willingness to put his goal above intense pain for many hours earned him an absolutely field dominating finish in 24 hours.

It was as low as 18 degrees. Water frozen. Food bars that he’d eat while riding-frozen solid as rocks at nighttime. He came upon a crashed rider, badly hurt. He had a dislocated shoulder, dislocated hip, broken back, broken ribs, broken neck, and two broken arms with a bone sticking out. As Tanner slowed to help and looking at him, he hit the same foot high rock hiding in a shadow and crashed himself, gashing his face and bloodying his nose. He got his satellite phone out (most riders don’t carry one) and called a helicopter. He waited and helped the medics load the rider onto the stretcher and into the helicopter.

Even with this 1 hour and 25 minute delay, Tanner won by 33 seconds against the best riders in the world. With his “ Good Samaritan” official time credit for helping in a life or death situation he won by 1 hour and 25 minutes.

I can not fully describe what he accomplished to you. He was up for 50 hours. Cold. Extreme physical activity for 24 hours. Grueling terrain. Major pain. A haunting scene of what could happen in his head. And still, he persisted.

So incredibly proud of my son, Tanner Janesky.

Style!

Gajser and the others MXGP boys | Season Review

MXGP Review

RD5 Future

One of the most shocking storylines of the 2022 season was when multi-time Monster Energy AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross champion Ryan Dungey announced he was returning to race Pro Motocross for Red Bull KTM. After five years away from the sport following his retirement in 2017, Dungey found an in with his old team as Cooper Webb sat out the Pro Motocross campaign. Dungey was initially slated to just do two races, but after finishing fifth and seventh respectively at the opening two rounds, the 32-year-old was locked in to contest the whole season. What was initially an itch that needed scratching for Dungey suddenly became much more as he continued to sniff the podium week after week. Suddenly, the rumors were hot that Dungey would come back full-time moving into 2023. When asked about it at mid-season, Dungey did not deny it and rather explained that he had some things to figure out.

Well, when the checkered flag waved at the final round at Fox Raceway, Dungey quietly slid back into retirement without much notice. His final line from his 12-round return saw him finish sixth in points with seven fourth place finishes in the 24 motos, just narrowly missing that elusive podium time after time. So, what kept Dungey from pulling the trigger on a full-time return? Steve Matthes caught up with Dungey on this week’s PulpMX Show to hear from the man himself.

Racer X: We haven’t talked to you since you announced that you weren’t coming back. Near the end of the year it seemed like you had decided to come back (for 2023). I’d heard they were [offering] maybe supercross, maybe just motocross again. Then at the last minute it was like, “No, he’s done.” So take us through that decision not to come back again because to me it was a successful outdoor season for you. You almost got on the podium, ran up front. I don’t think anybody could have asked for more with you being off for so long. So take us through the decision to not do it again.
Ryan Dungey: Yeah, for sure. The initial, getting the opportunity to go racing, it worked out. I got to be in Minnesota. We just had little Banks at the time. He was like four or five months old. So, I didn’t have to uproot the family and it just worked. I could fly to and from the races, leave Friday and get home Sunday. So it was kind of always a short-term plan to do the outdoors and it did develop into talks of supercross of course. There was the opportunity to continue to go racing and KTM was kind to open the door there. You know, it didn’t weigh on me, but I thought about it for a long time just because here’s this chance and this opportunity. The pay was great, the opportunity to go racing supercross only, it was a great deal. So for two months I just kind of teeter tottered kind of trying to make a decision. When it really came down to it, having to move and uproot the family and put them back in Florida, we’ve got two kids now, we’re away from the family, it was just a bigger decision than me and Lindsay now. I got family involved. I needed to go back to racing (because) for one it was the challenge, but two it created a lot of closure for me of after racing. After the outdoors were done, I was happy, and I was content. I’m good, and I don’t need to race anymore. That was my own stuff I needed to work through. For the most part, it was a good season. Did I want to get on the podium? Heck yeah. Did I want to be up there contending for wins? I did. But the fact is, I was happy. I can’t be mad at myself. It was five years, like you said. Did I want more? Yeah, absolutely, but I was completely content with how it went.

You had the GEICO thing going for a little bit and then I know you had tried to go racing on a Honda, and then you eventually came back with KTM. So you say you’re happy and in a good spot, my next question was going to be, do you have another sort of passion that you want to follow athletic-wise? I’ve always thought you should do some triathlons or do mountain bike racing.
No, for sure I have other things I’m working on and that’s good. Things didn’t come to a stop just because I went racing. The racing was good in a sense of yeah, there was a goal and a purpose. You’re getting up every day and you’re training. But at the same time, I realized that the bigger thing I need is just to be around it. I need that adventure side, that traveling to the races and seeing the guys and the team, the people, and the friends. Do I need to go out on the gate again? No. Do I need to go up in the mountains of Colorado and ride the fire roads or go to the track and ride my dirt bike? Yeah. I need to do those things and be around the sport. I think I thought I could walk away. Especially after the GEICO thing, I thought, “You know what? I’m completely done with this. I don’t need this anymore or need to be around it.” And I was wrong. That’s where I went wrong. For me, I just always want to be a part of it in some way or somehow. My foundation helps me do that as well and we do a lot of good through that. So, that’s been very good. I’m very much involved with the community and the industry. Beyond that, kind of reestablishing that relationship with KTM in a good way and helping them out. So, I’ll be going to some races. Is it going to be full-time? No. Do I want to sit behind a desk and work on business all day? No. I need to get out, workout, and ride my dirt bike, but it doesn’t have to be lining up on the gate again.

For more info on Ryan Dungey’s charitable foundation, check out https://ryandungeyfoundation.org/.