Interview with Dusty Klatt
Star Racing/Lucas Oils/Yamaha/Ride Eng. race team
By Adrian Ciomo March 12, 2007
During the Supercross Lites West Coast series break (after the first 5 rounds) I sat down with Dusty Klatt, 2006 Canadian National Champion, and asked him about coming to America and what his goals for the next two years are..
Q: Dusty, let’s start with how old you are, where you grew up and at what age did you start taking motocross seriously?
A: I’m 22 years old and grew up in Campbell River B.C. I started racing seriously around 2003. I always had a tough time in school and in my junior year I was failing a course which meant I’d have to stick around for an extra year so I just said screw it. I wanted to put my time into riding the bike and that’s when I really started plugging away.
Q: What was the weather like for you and were you able to ride and train year round?
A: Well, although riding year round up there is nothing at all like down here in So. Cal., I would say it is similar to the Pacific Northwest. Where I live in Canada, I can pretty much ride year round because it’s not nearly as cold as the rest of Canada. It just rains a lot there which is OK because there is a sand track near my house ideal for riding in the winter. It can soak up all the rain that hits the ground. It’s super rough and good for training. Besides riding there, I’d go to the nearby gym everyday.
Q: Well, obviously it paid off, earning you two Lites Canadian National Championships & the 2006 Canadian National Championship. So, do you feel the fans at Supercross know that, or is it more like a “who is this rookie” attitude during the autograph signings in the pits?
A: It was awesome winning my two MX2 titles and winning ‘06 in the MX1 class! I was pumped to put three years in a row and was a good way to go before I left. Some fans know me, I think. Now that Canadian racing is getting a little more recognized down here in the states, more people seem to know who I am. It’s cool to meet the people that are really pumped on our series, but for the most part at supercross, I think people tend to think, “Who is this rookie”.
Q: How do you compare the equipment you used the past two years at Blackfoot Honda (the premier race team in Canada) to your new equipment with Star Racing Yamaha?
A: Man, Star Racing team owner Bobby keeps asking me that same question way too much! (laughs) The Blackfoot team was very well put together and very professional in every way. They were a solid team and had good bikes. They put a lot of time into them, that’s for sure.
And the Star bikes are awesome in every way. It’s a fast 250f and to be racing the Lites class down here you need to be on a good one or your not going anywhere. It’s hard to compare the bikes, since the Blackfoot Honda was a 450 and now I’m on a 250f.
Q: In your viewpoint as top professional Canadian, how does the level of support from the Japanese manufacturers compare in each country?
A: Canada gets a little factory help I think, but not a whole lot. It’s pretty rare for us to get factory parts like the top riders in the world do. I think its something that the Japanese, Americans and Europeans primarily get. Japan, because the bikes are built and initially tested there, and the US and Europe because they are the two biggest world markets.
Q: After a bit of a rocky start (going down in the whoops at AI and having your spinning rear tire burn off your jersey), you’re results have been slowly improving and you seem to be breaking into the top 10 consistently now. Are you satisfied with these finishes or did you expect more?
A: I expected more for sure. I know I could have run top 10 from the beginning. Getting hurt at round 1 was not good since I was running top 10 lap times. I just got cleaned out and it was frustrating. I was having crappy luck. First I got down here late to start testing for SX, then to top it off I got bumped to the West because one of the riders on our team got hurt, which meant several more months of training time lost. In a way I’m glad because now during this long break, I can get ready for the outdoors.
Q: How does racing in Canada compare to racing here?
A: The racing down here is a lot different. I think the racing is Canada is a lot cleaner and with not as much drama. Here there is a lot of up and coming kids that are just holding it wide open and hoping for the best. It’s all new to me, new place, new bikes, new team, everything. Things are not just going to fall into my lap, its going to take time. But I am looking forward to making the best out of racing down here that I can.
Q: Speaking of rookies has riding with Matt Lemoine and the rest of the young Yamaha riders helped your SX skills?
A: Not really…to be honest. They ride a lot differently than I do. I’ve just been having a hard time learning to go fast, I think. Then again they have had about 3 more months on the SX practice track than me which doesn’t help.
Q: How do you cope mentally when riders like him (directly out of the amateurs) get a better result than you?
A: I just deal with it. Either way, I’m going to go out there and do the best that I can.
Q: Funny, because in Canada, you’re in his shoes doing it to the veterans (JSR, Morgan, etc.) of the sport up there. What do you think, advantage or disadvantage?
A: For the most part it doesn’t really help me. Americans don’t really look at the Canadians as a threat. I’m just a big fish in a small pond up there. Down here, the factories and satellite teams are looking at the new riders coming through the amateur ranks at all the big amateur races here in the states. For example, look at Dungey, Hill and Cunningham. So I am definitely at a disadvantage here, I think.
Q: After watching last summers Canadian Nationals on SPEED, I’m convinced you’re really going to shine in the outdoor nationals provided the smaller bike doesn’t hold you back because of your size. Has dropping down to the smaller bike been an issue for you?
A: I am definitely looking forward to the outdoors. It’s been kind of hard hopping back down to the small bike again. Being a bigger rider doesn’t help the matter that’s for sure, but I hope it doesn’t hold me back too much.
Q: With all this time off before the last two West Coast supercrosses, has your focus switched to outdoor testing?
A: I have been riding outdoors only. That’s what the Star Racing team wants me to focus on so that is what I have been doing.
Q: The deal with Star Racing…is it only for 2007? What do you think you will do for 2008? How long do you plan on riding the 250F?
A: I have an option for a second year, but right now I want to focus on putting in the best results I can THIS year before even thinking about next year.
Q: Here in America, where do you call home these days? Corona, Lake Elsinore, Montclair? Do you like it down here?
A: Riverside is home for me down here. But I would have to say it doesn’t even come close to being as nice a home as where I’m from in Canada…well, besides its warm in the winter time down here. We have mountains, tall trees and everything is green. The lake and river water is clearer than the bottled water I buy at the store here. Its an awesome place and I will definitely be retiring there.
Q: How does living here affect your daily routine (riding, training, etc.) as compared to back home?
A: At home my routine is a lot easier for me. My gym is five minutes from my house and the track is fifteen. You also buy a membership to ride the track at home instead of paying everyday. There are ups and downs though. Watered and groomed tracks are few and far between. But crappy tracks are good for training and the spring and fall is always a good time to ride. Down here I have to drive fairly far to ride. Then by the time I get home and get to the gym for a workout, my day is over, which is not fun. Plus the gym here is usually packed to the nines when I get there.
Q: Soooooooooo who works on your practice bike?
A: That would be my mechanic Glenn Hobson who does and awesome job and glad to have him as a mechanic.
Q: During the week where will we see the no. 344 pounding the most laps?
A: Glen Helen and Perris are the places where I ride mostly.
Q: Any significance to your number choice?
A: I used the number 144 coming up in Canada. We tried to get it but someone had the number so 344 was one of the numbers I was offered by the AMA.
Q: OK, besides thanking all your sponsors (being one, I know that’s what you’re dying to do) is there anyone else you would like to thank?
A: The Blackfoot team and my agent Tony for giving me the opportunity to race down here in the U.S. My Dad, because without him I would not be here now. My mom, sister, girlfriend, and all my friends back home.
Dusty’s sponsors are: Yamaha Motor Corp., Lucas Oil, Toyota, FLY gear, FMF Exhausts, North County Yamaha, Factory Effex, Vortex sprockets/bars, Dunlop, Wiseco, Smith goggles, Shoei helmets, Lightspeed carbon fiber, DH1 triple clamps, GPR steering stabilizers, Polisport plastic, Sidi boots, Regina chains, Ready Filter, Sunline, ARC components, Web Cams, Enzo, JD Built, VP gas, Ride Engineering, Vortex ignitions, Mechanix Wear, Metaltek stands, Ogio bags, Barnett clutches, Weapon MX, FASST company and Alpina wheels
Thanks, Dusty-good luck with the nationals. I believe if you stay in America you will become a force to be reckoned with much the same way Vullemin (France), Langston (S. Africa), and Reed (Australia) have become over the last few years.