Speaker 3: 0:00

All right guys. Welcome back to another a DB podcast. We have a very special guest with us today. Actually, we have two special guests. Sorry, Briggsy, I shouldn't say just one. Uh, we have Motocross, the nations champ, Kyle Webster, and we have Jeff Briggs who was at the Motocross, the nations for us. Kyle mate, welcome back to Australia and thanks for fitting us in between surgery and baby popping out. Yeah, no, no worries. Thanks for having me on. And Briggsy, thanks for coming along mate. You were there, uh, with the team when they claimed back to back MX Nations victories, which was pretty exciting. So we wanted you on here while we chat with Kyle just in case we missed anything that only you could see kind of by the track. So thanks for coming on today, bud.

Speaker: 0:40

Anytime mate.

Speaker 3: 0:41

Always welcome. So Kyle mate, I know life's busy. You've, um, was there any risk actually before you even get started that your misses would go while you were over racing? Or did you have at least a couple of weeks up your sleeve between due date and Yeah. Racing? Yeah.

Speaker 2: 0:56

Yeah, we had a couple weeks, like, I think, uh, I think I got back on the 11th or the 12th and she's due on the 26th, so there's a little bit of time there, but, you know, plenty of our friends have gone pretty early, so. It was, yeah, it was touch and go. As long as I got home as soon as I could, she was, she was all right with it. But yeah, there was no messing around.

Speaker 3: 1:16

Well, mate, if, if you get a tap on the shoulder during this interview and you've got gotta go, just hang the phone up and head off because it's very important. Um, man, what a, what a frigging baby gift. MX Nations, the Chamberlain Trophy. That's frigging awesome. Um, yeah, it was cool. Now we're gonna, we wanna talk about the MX Nations campaign. We wanna know everything from your experience, um, you know, before you, the, the race when you got there in training with the Lawrences through to the race, um, and all that kind of stuff. I mean, before we even get into that, you've flown home and you went straight in for surgery. What did you go in for surgery for and what's recovery look like on this kind of surgery?

Speaker 2: 1:53

Yeah. No, I only got a, like a carpal tunnel release in my right hand. So basically it was a q and P last year when I had a crash on the Saturday before our last round. And um, I like tore, I can't remember what it was called, but I tore the ligament on the top of my hand. Fractured some bone in there and it basically, ever since then I've, like, that would, that's been fine. I've just been dealing with like the carpal tunnel problem and my finger's going numb. Um, so yeah, finally got that fixed, which was cool. Uh, that was in Brisbane on Friday. Steve Andrews got me sorted out with that, which is nice. And honestly, it's like, it's one of those things that you can move your hand the very next day. No dramas. It's just, I think, just gotta be a little bit careful for a couple weeks and probably no writing for sort of. About four to six weeks, uh,'cause the nerve sits so close to the skin in your palm. So yeah, just worked out good timing to get that done. Now, um, obviously the whole lead up to nations and stuff kind of ruins Supercross Prep here with how close it is afterwards. So focus all the energy on that and then, yeah, you and I sort of said it's best just to sit Supercross out and get my hand fixed for next year because, uh, they've given me a bit of dramas this year and I was, you know. Kind of over it. So it was, yeah, I was good to get it, get it done.

Speaker 3: 3:11

Hard to tell there were dramas there mate, after what you did at Prom X this year. But that's good to hear. It's, it's done. Um, okay, let's talk about EMX Nation. Let's talk about getting over there. Once you got over there, we wanna know. I mean the big stuff we wanna know about is rap mo your, your two mottos. I mean, the drama in your two mottos is someone who was like up early in the morning watching these things and I'm like, you know, we knew we had a good shot coming into this of winning it. You guys are going so fast at the moment. Um, and then to see what happened in Mode one, I'm like, you are kidding me. This, this can't be happening. But then to see, you know, the way you came through the pack, I was thinking today, um, I don't think there was, I I would actually say your ride was the ride of the nations, because I don't think there was anyone, particularly on a two 50 F that moved so many places in any of the races. I was trying to go back through the list of like looking at lap times and who was going forward, and there were some other guys who made some moves on a big bike, but. You know, you got, you got to within four positions of, um, Justin Cooper for crying out loud, who didn't really go anywhere. Um, but we, so we're gonna get to that later on. That's, that is exciting to talk about. Before we even get to that, let's talk about getting over there. How long were you there writing this CF two 50 R before you lined up on Friday for practice?

Speaker 2: 4:31

Well, yeah, I went, uh, I went straight from QMP, um, to go do the last three nationals there. So we were there for like that sort of three or four weeks in that point. And then pretty much since the day after, well I flew from Buds Creek straight to the dog pound and got, got stuck in, you know, So what was that? That would've been for four or five weeks before Nations, I think. And. I spent a week there straight after the last round, writing to 50 and doing some bits and pieces. And then I actually came home to Australia for, I think it was like 10 days or something. I came and got, uh, the cortisone in my hand to get me through the last part of the year. And just to check in on Jayden, make sure she was doing all right because she was here solo. So I was here, here for a short period. Um, and then from then on just went straight back and. Got stuck in mo flat out on that thing.

Speaker 3: 5:26

Wow. So like, are we talking riding every day on the two and on the two 50 before?

Speaker 2: 5:33

Um, nah, not every day. Sort of like, uh, like three to four days in the week, which was, you know, it's, it's so hot there, so you kind of don't really recover that well. You gotta try and, you know, space out the way and plan it out a little more than, than what you can here sometimes. And. Yeah, I was probably doing three to four, four days a week and just trying to make the most of those days.

Speaker 3: 5:58

Okay. So you had, you know, fair bit of enough time on the two 50 DF to get adjusted, would you say, from coming from a big bike? I know you rode the two 50 DF at last year's MX destinations as well, but I'm guessing it had been a year between stints on the two 50

Speaker 2: 6:13

Yeah. Yeah, full year. Um, honestly, like I think it was easier to get used to it this year than what it was last year. Last year I did have still have a pretty bad hand, so I didn't get to ride a whole lot, but this year was much easier. I kind of just got on it and I, I don't know, just I was able to just like jump on a moto straight away, which I think is what was good to just build up, you know, the bike time, putting in the long motos and adapting to it as you do. That way rather than doing a short ride, my hand hurts, blah, blah, blah. You know, so. It was, it was good. It didn't take me too long to get used to it, which was cool. It was more just about getting comfy on it, working out what it does, and then trying to build the speed on it.

Speaker 3: 6:55

So, yeah, we heard that was pretty close to the bike. That Chance Hyers was riding. Was it, was it anywhere near the Chance Bike?

Speaker 2: 7:01

It was Chance's Bike. Yeah, yeah. No, I just, I, first week I was there, I was riding with the number tens on it. I, um, yeah, they, they're all, chances Joe's they're the same. Yeah.

Speaker 3: 7:12

And like when you say the same, like, are we talking, I mean, they, they've, they're gonna have a like 5, 6, 7, 8 bikes I'm guessing throughout the season. Is it the bike that he actually rode before he got hurt?

Speaker 2: 7:24

Uh, yeah, I think so. Like, I jumped on when I got there, it was his practice bike. And then I think, actually, I think they built a new one for nations, to be honest. Wow. Um, but it's all, yeah, it's all the same, like their race bikes or their race bikes, you know what I mean?

Speaker 4: 7:38

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 7:38

Whether it's, uh, the one they actually rode or they built a new one. It was, yeah. All the same because they kind of gotta, they can't really like do a half spec, you know, they've got'em that, that dialed in, that it has to be what it is. Like, exactly the same for the practice bike, race, bike. And so

Speaker 3: 7:54

apart from power, how different was it to your, four 50 back home?

Speaker 2: 7:59

It's, it's really hard to compare because like obviously the two 50 is so different to a four 50 as it is. They're like, yeah, a lot lighter. They're slower. They're less of a handful, of course, less bike drive. You know, it's, um, it's almost like going from the four 50 down to the two 50 was, was such a nice step. It was like nice about just jump on the thing and get going without, you know, when you get onto a four 50 from a two 50, it's a bit of a handful. So, yeah, the, to compare it was, was really hard, but it was, it was very nice. Like it was, yeah, from the first time I jumped on it was sick

Speaker: 8:34

Yeah, me and Kyle spoke about it briefly, um, over there, and I asked him how it was, and yeah, he said it was pretty hard to compare to any other bike, just being a factory. Us Honda, compared to like even the two 50 that you rode in 2019 Nations just a completely different animal.

Speaker 2: 8:53

Yeah. That, that one that I rode in 19 was really good as well. That was the one one fours bike, but that was like, that was the Europe spec one, and obviously that, that two 50 there was so different too, the current two 50. So their power was awesome though that year for, for the 150, that thing was solid as well. So yeah, they, they do have good development in, in the, in that bike.

Speaker 3: 9:14

And so tell us then you're writing at the Dog Pound. How does, how, what's your relationship with Jet and Hunter look like?

Speaker 2: 9:21

Yeah, for them it's obviously hard. You know, like everywhere they go everyone just wants to speak to them, wants something from them and, you know, I guess wants their attention. So it is tough and obviously. You know, I think when, when they're at the track riding, it's like you're there to do work and then afterwards it's, it's, it's all good. It's like being with any other Aussie, you know, it's pretty, they're pretty cruisy. Makes that whole experience, I guess, of going to another country and being there for a while makes it a lot easier enough. So they're, they're, they're really good to be around.

Speaker: 9:49

Obviously you train with Jed and at Ross's and all out here in Australia, and it's a pretty solid place to train. How does Jet and Hunters sort of moto dog compound compare to what you are doing here and is it pretty full on with their MOS and their structure versus ours, or are you, like, are you guys on a similar trajectory or style of training?

Speaker 2: 10:11

I think it's, it's hard to compare because obviously here we have. Like, we have so much time between races, you know, like we have what feels like a lifetime sometimes. So like our program here is really solid for what we do here and, and it works well for our racing schedule. And, and obviously like I, I guess it, it's worked for our speed and stuff overseas as well. So that's where, you know, Ross has been really good with that and adapted it well to what we do here and, and stuff. But for there. For their schedule over there. They can't really ride during the week that much because they're racing every single weekend, you know, and traveling and, yeah, if they're on a plane, what Thursday? Get home Sunday or Monday and then you're off again on Thursday. So yeah, the time that I was there, their program was more so recovery based. I would say they would ride sort of one or two days in the week. Just make sure they were ready to go for the weekend for racing, because obviously that's where, uh, you know, they make their money and that's where it all counts. Yeah. I, I think whereas like here, you know, we, we will do four weeks in between a race, so you're just, you know, we're riding four days a week at all different tracks and just chasing that, I guess the diff the different surfaces, different styles of tracks, and a bit of, uh. You know, we're just chasing all those different tracks. So, whereas there, they're kind of like, they ride the same tractor in the, uh, at their compound, sorry. And they might go somewhere else a couple times, but for the most part, they ride in the same place and they might jump in a machine and change something. But yeah, I think they're just looking for that. You know, you, you've flown in on, like I said, Monday you ride a little bit Tuesday and Wednesday and you fly out again Thursday, you don't really wanna be driving around the joint chasing all different tracks and and whatnot. And I think for them, like, yeah, they're doing like, what, 35 races in the year or something? So you get to the end of the year and, uh, yeah, they're, they're just looking for some. Recovery time and, and whatnot. Less, not as much building and building base and and whatnot.

Speaker 3: 12:11

Speaking of the 35 rounds a year, did you notice from Jet and Hunter, is there any fatigue? I mean, there's, they're not probably physical fatigue that they're so fit, um, that I'm assuming from the body. The body's okay, but is there any fatigue? From them just of having to front up to fans e every single time and get themselves up emotionally for so many events like no other sport in the world does 35 weekends a year that I know of. It's, it's insane.

Speaker 2: 12:36

Yeah. Well, it, I mean, during the week you would seem like that, uh, like, I guess the, I guess the motivation to, you know, moto and, and whatever gets a bit low and, and whatnot. But yeah. You watch'em on the weekend when they race and they look like they've just done one moto the whole year. You know, they, they're brand new and firing. So yeah, it's, I think they're just very smart with what they do during the week and, and how they structure their year as opposed to a lot of other guys over there. Mm. Um,'cause you see so many people over there who get burnt out towards the end of the year or worse, they get really sick. So. I think that's where they've got something that works really well for them and how they, yeah, like I said, structure their weeks and their training and, and all that makes a big difference to, I guess when they get to that end of the year nations and, uh, the Supercross rounds when they come overseas, how they can get into that and keep it going and stay, you know, on top of their game.

Speaker 3: 13:31

So that probably actually leads me to another random question. When they're, when they're flying from Florida into, uh, the race, are they. Are they private jetting? Are the, are the Lawrences private jetting? And how did you get to the track? Do you private jet

Speaker 2: 13:44

Nah, no private jets. They're uh, nah, just the most direct flight possible for them. And that's it.

Speaker 3: 13:51

Okay. There you go. Yeah. Yeah. It's so good. First class at least.

Speaker 2: 13:55

Uh, yeah, the boys go first class. Yeah.

Speaker 3: 13:57

You can do that when you just won. What did they win? A million and then half a million, uh, the two weeks before that, so,

Speaker 2: 14:02

yeah, exactly. I mean. You gotta treat yourself some way. Right? That's

Speaker 3: 14:06

exactly right. That's exactly right. Alright, let's get into the Motos'cause this is, this is, this is important. This is exciting. What the, the first moto and, and, uh, Briggsy, you can jump in here when you need to.'cause you were probably sitting right there on the inside of the hole shot when, while we were all watching through the scheme, but well.

Speaker: 14:24

I think even just time practice was impressive. I mean, Cole went fifth fastest in that and then, um, and then they had the qualifying race on the Saturday and he ended up fifth in that as well. So I think that's, we've gotta sort of talk about that as well and get your thoughts on that. Cole.

Speaker 2: 14:42

No, it was, they were good. I think like the time practice I, you get 40 minutes, so like I said, it feels like a lifetime. So I had to ride the spare bike as well and ride the bike. I was racing and honestly it was really nice'cause you kind of just got so much time to ride the track, learn it, and just build into it, which was cool. Um, but then yeah, I did actually, yeah, I did a lap and I was like, I felt like it wasn't too bad. And I think when I first came around, they, they put on the board P three and I was like, oh, that's, that's cool. Um, but anyway, yeah, I got. Bump back down to fifth in the end, which was, which is solid. I think like there's some really good guys there, obviously, and it kind of gave me like a bit of a, a good, I don't know, indication for the qualifying race. If I get a good start, I know where I can kind of roughly be and yeah, the, the quality race i'd, I didn't even get the best of starts. I sort of just was in the mix and made some passes early and then, uh, kind of just held that gap to felder. I was like. I was sort of thinking like, no, I might be able to get here and have a good battle with him, but we kind of just, yo-yo for what felt like the whole race. So that was, that was a bit frustrating. But at the same time it was cool.'cause it kind of like when you, like I said, it gives you that carrot ride in front of you, you know, to, to chase the whole time. Which was, which was nice.

Speaker 3: 15:55

Fifth is, okay, come on. Um, like freaking out, like I was looking at qualifying and, and trying to work out, I think everyone in front of you has either won a world title or an a MA title on a two 50. Yeah, yeah. Nah, it was good. You four 50 all year, like to jump down to a two 50. You don't get the race guys that fast all year. So like it's hard to gauge your pace and also to push yourself. Man, that, that, like Briggsy said, it's hard not to talk about because that's set the tone for the weekend.

Speaker 2: 16:23

Oh, definitely. And yeah, that's where I said like I think, you know, our program here is really good for that as well, for the, I guess the speed and, and being able to jump in to other races all over the world and. Be competitive to, you know, to a decent degree. Like obviously going to the, the American nationals before all of this. Um, the first one was like extremely hot. So coming from like the middle of Melbourne winter into that was, was hard. But then the next two are pretty good. Like I was sold in the top 10 and battling some good guys. And yeah, I think it really does show that our speed over here isn't too bad, so. Mm-hmm. To go there and then yeah, be in that fifth place. Ling with some of those guys was, was really cool. It just sort of showed again, like the European standard is Yeah, we're, we're in the mix there too.

Speaker 3: 17:10

Oh. Oh man. I would love to have been a fly on the wall in the US truck and the French truck and the Belgium and uh, truck and the Netherlands truck and after qualifying, you know, with them probably having the discussion of like. What fifth, knowing that, you know, jet and Hunter were gonna probably go 1, 2, 3 as well in their class, it just, yeah. It, it would've surely deflated them thinking like, you know, this is, this is gone already. Like this is done you guys, hopefully, yeah, one of them. Uh,

Speaker: 17:41

did, um, did you make any bike changes in the qualifying and then, or the practice to qualifying and then qualifying the race day, like the track? Started off pretty soft. I they didn't rip it as deep as what they said for the national and then it looked, yeah, damn slippery in that wood section and had some, had a pretty hard base in some spots.

Speaker 2: 18:02

Yeah, they did make a little change on there. I can't exactly remember what it was, but I didn't even ask for it. They just sort of did it, which was cool. Um, but yeah, that's where like I go back and say Rod stepping to the two 50, from the four 50 to just go into something where track's like a bit sketchy, like that fast, slippery. It's so nice to be on the little bike. It does, doesn't bite. Doesn't bite as hard, you know,

Speaker: 18:23

after, um. You qualifying or the, jet did that crazy line in that corner before the sky shot thing and then that rhythm lane. Do just go back to the truck. And does he tell you about lines and, and do just discuss that sort of stuff as a team where you think you can improve or gain a second to here and there.

Speaker 2: 18:42

Jumping around. Jumping around that turn.

Speaker: 18:44

Yeah. That turn over that country. Yeah. I

Speaker 2: 18:47

look that, I mean we did that at the national there a few weeks prior, but it was like. I don't know how Jet and Hunter were doing it so clean this weekend.'cause the downside of that was so slippery. It was ridiculous. Yeah. Little Boppy. Yeah, like I mean that was definitely somewhere where I probably could have picked up. Yeah, half a second to a second I guess. But then by the races there was a really good line just outside of that. Which was, which was good. And I guess I was in no position to be trying to risk something like that. When you're in 48th off start.

Speaker 3: 19:15

can we, can we get to these rape motos now? Because I'm dying to know. Yeah, you are dying. What was going through your head mate? So you gotta tell us. Off we goes from the whole shot and then they focus on that top 5, 10, 15, 20, and. Off the line and coming into the corner, you didn't look like you're in that bad position. Your gear was pretty recognizable. So for those of us, we could spot you in and amongst everyone pretty easily. And then like 15 seconds later, I'm looking at it, or 20 seconds going. Where is he?'cause I've seen like 20 come through and he is not there. What was going through your head on the ground?

Speaker: 19:47

Especially when we had first gate pick too. Yeah, yeah, I know. Side. And then the

Speaker 2: 19:53

four fifties surround Hunter. Well that was the thing, like Hunter and I spoke about it for the start and we were like, he was like, you know, try and go inside to start. The trend for two 50 is to go inside. Which I totally agreed with. And anyhow, I, yeah, went for the best skate, I thought was good. And sure enough, Kenny and Geiser lined up each side of me and I, I just, I looked back at Jack'cause he obviously he had 21st gate pick and we were both just like laughing and, but that wasn't even the issue to be honest.'cause they were so far gone down the straight, it was just when we came into the first turn, I was all good and then someone's foot peg got stuck in my front wheel and just dragged me with them. I think it was actually, it was, it was a dmo. So, yeah, like, you know, when it was happening happening, I was like, oh, please, no. But anyway, it happened and then, um, I think it's just one of those things you just gotta switch off and get stuck in. Really?

Speaker 3: 20:50

Yeah, because it looked odd.'cause it did, it looked like, yeah. You washed the front where you shouldn't have washed the front. But I guess that was the foot peg grabbing the spokes.

Speaker 2: 20:58

Yeah. Yeah. Oh

Speaker 3: 20:59

God. Okay. But did you break any spokes?

Speaker 2: 21:02

Yeah, I, it did break a fair few actually in the front wheel.

Speaker: 21:05

Oh God. Wow. And you're still sending it around that track with,

Speaker 2: 21:09

well, I didn't know. I didn't know, to be fair, we only worked

Speaker 3: 21:10

it out afterwards.

Speaker: 21:11

Still gnarly.

Speaker 3: 21:12

But Was the front wheel intact or delo a 50 cent piece by the time you finished the No, I think it

Speaker 2: 21:16

was fine. Handled it well.

Speaker 3: 21:19

Wow. Okay. It is funny, you and a dmo, there's another, was speaking of world champs, there's another. World champs running. Yeah. Yeah. And, and it's funny, like you, you know, you mentioned Roxon and Geiser lining up next to you and I asked before, do you think they were starting to panic when they saw your qualifying result? I think that's proof they were panicking when they saw you qualifying results. They shut me right down. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 21:41

That, that's when the next race we swapped, hunter went first and then I went second, which actually worked really well because no one wanted to start next to him. So that left a couple gates up the inside of him.

Speaker: 21:51

the, like the teams all sacrificed their first two 50 Moto because they knew the field was a little strong with that MHGP class. Yeah. And then they were, yeah, it was, it was odd, wasn't it? Like,

Speaker 2: 22:03

it's just such a, an even start, like, it's not like a typical European start where Gate one dominant. It was like gate probably 10 to Gate 25 was like solid, you know?

Speaker: 22:16

Yeah. So.

Speaker 2: 22:18

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 22:19

So tell us when you're, you are lying on the ground. Everyone has gone. It was just you two on the ground. I'm pretty sure you got in up in front of him. So you were second last, I think. Um, and maybe not, but what, like what did you think it was even remotely possible to go top 20, let alone top 15? And how hard did you have to push to get inside the top 15? Were there any moments where you're like, I'm on the edge here and if I go half a percent harder, I'm gonna bin it?

Speaker 2: 22:47

Um, I, yeah. I kind of just like got up and I was like, yeah, you know. Sucks. Um, but then like I said to someone, I guess when that sort of stuff happens, you sort of just like, you don't think about anything o else other than just going as hard as you can for the whole time. You know? Like you're not, you didn't get a good start and you're getting passed by people or whatever. It's the opposite you're making past. So I think it was like the first race, I was a bit further back, so it took me a while to get catch up to people. But it, once I started like making some passes and. Ticking off, and I guess I passed a couple good, two 50 riders. I was like, oh, this is actually sort of going solid, you know? Um, and then it was like, just literally nothing else in my head other than go as fast as I can until the very end. Just give everything that I could. And, um, I think I got to like, maybe the second last lap or something, and I was like, took a couple deep breaths. But for the most part, like it was, it was actually good. I didn't really have too many moments or anything. It was just, yeah, I felt like I was really locked in on it.

Speaker 3: 23:47

And so when you're passing these guys, was it hard to pass around that track you made? Like I said earlier, yeah. Much more passes than anyone.

Speaker 2: 23:54

Some of the two 50 guys, not so much'cause we were on the same powered bikes and when you come from behind you have to look for so many different lines everywhere. So you get a good chance to, you know, look around for different lines. But a couple of the four 50 guys were hard. Yeah, I had a really long battle with one guy on a Yamaha and that was, uh. Almost took the wind outta my sails a little bit.'cause I was like, I'd pass and then passed it back down the straight again. You know? But I think that, I think that was four around that. 15 or 16 position from memory

Speaker 3: 24:23

and you wouldn't be used to eating roost in 2025, but on a little two 50, what's it, does it hurt eating four 50 roost for as long as it did?

Speaker 2: 24:31

Yeah. I had a lot of roost on the

Speaker 3: 24:32

weekend. Polish was chip.

Speaker 2: 24:34

Yeah, plenty, plenty of roost went down.

Speaker 3: 24:37

Um, okay. So at any stage in that first moto, knowing that you had to go back to back Motos, you didn't get a break, um, did you think. I better save some energy here. Or did you just hold the thing pinned all the way to the face? No,

Speaker 2: 24:50

I just stayed stuck into it because you never know with that race, like 15th could have been my best result, you know? Yeah. Um, so it was kind of like, just go as high as I could until the end and um, deal with this, deal with it afterwards.

Speaker 3: 25:03

That's a unique Aussie thing to just go, you know what? I need to make this work. I don't know how much, how much is care, how much is gonna hurt this second moto, and I've got like, whatever. It was an hour's break between Motos.

Speaker 2: 25:14

Well, not even,'cause like I think you have to be back down on the line in an hour. So you really, by the time you get back. I got back. Yeah. And it was like sitting down, having, uh, something to drink still. And they were like, oh, you gotta get geared up in 20 minutes.

Speaker: 25:27

So do you just go back, strip off and just try and cool down immediately? Is that the, like what,

Speaker 2: 25:31

yeah. By the time I got back up there, I was cooking and they had, they had like an ice vest thing.

Speaker: 25:37

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 25:37

So I pretty much just threw that on, got undressed, went, sat in the camper in the air con until the very last minute, got geared up and went straight back down again. So I think it was probably total. Half an hour

Speaker: 25:49

Yeah, because it was about 27 to 29 degrees. For those of you who dunno, over there that time of year was that there was actually nice weather, but it would've been hot on the bike.

Speaker 2: 25:59

Yeah, it was pretty warm. Um, but yeah, it's, it was, it was like, yeah, like you said, nice weather and it's totally fine to ride in if you had more than a, what felt like a 10 minute break. Yeah.

Speaker 3: 26:09

Yeah, yeah, it certainly does. Um,

Speaker: 26:11

just on the track a little bit, how, how does that compare? Like obviously Asim was pretty gnarly in 2019, and then you had Natalie last year, which looked just like rut city. Um, Ironman was a little bit more hard packed, but how does it also compare to some of our Australian tracks?

Speaker 2: 26:29

Um, Madely and stuff were like, that was, that's like, I think just, it's a pretty unique track on its own, like in the, in the, the valley there. But I think Ironman's, it's, the way that it was prepped is probably similar to some Australian rounds, but just with how big that track is and how much space they use in usual the hills and the way the jumps are and whatever, like, it's not that similar to Aussie track. You know, Australian tracks are very tight and small normally.

Speaker: 26:57

Yeah, and the, the hills, like people don't realize, but the hills, you can't walk up the hill, some of the hills there and then that jump in the center would be close to 90 feet, which is bigger than any jumps we're allowed. And it sends you straight up. So it is pretty impressive when you're there watching it.

Speaker 2: 27:12

Yeah, yeah. No, the jumps there are just, they're just big and it's like, it's cool to have something different like that. Like Australia has got its own unique tracks and are like that, like obviously Toowoomba is the hills really well and um, and bits and pieces, but. Mm. Yeah, they, they just don't have that, I guess, that sort of variety like they do.

Speaker 3: 27:29

Mm-hmm. Um, okay, so because you came back so well in that first moto, I mean, I, I re I imagine you think early on there might've been some panic from the team, but Burner and our team, I don't think they know how to panic. They, they seem so calm all the time. You come back, you have a break. Um, did they, you know, did, were you kinda like, this can't happen again, like, I'm ready to go. This is my chance

Speaker 2: 27:54

kind. Well, I, I, I knew it was obviously a possibility, but I was like, I'm gonna try my hardest. It's not gonna let it happen again and find a good space in the first turn, which I actually did, I found a really good spot that I was just riding around and on the, um, and then yeah, someone on the outside of me grabbed a hand, grabbed a handful, and, um. Kind of crashed into me, which was, like I said, just one of those things that, uh, it's a bit uncontrollable and whether that, whether that was from someone, uh, on the, uh, no, you're right. Someone from the, uh, the outside squeezing it up.'cause like I said, it is a pretty, um, tight first turn.

Speaker 3: 28:29

Yeah. And, okay, so you've ta Modo two's out. You, you're out there now with, um, hunter and, and not Jet. Um, crash. Crash again in that first corner. Did you figure, you know what, 15th is probably gonna be okay, providing the boys can go kind of 1, 2, 3, somewhere in that order, or did you then start to panic slightly with the second crash?

Speaker 2: 28:53

It was like not really panicked. It was more just, surely this didn't just happen again. Um. And then it, yeah, like I said, I got up quicker that time and just, I don't know, it was almost just probably a bit of anger, just got stuck in and then I caught up to the, I guess to the pack a lot faster in that race. And then it was like just flat out eating roofs for the whole motor. And I saw on the pit board I was making my way up faster, which is obviously a bit easier to give you a bit more motivation. Um, and then I caught up to. Four 50. I passed, uh, Valon, uh, on the, for the French team?

Speaker 4: 29:29

Yeah. Yeah. On

Speaker 2: 29:30

there. And then I caught up the guy at four 50. And by that point I was out of tear offs. My goggles were full of dirt. I, um, almost lost like the momentum a little bit, so I couldn't pass him.

Speaker: 29:41

Oh, though,

Speaker 2: 29:43

no, that was the first race with Enzo. The second race was, uh, Garcia maybe.

Speaker: 29:47

Oh, yeah. It was too. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 29:49

Yeah. And then, um. But then I was kind of like stuck because I was eating roofs from him and then I had someone right up behind me and you know, like, obviously those positions are important then. So it was, uh, it was just game on until the end.

Speaker 3: 30:03

So you did at some stage then, surely. In the second mo, you must have started fatiguing because you've just had to work through that many riders. In the first MO you've got had to go back to back. It's hot. You're on a smaller bike, which you're not familiar with'cause you don't ride at all year. Was there fatigue in that last 10 minutes or did you just, does MX Nation bring something out here that goes, you know what, this is my last race of the year and I'm racing for my country. So then an adrenaline spike hits and you've got all the energy.

Speaker 2: 30:30

I definitely had an adrenaline spike.'cause I did get a bit of a flat period in the middle where I was like, oh no, this is where it's gonna hit me and start going downhill. But I, um, like, yeah, where you're, when you're battling people like that and making passes, it does make it easier to, you know, keep moving forward and keep, I guess the momentum going. And I, it was really like, I got a bit of a second win there. Uh, in the last part. It was probably only the last lap or so where I was like starting to really. Sucking the big breaths, and then once I'd finished it just sort of hit you, you know, like I was smoke. I haven't felt like that in a long time where I've just, I was literally just sat on the chair in my gear, still just like hooking. I was, I was that tired. Um, but in saying that, it's a good feeling, you know, like it's not. Just, I guess you just know you've given absolutely everything.

Speaker 3: 31:21

Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 31:22

That's all I can put it down to really.

Speaker 3: 31:24

Hmm. It's, it's wild to think that, I guess when you get to the end of the race and you finish and you, and, and you can, you cross the checkered flag and you can go and sit down. The come down from the adrenaline of having like, so much buildup for this race. Like the hype you guys are defending champs, so there's enough buildup there already. Um, we were expected to win, especially with team USA losing and Deagan and Chase. Um, and then to have that happen in both moss and charge through to where you, you did and then crossed the finish line, I imagine that the, the drop off of whatever it is, dopamine or whatever the, the, uh, chemical that is that our body gives us would've been so. Drastic that you would probably would've felt like gonna bed.

Speaker 2: 32:03

Yeah. Well, I I don't ever drink, like, um, energy drinks and I, I, first thing, I think I threw back with the Red Bull, so I just, I needed, I was, I was done. Um, which then obviously got me through the, uh, just the last race to watch and got me through everything else. But it was, yeah, like I said, it was cool. Feeling that smoked after a motor. It hasn't happened in a long time. That was, um, like I said, it's, it is a good feeling. Like you just know you've left everything out there. And I guess when you're battling people up the front, you're a bit more, you, like you, your race is a bit different, like with how much you, when you pin it and when, like, you sort of settle into a rhythm. But when you're coming from behind, it's just like a 200% from lap one to the last lap, you know?

Speaker 3: 32:51

Um, so then the last, the last race, jet and Hunter in the same race. You've done your thing, you've come back so well, especially in that second Moto. Um, I guess did, when you crossed the finish line, did anyone, there was no panic from the team that Bernard told, talked to you about, uh, that he said he felt panicked or anything, you know, at the start of that race, they weren't like, oh no, he is crashed again. Jet and Hunter, there's now more pressure on you. Was there any panic at any stage?

Speaker 2: 33:18

I don't think so. Like when I finished that race, they were, they were stoked. Like they were happy, really happy with how I rode and where I got back to, because like I said, it wasn't a two 50 dominant track. Like it wasn't, it was so high speed and blowing that a lot of the two fifties were roughly where I was anyway. Um, but you know, even after that second race, we, I think we were still in the lead, so. We were in a pretty good position really with those two being the last race.

Speaker 3: 33:45

Yeah. That's like

Speaker 2: 33:46

realistically it was kind of a nice feeling.

Speaker 3: 33:48

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But Briggsy and I talked about that, where it was like, you know, they needed a, the rest of the countries needed a 10 plus point gap, 15 point gap. Really?. So they needed a 15 point gap just to have any chance knowing, especially like watching Gen and Hunter top both their classes in qualifying as well, like. Yeah. Yeah, but just won both their races too. Um, so, okay, so, so then you, you get a bit of a break after MO two, I guess you, you, the feeling will, we will never understand. We can imagine what it would be like to know you've done your job, you've done the best you possibly can, and you've done incredibly well, and now you can come back and just enjoy. What was gonna be one of the, the best races of the weekend, you know? Um, so what was the feeling like getting across to the mechanic pit area to watch it all? I'm assuming that's where you watched it from the, the mechanics pit.

Speaker 2: 34:38

Yeah. I just watched it from the pit lane there. It was, it was nice. It's cool. You know it like you're done for the day and you get to watch, I guess the four 50 classes battle it out, which is pretty sick. Like obviously watching those two is unreal. And, and then jet come from behind, like he did this pretty cool. But I think like. Hunter until that weekend was just on one. He was, he was into it. He was, uh, he was really good to watch.

Speaker 3: 35:02

Yeah, it was nice because, you know, every, the story has been told so many times that, you know, hunter, he's a freak in his own way, but unfortunately he just has this younger brother who's more of a, a, a Yeah. Freak when it comes to, you know, so it was awesome to see. You know, hunter got the limelight and he owned that weekend in the four 50 capacity. So yeah, we all have got a bit giddy for him, and I'm sure he was, I mean, seeing him finish, I know Briggsy covered it pretty well. Um, we, we live streamed it, uh, from the track and Briggsy ran over to, uh, hunter who was. Had just like jumped off the bike. He's underneath you. So I'm not sure what you could see from where, from where you were standing, Cole, but he's underneath you and he is sitting down, just staring back out at the track and there's like no emotion on his face as in like he's in disbelief. That's what it looks like to us. Um, and that kind of summed up, I guess probably how he has felt all year is that like, it was that feeling of like, finally I got to own an event. You know? Which was pretty cool. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 35:58

Yeah. I think that's awesome for him. He's riding Unreal at the moment, and so is his brother. You know, like Jet's unbelievable on a bike, but it shows so is Hunter. Um, so it'd be cool, I think like with the finishing the year like that for, for him and for them will be good for their, for their next year's, you know, preseason. But I think also just like that's such a one-off event and it's so, I guess, special and there's so many Aussie supporters there, like I've said. It's just cool, like for him to win and for us to win as a team and yeah, it's, it's pretty sick. A lot of people put in a big effort for it, so it makes it that, that bit better, you know? Mm-hmm.

Speaker: 36:35

What, um, oh, when watching that last mo, even though Jet went down, kind of felt like we had it, I don't know if you felt the same like after your second MO ride. I feel like we really, you kind of deflated the whole crowd, really. And um, at what point did you kind, I know it's motocross and anything can happen, but what point did you kind of think, yeah, this is ours? Was it leading to that third motor or halfway through or,

Speaker 2: 37:02

um, once Jet got rolling again after he crashed and he was moving through, and then once, obviously Lucas crashed and so did rj, we were like, unless something really bad happens to you, it's. Pretty safe. Yeah. Um, whereas last year, you know, it was like bouncing points through the whole Moto. Yeah. Mm. Um, but going into that race in the lead and then, you know, you got Jed Hunter lined up against everyone else, you're pretty confident

Speaker 3: 37:27

So, okay, so, so talk us through, then they come over. You guys have won. We saw all the hugs as a team. Give us a feel, a taste of that feeling like you guys have gone back to back. I mean, winning last year, being the first ever Aussies to win at Chad. And, um, Medi and Mossy, I think it was, uh, got so close in, uh, 2011 whenever, 13. Um, you know, so last year must been huge, but to go back to back, did it mean more to go back to back? Or was it a bigger one last year to win it for the first time? What was the feeling?

Speaker 2: 37:59

Um, I think. I think this year every, well, I mean obviously Jet Road really well both years and so did Hunter, but last year Hunter had a, a bit of a problem in the first Mo I think. So this year felt better because it seemed like our results were all better. You know what I mean? Yeah. Felt like the weekend, like for me personally, I wasn't, my hand wasn't hurting and whatever, all that sort of stuff, it just felt like this one was really cool. Um, don't get me wrong, last year was sick, but yeah, this year felt like it was, it was. It was cool considering you going to America, you're racing the Americans, and, um, it wasn't a Mudder so it was like, you know, last year was pretty muddy and ruddy. It always makes it a bit interesting, but yeah, this one was cool. I think something that's weird is because you watch the last race, you don't actually race it, then finish and then go to the podium. It's kind of weird, like, you know, you sort of wearing normal clothes and whatever, and then you just throw a jersey on to go up there. It's just, yeah, that, that part's a little bit strange, but. It is still, it's still really cool and like mainly I think what's so cool is like you're on the podium, you see all the Aussie guys and then, which is sick. Everyone's loving it, but then you go back to the truck and everyone's there

Speaker 3: 39:09

So you get back to the truck and like, I know Jet and Hunter don't drink, um, either. And was it everyone celebrating? Was it, was it still pretty professional and subdued or did, was there some pretty loose units in the uh, team truck afterwards?

Speaker 2: 39:25

Um, in the truck, not so much. Everyone was like, obviously they're all stoked and celebrating, but the boys had two or three trucks to pack up, so they, they had a lot of work to do. Whereas I felt like last year we were borrowing someone's truck from Europe, so it was like a lot less work for the Honda guys. Everyone's just probably got a bit more time to enjoy it and then celebrate afterwards. But, uh, there was definitely some people in the older crowds who were having a go.

Speaker: 39:51

One guy pretty much passed out in front of the truck and took the rope out in the chain.

Speaker 2: 39:56

Oh yeah. It was, uh, it was wild.

Speaker: 39:58

And then the, the, the webby chance they drowned out the crowd, Kyle.

Speaker 2: 40:03

Yeah, I know, I know. Yeah. You, you were the flavor of the day. It was good. It is funny. Um. It's one of those things like you're standing next to two guys, best guys in the world and people are chanting my name.

Speaker: 40:16

It was wrong. Yeah, it was epic. It was the best thing about the weekend.

Speaker 3: 40:19

I said earlier, mate, it was that those rides, they were, your two rides were actually the most, I mean, I know Hunter and Jet, what they did was phenomenal, but. I think your rides were the standout because if it wasn't for them, then we wouldn't have achieved what we had. And, and no one made those kind of passes. So that's the reason for the webby chant. Even I heard about the webby chant back here, so it's good to hear. Um,

Speaker: 40:41

do you, do you feel like that was one of your best rides mate? Or did you just do what you normally do here, even and it's just business as usual?

Speaker 2: 40:50

Um, yeah, I feel like, you know. Every time you win or whatever here it, it feels really good and feels like you ride really well. Um, it's just different. Like I, I think, not, not in the like level of effort and whatever, like you always give a hundred percent, but I just think crashing, you're racing totally different people. You don't really know how anyone races. Whereas here you race the same guys who last couple years, so you know, sort of what to expect.

Speaker 4: 41:14

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 41:15

Um, but yeah, I just felt like that was probably, uh. I just felt like really, really switched on and locked into it for the whole time of both races. Whereas, um, I actually had the same sort of feeling at uni, uh, where I came together with someone I think on the second lap. And same thing, I was a ways back, but just made it back up. So that sort of whatever it was top 10 and, and just felt like, yeah, solid day with long races. It's, it's always a nice feeling when I guess you have a race like that and you're just like so focused on what's in front of you for the whole time. Yeah.

Speaker 3: 41:50

Um, so after those two rides of yours, you gotta tell us, has it, I mean, I know you're signed up with RA here in Australia, but has it pricked the ears of any teams overseas? Has anyone started speaking to you? I mean anything?

Speaker 2: 42:05

No, not really. No. I don't, I don't know like anything, but I haven't been told or like no one's reached out to me. So I guess it's hard though because it's a bit late in the year most people's deal is done. Yeah, and I, I think, I think. Next year, a lot of contracts are full still. Already, so, okay. It's one of those things, unfortunately.

Speaker 3: 42:24

Well that's the cool thing with your Reeves team is that there's always an opportunity to head overseas.'cause he's got the connection with the US so Yeah, exactly. Not try and make use of that supports. Yeah,

Speaker: 42:34

he supports it, which is really good. You know, like he, he must be a good team manager to have in Australia out of out most of them. So, which is really. Really good.

Speaker 2: 42:42

Oh, definitely. No, I've only ever been on one other team here, which was the Mark Looks, which is Honda team when I was on the two 50. And since then I've been with you. Even like, he, he just, yeah, goes above and beyond, you know, especially for those things where you wanna go overseas, you wanna go do some racing anywhere, he just gets behind you and supports it. He don't get me wrong, he may, he, he lets me know about it, but he does support me flat out with it, which is really cool. So. I just need to, uh, get into his ear about trying to do a few more next year and whatnot.

Speaker 3: 43:13

Yeah, definitely mate. We'd love to see you over there. Racing some more outdoors when it doesn't clash with our local racing here. Um, well, we'll, we'll, maybe we'll let you go in a minute. I've got a couple last questions. The, there was a, you could argue there was a slightly depleted field this year with da, uh, Degan and chase out. Um, hurlings wasn't selected for some strange reason. Yeah. Um, yeah, there were a few guys where we were a bit surprised that they were left out. Um, do you think that made this year's. Uh, achievement any easier? I mean, that's, I don't, that's probably a terrible thing to say'cause it's, it's never easy. Look at who was there still. Um, but you know, provi obviously going back to back to back next year will be even better. And you guys, as elite athletes, you want to compete against the best in the world. Um, you're hoping next year for a full contingent of the riders that missed out this year to see where you go against them.

Speaker 2: 44:07

Yeah, I mean, I guess it's hard. Like our sport is what it is and injuries are, unfortunately that happened, but. The, the, it being the last race of the year, it can be hard for people with different contracts or whether they get hurt and just need more time to recover. So it's, it's a tough one. Like you never really always get everybody there. But yeah, it was, I think Justin Cooper was a really solid fill in anyway. Yeah. Like obviously he was ripping on that, Ty.

Speaker 4: 44:33

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 44:33

Um, chase would've been good to be there, but yeah, he seemed to be, he was pretty banged up, so, but yeah, no, next year, I mean. Oh, like, yeah. Obviously if everyone had their best teams, it's ideal for everyone, you know? Mm-hmm. You get to see the whole lot, but it always, something weird always happens there. It's, it is, you know, like you think about the best teams ever and something. Normally they don't, they don't win. Like something always happens. Which is, which is crazy. So Whatever it may be like something, something happens, like when you gotta rely on, you got three races and it's Yeah. Different scores. Two 50 is worth four 50. It's just. You always gotta have a bit of that lady luck, you know?

Speaker 3: 45:13

Yeah, for sure. And mate, was there at any point when they, because America, I feel like selected their team almost last, like we didn't know who was going for America till right at the end. Uh, was there any point, uh, in your thought process when they selected the team that you were like, oh no, now I've gotta race Degan and I would like to be help fit and healthy next year to defend my Prom X title again. So what am I gonna do with this guy? Did you think about the degan factor?

Speaker 2: 45:38

Nah, not, not necessarily just him, because you got like, you know, you got Kai Wolf there, you've got, you've got Coonin, you got Degan or Justin Cooper, whoever it is, like there's so many fast guys and really you only have to think about that for the 1 2 50 race. Then after that, you've gotta think about, you got Jet, you got guys that, you got Ken Roxon. You know, there's just, there's so many people there that it, it really doesn't matter at the end of the day. You just gotta. Get stuck in. Yeah. Like, that's all you can do. Like, there's no point stressing over one or 2, 2 50 guys when you've got 20 real fast guys.

Speaker: 46:12

Yeah. I, I got a question. The, uh, there's a little bit of buzz after Darwin about, uh, MX of Nations coming to Australia. Mm, yeah. Um, where do you reckon we should have it? I'm thinking maybe Dale or something like that would be pretty cool.

Speaker 2: 46:28

I think just somewhere that it can, uh, facilitate it. You know, like you saw how big that event was on the weekend and how much stuff was there and

Speaker 4: 46:35

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 46:36

And what they needed to make that work. So I think it needs to be one, it needs to be a sick track. Yeah.

Speaker 4: 46:41

Um,

Speaker 2: 46:42

a big track ideally, and we just, yeah. It needs to just be somewhere that's close enough to Yeah. Facilitate, be close enough to cities and airports that lots of people want to come. Fact Manji, you reckon?

Speaker 4: 46:53

Yeah,

Speaker 2: 46:54

that would be cool. That would be cool. But yeah, like I said, it's probably a bit bit far away. Yeah. Um, but honestly, I, I don't know. I don't know what track would be the best for it in Australia.

Speaker: 47:04

Yeah. I think they'd man make something again, to be honest. I would have to. Yeah.

Speaker 3: 47:08

Yeah, I think so.'cause you look, I mean, it was successful in Darwin to make the track so they've proven they can kind of do that. And even if they have like a bit of a base to work with, it's got maybe some hills or something that we can work around. Um, they can kind of build anything they want now as they bring stands in big screens. It's so many more options now than when, when it came here. Yeah. You know, however many decades ago that was now. So

Speaker 2: 47:29

e Exactly.

Speaker 3: 47:30

Yeah. Um, alright mate, that's awesome. Thanks for the time today, Kyle. Um, no,

Speaker 2: 47:35

no dramas. Thanks for having me.

Speaker 3: 47:36

Yeah. We wish you all the best with recovery on the hand mate. And also with your new little one coming. Do, do you know what you have, boy or girl? Is it gonna be a surprise? Nah. Surprise. Oh, it's oh

Speaker 2: 47:44

epic.

Speaker 3: 47:45

That's the best one. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 47:46

Sick so well mate. Yeah, no thank you

Speaker 3: 47:49

Thanks for giving us the time today bud. And good luck with everything with the, the bubble on the way in the hand. Thank you very much. Thank you.