Then in 2010 you missed X Games
completely. Why was that?
£ It must be scary enough just
throwing a 360 on a dirt bike, let
alone doing it when there’s a
quad bike and a snow-mobile 5
feet behind you!
I crashed on a Cliffhanger Flip at the Russia
stop of Red Bull X-Fighters and broke my
collarbone. I had it plated and tried to get
ready for X but my shoulder wasn’t right
and I could hardly pull back on flips. It was
such a tough decision to sit it out, but it was
the right call.
When did you switch from Honda to
KTM?
That happened the next year, 2011. I
needed a fresh start and I jumped on the
KTM 350. It took a bit to get used to, but
I placed second and fourth at the Madrid
and Dubai X-Fighters and everything was
going sweet. But then I crashed the night
before X Games and I was pretty much
crying in the Staples Center, as Nate Adams
smoked everyone with two 360s. I still
believe I could’ve killed it that year and that
was probably the other real low point in my
career.
At the same time you kinda made up for
it the next year getting silver in Speed &
Style.
That was pretty cool, actually. I was leading
Nate in the final and tucked the front end
with two corners to go, which sucked. My
mates didn’t let me hear the end of it for
about six weeks, but it felt good to get
another medal.
At the same time you were – and still
are – heavily involved first in the Crusty
Demons tours and now the Nitro Circus
Live tours. How’s that been?
Yeah I’ve been with them for eleven years
now. Some riders have come and gone
and my pay isn’t what it used to be, but
then my tricks aren’t on the same level as
the likes of Clint Moore and Josh Sheehan
now. I’ve got a good understanding with the
organisers and I’ll say no if I don’t want to
do something. I’ve got a good name, but I
don’t want to get hurt again. I’ve been that
young guy who’ll give anything a go if I get
told to, but I think I’ve earned the right to
push back and outline my terms now.
It’s the whole risk versus reward thing. I’m
happy to be a middle-of-the-road guy and
cash in more on my marketability. If there’s
PR to be done, Nitro will always hit me up
and talking in front of a mic isn’t high-risk
stuff, but still gives my sponsors exposure
and keeps my profile up. u
Clowning around w