On The Pegs January 2018 - Volume 3 - Issue 1 | Page 78
On The Pegs
That’s got to be huge to have a me-
chanic after spending the last few
years working on your own bikes.
Last year that was one of the things.
I had done all the work last year. I ran
three series. It was tough to run three
series, let alone tough to run three
series while being your own mechanic.
There for a while I had Colt Hensley
down to work on my bike, then he
had to go back home. So this year we
locked in a deal with KTM to where
we had a mechanic. For next year it
sounds like we’re going to have AG
back again. KTM is still a really big part
of my program. When Antti (Kallonen)
and I talked he understands my im-
age. He understands what I’m going
for. He knows that the way that KTM is
going to be is a little more corporate.
They’ve got to have the clean-cut guy,
and I completely understand that. He
understands where I’m coming from.
We see eye to eye on everything. I’ve
had KTM support since I was ten years
old with Jack Penton when it all started.
I definitely never want to leave that
company. I’m definitely glad to have
their support. Next year it looks like
my brother Grant will be joining the
team. Hopefully he’ll have a little better
season now that his shoulder is fixed. I
think it’s going to be a really good year,
having the KTM support and being
able to do our own thing, just kind of
working towards our dreams as a kid.
Being able to do it with your brother
and share the top step of the podium
two races back to back with him was
pretty bad-ass. I really hope next year is
as good as I have it pictured.
How would you to describe your
style?
I’ve really struggled – and it’s always
been this way – I’ve struggled on the
opening lap on a GNCC. I’ve struggled
at the first se ction of a national en-
duro. The faster and easier the trail is,
I struggle. So, this year I picked up the
sprint enduros because they’re fast
and easy, and you’ve got to be on your
toes. They’re short and then you get an
hour break. So, it’s basically like you’re
completely shutting off and then firing
up again. That was intended to help my
starting, but even still with the national
enduros I haven’t been winning the
first test. It’s definitely tough to start
with a deficit every weekend. As the
race wears on and the tests usually get
longer and the A sections are at the
end, that’s where I’ve always ridden
the best. When the track is gnarly and
it’s very physically demanding and
you’ve really got to be on your toes. I
don’t know what it is. Not really sure
“A” secti
end, that’s w
ridden
“The
why it suits me the way it does. The last
section of Missouri, the last section of
Oklahoma when it’s gnarly, when it’s
rocky, when it’s technical, it’s just al-
ways been what suits my style. I really
don’t know the answer because if I go