INTERVIEW: Kyle Chisholm

Primarily racing in Canada last year, Floridian Kyle Chisholm also entered the Southwick and Glen Helen rounds of the 2006 AMA Toyota Motocross Championships Presented by FMF series where he finished a very impressive seventh at both events.  Catching the eye of several Lites teams, it only made sense that the long time Team Green rider would sign on with the Motosport Outlet Kawasaki team for 2007.  Suffering a serious heel injury early in supercross, Chisholm is now beginning to find his stride in AMA Motocross.  After several “getting up to speed” races, the 19 year old is a solid top ten rider.  What I like about Kyle’s riding is that he excels in the toughest situations.    Now with the recent news of Motosport Outlet Kawasaki folding for next season I had a chance to sit down with Kyle, who is just outside the top ten in points, to compare notes on 2007.

Kyle, going back some months, you looked really good coming into the supercross season, then got injured.  I know that you began riding just weeks before the AMA Motocross series started – are you 100% now?

Like you said Jim; in supercross I was really good going into it besides getting really sick before Anaheim - I was in the hospital that week prior with food poisoning or something.  Still, I got through the first round where I got ninth; then I got hurt at the second round.  Coming back to racing, I only had about three weeks before the first national.  It was a difficult injury because I couldn’t put any weight on my heel for three and half months, as it’s a main weight bearing bone.  The day that I got released from the doctor, I went in on crutches and came out walking - and the next day started riding.  I only got to ride for about three weeks before Hangtown; two of the weeks were testing in California , so I wasn’t really able to ride and do my routine at home yet.  At the first two races, I just got through them – with lots of arm pumping from not riding.  With a break after High Point I put in a lot of work and came out good at Southwick.  Since then I’ve been getting a little better each weekend, and I think I’m 100% now.  I just wish I could get a start up there with the other guys, but I feel good now.    

Speaking of getting a start; that reminds me of Red Bud; you were in a first turn cr ash in one of the motos but came back to a very good finish.  Did that give you the feeling that “Hey, all I need is a start; I can beat these guys.”? 

Yeah, like at Southwick where I got that sixth in the second moto; I didn’t get the best start, I was somewhere around the top fifteen.  As long as I’m around top 10, I’ll be there every moto.  I’m in shape, and my speed’s there the whole moto - I just need to get up there!  At Red Bud, I got a eighth or ninth the first moto; right with all the guys besides those first five.  The second moto, I went down off the start in the first turn.  When I got up, I had to start my bike and everything, so I was 30 seconds behind the last guy.  I caught up to 15^th, and if I would’ve had two more laps, I probably could’ve got to the top ten.  I ended up 10^th overall, which is still good.  Since then, I’ve known that if I get a start, I will be top 10 every moto - that’s where I expect myself to be. 

One thing that must be disappointing is that Motosport Kawasaki is finished after the season; that’s go to be tough at this point knowing that.

Yeah, definitely; I think it was a surprise to everybody as far as I know.  They just switched to Kawasaki this year, which was good for me.  The Hondas were good; but I’ve been on green forever – so it’s been easy, and not really a change to me at all.  The team’s done really good, and everything’s gone well - I know Kawasaki was really happy.  Then we got the call saying that they didn’t want to do the team anymore; now we have to live with it and make it work.  Right now, all the guys on the team are still working 100%.  It’s a bummer; especially losing a couple other teams, and with so many riders coming up; it’s going to be tough for next year.  I just have to put my head down, put in some good rides and be top ten at the end of the year.

Have you been talking to some other teams about next season yet?

No, not a whole lot; but just recently we have started; since about Red Bud or so.  This is actually my first whole season doing all the U.S. stuff.  I don’t know everybody, and I’m trying to meet people.  I don’t want to worry about it too much right now; I just want to put in some good rides - it will come as long as I get results.  If I’m top 10 in points and don’t get a ride, I think that there’s something wrong with that - for anybody, whoever it may be.   

Last comment Kyle: you did awesome at Southwick last year too; it seems like the tougher the conditions, the stronger you are.

You know, everyone says I did well at Southwick because of the sand, but it’s funny because the sand up there is totally different than at home.  Most of our tracks are actually hard packed tracks; like Gainesville , which is lime rock; hard, and slippery.  I think it’s just a riding style; in the sand, you have to ride really smooth and you can’t be out of control.  That’s kind of how I think of my style; it’s a little more like Kevin Windham than Ricky Carmichael – where he’s good everywhere.  But like you said Jim, I think the tougher the conditions, the better I am.  I don’t know if it’s that I’m better; I think it’s just that other people aren’t as goodJ.  Some tracks like Budds Creek are usually good; but this year the track was so smooth and everything that it just didn’t separate anyone - it was tough if you didn’t get a start.  I like the tracks like Colorado ; with the elevation, and the track being rougher.  So I’m just putting in the hard work at home; that’s when it pays up at the races.

Copyright ©2007 Motorcycle Monster and My Motorcycle Monster is copyrighted
and property of the Motorcycle Riders Association, inc. All rights reserved.