Sean Collier talks with MTM

You saw him last summer at the last six races of the Outdoor Nationals placing in the top ten on a regular basis. David Bailey's comment, "Why doesn't someone sign this guy. Here he is out here on his own giving some of the best riders in the world a run for their money and he's a privateer." Well, someone took notice.

With his great performance last year at the Outdoor Nationals, Sean Collier landed a ride with Star Racing Yamaha. He's been working hard and looking good. Kendra caught up with Sean at Anaheim Two. Check it out.

Kendra: How old were you when you started riding?

Sean: I would say I was about 4, and I’m twenty now so I’ve been riding for many many years.

Kendra: What age did you start racing?

Sean: Right around 6 or 7, I started pretty quick. I rode in the desert for a few years, then I started racing at LA County. I’m sure your familiar with that. That’s how it all started.

Kendra: How old were you when you joined the professional circuit?

Sean: I was eighteen; 2004 was my first year in Supercross.



Kendra: Here you are two years later, factory sponsored.

Sean: Factory supported. I’m riding for Star Racing Yamaha. We got some factory support this year, it’s the first time I’ve ever had that. We get motors and good suspension, all that good stuff, I’m really excited. I have a really good team behind me, it’s looking good so far.

Kendra: With the factory support comes the factory pressure, how’s that treating you?



Sean: You know it’s not to bad. My team is treating me really cool about that, it’s not to bad. Being a privateer last year, you know I definitely have a lot more pressure now. I’ve always put a lot of pressure on myself so it’s not too much more. Still though the team expects a lot more out of me then my father did last year. It’s good though I like it.

Kendra: It seems like you have a lot of good people backing you up this year. What’s the biggest difference being sponsored now by these factories then it was just sponsoring yourself?

Sean: The equipment and the tracks. I have really good equipment now, my motor is really fast and my suspension is really good. I also get to ride the Yamaha test track too, so that’s pretty cool.



Kendra: You get to ride with the likes of Chad Reed and Heath Voss?

Sean: Yeah, exactly.

Kendra: Last week, tell me what happened out there in the main event?

Sean: Yeah it was pretty good, I mean I got a good start and I was running fourth place. I got by Alessi the first lap, and Langston ended up stalling it in the left hander so I got around him too. The two leaders Villopoto and Short went down in the tight switch back section. I was in the lead that was pretty exciting. I held the lead for a couple laps, I had Ramsey breathing down my neck for a little while, then he passed me. I just hung in there for thirteen laps until I got passed, right before the white flag, by Laninovich. Then that last lap they all passed me, unfortunately, I ended up sixth. It’s also good though because it’s my best finish in a Supercross main so far. I was up there for thirteen laps in second place. That was also really cool.

Kendra: How are you feeling about today’s track? I know you’ve got your qualifiers coming up in a few minutes!

Sean: I’m feeling good, the track is definitely a lot faster its not really that technical. It’s going to be really important to get a good start this week and carry a lot of good corner speed because you can’t really make up a lot of time. The rhythm sections are really basic, you can make up a little bit of time in the whoops but they are really short sections, so it’s going to be all about starts and corner speed mostly.

Kendra: I was talking to the top ten guys in the lites class earlier today and they said that since the track is so easy today there’s going to be a lot of good racing and maybe even a little dirty riding going on, what’s your take on that?

Sean: Well, unfortunately I’m not that dirty of a rider. I don’t like really like running down guys, ya know, stuffing them. But I guess if you have to do it, I’m going to have to do it. I’ve always raced really clean so that definitely won’t favor me. I think I got to get that meanness in me I guess you could say. Maybe I’ll get it tonight we’ll see.

Kendra: What’s your favorite obstacle out there tonight?

Sean: I’m going to have to go with the corners, I like cornering. It’s a good place to make up time.

Kendra: During the week you go out to the Yamaha test track, your riding and training. What’s a normal day like for you?



Sean: I wake up around 6 or 6:30, then I eat some breakfast, oatmeal usually. I try to get to the track around noon, put in about 50 to 60 laps. Then I play ride most days when I’m done doing my motos. Then I go home and go to the gym, I ride the stationary bike for 37 minutes then I do the rowing machine for a half-hour. I do all sorts of weights for my legs, then sit-ups and push ups. Then I go home eat dinner and go to bed. Repeat the following day, it’s pretty basic.

Kendra: Sounds like your living the good life.

Sean: Yeah, definitely for sure.

Kendra: What’s one thing that you would want the people of Santa Clarita to know?

Sean: That motocrossers aren’t a bunch of jerks! We tend to get grouped in with the Hells Angels which is kind of silly. It seems like we get a bad rap, I don’t know why, they make us seems like a bunch of bad guys who are up to no good. But you know the majority of us are pretty cool. We don’t just go up in the hills and get drunk and fool around. This is a serious business, and that’s how we treat it. That’s one thing I think the public doesn’t really know, we take this really seriously. It’s a professional sport, it’s a tough business to be in so you have to keep on top of it.

Kendra: At the Yamaha test tracks, do you ever just go out there, sit back and watch Chad and Heath? Try to get tips and all.

Sean: Yea I do. I’ve watched Chad a bunch out there, I watch him go through the whoops, but basically that’s it. He’s got amazing whoops speed, I just like to look at his style and mimic him.

Kendra: Well, if you learned anything from Chad, you’ll do just fine! Good Luck out there tonight Sean!

Sean: Thanks!