Photo By: Stephani McIntyre
I know we're just two months out from the start of the season, so what have you been doing to prepare? I came down to Georgia for warmer weather, and I've been working out with my trainer at the gym. I also got my track redone down here. I've been working on getting sawdust in it lately. I've got my bikes all running well. Other than that, I'm just doing normal training stuff.
Let's talk about last year a little bit, you were on fire until your injury, and somehow you only missed one race , and it only took you two more after that to get back to the top of the podium. That had to be incredibly challenging, what propelled you forward? Oh man, I'd say just having a great attitude. I like training here in Georgia. My trainer has a really good attitude. We were trying to figure out the best way to get me back on that track as fast as possible. In that situation, there's really nothing that you can do except say to yourself, "It is what it is."
How were you able to come back physically once you told yourself mentally that you had to do it?
I had a good doctor in California who got me going again, Dr. Alexander. I should give him a lot of credit.
So it's not like you have a secret power to regenerate bones? (Laughs) No, he just helped me out a lot. I went through a lot of rehab to get that arm back together. I wasn't sitting on the couch; I was on the Elliptical so I wouldn't get out of shape.
Was there any point where you were saying to yourself, "I don't think this is going to happen"?
I never had any doubts that I would be back. I didn't know how I would perform back on the bike. I didn't ride until the day of my first race back. I had been off the quad for 5 weeks by then. I had a good shoulder brace, though and I just went out to go and get some points. I couldn't let it get to me. It worked out at the time because by then, there was more time in between races, so that was a big help.
Photo By: Stephani McIntyre
Obviously you're looking to get another championship this year. Absolutely! I'm really looking to come out like I did last year, really the last two years, by running the first few races. I just want to be consistent like I have been. I want to get up on the podium every weekend. It's a big deal to me.
Chad will be on a Can-Am this year. He's shown already he can be competitive on it with his Supercross win up in Canada late last year. Do you think Chad will be able to transfer that success over? No, I don't. I mean, I don't want to sound like a jerk, but he hasn't raced against any of us on the Can-Am, yet so that win doesn't mean anything to me.
You're back again with the Suzuki team. What's it like working with them? It's obviously a good relationship if you're back again. I mean, Suzuki is, in my eyes, the best thing out there for ATVs. All of us get along, Kevin, Kory, Glen and everyone. Everything really has to come together to win a championship. The rider has to be comfortable, the mechanic has to like his job and take care of his bike. And that's how it is with us. Everything is really great on the team right now. We definitely have that balance right now.
Josh Creamer was one of your top competitors last year as well, how do you feel about him as your new teammate? It should be good. I'm going to miss Doug [Gust] so that's a bummer. He was a great teammate. He's still my idol. He's however old he is and still going great, and has had a lot of success over the years. Josh and I have had our problems back in the day, but in the past couple of years we've started getting along better.
How do you think 2010 will go for you? Do you think it'll be an easier year gunning for your third championship than the first two? Winning a championship is never easy, but I'm going to go out there and give her hell and do the best I can do. The goal is to be consistent and be safe.
Alright, Dustin. Thanks for talking to us!
