Between the Motos: Dave Osterman
Wednesday, March 16, 2011 | 1:00 PM
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By: Nick McCabe
One of the most experienced team managers in the pits, Dave Osterman can be seen in the famous late-1970s “Let Broc Bye” photograph, and over the past four decades he has seen and experienced it all. That’s why it was no surprise when Chad Reed chose him to be the manager of his upstart TwoTwo Motorsports team. We caught up with Dave in the pits just a few weeks after Chad’s first big win of the season in San Diego.
One of the most experienced team managers in the pits, Dave Osterman can be seen in the famous late-1970s “Let Broc Bye” photograph, and over the past four decades he has seen and experienced it all. That’s why it was no surprise when Chad Reed chose him to be the manager of his upstart TwoTwo Motorsports team. We caught up with Dave in the pits just a few weeks after Chad’s first big win of the season in San Diego.
Racer X: Dave, congrats on your new gig. How did things come about?
Dave Osterman: Basically, I made some calls and kicked some tires. I cold-called [Chad’s] agent and it went from there. Chad and I were always friendly, but I didn’t really know him that well. At the end of the day, we hooked up and made it happen. I’m really pleased to be back! You know, working in the racing business is like a studio job – it’s always changing, and I’m used to things moving very quickly, sometimes for the good and sometimes not.... But once I got the call, it was all systems go.
What was the time frame on this program coming together?
Well, basically, it was around Election Day 2010 that we decided to go for it. Which is what, November 8 or something?
Osterman and Reed have been together for a short period of time in comparsion to others like Dungey, Stewart, and Villopoto.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Dungey, Stewart, and Villopoto have been with their teams for years now, and they each have a crew that knows the details. You guys are new to working together, but it seems to be working well. What are some of the issues you’ve had?
The reality is there are four to five guys who can win right now, and we are one of them. There is an iceberg out there, and we just want to make sure we don’t hit it. The other guys have danced with their respective teams before and know the drill and we’re still sorting through it. We all made some big, life-changing decisions to come to this team. Lars and Doug came on from factory programs, which are generally very safe jobs, and they took a big risk. But Chad is an accomplished guy. He knows the drill and what to do. He is articulate and is on a mission this year to win, and we just managed to get the right people for the job. It really makes the difference. My role here, it’s basically like a parent, a guardian. I’m just looking out to make sure everything is done right.
How did the rest of the team come together? Did you do the hiring?
Chad did it all. Chad and his management were talking for a while about it. I knew what was going on and basically signed up because I believed in Chad fully. But I have to give credit to the entire staff - I don’t have to babysit anyone here. The whole team was handpicked from other factory teams and consists of Lars Lindstrom, Doug Bourbin, and Shane Westlotorn. Chad has a good feel for the people. We also have Joel [Beuler], his bus driver, and his practice mechanic Mike, who lives back in Florida. Those guys have been with him a long time and are certainly part of the team as well. I think the length of time that Chad has kept his people around says something about his character. Creating a team from scratch is a daunting task, but we have the rider and found the crew.
Do you consider the team a privateer or factory team?
For me, we’re a privateer team. Sure, we get a few bits and bobs from our friends, but we have to pay for them all. Our unobtainable list is very shallow. Honda is helping us, but the bike Chad is riding is nothing close to what Canard is riding. Our motor is 100 percent Pro Circuit and is something that anyone can buy. But in reality, those special parts that we have, they’re basically only things that maybe only four to five people in the world can use, and those guys are right now all in the top five. But the bottom line is, of all the top bikes that are up there, ours is the closest to production. We basically have everything we need, from the truck to the shop to whatever parts. We don’t have money like, say, factory Honda, but we are in good shape. Chad has had the best equipment and knows what works for him.
Osterman is confident in the future of TwoTwo Motorsports.
Photo: Simon Cudby
What about the future of the team?
We’re making steady steps here. Some people ask about a second rider or whatever, but it’s all down the road. This is a stepping-stone. Its Chad’s team, it’s at his discretion, and right now we have a championship to win.
What has been the single biggest challenge?
Mainly getting Chad comfortable on the bike. Everything on our bike, you can buy. Our bike is good, though—we’re just making little tweaks here and there. Our guy is one of the elite. He is very articulate, so that helps things when we need to make changes or something isn’t working. Time has been a big issue as well. When you put in racing laps, then it’s real and you can see where you have issues, but we didn’t have much time leading up to those first racing laps.
How have you found the fans’ reaction to your program?
You know, with the fans, Chad has been a love-hate story – he has grown from a young man and is a father now with a kid and [is] a team owner. But overall, everyone has been real supportive of what we’re doing. We all had basically no holidays getting it ready. For us, it’s really important to not make any mistakes. At regular nine-to-five jobs, mistakes happen. But here, they can’t happen at all. It’s like a Broadway actor forgetting his lines. But I think Chad has a lot more in the tank. It’s not like he’s trying to recapture his career—he just had a bad season or two, and we’re staying consistent and have found ourselves in the hunt.
Before we go, I know you’ve been pretty active on some of the motocross message boards, but it seems like since you took this gig you’ve been absent. Do you have any messages you want to convey to the friendly pundits on the internet?
[laughs] You can’t look back! The biggest critic I have is our rider, and that’s all I care about right now. I’ve got enough guys here on our program giving me opinions every ten minutes, and they’re the ones I need to listen to. But I miss it, though. I miss the direct interaction with everyone and just kicking the tires about everything that goes on in the sport. But right now, I am completely focused on the task at hand.
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chad reed is washed up
If Reed is washed up, where does that put Dungey, who can't seem to pass him?
If I could win motos and be sitting 3rd in the championship washed up I'd be pretty happy. He's deffo still in the mix, maybe a little off from previous years though
Great story, good to see a privateer run with the big factory money, technology and be competitive. What makes it even crazier is Chad is Honda's only chance at a podium so far this year. Love him or hate him he is good for the sport.
Julian, Sorry to burst your bubble but Trey Canard (On a Honda) won Houston and has had other podiums this year so Chad is not Honda's only shot at a podium. Watch a race or two would ya.
@Julian Dunleavy: ever heard of this rider called Trey ...... Trey Canard!
Still think Chad's Honda's only chance to podium ...... ?
I have all the respect in the world for Mr. Chad Reed! He is doing what I wanted to do all of my life. I built some pretty good bikes in my time. Factory,smackary I was having parts made for my bikes that nobody knew about cause I went to school learned drafting physics ,more math than most people ever tried to learn. Now Chad is building a team that wil set the new standards.
Why does everybody always have to talk trash? All of these guys are great! Reed, Stewart, Poto, Dungey, Canard, Windham, Shorty, Millsaps, Brayton. Sometimes you just have a bad night. The only thing bad I can say about Chad is that him and his team's pit interaction sux. Dave was kind of a dick to me in Oakland when I asked what they were doing to the front fork. And in Indy, they had a big black tarp around their pit so you couldn't see ANYTHING (the only team that did that). So yah, fix the fan interaction and maybe people wouldn't talk so much trash...
Just sayin'
I seem to remember 2 different honda riders at the top of the podium in 450's this year. I'm a fan of both
Counting out 22 is shortsighted. Though a long shot, Reed is Honda's best chance for a title this year. Canard is there best future chance. Honda should be doing whatever they can to keep one or both up front.
Great interview thanks RX! I always seemed to agree with DaveO's post on here! Great minds think alike perhaps?
Its cool to see Reed start this team and it work. If it failed, it would be years for another rider to try it. the more teams out there the better. And Reed had to pay for all his engine parts and all. I guess that will shut some haters up who said PC gives Reed his engine parts. Hope this team stays around for years, even after Reed retires.
Dungey is, therefore, also, washed up.
MAGNUM!!!!!
dungey is gonna blow the front wheel off this aussie real soon, get out the way reedy
listen up..when i was racing against Bob Hannah..i put a special air filter in that you couldnt get at k-mart and i ripped the holeshot!! take that!!!
I'm still torn over whether or not I would consider Reed's team a "privateer" effort. I guess by definition it all is coming out of his own pocket to some extent....it's just the size and scale of his one man team that makes me flinch every time I see someone refer to him as a privateer.
His honda sounds further from 'factory' than I suspected it was.
i think the manager of the team would know if its a privateer or not .... let it go he's doing it his way with his money GOOD ON HIM....
Gills & trick... Understand your predicament & suspicion... But disregarding the size of the operations Reed has put up... He falls under the term privateer.
Definition of the word is: In motor sport, a privateer is usually an entrant into a racing event that is not directly supported by a manufacturer.
And what does the word "supported" mean? The activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities.
Honda does not provide financial support... But does provide some necessities... In the last Podcast Reed was on with Matthes... And here one will have to take Reed's word for it.. Whether he is telling the truth or not, that is entirely up to you to decide...
He mentioned that he has invested a couple of million dollars in his team. He buys 95% of the things... The "support" he has been enjoying lately from Honda are the bikes, stock production bikes.. he no longer has to buy from Honda.. He gets them.. Some parts, such as race clamps... But nothing regarding the engine... the rest... All comes from his own pocket. He pays Pro Circuit for all the modifications they do on the bikes.
Now... Also bear in mind... Reed's reason behind creating his own team was.. Prior to this season.. Reed was plainly asking too much money.. Something the top teams were just not willing to pay... And let's also be rrealistic here.. The guy is turning 29 this year... In this sport... It's old. MC won his last SX championship when he was 29... Which is already considered exceptional...
He's intelligent, fit and fast. Age used to be a big issue with professional sports, but now it's not. It's got more to do with how many injuries you've had and if you make a full recovery. Can you imagine how Bubba is going to be when he turns 30?! That's a dude with a short shelf life right there!
kangaroo53.. Age is still an issue.. All the modern training techniques have enabled is to prolong a rider's career...
The only rider to win a fair amount of races and be in contention of winning a championship was k-dub.. back in 08'. And he was 30...
The sport just does not encourage riders above 30 to be competitive, in a way to win a championship.
...yep. You can juice up a horse all u want, but his recovery time is forever going to be slower than his younger competition, ie, a liability.
So u either buy a new pony, or take it easy and at the end of the year be proud to have been able to just pay the bills doing a job that most consider only as a hobby.
Oh yeah, same goes for a biped pro athlete.
All it shows me is, DAMN Pro Circuit is the shit.....Build Chads motors, GEICO motors Troy Lee Motors, HnH bikes.... Valli motorsports...cmon Mitch do a 450 team...no one is in your league in the little bikes...only team to beat you had your motors in them....
All 40 gates have amazing riders that deserve so much respect!!! We all have our favorites for whatever reason. I personally value and respect the "class", the consistency, the ability to ride within your own limits while respecting other riders on the track..... I am l00% behind 22 Motorsports...... Go Chad Reed..... most people haven't a clue as to what you are doing and accomplishing out there!!!! Good on YOU.