Monday Conversation: Tyla Rattray
Monday, June 20, 2011 | 2:00 PM
Alpinestars has been delivering performance of the highest level on the motocross tracks of the world for almost 50 years. Racing on Sunday and developing on Monday is a way of life at Alpinestars. Welcome to the Racer X Monday Conversation.
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Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Tyla Rattray is on a roll so far this season, after not making the podium in the first moto at Hangtown, the South African has been on the box in the other seven motos, has two overall wins and sits atop the points lead. With his speed, endurance and starts seemingly down, Rattray’s going to be the guy that the other riders have to deal with every weekend, his biggest strength is his consistency no doubt about it. After his 2-1 win at Budds Creek, I caught up to him after the race.
Racer X: Tyla, great ride today here at Budds. In that second moto, (Justin) Barcia was all over you for most of the time.
Tyla Rattray: Thanks, yeah Barcia was riding really well and heads up to him, I was setting a good pace and had some good lap times and he was right there the whole way. By the end, I managed to get away from him a bit. Overall, it was a good day, I went 2-1 and got the win. So I still have the red plate but it’s a long ways to go and you don’t want to get too confident. Obviously, Deans (Wilson) right there behind me. Earlier in my career, I might have been that way (too confident) but I’m older now and I’ve got a lot of experience from that. I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing and going for the win. If I can’t win, I want to be on the podium at least and we’ll see what happens.
Rattray went 2-1 for the overall at Budds Creek.
Photo: Simon Cudby
In that second moto, Barcia was on you and it was like the first moto only you were the pursuer and were all over Wilson. Was it a matter of him having you beat, you not finding a way around him or what?
That first moto, I didn’t feel too well to be honest. I’m not going to lie, after the race I had a headache and had to lay down, but no excuses, Dean rode really well. I couldn’t catch him, couldn’t put a pass on him. I think he rode great and I knew that if I won the second moto, I’d get the overall. I wasn’t worried about that, I know my fitness is good and I’m in great shape. I knew it was going to be good and I managed to get the win and the overall.
Since the start of the nationals, have you done anything different in your program as far as ramping it up or backing it down now that we’re in the full swing of it?
I’m still training pretty hard with Aldon (Baker) and not really changing much other than I’m going down to Florida to ride with Ryan (Villopoto) and Jake (Weimer) and that should be good. It’s definitely going to be good for me to be there with it being so hot and humid. I can focus on different parts of a track, things that are my weak points and make them my strong points. My starts have been great, I’ve been getting out of the gate awesome. We’ll have a good week here and then go to Colorado and go for the win.
Rattray still holds the red plate, but has teammate Dean Wilson breathing down his neck.
Photo: Simon Cudby
How long are you going to Florida for, the rest of the summer?
No, I’ll be there for two weeks maybe a bit longer. After RedBud, I’ll go back there for a few days and then head back to California after that.
When you’re riding with RV, I imagine he’s gapping you a bit on the 450 and that has to be great practice for you. You can chase him down and get the intensity up right?
Oh definitely, obviously he’s fast- he’s winning nationals and is one of the fastest guys in the world, especially outdoors. It’s great for me and for Jake as well to have that. It’s hard work and when we get to a race, it’s a little different but it still helps. I’ve been enjoying training with those guys, like in supercross when they were out in California. It’s a lot of fun.
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Good kid... I wouldnt mind seeing him win the 250's this year
Good Dude...He is no kid...28 with a wife and kids of his own. Should there be an age limit in the 250f class???
Big Hoop.. I think there should be no age limit... This has always been done in the past... Steve Lamson roide in the 125 class for ever.. Even LArry Ward contuniued on forever...
But there is some points limit.. which also is good...
In Australia we have the under 19,s at the Nationals
Or maybe an entry level under 19,s and on a low cost 125cc
Yes he is TOO OLD and TOO EXPERIENCED to be running the 250 class. He is sandbagging. He ha a ton of pro racing experience, and is way older than half the 450 class. He shouldnt be allowed to run this class. Heck, he is a former GP champ, its not like he has never won anything either. And had a good 450 ride offewr before he left Europe to come here and race more of the 250 class. there should be a rule.
Nah he can race 250's......besides Josh Hansen has been racing the 250 class for 47 years..
I would love to see these races with a under certain age rule or bring back a 125cc. class etc....these kids getting off 85cc and jumping onto these 250f's is not good.... if you race, you know then how most parents can't afford the jump....these 4 strokes are killing the local scene for up in comers..my 2 cents!
Until the rule changes Tyla is not to old to race so this is yours to lose.....The dude can ride!
OT: why is there no section to make comments on the fan of the week? I think this weeks girl has some nice side boob!! mmmmmm!
btw, good job Rattray
I like the 125 idea...maybe one more stepping stone to get to the pros. What is wierd/funny/strange to me is that it is much more exspsnsive to be competitive in the 250 class as opposed to the 450's (obviously the motors the big reason why...no need to hop up a 450 as much as a 250) But this seems backwards...I think they should have rules in the 250 class that keeps the bikes closer to production, and allow the 450's to be full works bikes.
No age limit ever! They need to up two stroke displacement.For sure more than 144cc for 250.More like 175cc 2stroke,350-400 for 450 class.
Fred..a 350-400 2 stroke would be like a rocket, more like 300
" Report No there should be a feeder 125 class, under 19 wrote: about 5 hours ago
In Australia we have the under 19,s at the Nationals
Or maybe an entry level under 19,s and on a low cost 125cc":
Which I think should be under 18
Juniors(14-16) should be on 125 only
I think Rattray has been hanging around Hansen for too long. The AMA needs to change this and force some of this guys to move up in class.
Good guy, but too old for this class.
Make rules so you have to be 18 to be pro like EVERY other major sport in the world.
23 years old and you move up, NO pointing out, coming over from Europe or whatever. That's 5 years to get your shit together and get a good ride.
Tyla is 25 - was born in 1985 so hes not 28. He missed two whole seasons in Europe with injury and missed most of his first season in US with injury as well as missing the 2010 supercross season with injury. He'll only go up if he gets a good 450 deal.
I think most real racers understand there is no such thing as "cherrypickin" in the pro class. Certainly the big bikes are the premier class. While not the case this year many times in the years past the lites/125 class is deeper and actually harder to get a top ten, not win but get a top ten. AMA has rules based on points not age. Type on smartypants'.
They can't even put a full 40 on a 450 gate, I don't know how they'll fill up a 125 class. I'm not saying it's a bad idea, probably the best thing to jump start the weak racer turnout but, with only KTM's & Yamahas available (can't race a bike older than 5 years old OR probably non-homologated gray market bikes) the powers that be wouldn't do it. Which just makes them look even less in touch with what's really going on.
Riding a 250 fast has it´s own challenges. It´s not a step up to 450, in a difficulty sense, so 450´s isn´t the "premier" class. In fact, many riders who aren´t that hot on 250´s find the 450´s more suited to their style and visa versa.
When the MX1, MX2 and MX3 classes were created by the FIM, they were the old two stroke 250 (MX1), 125 (MX2) and 500 (MX3) classes, so if cubic capacity was the criteria, MX3 would have become the "premier" class.
By creating an age limit the MX2 class becomes a feeder class, and that is not a good thing. I want to see two classes with the best riders competing in the one they personally prefer.
This "premier" class crap is a marketing gimick
You yanks crying for an age limit are just hurting cause a South African is kickin your butts. LOL.
Why don´t you campaign for an American only series, then you could claim you are the best in the world without guys like Reedie, Ratters and soon Roczen showing you up for what you are, day dreamers and loud mouths. LOL.
You yanks crying for an age limit are just hurting cause a South African is kickin your butts. LOL.
Why don´t you campaign for an American only series, then you could claim you are the best in the world without guys like Reedie, Ratters and soon Roczen showing you up for what you are, day dreamers and loud mouths. LOL.
My opion on the age for the 250's--- I dont think it should matter unless the pint system is not working. I remember when Glover said he was getting to old cause back then when you hit 25 you were considered old for motocross. I myself retired at 37 and started racing in 72 when I was 16. Now the bikes are better and dr's understand that this is a sport(well some) and medical advances have helped. There are some people that it seems thier bodies are just made for racing ,mine was not I had to train harder. My point is I dont think there should be an age limit unles we can get a 125cc 2stoke beginner national class going? Then we will have sandbaggers still they have been around since the start of racing.
@Mike I don't remember... what country was the 2011 Supercross champ from? Where ever you are from I guess they are good at counting chickens before they hatch there.
Nobody spent more time racing the "tiddler class" i.e. (125 then 250f) class than RACER X's own David "Ping" Pingree. He made an entire career of it!!!!
We got our eyes on you jairtime.......................Stay in line
D
Age shouldn't matter. It's only determined by championships and where they can get the best deal to support themselves and their famlies.
I'd like to do a trivia for some of you Tyla naysayers and his age. Go look up some Dowd stats of what year he turned pro and his last year racing the tiddler class. I'm gonna tell you right now, you can start counting decades instead of years. Not taking anything away from him, but never heard any yanks give the junkyard dog greif on his class choice!
Clint wrote
@Mike I don't remember... what country was the 2011 Supercross champ from? Where ever you are from I guess they are good at counting chickens before they hatch there.
Well Clit, SX is an American sport, so you should be the best at it, cause practically no one else does it seriously. No, I´m referring to the real stuff pumpkin pip brain, MOTOCROSS. Even so, you still only just scrapped home. And if that brain donor who rides # 7 hadn´t KO´d Reedie, he´d have had that title as well.
@MIke, yes, We always win here, its why you are such a jealous loser who has no life, who sits around in a rage because your life sucks so bad. Look again idiot, when was the last time an Irishman ever won anything in moto?? NEVER.
Rattray is from South Africa, Reed is from Australia, neither are Irish, or even from Europe. Boy you are ignorant..lol
Tyla's strong all around and seems like a great guy. No drama, just dedication.