by Chase Stallo
Privateer Profile: AJ Catanzaro
Thursday, March 21, 2013 | 11:15 AM
SHOEI combines state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and the most advanced materials known with over 50 years of experience to deliver the finest handcrafted motorcycle helmets available. Recognizing that the privateer is the heart and soul of motocross, SHOEI is proud to present to you the Privateer Profile.
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PrintIt’s not always about the horse you rode in on—sometimes results are based more on heart and determination than a flashy ride. Now in his third SX season, AJ Catanzaro has poured both his heart and his bank account into making his dream come true. Following a career-high fourth in Indy, Catanzaro tweeted that this was the best day of his life—a culmination of the hard work he's put into this year. We caught up with the Connecticut native earlier this week while he was still on the road from Indy. His van had broken down. No one ever said the privateer life was easy.
Racer X: Still on the road from Indy?
AJ Catanzaro: Yeah, we broke down yesterday and we stayed the night in the van. Now we’re back on it.
Well, first and foremost, fantastic ride. How’s it feel?
I don’t know if it’s hit me yet. I haven’t gotten a chance to watch it. I haven’t even looked at results online yet, so who knows if I even got fourth? It was just a cool night. I think that’s where I’ve belonged for a while. If anyone watches practice I don’t belong in twelfth, thirteenth place. I think I belong in the top five, top three. It’s just a matter of putting the pieces of the puzzle together for me.
This is you third year as a professional and you’ve basically been doing this on your own from day one. How much more gratifying is it that you’ve made it to this point on your own?
It’s actually kind of amazing how I went about it this year. In this sport I think a lot of dads are involved, and parents are involved all the way through, even when people are 20, 25 years old. And I’ve sort of been on my own. My dad’s obviously got me to where I am. I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for my family. But this year I kind of took the approach of just doing it solo. I wanted to see how far I could get on my own. Didn’t really have much of an option. There was no teams, no rides, anything like that, and I just started networking myself the best I could. I approached a couple dealerships up north and I was able to get in touch with Pilgrim Powersports, and they helped me out with bikes, which was huge. So that was step one. And Pickett Weaponry stepped up as far as helping with travel costs, stuff along those lines. And it’s just amazing how much … I give my dad a lot of credit because he did it when I was an amateur, but it is a lot of work to kind of be a team owner, team manager, and also a team rider. It’s a full-time job, that’s for sure.
Catanzaro rode to a career-high fourth in Indy.
Simon Cudby photo
After the race, you tweeted that you couldn’t stop crying. How emotional was it for you to finally achieve this goal?
It’s hard to describe. I think few people understand it. When you put that much work into it, over so many years, and it just seems like one letdown after another, and as much as I love the sport, it changes how I go into the weekend and I leave disappointed every time. It’s hard to keep motivated when that keeps happening. To come off the track and have everyone surround you … it was just overwhelming. That’s all I want now. I’m going to keep on chasing that because that was the best feeling I’ve ever had.
I read a couple weeks back that you were done after Indy because of funding. I’m guessing that’s no longer the case?
Well, actually I’ve been able to just kind of squeeze by. My van breaking down on the way back from Indy didn’t help with that. I actually think I have $70 in my checking account. I’m able to hop in with my team owner on a flight to Toronto, and I’m staying with somebody up there. So that will help with that. And then after that I’m basically out of money. I’m hoping that fourth maybe helped me out and I’m going to continue if I kill it in Toronto. We’ll see. I’m open to sign if any sponsors are willing to hop on board; it’s not too late. Honestly, I kind of need it because I don’t see myself getting much further with the money I have now, unfortunately.
How disappointing would that be, now that you’re beginning to come into your own, to basically have to pull the plug?
Everything always seems to work out. I try to keep that thought in my head because everything happens for a reason. Whether I get a good fill-in ride or somebody steps up and helps me get through, I think it’s all going to work out. I don’t see myself hopping out of the series for sure. I won’t let that happen.
Has the phone been blowing up since Saturday?
A little bit. I’d love to take advantage of some open spots on teams because I think I belong on one of those top teams. I think if I had a bike that was competitive, with my mindset that I have right now, I could be a force to be reckoned with. I’m just going to keep going at it. Hopefully something comes along. I know if I get a start that those results will keep coming. I’m confident of that.
You touched on how you put your own deal together this year. But you also have a T-shirt line out as well.
Yeah, this company, Amped Apparel, and I got together and did like a collaboration shirt, which is pretty cool because it’s amazing the kind of a fan backing that I have and when something like that goes to sale people go nuts over it. To have a good quality company and shirt like that everything helps from that. He’s helped me out as much as he can with money as well. Every penny helps When something like that is coming in and I can get a little check to sign up for the next race or whatever it may be.
Are people still able to purchase the T-shirts?
They might be all sold out right now, but after my finish last weekend they might be in higher demand. So we’ll see. It was just something we wanted to do and people were sending me pictures and wearing them watching the race this past weekend, which is awesome.
Catanzaro hopes to continue his rise up the ranks in Toronto.
Simon Cudby photo
Are you still training down at Clubmx?
I left Club about two or three weeks ago and I’m at Davi Millsaps’ house in Georgia right now. And that’s another thing—I can’t thank him enough. He’s kind of taken me under his wing the past year and a half. Whenever I get a chance, I go ride and train with him. It doesn’t get much better.
Talk about that a little bit, about how beneficial it is to be training with Davi. How much are you able to take away from just watching him, comparing how he prepares?
It’s great. Last year it was kind of a shock going into it. I went with the Ohlins team and he pulled me aside and said, “I want you to kind of come and stay and ride and train with me.” And I hopped on that as quick as I could. Watching what he does and how he rides and his whole thought process behind it … We go out to eat and I pick at his brain as much as I can. He’s been there, done that. He knows what he’s doing. So I try to just learn as much as I possibly can from him, soak it all up.
Thanks, AJ. Who would you like to thank for helping you this season?
I would like to thank Pilgrim Powersports, Pickett Weaponry, Scott Witt, Tirestickers.com, Rocket Exhaust, Motonut Racing, TLR Performance, 139 Designs, Fly Racing, 100% Goggles, Amped Apparel, Hinson, Renegade Fuels, Peg Armor, Charles and Dane, my entire family, Konnor Buffis, and Rob Clingan.
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Maybe it is time for the purse money to rise to a level that exceeds the 1970's. Feld, you could double the purse money without a negative impact. Think about it.
Only the top step of the podium should get purse money if the others are factory teams. Team riders get bonuses from sponsors and their team when they do good. Privateers should get paid for posisition. With the sport getting so expensive the privateers won't be able to make it unless they are getting podiums but if they are getting podiums then they will get picked up my a team. So help the privateers!
A.J. is the pride of the nutmeg state! you also can support him through http://www.gofundme.com/AjCat2SX the link provided. i got the shirt i donated the cash and I am waving the flag. See you at the wick and CTmotosometome. Keep it to the stone,mate!
You don't wanna go to that Italian town...Catanzaro
The purse money is a crime (litterly). 50,000 people in a stadium and all they give out is a few grand? How do people let them get away with that? It's been this way as long as I can remember and I'm 50. What else is sad is I see skateboard and volleyball kids playing for $100k with no one watching, yet we can fill a stadium and they only get a couple bucks.
Always happy to see New England kids make it! Good luck in Toronto!!
I believe I saw AJ in the 2008 Vegas Rockstar Energy Race in the 85 class??? Does anyone know if he raced that event? I wish I had a few bucks to throw his way, but I'm broke too...LOL. Seriously though, my hearts out to him and I will be cheering him on. Hope AJ races Houston. I'll be there. I bow to all the guys with the talent and balls to go for it!!!!
He should jump up to the 450 class to make some extra money to keep him getting to the races. I know the 250 class don't pay shit!!!
I am not happy with the PulpMX show and how they ran down the 250 privateers for finishing as well as they did. Kind of sucks when the reporters on the action talk down on the riders, like they did on AJ.
The kid is giving it all he has. I for one, will totally celebrate his victory! While he did not win any championship, setting a personal best is what this sport is all about, and I totally get that.
I am throwing Matthes under the bus here, and by association Weege and JT$, but we need to show the love more and lose the percieved snobbery.
Sorry to rain on AJ's well deserved parade, but someone needs to look out for the little guy broke down and sleeping in his van on the side of the road. Viva la sportif!
mitch could do with a rider......
no point wilsons bike gathering dust!!!
Great ride AJ. We dont know each other but you could probably talk to Mitch to see if he lends Wilson's bike to you. Everything to to win and nothing to lose just by asking
Great ride, hope he gets more good luck! Its pretty sad how these racers sacrifice entire lives to reach this level yet barely scrape by. Bad on Feld and bummer magazines dont put pressure on situation either. Is there a site that details how much the top 20 main event riders win on a night?
@ryanwagopoto - no, not AJ. Joey savatgy was there that year though.
KDub / GOAT do something about the purses / rider safety
JimM
AJ you have the speed, talent, and determination to WIN... believe in yourself and it will happen! You know the confidence you got when you placed 4th? Well if you hold onto that feeling you will continue to improve and podiums will come. Ask Mitch for a chance and be confident! Good luck
The disparity in compensation between team riders and privateers is disturbing. These guy sneed to organize and form a union (like all other major sports ie. football, baseball) in order to protect themselves and their future well being.
Do I smell a riders union? Imagine if the top stars could leverage the sanctioning body and promoter in order to allow all those that make the gate the ability to earn a meager living. I know its a pipe dream but change would be nice. If a fast local pro can make $600 in purse and an additions $300 in contingency for winning one local race why would he make the jump to race nationally? The money needs to be there to keep the talent coming.
There are riders that are "hungry" for success, and then guys like AJ that are "starving". You have to believe that given the opportunity to ride one of the dust-gathering PC bikes he would take advantage of it. Wow, it is shocking when a guy can be in the top 5 in a supercross event and STILL may not have the means to continue racing (sleeping inside the broken down van? seriously? damn!).
i forgot to mention....a 4th place in a supercorss main event on a stock motor is a win in my book
dude... nobody on that line is running a stock motor. don't be so nieve.
How funny would it be to see these privateers selling promotional goods to fund their ride like little league baseball or youth hockey. It's coming to that... AMA Supercross cookies!! wooo hooo!
sorry what i mean was "stock-ish" compared to the likes of PC and Geico bikes
The 250 east is more like the 250 regional should be.It would be better if you took out the 250 World champ and the 250 national champ.Then this class would be like it was designed to be.It should be a stepping stone for riders like Adam to move up to the 450 class.It shouldn't be a cherry picking class for the factorys to get themselves a title with riders that are way over qualified for this class.I don't know why they don't just turn this class into a national series.
To the guy JD805 who is doubting that AJ's motor is stock.... I have been w/ AJ through this whole process where he got the deal w/ Pilgrim and I've been in touch with him throughout this process and I assure you that engine is STOCK. It has a polished head and a rocket exhaust, THATS IT. As unbelievable as that may seem, don't take away from AJ's accomplishment by hinting that he wasn't running a stock motor. I assure you I know first hand that it is in fact the most stock motor that you will find in the 250 East, West or 450 class. I'll put my bank account on the line on that one
Hey guys and gals... I just donated a few $$ towards AJ's fund... http://www.gofundme.com/AjCat2SX
@boogsy- thanks for the site man!
I wish I had more $$ to donate, but something is better than nothing...
Keep 'em coming AJ!
I disagree Fred. His fourth place finish wouldnt mean much if he were racing arenacross guys. You need top level talent to chase and measure yourself against. Its also a good thing that this class remains east/west. Would it even be possible for a guy like AJ to compete and get results if it were one class. Nope. The AMA has got this class just right and they need to never ever touch it.
Except maybe pay em more, and add five more laps to each class!
Big salut to AJ ,that's the spirit .its great to see people step it up and go for it ! I hope good things come to him and will be cheering for him on Saturday! So to get this strait I paid 212 bucks for tickets for this Saturdays race for 4 of us ,and how much did AJ make last week for a 4th place finish? Something is wrong here!
@xxktm some things I agree with you and some I don't.They for sure should make more money purse wise.That fourth didn't pay AJ very much.I think they should do away with big budget teams like PC,Geico and Rockstar.Make those teams move up to 450.This 250 class is always Jacked up because of riders like Barcia and Tomac that are clearly top 450 level riders yet they get to cherrypick the regional class for years.Thats all I'm saying.
After listening to this weeks wrap up on Indy on pulpmx I won't be listening anymore! What haters those announcers are. To be putting down the east riders like that is shame!!!!!! They all worked hard to get to where they are and without them there would be no racing!!! Everyone can't be first-that's why they put 20 riders out there. Wouldn't be much to watch with just musquin and Hahn out there racing each other. They're certainly helping monster energy make a ton of money! PulpMX HOW ABOUT A LITTLE LESS HATING AND SHOW A LITTLE MORE SUPPORT!!!! You guys stink along with your show!!
I know a guy who played college hockey, but was too small for NHL. He did go on to make a career out of playing semi pro hockey and later coaching. He is now 35 and plays in the FHL. On top of it he has a good degree.
These guys are so talented, most people can't comprehend. But they are really putting themselves out on a limb chasing their dream. Can be top 100 in the country and still struggling and no future in sport.
AJ is on his way though. Good luck Saturday.
I also just donated through AJ's website it is a legit site I can assure you. Donate if you can and help this kid out!!! Every dollar counts lets get this guy through the rest of the season!!!!
http://www.gofundme.com/AjCat2SX