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AUG 29, 2011
Five Minutes: With Tyla Rattray
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Tyla Rattray was practically a shoe-in to win the Southwick MX National this past weekend. Rattray lived in Belgium for eight years, riding almost entirely on sand tracks during that time, as he raced the GPs. Now that he’s in the USA, he has always had success at Southwick, starting with his first-ever moto win in the USA at Southwick in 2009, followed by an overall win there last year (albeit with a 2-2 score). This year, his 2-1 score landed him the win yet again, and pushed him up to second place in the points standings with two rounds left to run.
Monster Energy: You had to be pretty confident coming in because you won a moto here two years ago, and last year you won the overall without a moto win. Were you pretty confident coming into this race?
Tyla Rattray: Yeah. I knew coming into this race it was going to be good. You know, my season has been going pretty good lately and everything has been going smoothly. Obviously, besides the crash from Unadilla [which cost him a second-moto DNF] – that set me back quite a bit. But other than that I’ve been happy with my season so far. I knew coming in I was going to be good. It’s the sand, and obviously with the rain it made it really tough the second moto, but I’m just really happy to get another overall win. We’ve still got two more races left, and obviously last year I finished second [in the 250cc championship], so for me, finishing second, third, fourth, or fifth is the same; I want to win a championship. At the moment, [teammate] Dean [Wilson] has been riding awesome and being the most consistent guy and that’s how you win championships – being consistent if not always the fastest. We’ve still got a lot of racing left to go, though; we’ve still got a hundred points and anything can happen.
Monster Energy: Did you learn sand in Europe or did you already know it a lot from growing up in South Africa?
Tyla Rattray: Oh, no, in South Africa we don’t even have sand. If we have sand it’s like a dust bath. Going over to Europe obviously lifted my sand skills quite a bit. Living in Belgium for eight years, that’s all we rode there was sand. So, I feel really comfortable riding in the sand. When I was down at Ryan [Villopoto]’s place in the summer, like, around Budds Creek, I was riding down there in the sand and I really enjoy riding in the sand. I definitely think it helps with corner speed and with your technique also when you come to hard-pack tracks. So, I really like riding the sand. Obviously, in California we don’t really have any sand there, so you’ve got to make due with what you have. They try to prep the tracks the best they can in California, and that’s what we get to ride on, which isn’t bad, but real sand is hard to find.
Monster Energy: Talk about that first moto and eventually losing it to a fellow South African.
Tyla Rattray: The first moto was going good, then I got into the lead and I was putting down some good laps, then I stalled the engine and bump-started it and then I think the fuel pump got a little bit flooded. I didn’t know what was going on. And then obviously it started, but I was wide open and it was bogging a bit. I don’t know what was going on. I thought maybe my bike was going to blow up or something like that. Then all of a sudden it became good again. So, that’s when Gareth [Swanepoel] passed me and then Dean [Wilson] also almost got by me. So, I think it was just that the bikes get really hot here, you know? Obviously, me stalling it and then obviously bump-starting it, I’m pretty sure it was the fuel pump. I didn’t know what was going on. For the second race, I was a little bit pissed off after the first race. I had problems with my goggles also and my suspension wasn’t working very well. The second race went way smoother. I got off to a good start and got into the lead, like, on the third lap and never looked back.
Monster Energy: You’re going to the Motocross of Nations, right?
Tyla Rattray: Yeah. Me and Gareth [Swanepoel] and Shannon [Terreblanche] are going to be racing the Motocross of Nations for South Africa.
Monster Energy: What class are you? Because you’re too old to race MX2 according to FIM rules, right?
Tyla Rattray: Yeah, I’m going to be in the MX1 class. I’ve been testing on my 450. Bones [Bacon] and Mitch [Payton, both of Pro Circuit] have got me an awesome 450 going. So, I’m looking forward to going to the Motocross of Nations and definitely racing it. It’s the biggest motocross event there is I think in the world. Just to be a part of it – going there, the experience of racing Motocross of Nations, racing for your country – it’s every kid’s dream to go out there and represent your country. I’m going to leave Monday after Pala. I’m looking forward to it, for sure.
Monster Energy: That’s a pretty strong team with the three of you, isn’t it?
Tyla Rattray: Yeah. Every year at the Motocross of Nations I always flake. But this year I’m going to keep working hard. After Pala, luckily, we don’t have any weekends off and I can keep the focus there. I’m going to keep riding. We fly on Monday, so when we get there we’ll probably ride our race bikes a little bit just to make sure everything is dialed in. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s definitely a race I want to do well at. I’ve got a lot of fans in France from when I was over there racing in Europe so I know it’s going to be kind of crazy, but I’m definitely looking forward to it.