Off the Groove

Caught up with this "radical racer" earlier this week. On his way down to Florida, with wife and child loaded in the van, we talked through his decision to run the in the AFT Singles class in 2018, the "joys" of a running his own privateer effort, and his expectations and goals for the upcoming season.

02:37 - talks about the 2017 season & his mindset heading into 2018

04:22 - talks about his decision to run the AFT Singles class in 2018

05:27 - talks about selling his Twins and his Singles racing program

07:32 - “Pink toolbox & a borrowed van”

09:20 - talks about putting his Singles program together for 2018

09:50 - talks about new mechanic, Robby Bobby

10:50 - talks about his offseason training w/ riders

12:10 - “Old man by two days…”

14:11 - talks about his competition for the upcoming season

15:37 - Mama Tried talk and concrete racing

16:38 - talks about racing Jared Mees on concrete

18:42 - talks TT racing

22:08 - talks differences between Singles/Twins riders

23:11 - “Singles could be the premiere class…”

24:51 - “A lot of these racers are robots…”

25:48 - talks about his 4-part series for Cycle World

30:27 - talks about racing his sister, Shayna

33:32 - talks about the Philadelphia Eagles & love for all sports

Caught up with one of the most entertaining tandems in the AFT Singles class, Jesse Janisch and Morgen Mischler, or as we call them, Team MJGR. We talked about ice racing, the teams highs and lows from the 2017 season, their super secret team radio communication set-up during races, and plans for the 2018 season.

01:06 - MJGR intro

02:30 - You guys both ice race don’t you?

05:58 - How Jesse Janisch got into racing flat track

08:15 - Merg’s background

10:58 - “When Merg met Jesse”

12:36 - What is M-J-G-R?

14:14 - Talks of racing inside Daytona International Speedway

17:32 - Thoughts on round 2 in Atlanta

19:20 - Thoughts on racing in Charlotte

21:00 - Jesse talks about frustration with coming second to Hayden Gilliam

22:32 - Talks of racing in OKC

23:26 - “We may or may not have radios inside out helmets…”

27:25 - The guys talk Buffalo Chip

29:03 - Talks of the Black Hills event

30:47 - Jesse talks about winning Peoria

32:34 - Merg talks about his 2nd place finish at the Springfield short track

34:51 - Talking Texas

36:58 - Jesse talks about running a full season in 2018

37:21 - Are you guys satisfied with your 2017 season?

38:04 - Whats the deal with the floral?

38:56 - What are you guys doing to prepare for 2018?

39:57 - Do you guys do any training?

40:49 - Jesse shares a funny story from Kentucky

42:30 - If you were in charge, what would be the first thing you would change?

Caught up with Brandan Bergen, tuner for Brad Baker. While 2017 was his first season with Indian Motorcycle, this guys is no stranger to flat track and turning wrenches. We walk through his transition from rider to tuner, his return to flat track, and his roller coaster 2017 season.

📸 Fernando CM

01:06 - Bergen intro

02:35 - Bergen backstory

03:20 - Riding for and working with Johnny Gode and Dave Zanotti

07:20 - Discussion about Brandan tuning sprint cars for World of Outlaws

12:22 - Bergen talks about how his opportunity with Indian Motorcycle began

16:40 - Talks about going to events in 2016 to work with Brad

17:34 - Talks about knowledge learned from Sprint Car racing that applies to motorcycle racing

20:19 - Thoughts once Brad went down in the inaugural Daytona event

22:04 - Thoughts coming out of the second event in Atlanta

23:16 - Talks of issues in Charlotte

27:41 - “I remember being very angry…”

33:43 - Takes the blame for Lima

39:07 - Talks of challenges at the Buffalo Chip event

43:35 - Discusses Brad’s training incident leading into Texas

47:10 - How did you guys make the call to have Larry Pegram in Brad’s place?

48:02 - Talks about finding out about Brad’s incident

50:04 - How was it working with Larry Pegram?

52:05 - How did you guys settle on Vanderkooi riding the bike for Perris, CA?

56:30 - “I think people are gonna see a brand new Brad Baker in 2018”

57:50 - What is your favorite part of being a mechanic?

1:01:23 - What advice would you give to up-and-coming racers?

Made a call across the pond and caught up with Oliver Brindley prior to his 19th birthday. We talked about how he got into motorcycles, his 2017 season, and how he plans to build upon his successful first full season racing in the AFT Singles class.

OLIVER BRINDLEY

01:06 - Oliver intro

01:55 - Quick get-to-know Old

02:41 - What have you been doing since you went back to England?

04:00 - When did you first get into motorcycles?

05:00 - Differences in racing England/US

05:43 - Talks of his father racing side-cars

06:48 - Oli talks of taking notes after each session

08:42 - What made you want to come race flat track in the US?

10:38 - Talks about his first time coming to the US to race flat track

13:00 - Talks about buying Bryan Smith’s bike & help from others in the pit area

14:45 - Talks about racing in Daytona

16:03 - Oli’s suggestions for possible changes to Daytona TT for 2018

18:03 - Talks of issues at Springfield TT

18:58 - Talks about reason he was unable to start his bike during Red Mile semi

19:18 - OFF THE GROOVE!!!

20:50 - Talks of racing in Oklahoma and Lima

21:44 - Talks about racing inside the Buffalo Chip and Sturgis bike week

23:38 - “I love that track, Black Hills…”

24:25 - Had you ever raced Peoria before racing there last year?

25:22 - What type of changes would you make for yourself before Peoria 2018?

26:55 - Talks of racing Springfield short track

28:10 - Thoughts on the 2017 season and goals for 2018

32:17 - What does the Superprestigio to you?

33:14 - “The nicest place I’ve been was __________”

34:00 - Oli talks about his favorite non-sanctioned events of 2017

36:03 - “Its Brilliant” (Oli’s statement when asked why race flat track in the US)

36:50 - Talks about his flat track hero, Chris Carr

39:35 - The New Oli/Deubler Deal

Caught up with Jeffrey Carver Jr. a few weeks back, prior to him announcing his partnership with Indian Motorcycle. We talked through his 2017 season, his relationship with tuner Ben Evans, and get to know the rider behind what is shaping up to be one of the most interesting privateer racing efforts for 2018.

01:06 - Carver intro

01:48 - Carver talks yoga and how it benefits his program

03:57 - Carver tells us what he’s been up to since Perris, CA

06:15 - Carver’s thoughts on 2017 Daytona TT

09:03 - What changes would you make to the track in Daytona?

10:30 - Carver talks battery issues in Arizona

13:22 - Carver talks of brake issues and “parachuting” in Kentucky

14:08 - Van issues leading into OKC

15:32 - Carver’s thoughts on podium finish at Lima

17:31 - Carver talks about the first time he met Brad Baker

19:00 - Carver’s thoughts on transitioning from Singles to Twins class

21:53 - Carver’s thoughts on the Buffalo Chip

23:52 - Carver talks about the week leading up to his 1st Twins win in Texas

27:07 - Talks of Perris and momentum heading into the off-season

30:39 - Carver explains how he hooked up with tuner, Ben Evans

33:53 - “…and feel it from the ass…”

35:19 - Talks to TT issues in 2017 & plans to improve on TT races in 2018

37:43 - Thoughts on winning on a Harley-Davidson in Texas

38:51 - “in another 20 years, I think an XR could still come out & win a national.”

39:59 - Deubler gets funky on a guitar solo…

Caught up with #14 Briar Bauman about a month ago, prior to him receiving the news he'd be competing in the 2017 Superprestigio in Spain. We talked about his 2017 season, what he has been up to since the finale, and plans for the 2018 season.

01:06 - Briar intro

01:50 - What have you been up to since the end of the 2017 season?

02:22 - Briar talks of his 2nd passion, hunting

05:06 - Thoughts on racing in the inaugural Daytona TT

06:15 - Issues in Daytona

08:05 - Any ideas for changes this year for Daytona?

11:01 - Do you stay and watch after mechanicals?

12:34 - Talks race in Charlotte on the XR-750

13:40 - Explains Sacramento mechanical…1/2 master clip + tire = 1 lucky Briar!

15:40 - Talks about troubles in Springfield

17:22 - Talks about struggling with mechanicals and the turning point of his season

19:34 - How’d you get good on the cushion? What were you thinking about heading into Lima?

20:33 - The Briar/Deubler Deal

21:17 - Talks about mindset after winning his first AFT Twins main event

23:51 - Thoughts on face-planting at the Buffalo Chip

25:32 - Thoughts during race-ending red flag at Buffalo Chip

28:00 - Thoughts on new jump and podium finish in Peoria

29:39 - Another podium in Williams Grove and thoughts on racing close to home

31:14 - Talks about finishing 10th at the season finale and going “all-in” in the final laps

32:31 - OFF THE GROOVE!!!!

33:05 - Talks about racing for Dave Zanotti Racing

34:40 - 2015 vs. 2017 seasons

36:22 - Talks of working with working with Dave Zanotti and Michelle DiSalvo

39:20 - Plans and goals for 2018

41:24 - Joking with Jared Mees…”he was a choke artist”