Seat Time | A Dirt Bike Podcast

Josh Strang came to the United States from Australia in 2006 to see if he could make a career in GNCC racing. Twenty years later, he is a GNCC Champion, longtime factory off-road racer, Beta team manager, dad, and is heading to his tenth ISDE appearance for Australia.

We talk about his early GNCC years, learning the tracks and endurance needed to compete in the U.S., the 2010 championship, injuries, WORCS, and what keeps bringing him back to the ISDE. We also get into Beta’s new 350 RX two-stroke and where Josh thinks the big-bore two-stroke fits for local racing, Sprint Enduros, and Six Days.

Josh is honest about reaching the 20-year mark and figuring out what is next. We talk about still enjoying racing, finding value beyond results as a team manager and ambassador, and raising his boys around dirt bikes without making it all too serious.

Need an easy way to carry fuel or fluids at the track? Check out the Utility Can Caddy on eBay.

Enjoy #GettingSeattime🤘🏻🤙🏻⚡️ 

Support the show

Jhak Walker is having a strong 2026 season, and I got a chance to catch up with him after his Pro 2 win at the Rhode Island National Enduro.

We talk about the deep rocks, rain, ruts, technical hills, and wild conditions he dealt with in Rhode Island, where he swept all six Pro 2 tests and won one test outright. We also discuss his first-ever National Enduro overall victory at the Barbed Wire National Enduro, where Jhak became the first Pro 2 racer to take an overall win.

Jhak breaks down what has changed in his riding this year. We talk about not overriding the track, looking ahead, hitting marks, using your legs more, working on form, and why sometimes riding with intent is more productive than simply trying to go faster.

We also get into his pre-race warm-up routine, how he approaches the first test of the day, the mental side of racing, managing expectations after a big win, and why he likes racing the Beta 250 RR two-stroke.

Need an easy way to carry fuel or fluids at the track? Check out the Utility Can Caddy on eBay.

Thanks to Jhak for coming on the show. Enjoy getting seat time.

Support the show

Ken Roczen posted a reel of himself doing normal, unglamorous strength training. No BOSU balls, and none of the sport-specific fluff we're all used to seeing. So I had to bring on Ben Greenwood, founder of Race Ready Offroad Coaching, to break down why that clip mattered so much to him. Ben's been coaching off-road racers for almost a decade now, and he doesn't sugarcoat it. Most of us skip the boring fundamentals because they don't look cool on Instagram, and then we wonder why our bodies fall apart by our thirties.

We get into it all, man. Why an eight-week program is basically a joke when you actually do the math on how many times you touch a barbell. His own back locking up at 30 years old and thinking his racing career was over. How a "qualified" nutritionist almost sent him into the ground chasing a keto diet while he was training like a maniac. And since he flew out to the States earlier this year, we compare GNCC to Australian off-road racing, why you can actually walk out and watch your rider on track over here but not over there, and we go down the Josh Strang and Shane Watts rabbit hole because I had to ask who the greatest Aussie export to make it in America really is.

If you're a vet rider just trying to keep riding your dirt bike without your body falling apart, this one's for you. Go follow Ben on Instagram at @offroadperformancecoach and check out Race Ready Offroad Coaching if you want to actually build a program instead of guessing. If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a review, it really helps more riders find us. Enjoy getting seat time and we'll see you next episode.

Need an easy way to carry fuel or fluids at the track? Check out the Utility Can Caddy on eBay.

Support the show

Ricky Russell “retired” from pro racing at the end of 2025 and moved back home to Washington, but he’s somehow busier – and faster – than ever. In this episode we talk about how less pressure and more fun turned into him leading J Day Off Road GPs on a used Kawasaki he bought off Nick DeFeo, then flying back West to win AMA West Hare Scrambles rounds and stack NORCS overalls on a Lynnwood Motoplex / Team Green KX450X. It’s a wild contrast: day job, new baby on the way, and still showing up to beat guys who are actually chasing championships.

We get into how Ricky found his way back to the East Coast for J Day, what it’s like lining up at iconic venues like Bostwick Creek and Budds Creek, and how the viral FPV drone clips barely keep up with him through the woods. Then we talk West Coast: Timber Beast, The Great Escape in Washington, and the kind of late‑race pass on Mateo Oliveira that proves he didn’t lose anything when he stepped away from full‑time GNCC and National Enduro racing.

Even with a few technical glitches, we still dive into GNCC‑style pit stops, hydration and nutrition, and what Ricky likes in his pit bottles – including when he reaches for a Coke for that last‑lap push. We wrap it up by talking about him becoming a dad, why being intentional with your time matters, and how I’m juggling my own recovery from a 50‑mile ultra and back issues while still trying to get more seat time.

Need an easy way to carry fuel or fluids at the track? Check out the Utility Can Caddy on eBay.

Enjoy #GettingSeattime & Stay #Stoked! 🤘🏻🤙🏻⚡️ 

Support the show

Eight‑time National Enduro Champion Mike Lafferty joins Brian to kick things off with old‑school timekeeping enduros, why he believes the restart format “saved” national enduro, and how NEPG‑era changes grew rider numbers and simplified the sport. They move into how reading trail shaped his speed, what GNCC taught him about real race pace, and the timekeeping tricks, route sheets, and “race within the race” details he picked up from Alan Randt, Randy Hawkins, and his dad.

From there, Mike looks back on his 1997–2007 championship run, near‑miss titles decided by a single point, and the KTM years working side‑by‑side with Alan and Melissa Randt as his mechanic, agent, and de‑facto team. The conversation then shifts to bike choice and feel—why he’s always preferred 250s over 300 two‑strokes, how the KTM 400 four‑stroke changed his career, and how sprint enduro in the U.S. has helped riders better prepare for ISDE.

In the final part of the episode, they dig into the evolution from full‑wrap bark busters to modern flag handguards, Mike’s philosophy on plowing through trees versus steering around them, and his new chapter as a Sherco ambassador and East Coast sales manager, including why the mid‑size four‑stroke and carb’d two‑strokes grabbed his attention after knee replacement.
------

If this conversation resonates, share it with a riding buddy who takes racing (or themselves) a little too seriously, and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next Mindset of the Racer episode.

Support the show

Support the show

The Farm14 National Enduro was the ANEC's first attempt at a two-day enduro format. They split up the classes between Saturday and Sunday, as well as added in a few extra tests for the A racers. In this Seat Time Podcast Roundtable, we discuss if the format worked and if the racers are looking forward to another one. The guests in this episode are Ryan Moss, Liam Capodice, and John Yantek. Ryan and Liam were Saturday racers, while John was a Sunday racer. The Seat Time Host is of course Brian Pierce.

If you were at the American National Enduro Championship two-day enduro in Mississippi, what did you think of the enduro and Kevin Windam's property? Would you attend another one? Should this be the American National Enduro format for all races? What did we miss when it comes to progressing the national enduros here in America?

Support the show

In this episode of the Seat Time Podcast, Andrew Short joins me to talk about “throttle therapy” and why throwing a leg over a dirt bike can make everything else just disappear. We dig into how Enduro racing helps him reset his mind, what flow state really feels like, and why he thinks fun has to stay at the center of riding, even when the stakes are high.

Andrew also breaks down his go-to FX 350 setup, how he approaches nutrition and hydration as a lifestyle, and what it is really like navigating at rally speeds with Seth Quintero when big money is on the line. We get into parenting and moto, internal versus external motivation for kids, the pressure on today’s pros, and why the lack of young riders and club volunteers genuinely worries him.

If you love dirt bikes, Enduro, rally, or just need a reminder of why this sport grabs us so hard, this conversation with Andrew is a rad mix of honesty, perspective, and stoke that keeps building on the “fun program” idea we started with Ryan Sipes.

------

This is Mindset of the Racer – Episode 3, a 12‑episode 2026 series on the Seat Time podcast feed focused on the mental side of going faster, riding longer, and enjoying dirt bikes more.

If this conversation resonates, share it with a riding buddy who takes racing (or themselves) a little too seriously, and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next Mindset of the Racer episode.

Support the show

Trey Canard has broken just about everything you can on a dirt bike, retired young, and somehow found peace with it. In this conversation we talk injuries, identity, the Lawrence brothers, and what it really means to have a strong motocross mindset.

We cover:

• Retirement and identity: going from “I’m a dirt bike racer” to “I’m a human who rides dirt bikes” without feeling empty when racing stops.
• Injuries, trauma, and faith: spinal cord damage, compound fractures, therapy, shame, and why he says you don’t have to be defined by what happened to you.
• Failure and effort: why focusing on results held him back, how he learned to focus on effort, and what he wishes someone had told him earlier.
• Working with HRC & the Lawrences: what he’s learning from Jett, Hunter, Chance and Joe about failure, persistence, and playing the long game.
• The “complete athlete”: why cookie‑cutter programs, short‑term thinking, and “you’re only as good as your last race” are hurting riders.

If you’ve ever been hurt, burnt out, or felt like results are the only thing that matter, this episode is for you.

------

This is Mindset of the Racer – Episode 3, a 12‑episode 2026 series on the Seat Time podcast feed focused on the mental side of going faster, riding longer, and enjoying dirt bikes more.

If this conversation resonates, share it with a riding buddy who takes racing (or themselves) a little too seriously, and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next Mindset of the Racer episode.

Sponsor Links:

• BikeGraphix: Fully Custom Bike Graphics, 15% off w/ code seat15.
• Two Sponsor Spots Left (Please reach out)

Episode Links:

• Trey Canard TedTalk

Support the show

Most racers try to fix their problems by just riding more, swapping parts, or blaming “arm pump,” but never really look at their weakest links. In this episode of Seat Time, former factory pro and Troll Training coach Alex Martin breaks down why your real gains probably aren’t on the track, and how to build the aerobic base, strength, and fueling habits that actually move the needle on race day.

We dig into:

• Why the “ride more” mentality holds most riders back and how periodizing your year (strength, cardio, sprint, technique phases) unlocks real progress.
• How to honestly identify weaknesses you’ve been avoiding (starts, sprint speed, technique, fitness) and bake them into your weekly routine without killing the fun.
• Trusting the bike: understanding setup limits, making smart changes, and taking responsibility instead of blaming suspension, engines, or frames.
• Arm pump fixes that go beyond gimmicks: strength, aerobic fitness, technique, bike setup, and the mental side of pushing past your usual practice intensity.
• Alex’s “big 5” strength moves for riders (deadlifts, single‑leg work, squats, and key upper‑body presses) and why dumbbells often beat machines.
• Using wearables (Whoop, Oura, Garmin) and blood work the right way—getting helpful data without letting HRV scores or recovery numbers wreck your head.
• Practical race‑day and training‑day nutrition: carbs per hour, sodium, training your gut, and simple rules so normal humans can fuel like serious racers.
• Why investing in quality food, sleep, and long‑term health is one of the most underrated performance upgrades in dirt biking.

This is Mindset of the Racer – Episode 2, a 12‑episode 2026 series on the Seat Time podcast feed focused on the mental side of going faster, riding longer, and enjoying dirt bikes more.

If this conversation resonates, share it with a riding buddy who takes racing (or themselves) a little too seriously, and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next Mindset of the Racer episode.

Sponsor Links:

• Koch Consulting Firm - Claim Consultants and a Licensed Public Adjuster
• Two Sponsor Spots Left (Please reach out)

Episode Links:

• The Ride More Mentality
• Troll Training

Seat Time exists to keep you stoked on two wheels! We create entertaining and educational content to get your prepared for the single track, and keep you riding longer once on the bike.🤘🏻🤙🏻⚡️ 

Support the show

Tyler Baumann is the younger brother to Mathew Baumann, and it sounds like they have an awesome 2026 lined up. Tyler shares how they plan to tackle the 2026 US Hard Enduro Series, as well as a few hard enduro suspension setups tricks I hadn’t heard before. We look forward to seeing which brother comes out on top in Johnson Valley.

These King of the Motos preview interviews are to try and build hype around the 2026 King of the Motos and the US Hard Enduro Series. Share with your riding buddies so they can enjoy the good times while listening or watching. 

Sponsor Links:

• Motorcycles & Coffee

Seat Time exists to keep you stoked on two wheels! We create entertaining and educational content to get your prepared for the single track, and keep you riding longer once on the bike.🤘🏻🤙🏻⚡️ 

Support the show