In the United Kingdom, this Kiwi rider is the national motocross champion. In the United States, he’s seemingly just another ace, clicking off fast laps at SoCal MX tracks like Pala, Lake Elsinore, and Perris.
To say Monster Energy-backed REVO Seven Kawasaki racer Dylan Walsh is ‘living the dream’ is pretty spot on and, although British-born he has spent more than half his life as a nationalised New Zealander and even represented the tiny South Pacific island nation at the Motocross of Nations in The Netherlands in 2019.
Like many racers not born and bred to rip ‘n shred in the US, it is a dream to line up at Anaheim’s Angels Stadium for a Monster Energy AMA Supercross main event.
With the grit and determination associated with being a champion, along with experience banging bars numerous times at hallowed amateur US MX grounds such as Loretta’s, the Mini Os, Freestone, and Daytona, plus several years of high-level MXGP experience to further sharpen his skills, New Zealander Walsh has made his move, pulled up the stakes, gave ‘er the berries and jumped the pond into the US supercross scene.
And not only did he stick the landing, but did so with an entire team of Brits in tow.
Having seen a flicker of his talent early on at Millsaps Training Facility, Walsh actually toured the United States on his own, as a 16-year-old kid, spending a year there.
Then, in 2016, when he finished just off the podium (4th) at Las Vegas’ Monster Energy Cup, behind notable racers Cameron McAdoo (now with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) and Garrett Marchbanks, Walsh was definitely on the industry insider’s radar.
He placed 11th in San Diego’s 250 class main event a week ago, reminding everyone of his speed and potential.
How’s it been getting adjusted to sunny southern California? Bit of a departure from winter in the UK, which is summer in New Zealand. Where are you from?
Hey mate, yeah the California winter really isn’t winter. It feels like a summer’s day in the UK. But we’ve been loving it so far! Good tracks, good food, and good people, what more could you ask for?
I was actually born in London but moved to New Zealand when I was three and spent my whole childhood there until I turned 15. So that’s where the confusion comes from as I hold two passports.
You’re not necessarily a stranger to supercross, having raced the Monster Energy Cup back in 2016, coming close to a podium (4th) that featured Cameron McAdoo (now with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) and Garrett Marchbanks (ClubMX/Yamaha). Was eventually lining up in the main event at Monster Energy AMA Supercross always a goal of yours?
Yeah, obviously racing the Monster Energy Cup in 2016 in the amateur all-star class was a huge eye-opener.
I think I was only 1 or 2 points off the podium in 4th place which was disappointing, but I was the last alternate so I was actually the last person invited.
I was stoked to prove some people wrong! But ever since I was a kid all I’ve ever wanted to race was supercross over here, so that trip just added more fuel to the fire!
Expand a bit on how you arrived here, putting together a team with Mark Yates and the REVO Seven Kawasaki program.
I’ve been with REVO Seven Kawasaki for a few years now, racing the MXGP season and the British championship.
So I’ve built a really good relationship with Mark and Sam Yates, which they’ve always known from the start that my dream is to race Monster Energy AMA Supercross.
So we had started talking midway through last year about doing it and bounced some ideas off each other, spoke to some of the team sponsors, and then before you know it they got a KX250F and started developing it. Everything from there moved quite quickly after that.
The Yates’ ended up buying a shipping crate and loaded it up with bikes, suspension, engines, and whatever else you could think of and just shipped it all over.
And just like that, you’re in the starting gate for Anaheim 1. You’ve put up some solid and improving results so far, including nearly cracking the top ten in the 250 Main this past weekend in San Diego. Is Monster Energy AMA Supercross everything you thought it’d be in terms of competition?
The whole supercross thing for me is a brand new challenge and we’ve been improving week by week. Obviously, last week just missing out on a top 10 in my 3rd ever supercross race was disappointing.
But then again, we showed positive steps in the right direction and with time we’ll get there! As for what it’s like, there isn’t anything to compare this to. The tracks are brutal, the competition is really tough and the all-day program is certainly different. But I’m loving the challenge and hopefully, I’ll get to do more in the years to come.
You’ve made two of three main events thus far, but had a bit of a hiccup at Oakland – missing the last transfer spot out of the LCQ by a few 100ths. What did you learn from that race?
Oakland was a story and a half! After having a gun flashed at me while trying to get some dinner while getting from the hotel to the track and back was just a win.
No, but seriously, my riding in Oakland was already a big improvement from A1 and it was unfortunate that I missed out by 1 position in the heat race and the LCQ. But it showed me that I really have to be on my game when it comes to racing.
I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason and it showed the weekend later by getting into the main from my heat and getting my best main event finish.
Wait what, somebody flashed a gun at you in Oakland?
Yeah, I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and saw four blokes breaking into cars. And they saw me catch them!
Well, another reason to prove why you’re a badass. Rewinding a bit for the folks here in the States that may not be familiar with your name yet, how old were you when you got involved with motocross? At what age did you, and your parents, decide you had what takes to make it to the next level? And what sorts of aspects of racing on the MXGP tour, and British MX Championships have prepared you for Monster Energy AMA Supercross?
Well, I started riding when I was the age of 6 and then began to race when I was 7. Me and my dad spent almost every weekend going to rides or races, just trying to learn as much as we could.
I ended up becoming a multi-time UK National Champion, but it wasn’t until I was 15 that my dad decided if I wanted to make a job out of this sport and chase my dreams, I had to go overseas.
So I’m not sure if I was 15 or 16 at the time, but I set off for MTF (Millsaps Training Facility in Cairo, Ga.). I spent a couple of years racing the amateur scene there then I spent a couple of years in Europe doing the European championship before stepping up for the World Championship (MXGP).
The MXGPs are super gnarly in all aspects, but so is Monster Energy Supercross. But they are so far apart it almost feels like two different sports.
I just feel super privileged to be able to experience both sides. So for this season, I’ll be racing West Coast SX, some MXGPs, the British MX Championship, and hopefully a couple of Outdoor Nationals. I’ve got a lot on my plate so I’m just excited to learn as much as I can.
You’re based out of and training here in California, but brought an entire support team in from the UK. Talk about the guys you’ve surrounded yourself with, from Scott Breeda at MXology and Luke Humphries, your team mechanic. Anyone beyond that as well and what it means to have their support.
We are based out of Grindstone Training Compound while we are here. Cari and Brian (Schehr, owners of the popular Murrieta, Calif., MX training facility) have helped us out a lot so we’re super thankful for that.
We are a small team, but we all have the same love for the sport so it works really well. I have Mark Yates the team boss, Sam Yates the crew chief, Luke Humphries my training/ race mechanic. Scott Breeda (MXology) and Mark are the brains behind the engine development and Josh Pitts is the calibration guru.
This group have develop a stock KX250F engine in a couple months to give me a more than competitive bike, so I couldn’t be more thankful for them.
That’s quite the program! Outside of dirt bikes, what sort of other things do you enjoy doing? And being new to the States, and California, what things have you come to like – and what do you miss most from home?
Outside of dirt bikes I really don’t get a lot of free time. But when I do find some free time I’m a big coffee guy, so I like to find good coffee spots, explore the new cities/country’s we go to or just ride BMX.
Since being in California I’ve been loving the food and the weather! Plus how you literally have everything you need all so close rather than in the UK you need to drive so far to do anything.
Right on. Well, good luck to you the rest of the way here in supercross. We’re pumped for you and wish you the best, man.
Thank you. Monster’s been a great sponsor and a big part of us being able to make this happen.
Photo courtesy Monster Energy
Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here