Tuesday Toolbox: Cory Buttrick

Buttrick is back. After a bit of slow start to the 2010 season, Buttrick battled until the end with FMF Makita Suzuki's Josh Strang to make his first podium appearance since moving into the XC1 class after a successful 2009 season in XC2. Buttrick lets us in on what happened on that muddy Steele Creek hill, and how he's loving life on the 450.

Cory, you had an awesome run in North Carolina, I bet you are happy to see podium results. It definitely made my day. I wasn't very happy after Florida and Georgia.

You said you needed that finish in a bad way. You had an 8^th in Florida, and a 6^th in Georgia, how were you feeling coming into Steele Creek? Were you determined, frustrated? I would say determined is the best word. I was really focused, and I knew what I had to do. I knew I had to get a good start and get to the front as quickly as possible. It's important to be up there with the top train with Whibley, Mullins and Strang. Those guys separate themselves from the pack and I knew when I got with Strang I was good.

You were on fire at Steele Creek throughout that race, you were checking in pretty close behind Strang when I saw you in the pits. What was it like out there racing with him? It was really good, and at the beginning I could stay pretty close. I could make up time in those little tight sections and stuff. In the beginning of the race I could stay close, but when it was muddy I had to stay behind so I didn't get roosted. It seemed like every time I got new goggles I could catch up. It was a good feeling when I knew I was racing one of the best riders out there.

I think the big question out there right now is what the heck happened out there in the woods at that hill before the race was called? The people we were coming up behind were falling in ruts and getting stuck.  Strang got ahead a little bit, but when we got to the hill, he was still in front. I saw him go around the bend passing some lappers, and I knew the hill was going to be bad, because the lap before I had to get off and push. When I saw him sitting on the hill I knew for sure it was going to be bad but I was happy to have him in my sights. Then he shut off the bike, and walked down the hill. There were like 50 bikes on the hill. I was really mad because I didn't want anyone to catch us. I knew we were pulling a gap. I was like, this is terrible. It could have gone any way. There were a lot of spectators on the hill with radios and they told us not to move, that the race might be called. I wasn't going to move until Josh did. We sat there for a little while, and then Kailub pulled up next to me and was like, "What's going on?" Then I heard something about us regrouping at the top of the hill. Then the rest of the guys showed up about 100 yards behind us. We were getting all stacked up. Then Whibley just came up the hill and dropped into the rut and roosted us pretty well. Somehow he made it to the top and took off and then I was really starting to panic. I didn't know what to do.

Did you and Strang get to talk at all while you were out there?
We talked about how the race was going. Josh told me I was riding well and I told him he was too. I knew I was capable of riding like that. It felt good to be close to the front.

When the race was called and the scoring reverted to the 5^th lap, How did you feel when you found out that you had gotten second? I was really happy. We were up there on the hill for 10-15 minutes. I was tickled to death, I was so happy, I was thrilled.

I was telling your girlfriend, Mackenzie, that it must have given you some extra confidence to have her there. It was nice to see her back again! I was really happy she was there to see that. That was the second race she went to last year. I was happy she was there to support me and that I did well while she was there to see it.

How's the transition gone from XC2 to XC1? Well, at exactly this time last year, right before Steele Creek, I made a deal with my dad. I really wanted to get a 450 to start playing with. So he said if I won Steele creek he'd get me one. So I won, and I have been riding it ever since then. I spent a whole lot of time on it. I just fell in love with the bike. I felt so much better on it than on the 250F. I was a little too big for the 250F. It wasn't pulling me like it pulls Kailub. I'd been riding it, and at the start of this year, I was already so much happier riding the bike. Before Florida we had the set up ready but I had my own issues. I taped my hands and that didn't work, and I had the worst arm pump ever and I don't typically have those issues. I pulled the tape of my hands, and then I had the worst blisters ever.

In Georgia I had a really bad first lap, I lost the leaders and I didn't know the pace. Sometimes that's hard to figure out. Now I know what the pace is a little better now that I got to the front. I feel a lot better after North Carolina. It's nice to have that confidence now.

Now that you've got a good finish, you must feel pretty good about the Big Buck GNCC.
I'm looking forward to it, I know I need to get a pretty good start and get up to the front. I know I have to be up towards the front. I feel like it's really important to put yourself in a situation in the race to win and be with the top riders. I'm really happy with how I did. I want more rides like that. I'm going to put my head down and turning rides out like that.

Cory, it's always great talking to you. Thanks for taking some time out!

No problem, Rachel. Thanks!