Hey Rory, are you all packed up and ready to go home?
No! I still have to do a lot of things like clean the bike and things like that before I head back. I'm a last minute guy so I'll pack up things on Friday morning. I'm sure I'll be rushing to the airport late.
When are you leaving?
Leave Friday at 1p.m.
Good luck! Where have you been staying during the GNCC season?
I've been staying with Gretchen and JT. It's been great! When I first got here I was down South which was fun. It was just a couple young guys living in a house and racing dirtbikes. I came up here with JT and Gretchen and they've got Connor, which is a lot of fun. It was good because it was sort of like home. It had more of a homey feel. I didn't miss home so much when I was up here.
What's it like living so close to the team owners? Does it keep you on track with training?
Yeah, I'd say in a way it did. You couldn't just sort of sleep in! You had to show you were putting the effort in. I'm good at that anyways but it definitely helped.
I heard you're going to miss your BFF Connor the most.
(Laughs) That could be true. He was fun. It was pretty cool to have him around. He's only a couple months old but I got to watch him grow up and I never saw that before. I never sort of lived in the same house with a baby. It's amazing how fast they grow up.
Overall, how have you felt about your time here, and racing the GNCC series?
I had a lot of fun. I feel like I've learned so much. It's cool for me to see the series in real life. I've seen it in videos, but now I have a lot more respect for people who do it. You see everything involved and see what a big deal it is. I had heaps of fun here. Hopefully I can put that into next year.
You've also had a chance to race some OMA's. What was that like for you?
I raced two of those. I think I prefer the GNCCs more but I did one back when I first got here and I really enjoyed that one. I feel like I adapted to the GNCCs a little better than the OMAs.
Midway through your time here, you switched from XC1 to XC2, why did you decide to make that change?
It was probably because I felt like I was struggling with the tracks. There are so many riders going through during a weekend that I was finding it hard to read the lines. I found on the smaller bike I could change lines quicker. Thinking back, I should have probably stayed on the 450. I felt more comfortable on track with 250F, but I think I'd rather be back on the 450. I tend to ride up a gear and you can be a little smoother on it.
What was the competition like from XC1 to XC2? Did you see a few more battles?
The few races I did I found it was a little tighter in the racing. That's one of the good things I like about it. I wasn't being left behind too much.
Competitively, how is it compared to who you race against back home?
The riders here are a lot better. I've raced in a few countries and wherever you go there are people who are quicker but it's definitely a big jump coming here. Competition is pretty tight.
How is racing here different from what you're used to back home?
The tracks here are really rough. The land that we have in the forest and the trees are similar. But there are so many bikes, and so many lines, and the way the tracks are set up it's so different. In terms of conditions, it's all sort of similar.
Do you have a favorite track from this year?
Probably Millfield. I really liked St. Clairsville. Those tracks were pretty cool.
If there's something you could change about what you've done this season, what would it be?
I probably would have come over sooner! I would have come over at the start of the year.
What are you looking forward to most when you get back home?
Just being at home. I feel like I got a little burned out at the end of the season here. I went home and came back like three times and that took its toll. Just being home and having a break with the family and friends, just to relax and get the drive back again is what I'm looking forward to.
So, will we see you next season?
Ring up JT and ask him that! We've talked about it and stuff but I really hope so. I really enjoy it here and I've learned a lot. You aren't going to pick it up straightaway because the racing is quite a bit different. Hopefully someone gives me the opportunity to do a full season next year.
Well, Rory, have a safe trip home! Hopefully we'll see you next season!. Anything else you'd like to add?
I'd like to give a huge thanks to Gretchen and JT for taking me on like their son and looking after me. They're great.
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