Tuesday Toolbox with ....
Scott Watkins!
Scott Watkins is officially on the GNCC map, with a big win in the XC2 Lites class over the weekend. The 24-year old Ohio talent is the first non-veteran, as we say, to win a race in the XC2 class, after ISDE Junior Trophy Champion Kurt Caselli won the first two rounds, and Rodney Smith won round three. Now Scott is a true title contender with the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Fred Andrews Racing Kawasaki team. Here's more info on him.
So Scott, what do you do on a random Tuesday at 11:24 in the morning?
Nothing much, just wash some gear and unload the trailer. Just winding down after the race.
Is Monday just travel day?
Sunday we get home so late that Monday is just lay around day, watching DVD's, eating lunch, thinking about the weekend. Then Tuesday is back in action slowly
 Scott at the Big Buck. Jason Hooper photo |
You will not have time to ride today or workout or anything just cleaning
bikes?
No I probably won’t ride today, I’ll just ride my Aerodyne.
Does that get some soreness out?
Yes. Right now, I am a little worn out to be honest with you.
Well that’s okay, that was a hard race! We were watching it closely, and it was one heck of a battle.
That was a fun race. Me Josh, Thad, Rodney we all rode together. It was an awesome race.
First of all you got the horrible start sort of the same thing Knight did. And you came all the way back to win. That's got to be a confidence booster.
Yeah. Coming from dead last like that, I knew I had my work cut out for me, but I knew if I did not make as many mistakes as they did and rode hard I would pull it out. I knew I had the heart to do it.
On the podium you were talking about the off season training, and you mentioned Freddy being pretty tough on you guys. Is it so grueling that it goes beyond fun?
No, and I think for what we do, I don't think it should go beyond fun. I think this sport should always be fun for the rider. For me it is always is. Fred always pushes us, he just wants us to do our best.
 The FAR team in their best Florida duds. Jeff Kardas photo |
Well the team is kind of stacked. Kawasaki put a lot of eggs in to that basket for that class you Cole Calkins and PA Allen. At the beginning of the year I am sure you did not know where you were going to stand. But now you’re kind of taking control of it now; you’re moving up in the points and you got that win. Do you feel like you got some pressure because this is a whole new idea for this team to run this new class?
It is an experimental class, and our team is pretty new with Fred going into his second year. The whole class itself is something I'm not use to. I can only hope it gets bigger and better. As for Fred's team, we all work together well.
I always point out that you are the college student among the racers. Talk about how your
schedule has changed, and what it was like the past few years trying to do this racing thing and go to school at the same time.
When I was going to school full time, in college taking mid-term exams and worrying about racing next Sunday and having a project to finish, I think that was the toughest time for me ever in racing. Now that it's over, I'm happy knowing I have a back up plan. I think I'm doing well right now, but I am going to get old sometime and not be able to race!
It sounds like those guys were real patient with you. You were with Team Green for awhile and you were with Freddy last year. They kind of understood they could wait on you, and in the future you will come around.
 Watkins finished eighth overall at the Big Buck. Jeff Kardas photo |
Yeah, Kawasaki has always treated me well. I have nothing but good things to say about them. They knew that school is important to me, and I pretty much told them I wanted a degree and they said that's fine, just keep your racing important to you, too. I always have and been lucky to balance those two.
What is your degree in?
Business marketing.
Where do you ride this time of year? It seems like everyone is moving down to North Carolina. I think it would be hard to ride in Ohio this time of year.
Ohio weather this time of year has been terrible. I think they even said they have snow back home. I have been at P.A. Allen's house near Loretta Lynn's. That’s where I am right now.
When's the last time you have been home?
I left the day after New Year's and haven't been home since. I have been on the road a little while.
Well you have to be motivated this year. You’re out of school, you’ve got a factory ride, and you’re racing a Pro class. Now you have the opportunity to win a high profile Championship with at team. How much harder are you working this year?
This year it is everything I have. That's why I haven't been home. It's a premiere Pro class, and I am going to put everything I have into it. I don't want to say at the end of the year I wish I would have done this I wish I would have done that. I am just going to put everything I have into it, and I feel like that is what I am doing now just riding road bicycles, air dine, working out riding it's all about racing, and also having fun.
 Can Scott become the first ever XC2 Lites Champion? Jeff Kardas photo |
What about four strokes? People worry about the reliability not being there, and this race was a little bit muddy. Did you guys have any issues at all?
No, our bikes have been awesome all year. Joey Mauer my mechanic has got the bike working awesome. With the four strokes in the mud, who knows, really? On Sunday the bike ran awesome for a mud race.
How about dealing with good old Rodney Smith in there?
Yeah, he has a lot of championships, and he’s a great, smart, smooth rider. But it seems funny to see him in an up and coming pro and amateur class.
Well, he told me Sunday morning that he will not race the whole series, and he gets no bonuses and has no championship aspirations. But either way, you managed to beat him on Sunday, anyway.
Yeah, he went down hard once, and I actually had to stop and ask if he was okay, because it was a bad crash. Then he actually came back from that and passed me. Then on the white flag lap, he got stuck and I got right around him. I guess I just didn’t make as many mistakes, and it paid off.
It’s cool what you said about being the first true Lites guy to win that class. There’s a great group of young talent in there, with you Cole and PA on your team, and Thad, Williamson, there’s a lot of guys.
Yeah, our class is real tough. Thad is real quick. I know Cole has had some trouble with his hands, and PA has some back problems right now, but those guys work hard. It was a real honor to be the first non veteran pro to win one.
Do you have any strategy to win this championship?
Every weekend I want to win, and I also want to stay safe and stay healthy. You’re always upset with yourself to not win a race, but at the same time, when you look back and you’re healthy and have good points, you can smile.
Good luck.
Thanks.
