Photos by: Brian Robinette
Once again MotoXAddicts has gotten in touch with one of the best stories in Supercross. Tyla Rattray has been a professional MX racer since he left South Africa to pursue his dreams of being a World Champion. After leaving home at a young age, Tyla compiled a resume that any racer would be proud of complete with AMA 250 National Outdoor race wins, AMA SX podium finishes, many GP wins and a MX2 World Title in Europe.
Tyla came to America in 2009 to contest the Outdoor National Championship, but since arriving in the States has had a long list of injuries that have kept him from a SX championship. This year is the first year that Tyla has been healthy for SX and, other than his DNS at Anaheim II, he has done better than most probably expected he would. In five starts this season, Tyla has landed on the podium twice, with a third at the opener in Anaheim and a solid second place behind Eli Tomac in San Diego.
Being a huge GP fan, I was thrilled when Tyla announced his plans to come to the States. I met Tyla in San Diego and was even more pumped that he agreed to do an “Inside Story” interview about his whole career. Here’s how our conversation went:
First off, Tyla, we all know you’re from South Africa, but where are you living now?
I live in Wildomar, California right now. It’s where a lot of Supercross and motocross guys live. It’s perfectly central to everything I need for racing and is right in between two big airports for travel. It’s also great for training and flying to races, and there are SX tracks all around.
How do you like SX so far?
I’m really enjoying the new challenge. I would have liked to come to America when I was a lot younger, but my goal from the beginning was to win a World Title in Europe before I came over here. I managed to win the World Championship in 2008 and got signed to Mitch Payton’s Pro Circuit team.
Yeah, if you’re coming to the States to race Mitch is not a bad guy to have backing you. (Laughs)
Yeah, it is the best team to be on, especially being new to SX. We have great bikes, and everyone works hard. It’s really been awesome. SX has been a great experience. This SX season has been a little bit of a rough road with injuries here and there, but I’ve been happy and on the podium in a couple races. I need to try to stay healthy during the break and get through the last three SX’s healthy as well. After that, I’m really looking forward to the outdoor series.
Did you practice much SX back home in South Africa or in Europe at all while you were there?
In Europe, they really don’t have any SX tracks at all. Maybe in France there are some or if you have your own piece of property, but other than that there’s not much that I know of. I did ride a little bit of SX back home in South Africa, but they were not full on SX tracks like you have here in America. The South African-style SX is a challenge, but tracks are really mellow. Jumps aren’t real big like they are here; if you case or come up short on some, you’re not going to kill yourself like you might here.
Did you race any of the European off-season stuff at all like Bercy or Genoa SX races while the GP’s were on break?
Yeah, my first professional SX in a stadium was Bercy SX in 2001, and I actually surprised myself by doing pretty good. I thought I would be worse than I was, but I did pretty well. I finished sixth—or something like that—which was a surprise.
Was 2001 your first year over in Europe?
No, 2000 was my first year. I was fourteen, so when I raced Bercy, I was fifteen.
So you have been away from home since you were 14? Wow!
Yeah, it’s definitely been tough—especially in the beginning—coming over and getting used to the different cultures, weather and tracks. It was tough, but when I got to Europe I just put my head down and charged. I really wanted a World Championship after watching fellow countryman Albee (Greg Albertyn) win it two times, and in 2000—when I came over—Grant Langston won it. I really wanted to win a GP World Championship like them, then come to America and win a Championship.
That’s awesome. Half your goal is accomplished with your 2008 MX2 World Title on your resume.
It’s the only reason I’m here. The only way I was coming to America was if I won one, and I managed to do it 2008.
We’re happy to have you. I’m a big GP fan and love it when riders from Europe pack up and give the AMA series a shot. I knew you were either moving up to MX1—the 450 class—with the new rule in the GP’s or heading over here. Do you plan on moving up to the 450 or do you consider yourself a 250 specialist?
I would love to race the 450’s outdoors sometime soon, but I would like to get a little more experience in SX on the Lites bike before I move up. Obviously, being on Mitch’s Pro Circuit team I have to race 250’s because they’re a 250 team, but my goal is to get on the 450’s outdoors soon. I think I’ll do really well in the outdoor series on the big bike. Right now, I’m not signed for 2012, so I’ll look at the deals and offers I get and do the best thing for me that comes up.
Nice, I think a lot of fans are looking forward to seeing you on a big bike outdoors. Speaking of outdoors, will anything other than winning the 2011 AMA 250 outdoor National Championship make you happy? I saw you in the pits in San Diego and first thing that came to mind was how fit you looked.
For sure, that’s my goal! I’m there for the National Championship, and that’s the plan. Outdoor MX is for me. It has been my life. My fitness is good, the team’s been working really hard with me, so I think it’s going to be a good season. I see no reason why I can’t win the Outdoor National Championship this season. I finished 2nd last year to Trey Canard, had some great races, was on the podium a bunch of times and won two Nationals. I just have to pick up where I left off last year and go for the win in every moto I race.
Are you planning on getting some outdoor testing done during the seven-week break in SX?
I start doing some outdoor testing this week, and then go watch the Daytona SX and hang out in Florida little bit, then do some more testing when I get home. But after all that, we still have a SX season to finish, so I’ll get back to SX testing three weeks before Seattle. There are a few things as far as SX goes that I want to test to see if I can get my bike better. We have a great bike already, but we can always make it better.
So going into the last three SX races, do you think you can get a win in one or more of them? You’re going to have to get in the middle of your teammates’ points battle to do it.
Yeah, both of my teammates are riding really well at the moment, and it’s not easy to win a SX. That’s for sure. It’s definitely going to be hard. SX is all about getting a good start and putting your head down for fifteen laps. If I can do that, I have a good chance.
So did Hanny send you a thank you card for holding off Tickle in San Diego? (Laughs) That was big for Hanny in the grand scheme of things.
Obviously, Hanny is riding with a broken hand and Tickle is healthy, but for how hurt Hanny is he road great—getting sixth—and got some good points. I’m sure Hanny will get healthy in this seven-week break we have, and they should have a great battle till the end.
I think you may have surprised a few people the way you yourself rode through your injury in San Diego. You had your best finish in a Main Event with a 2nd. Did the rain suit you nicely?
The track was actually really good considering the weather. The Dirt-Wurx guys did an incredible job of covering and getting it ready. I thought it was going to be a lot wetter than it actually was. When the rain wasn’t coming down, the track was good with nice ruts coming out of every turn. Then the rain would come and make it slippery again. Overall, though, the track was good. Not like a normal SX, but other than some ruts and stuff it was really good.
I noticed you missed Anaheim II this year. What exactly was the injury that kept you from racing?
I crashed on press day and damaged my back. I was just riding the track for the press, hit a little kicker and went flying over the handlebars. After it happened, I was getting back spasms and needed to pull out of the race and rest my back till the spasms stopped. I managed to get ready before San Diego, but it’s still not 100%. I think it’s going to take some time to get back to 100%. I can still ride and train, and we have seven weeks off, so I can get back to 100% before Seattle, Salt Lake and Vegas.
On another note, congrats are in order on the new baby girl! How’s being a new dad treating you?
It’s been awesome. Definitely been different. You can’t just pick up and leave when you want to anymore. (Laughs) You actually have to plan your day around the baby and what you want to do. It has been a lot of fun leaning everything, while watching her grow and develop.
It sure is life changing. They say having a kid takes two seconds per lap off your lap-times, and I have a few girls, so you can imagine how slow I am now. Do you think it will effect your riding at all?
(Laughs) No, it hasn’t affected me. I have a great wife that understands that racing is obviously our life and pays the bills. I try to spend as much time with her as I can. When I’m not out training or at the track, I am always at home with her. I love to just chill out at home with her, but I can’t spend a lot of time during the day with her. During the daytime, I’m always out riding, training or just busy doing something racing related. Especially on the weekends I don’t get to see her much, with traveling and the races taking up all my time. It’s definitely tough at times, but motocross provides and pays the bills, and it’s not forever. I got to do the best I can while I’m still young, and once racing is over I can be with her a lot more.
I bet your little girl will be proud one day to know her pops was a World Champion.
Right now, she just knows I’m Dad, nothing about motorcycles, but I’m sure in time she’ll realize her dad races motor-bikes and has to go away on the weekends, and when Daddy does good he comes home with a new toy. (Laughs)
Well, that’s all I got for you, Tyla. MotoXAddicts really appreciates you doing this. Good luck in the remainder of 2011, indoor and out. Anyone you would like us to thank for you?
No problem, Dan. Thanks for the call. As far as thanks go, I’d like to thank the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team, Parts Unlimited, Thor, Vans, Volcom, Traxxas, of course, my parents, my family and especially all the fans.
Be sure to follow Tyla Rattray on Twitter at @tylarattray. Also, follow @dandunes818 and @MotoXAddictscom for any and all racing news and info.
