Photo by: Simon Cudby

Heading into the 2015 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship series, there was a lot of excitement surrounding Red Bull/KTM’s Dean Wilson‘s rookie debut in the 450SX class. Unfortunately, after just three 450SX main events, Deano’s rookie Supercross season came to a premature ending with a practice crash and a torn ACL.

After tearing his ACL, Dean sent out a heartfelt message on Instagram that hinted towards ending his career due to the numerous injuries he’s had over the last few years. Since then, though, Deano has changed his tune and looks to be in full recover-to-get-back-to-racing mode. With that, we decided to give the Scottish-born Floridian a call to find out how his recovery is going and when we might see the former 250MX National Champion back on the starting line. You can hear what Dean had to say in his “Inside Story” interview below.

By now, most know you tore your ACL practicing earlier in the year. How’s the knee recovery coming along?

The knee is doing good. Just putting in a lot of therapy and stuff like that on it. I’m really happy with how my knee is feeling. I also had another surgery on my other knee just this last Friday because I had some loose cartilage and stuff that I needed cleaned up, so I got that done. So I’m pretty happy. I just wanted to get some things fixed that kind of bothered me when I was racing. Now that I have the time, it’s good to get it all done so that I’m 100% when I come back.

Deano debuted his new Red Bull/KTM 450 at the Red Bull Straight Rhythm event in October of 2014. Photo by: Devin Davis
Deano debuted his new Red Bull/KTM 450 at the Red Bull Straight Rhythm event in October of 2014. Photo by: Devin Davis

What’s the timeframe right now on getting back on a bike, being able to work out? I know you can do light stuff.

The basic timeframe for ACL—I blew my ACL and MCL—is six months. We’re not even at the 3-month mark yet. Really all I can do is train and go to therapy and do the best I can to make it be a shorter recovery. At the same time, I’m not going to rush it because I don’t want to come back and injure it. That would be pretty devastating. Just want to get to 100%, and that’s my main focus.

 

I saw yesterday, or maybe even today, you tweeted or Instagrammed a picture of “The Man” [Team Manager Roger Decoster] deep in thought. How’s he taking the injury?

Unfortunately, it’s motocross; you never know what can happen, and everybody just wants me to get healthy and get back at it. That’s pretty much my main focus. Yeah, Roger and everybody have been really supportive. Roger, Ian [Harrison] and Pit [Beirer] have been supportive, and the team has just been really awesome right now. It’s really good too that I’m on the best team out there, so I’m definitely very thankful to be on the KTM Team.

 

It’s got to be weird sitting on the sidelines and seeing how dominant your Red Bull/KTM team has been this year. The team is incredible in ’15.

Yeah. I watch the races at home and it kills me that the team is just killing it. I wish I was out there doing my job as well. The thing that kind of sucks is that I only did three races and I was injured, and I feel like by the end of the fourth or fifth ride, I would have been right where I belong. I was just trying to work a few kinks out with myself and I would have been up there. It is what it is, and we’ll just have to rehab myself back to shape and get back out there.

 

Did you feel like you were about to break through when you got 8th at Anaheim 3?

I think like the next couple races I would have been good. I was just having a few personal issues that I was trying to get through and I think I would have been good.

Dean leading his former boss Chad Reed at the Phoenix SX. Photo by: Simon Cudby
Dean leading his former boss Chad Reed at the Phoenix SX. Photo by: Simon Cudby

How did you tear your ACL? Was it just one of those dab the leg type things or was it a huge spectacular crash?

No, I was just training before Oakland, and I was having a really good week. I was putting in 20 solid laps and that’s just what was really important for me, putting in 20 solid laps. I was doing a moto and I just made a mistake in a rhythm section and kind of landed on the side of the berm. It kind of bucked me off and I landed on my feet, so when I landed on my feet, my leg just gave out on me totally and I blew my knee out. That was definitely a really crappy day for me because I’d been injury free for almost a year and then that happened. I was pretty disappointed. It’s definitely a tough little game, that’s for sure.

 

What was your first thought when you felt the knee go? I mean, when your ACL goes out, you know it.

I didn’t really know, because I’d never blown my knee out before, so I thought I broke my leg or something. I knew something was wrong right off bat. I remember Ian was right there and I apologized to him and I was just really bummed out. Like I said, I didn’t put in any results before I got hurt so I was just really disappointed. Yeah, I apologized, I’m so sorry. I just felt really bad.

 

I know what it’s like to tear your knee up and yeah, you know it. You can feel it snap, and it does kind of feel like a broken leg. That’s crazy that the first thing you do is apologize.

Yeah, we worked really hard all off season, and I had a great off season. To get hurt after just starting is pretty devastating. It sucked really bad.

 

Right after you were feeling pretty bummed—and I don’t know where, I think it was Instagram or Facebook—you put out a post that almost sounded like you were hanging it up. What brought that on?

That was the day after I got hurt. I was pretty bummed out. There was definitely a week or two where that went through my head, where I didn’t know if I wanted to race anymore, just because I had so many injuries and I’ve had so many letdowns, and the past four years feel like nothing has been coming together. It’s just been injury after injury and, yeah, I’ve won a few race here and there.

Deano struggled with a 15th at Anaheim 1, but he improved to an 8th at Anaheim 2 before injuring his knee. Photo by: Simon Cudby
Deano struggled with a 15th at Anaheim 1, but he improved to an 8th at Anaheim 2 before injuring his knee. Photo by: Simon Cudby

Yeah, just a few races. (laughs)

Well, nothing like back in 2011 when I was really successful and winning races. It’s just tough to take. So yeah, it was definitely running through my mind but while in your heart you realize how much you love this sport. You go to the races and watch and you’re just like, “oh, I wish I was out there.” It was just a little bit of being really disappointed and nothing ever coming together. I think the main thing for that is you have to have faith and believe that it’s going to all happen and work out.

 

What would you do if you quit racing? What would be your career choice?

I don’t even know to be honest. I’ve never been afraid to work hard. I love going to the gym. I don’t even have to be going to the gym right now, but I do, just because I love going to the gym. I don’t know. Hard work isn’t really a problem for me. I feel like I’d probably be working with my dad, doing something like that. He’s a craftsman, finishing carpenter. I’d probably do something like that. Obviously that’s not the most enjoyable job. The thing with a normal job is that you get consistent most the time, where racing motocross you could be the happiest guy one weekend and the most miserable guy the next weekend. Obviously racing is what I love to do and I love riding my motocross bike. The highs are really high and the lows are really low. Trying to keep that balance is definitely really important.

 

That’s one thing a guy that’s gotten to your level at motocross isn’t afraid of is hard work. You don’t get there without that. Before I let you go, I wanted to get your take: what do you think about what RV’s [Ryan Villopoto] doing over in MXGP? Have you become a fan?

I’ve always been a fan of RV because I’ve always loved watching him ride, and he’s just an animal when he’s out there racing. So, yeah, it’s pretty cool to watch. You can definitely tell it’s a lot different over there than it is here just with the tracks and stuff. You can’t hang out like you can over here because the tracks aren’t as forgiving and as soft. You have sand tracks, but I’m talking about the harder track. It’s a lot rougher obviously over there, but I think they’ll get it figured out. I just enjoy watching anyway because I have friends that race over there and it’s good to watch.

 

Are you surprised by RV and how he’s doing? Is this about what you expected or did you expect him to do better?

I mean from watching on the videos before the season I pretty much expected him to do better, like in Qatar and stuff. I’m sure everybody did. It’s just a whole different breed over there. It’s a lot different. I think if you give him a few more races he’s going to be really strong.

While some riders are easily forgotten while away from injuries, Deano falls more into the missed category. Photo by: Simon Cudby
While some riders are easily forgotten while away from injuries, Deano falls more into the missed category. Photo by: Simon Cudby

If you’re just bench racing with your buddies, who’s your pick for the Championship this year? I know Clement Desalle’s leading the title at the moment and Max Nagl’s won a couple races, but you know Antonio Cairoli and RV will be there at the end.

That’s a tough one. It’s really hard to say. I don’t know. It’s hard to pick between. I mean, even Max Nagl is riding really well and he’s winning a lot of races, so it’s hard to say. If between RV and Cairoli, I can’t even say because it’s too hard. It’s hard to bet against a guy that’s won so many championships over there, like Cairoli has, and then it’s hard to pick a guy like Villopoto who has won so many championships here.

 

Yeah, RV’s literally undefeated outdoors when he stays healthy. He’s never lost.

Exactly. So yeah, it’s quite insane. I can’t even tell you man.

 

There are a lot of rumors that you’re going to be working with Aldon Baker and the Baker Factory when you come back. Is there any truth to that?

No. I’m not working with Aldon at the moment and I’m not sure about the future either. I haven’t heard anything or anything like that. I have a trainer right now, Kevin, who’s doing a really good job, so I’m pretty happy with him. You never know what the future holds, but we’ll just have to see.

 

All right, last question. Do we see you at all in 2015?

That’s a good question. I’d love to be out there, but it just depends how my healing goes. I’m going to get back on the bike and see how I’m feeling. I really don’t want to come back until I’m 100%. So, yes, I just want to come back when I’m completely ready.

 

Good luck with the recovery. We hope to see you back out there sooner than later.

Thanks, Dan.

Author

Dan Lamb is a 12+ year journalist and the owner of MotoXAddicts.