Photo by: Hopenworld
These “Privateer Showcase” interviews presented by Race Tech Suspension at MotoXAddicts tell the stories of the guys in the trenches week in and week out just trying to chase their dream of racing professional Motocross and Supercross. While the riders at the front of the pack get the money, the T.V. time and the glory that goes with it, there’s a huge pack of kids just hoping to become regulars in the big show. We will talk to them and get their stories about trying to break through to that next level with little or no help.
This week’s “Privateer Showcase” is with probably the most talked about privateer in the pits at the moment, ProAction KTM/FLY Racing’s Michael Akaydin. After missing out on qualifying for the main event at the 2016 Anaheim 2 Supercross, Michael leaned his KTM 450 against the wall in the Angel Stadium tunnel and headed up to industry seating to watch the main events. When the checkered flag waved, Michael headed back to grab the #981 KTM, but his bike had vanished into thin air. First thought, “it had to be a friend playing a joke,” but that thought process quickly escalated to “Oh s%$t, somebody stole my bike,” very quickly. At that point, Michael immediately sent a pic and a plea for help in finding his baby over Instagram.
From there, Michael went to work following leads gained from his social media post and a private investigator that saw his post and was eager to help out. In the end, with the help of everyone, the Kentucky-born college graduate was able to track down his 450 eighty miles away from the stadium in a shipping container on the thief’s property in Moorpark, CA. It was an incredible story that epitomizes how important a race bike is to a struggling privateer like Michael and a story that was told to quite a few moto internet radio shows and web publications last week. You can read MotoXAddicts’ article to catch up on the incredible bike search and recovery saga here. The best part of the story was, for once, the thief was caught with his hand in the cookie jar and arrested on site.
With all the craziness of last week, we decided to catch up with Michael in Oakland to talk about his race and to find out what the last week, after the bike was recovered, was like for him.
Michael, I noticed your bike in the pits earlier today and was thinking, the #981 KTM had no idea how close she was to becoming a parted-out trail bike. (laughs) The bike had no idea what its owner went through to keep her. After you got it back, though, it was business as usual the next week?
Yeah, I never skipped a beat. Monday morning I woke up, went and rode, came home, ran four miles and did the same thing all week. The only difference was, I was a little more worn out from staying up all night.
I like to think I would have done the same thing as you, but man, I’m not sure a lot of people would have taken matters into their own hands like you did.
I don’t know for sure how many other riders would have done the same thing—I couldn’t tell you—but as far as me, I’ve worked hard for what I’ve gotten without at least trying to get it back.
Hell yeah, that’s the Kentucky boy in you right there. (laughs)
Yeah, that’s Kentucky for sure.
What’s this last week been like for you. Obviously, being a privateer usually keeps you under the radar, but this thrusted you out of the shadows and into the spotlight. You did every radio show, Racer X called you and now even the best moto site on the planet, MotoXAddicts, is interviewing you. (laughs) *Editors note: I just added that last part.
Yeah, I did quite a bit of them, honestly. I was surprised about how big it had gotten, but that’s a cool thing. Everybody wanted to be a part of it and help me out, so it wasn’t just me, it was everybody that did it. I’ll take a week of being a semi-celebrity.
All you privateers work hard and deserve it sometimes.
Yeah, I’m not a real loud guy normally or make a whole lot of noise, but this is how more people are getting to know me.
I see you’re all loaded up in the van here. What’s your travel schedule like when you leave here, and what’s it’s like when the series goes East?
I have family here, so this round is pretty cool. I’m going to go back, sleep at their house, wake up, head back to Lake Elsinore and start all over. I’ll ride, train, ride, train and head out to Phoenix. I live in Kentucky, so when the series goes East, I’ll drive back home to Kentucky and hit Dallas on the way.
From there, Kentucky will be your home base for the remainder of the series?
Yeah, really Kentucky is a good spot, because I can make it to all the races in a day. It’s pretty sweet. Actually, last year I worked a 40-hour week before six of the East Coast races. I’d leave Friday after work, get everything done by Saturday and call it good.
I also heard somewhere that you earned a college degree from the University of Louisville as well? That’s solid. If moto doesn’t work out, you are dialed.
Yeah, but I really want this to work out and I’m working hard to do that, for sure. It seems like the older I get, the better I am. Everyone is always surprised when I tell them I’m 28, and I never felt better. College is something my parents really pushed for, though. They said, “If you want to race, then you’re going to go to school.”
What did you end up getting your degree in?
Mechanical engineering, and I got an MBA online as well..
That’s so rare in this sport. Let’s talk about your racing tonight, because from what I saw, you rode well. You qualified 26th, finished 12th in your heat, 11th in the semi and 11th in the LCQ.
The track was really fun tonight. It was kind of a mellow track, and the whoops were next to nothing. Obviously, the whoops were next to nothing, but I felt really good all night. I was just clicking, catching guys I usually don’t catch and just really feeling good. I don’t know if it was from all the junk going on last weekend. I ride well when I’m fired up about something.
You definitely had a lot more people watching the #918 tonight.
Well, there was that too, but I ride well when I’m fired up. That’s probably what it was.
I watched your heat race and the semi tonight, and you were solid, but I was running around the press box trying to find an ethernet cord for my computer during the LCQ so I missed it. Somebody told me you were leading at one point? How was the LCQ for you?
No, I was running around seventh or eighth, went down, went back to thirteenth and ended up coming back to eleventh. It wasn’t great, but I actually had really good lap times which is what I’m really focusing on.
That’s the last time I listen to that person when I miss a race. (laughs) What’s it going to take to get that #981 into the main?
A good start. My speed is actually good. This is the first time ever that I feel comfortable at the beginning of the season. A good start is going to be the key for me.
Alright, well, nice to finally meet you tonight, and thanks for talking with us. Good luck the rest of the way in ’16. Who’s helping you get to the races this year?
Thank you. I want to thank Pro Action KTM, Out Front Graphics, FLY Racing, AMSOIL, Dragon, Tom Zont Racing, SunStar, Atlas Brace, Shoei, Works Conection, Dunlop, MotoSeat, ODI, No Toil, FCA MX, Engine Ice and Dubya USA.
