Photos by: Hoppenworld
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 trying to chase their dream of racing professional Motocross. 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 guys 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” interview is with privateer Honda rider Freddie Noren. Freddie finished tenth in the 450MX AMA Motocross Championship in 2015 and comes into 2016 basically on his own program with some help from the Rocky Mountain / ATV team and some occasional parts from his employer, HRC / Honda. The Swedish rider is a test rider for the Honda team during the week and spends his weekends trying to become someone that has riders testing bikes for him. One of the most likable riders I’ve ever met, minutes after you meet him you cannot help wanting to root for him.
At the opener at Hangtown, the #43 started the opening moto around mid pack and, after a solid thirty plus two, had worked his way around factory 450’s to be the top finishing privateer in thirteenth. In moto two, Freddie was once again running with the factory boys up in eleventh, but he lost his exhaust early in the moto and was forced to DNF in moto two. It was not the start to the season he was after, but he can definitely take some positives from it and head to Glen Helen knowing he has the pace and the fitness.
After the Hangtown National was long over, I saw Freddie as I was heading to the car and decided to ask him about his afternoon in Northern California.
Freddie, 13-DNF today for you. How are you feeling overall about your Hangtown national?
I was thirteenth in the first moto, and I think I was running tenth in the second moto, but then my pipe came off my bike. Something happened with the bolt where it pulled all the spine—or whatever it’s called—out. So, I lost the muffler and had to DNF that one. It was kind of a bummer, but I’m healthy and we’re making progress with the bike. This is only my fourth day on the [Rocky Mountain / ATV / Honda] bike. We’re still working out the kinks, but it was a pretty productive day I would say. I’m happy with that.
I know this is a new deal for you and you’re pitted with Rocky Mountain / ATV / Honda. Would you consider this a full privateer effort in 2016?
Yeah, for sure.
I heard you were struggling to get a mechanic and other stuff going this year?
Yeah, I have a mechanic, but we are struggling to find the funding for him—to get him to the races and to pay a salary for him. As of right now, he’s pretty much volunteering; he’s working for free. Since he could drive up here, they just took their car and drove up. I’m super thankful for that. I had the motor done, and I get help from SHOWA and Honda helps out a lot. I’ll be pitted out of Rocky Mountain the whole year, and they’ll transport my bike and all that. It’s kind of a last minute deal, but we’re doing the best we can. It should be a good year. It’s good to be a part of these guys, too, and we’ll see how their program works.
Where are you based out of at the moment? Are you still in California?
We live in Menifee, California. I still do the Honda testing stuff and I need to go back to California after every round just in case they need me to do some testing or they need me there. That’s where we’re staying right now and we’ll be staying there all year.
One of my favorite industry guys is Vurbmoto photographer Matty Rice. I know he’s always traveling around with you.(laughs)
Yeah, he’s a funny guy. He stays with us and we actually stay in an RV, so it’s always a little crowded, but it’s fun to have him there. He’s a cool guy. He stays in a little loft bed that we have.
He’s easy to be around at the races, that’s for sure. (laughs)
He brings something new, that’s for sure. He’s a crazy guy.
You’re from Sweden and can compete at the highest levels obviously. What keeps you pushing as a privateer here in the US and not maybe shopping for a ride back home in Europe?
As of right now, I feel like I haven’t done what I want to do here yet. I feel I can do a lot better than what I’ve done so far. This year I’m going to try to step up my results. This weekend didn’t go as well as planned, but I want to get my results up, and the racing here is really good. As of right now, I don’t see myself going over to Europe yet, but in the future, for sure, it could be fun to go over and do a season or two. I have my wife here, too, and she’s from America. She would be pumped to go over to Europe.
Hey, you have the Green Card, so you might as well take advantage of it. (laughs)
Yeah, exactly. (laughs) The main thing is, I haven’t gotten the results I want yet. We’ll be here a little while I assume, and we’ll see what the future holds.
You’ve always been around a top ten guy here, but I think you surprised a lot of people with your top five moto—finishing in front of guys like Eli Tomac and Jeremy Martin—at the 2014 MXoN in Latvia. That was in Europe, but where do you see your top end here in the US?
I know I got the speed. I’m just trying to figure everything out. I see myself as a top five rider in every moto, and that’s where I want to be. I mean, obviously I want to be very consistent too. It takes time, and I’m trying to build my speed up. I think I can be there eventually. We’ll see how it goes.
[Standing in front of Freddie’s 2016 Honda 450 race bike] We all know you test for Honda, but how close or far off is that bike? (laughs)
It’s actually very different. This bike, it’s a production bike that we put some parts on and we built the motor. They’re very different. They have a lot of resources they can use to get their bikes ready.
Kick me down a little, come on!
(laughs) No, they help me out a lot. There’s for sure some stuff that they’ve helped me with to get faster with. It’s a great relationship, and I like being around those guys. It’s just really cool. I’m very thankful and blessed. They’re a great group of people, and it’s fun to be around those guys.
Well, like any of us trying to make a living in this industry, you’re happy to have a job. (laughs)
Exactly! (laughs)
Glen Helen next week. You obviously do a lot of riding there living in California now, but how do you like that track?
It’s Thursday practice pretty much. I mean, that’s where you go. It’s a good track. It’s not my favorite track; let’s put it that way.
That track would scare the shit out of me if I had to go your pace on it for thirty plus two. Does it ever do that to you?
No, not really. It’s not too bad. It’s not my favorite, but it’s the same for everyone and still a really good track. I should be able to have some fun there next week.
