As a fan of motocross and Supercross, I’m sure you can remember scratching your head at least once during contract signing time wondering why certain riders were left out in the cold, while others—some with less success on the track—got signed. This week’s “Privateer Showcase” was one of those riders we scratched our heads over. Tommy Weeck—after a very successful amateur career spent with the factory KTM squad—has struggled to get himself on the radar of the major teams. In his first year as a pro, Tommy struggled with injuries and a lack of support, but showed his potential with top privateer honors just about every time he put two wheels on the track. In 2011—his first full SX series—Tommy not only showed his ability to make main events, but also at times displayed the top-five speed needed to be a top contender. Now that SX is over and Outdoors is only one short week away, I was curious what Tommy’s story was and what he had lined up. I gave him a call after Vegas, and this is how it went:
Photo by Brian Robinette.
Tommy, out of nowhere you started killing it at the end of the SX season. What happened? (Laughs)
(Laughs) I took some pressure off myself and kind of started letting things come to me more and not forcing everything—letting the races happen the way they’re supposed to. I’m really working hard, and I know I work hard. That’s always been my thing, where I expect to be up front and put expectations on myself. I was going to the races knowing I’m an underdog with an under-powered bike versus the factory guys. Now, I just go there knowing that I want to do my best—whatever that is for that day. I want to do the best that I can with what I’m given on that specific day.
So who’s been helping you with bikes and support this year?
It all started with Nate Adams. Nate Adams was going to try and race Phoenix and Dodger stadium himself. He went out and bought a couple 2010 Honda 250F’s, and built one into a full race bike. He went out and had Tokyo Mods do the motor and Enzo do the suspension. We were out at the local Beaumont SX track riding, doing a bunch of motos, and did a couple laps. I went out and did the triple on the 2nd lap, whipped it and looked at him. Nate pulls off and said, “Man, how do you adapt to that so quick?” He said, “This is so unfamiliar territory for me. I’m not used to having to rail a corner and hit a triple or coast through a corner and seat-bounce a double. It’s just a total different lifestyle.” I think he kind of just realized he wasn’t going to be ready for Phoenix ’cause it was only a week and a half away. I was just joking around with him, and said, “Hey, I’m trying to race this year, and I don’t really have anything going.” (Laughs) He was like, “Hmm, I don’t know. Alright,” but he kind of took me seriously. Nate called me back later that day, and he was like “Hey, come get this bike. The race bike’s yours.” I said, “Wait. What? Mine?!” He said, “Dude I want to help you through SX season and help you get something. I believe you have what it takes, and I want to give you a shot.” He was basically just going to hand me the dirt bike. I said, “Nate, I want you to get some thing out of this promotion wise,” and that’s how the whole Deft Family graphics and everything came about.
Wow! That is an awesome story! Did you know Nate at all before that day?
Photo by Brian Robinette.
I worked with Nate a little bit, because Nate worked with Ryan Hughes at the same time I was working with Ryno, so I had kind of established a relationship with Nate over the last couple years. We just kind of became not super-close friends, but we were friends. It just kind of fell together, and I couldn’t be happier—and I can’t thank that guy enough. If it wasn’t for him, I was going to school and my MX days were over.
Where are you originally from, Tommy?
Redmond, Washington.
What kind of amateur career did you have?
You know, I had a really good amateur career and rode for factory KTM for seven years. I was always one of the front-runners and won numerous amateur titles. The way the economy went just really set me back when I went into my pro years. That’s why I really struggled the last couple years to get anything because there just aren’t any budgets for anything.
Yeah, the way it is right now, you’re either that guy that won every single title that you raced in your last amateur year or you get nothing. There’s not the budget room for the teams to take a chance on someone, even if they think that someone has tons of potential like yourself.
Exactly! You know, I had a really solid amateur career—was always one of the front-runners and always chasing for that title. I had great equipment, great support with KTM, and I had a really cool amateur career. It’s something I get to look back on my whole life. I still enjoy thinking back to the memories I have racing all the amateur races.
When did you officially turn pro?
In 2009. I did the amateur races that year; Texas, Vegas, Ponca, Loretta’s and then I did the last four outdoors of ‘09.
How did the transition go for you when you first came up?
Well, out of the first four Nationals, I DNF’ed six out of the eight motos because of bike malfunctions. It was one of those years. I went to Loretta’s, and at Loretta’s out of the six motos, I lost my clutch five times. We went through four different master cylinders and three different clutch systems. I literally was sitting on the starting line three motos in a row and would go to dump my clutch and it was gone. Nothing there! My trip back East that year was a nightmare trip. Anything that could go wrong went wrong. (Laughs) My first pro national, though, I went 18-15. From then on, though my bike broke every single moto.
Photo by Brian Robinette.
Well, 2010 you went outdoors again, and the last half of the National series, you were putting up solid results. How did you think 2010 went?
2010 outdoors was awesome. I also got the chance to do two SX races. I was supposed to be doing it under the Hostility team for West coast, but about two weeks before, I actually broke my wrist so that’s why I only did two SX races last year. That made me miss Hangtown and then I didn’t have nothing. My dad told me that he’d help me get back East. He told me to get myself ready and I could race the last four Nationals. He got a motorhome and shipped me back East with my mechanic Josh Bartnik. I got to race Unadilla, Southwick, Steel City, and I got to finish the series out with Canidae on the Rockstar Suzuki. Last year was a really good learning year for me. Being on privateer bikes is not the level of support the factory guys have, and I was making it work. Every single weekend I raced last year, I got the top privateer. That was something pretty cool for me to do, and I was making progress. Every single week there was something I would go back and work on. My goal was to just make progress every single time I was on the track.
And you did just that! I was seriously surprised that after those results you didn’t earn any support. Did anyone give you a call and offer you anything for 2011?
Honestly, no! Canidae never called me back. There was nothing. I had couple people that were talking to me about a ride for an outrageous amount of money. They were telling me they were going to be starting a team through Pala Casino. It ended up being all a made up lie. We won’t mention the names. They signed a letter of intent, and said I had a full ride for this year in SX and Outdoors with money. It all ended up being a lie, and they never even talked to Pala Casino people before. That’s the only offer I had last year.
Did you turn down anything else because you thought that deal was real? I’m surprise because 66 points in five rounds is solid.
No, I never had anyone come at me. In 5 rounds, I got number 55. That’s kind of been my joke all year: 5 rounds for 55. I don’t understand how the teams do their pickings, but my goal is every single weekend I race, I want to make progress. Whether that be overall finish, lap times or whatever it is that week. I just want to progress. That’s all I can do.
Photo by Brian Robinette.
What’s your overall take on 2011 SX? You seemed to struggle early in the season, but then catch fire at the mid way point.
It was an amazing learning year. The first few rounds I was really antsy, excited, and really excited because I hadn’t raced in months. I got ahead of myself. I knew where I should have been, but I kept on making little mistakes. Once I slowed down and let things come to me more—and let the races come to me more—things got better. I just had to let the races unfold, ride to my potential and not over-ride it. Starting at San Diego is where my approach changed. It really worked.
Yeah, it was obvious that something changed mentally. Seattle was another big head turning moment for you this year. What were you, 3rd or 4th fastest out of every Lites West coast rider in timed qualifying?
Yeah, I laid down the 4th fastest time in Seattle. I was actually able to get a clear track, and I had a new set-up on my bike for that week. I was really excited! It was a cool thing to be back up at the home state and see everybody. Everyone was cheering me on up there, and I can’t thank everybody from up there enough. They came over to my pits and said hi. There were so many people I haven’t seen in years. Everyone was so supportive. It was really cool to be back at the hometown race—and to show those guys that I do still have that speed to be a front-runner.
Yeah, there was a massive difference from San Diego on, and Seattle blew me away. So going into Outdoors now, are you going to be riding the Nate Adams’ bike Outdoors too?
That’s my plan right now. I just actually dropped the suspension off with Enzo to get it swapped from SX to MX. As of right now my plan is Hangtown, Washougal and Pala. Those are the three I’m going to do for sure. If I can land some ride to get an opportunity to ride every National, that would be incredible. I know I can break top tens and get into the top five if I could get a shot with some support. If I could get some one to stick behind me for more than just one or two rounds I could really do some work on these guys. Half the kids that I’m racing with are guys I raced my entire amateur career and have beaten numerous times.
Photo by Brian Robinette.
What kind of results would make you happy at Hangtown?
It’s hard to say. You never want to put too high of expectations on yourself. When you get there, people might say you didn’t do what you said you would do. I know that last year I was consistently 10th thru 15th, and that was last year before we had quite a few guys move up out of the class. I believe that I can get into the top ten for sure. I absolutely know that I can do that. I just need to get good starts and get into contention. I know I have fast bikes. That’s all I can do to show these factory guys that I am still learning and progressing, and that I’m not plateauing. I need to show them that I’m going to keep getting better and better until these guys sign me.
You are someone I think has shown you can take that next step if you can get some support from a team and get on one of those factory bikes.
It’s not so much the race bike that’s the problem. (Laughs) If you saw what I practice on you would laugh, man!
(Laughs) Really, that bad?
No really. You would laugh! (Laughs) You would be like, “Wait. Honestly, you are really riding and training on that?” My swingarm is bent from one side to the other. I have my axle over an 1/8 of an inch over to try and make the wheel straight. That’s how bent up that bike is. It was my first SX season so there were some cases, some yard sales and just some random crashes on the bike. The bike definitely got used. (Laughs)
What year is it?
It’s a 2010 with only like six months on it. (Laughs) I’m not exactly the easiest person on bikes. If I could just get someone to buy me a practice bike, that would make all my dreams come true. (Laughs)
You’re not asking for much here!
I don’t even need suspension. Heck I don’t even need a clutch lever! Stock everything. If I could just get a bike that went straight down the straightaway that would be great! (Laughs)
So, just a practice bike and some chain lube will do.
Exactly! (Laughs)
Awesome! Do you have any obligations this year with contracts that might hold you back from being a fill-in rider if a team needs one?
Absolutely not. I only have one contract, and that’s with O’Neal Gear Company—and it is written in my contract that if I land any kind of replacement ride, I am free to go.
Photo by Brian Robinette.
That’s really cool that O’Neal did that for you. Are there any sponsors or specific people out there you would like to thank for helping you get to the races?
First off, I can’t thank my parents enough! My mom and dad are behind me even with the way this economy is and how hard my dad’s still pushing to try and help me get a ride. He’s struggling, and everyone knows how hard the economy hit the construction industry especially. I aso want to thank Nate Adams and Deft Family for helping get this bike. Josh Bartnik, my mechanic. M&M racing, who has been helping me and paying all my entry fees. O’Neal Gear, Shoei Helmets, TCX Boots, Spy Goggles, Vention Graphics, Maxima Oil, Renegade Fuel and Enzo Suspension.
If anyone is interested in getting in touch with Tommy about sponsorship opportunities, he can be reached at mxktm41@gmail.com or on Twitter at @tweeck55.
