Photo 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 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 about a kid that I think personifies what these articles are all about: Kinser Endicott. We want these interviews to be with young privateers nobody has heard of who, with some hard work and a few good breaks, could become top ten riders, even possibly end up on a top-tier team in the future. Kinser could be that guy.
In San Diego, a friend of mine told me to watch the #381 in qualifying, and his style and speed were on point. The young 250SX Western Regional rookie went on to qualify for his first-ever night show in 29th at the San Diego 1 SX and just missed qualifying for his first-ever main event with a 12th in his heat race. A bad start in the LCQ ended his chances in San Diego, but I see many main events in this Northern Californian’s future if he keeps his head down and his eye on the prize.
After watching Kinser in San Diego and wondering why not too many people had ever heard of him, I decided to track him down and see if we could alleviate that problem by featuring him on the site. Kinser was happy to help out, tell us his story and talk about what it’s like to pull up to the gate for the first time at a Monster Energy Supercross race. Check our conversation with Kinser in this week’s Privateer Showcase” presented by Race Tech Suspension
Hey Kinser, that’s an interesting name. Where does that come from?
Yeah, my parents let my uncle name me, and there’s a Sprint Car driver named Steve Kinser. They turned a last name into a first name basically. (laughs)
(laughs) Where are you from originally?
I’m from Red Bluff, California—up north, or actually down south for you [MotoXAddicts is based in Oregon for those that don’t know]. A lot of people down south don’t know me. Well, riders do, but as far as sponsors and stuff like that, nobody really knows me because I’m way up north.
What was your amateur racing career like up in Red Bluff? Did you just race local, or did you and the family chase the Amateur National scene?
Well, on 50’s I was actually a top three rider in the Nation. It would always be [Adam] Cianciarulo, Tyler McSwain, Zach Commans, Cooper Webb and me. I did Loretta Lynn’s three times on 50’s, and my best was a 6th overall. I was on Team Cobra back then with Cianciarulo and Commans, but my parents split up when I got on 65’s in about ’05 and we just stopped racing. I did race a little but just locally. We wouldn’t even go two hours away—just super local. Once we got to big bikes, we got back to riding and then I went pro.
How old are you now?
I just turned 19 in November, so I’m getting up there. (laughs)
I assume you had to go through the Ricky Carmichael Road to Supercross to get to Anaheim 1. What did you think of Arenacross?
I did three rounds to get my Supercross license in the beginning of last year, and it was tough. I made it into the main, but those top guys don’t mess around at all. A lot of people were telling me that I wouldn’t like it and I was like, “We’ll see.” I have a different attitude towards things than some people, but I ended up liking it a lot. The whole event, with the fans and everything, it was all just super cool.
Did you think the experience prepared you for Supercross at all?
It did. It didn’t make sense to me at first. I was like, “Arenacross isn’t going to get you that prepared for Supercross,” but it definitely helped because the track was so tight and you have a lot of people on it all at once, so you kind of got the feel for riding right next to someone down a seven foot wide whoop section.
What’s your program like this year? Are you doing the whole 250SX Western Regional Championship, and who’s backing you?
I’m signed up for the whole West Coast series. I hooked up with Herrera Ranch—they paid my entry fee—and Herrera Ranch is hooked up with Blue Buffalo/Slater Skins/Yamaha, so I’m on that team with Michael Leib. I was going to do it on my own and pay my own way, but I quickly realized I wouldn’t have been able to do that. I was definitely going to go for it, though. It’s better than not trying at all. It’s cool, I moved out of my dad’s and in with my sister, and my dad is paying for me to stay down here for the week to get ready for A2. Right now, I’m just taking it day by day.
Where are you training at during the week?
As far as training, I haven’t really been able to do much. After A1, I just went home and stayed there all week. I didn’t really ride. I came back down south, picked up the ENZO Suspension Friday morning at 6 a.m., tested it and went to San Diego. I just didn’t have the money to stay down here and the money for track time. I’m lucky my dad paid for that this week, though.
You’re now two rounds into your rookie year and you made the show in San Diego, but let’s talk about A1. There are a lot of fans out there that dream about rolling out for their first Supercross race, so what was that like for you?
It was definitely sweet. I don’t know how to put it, but it was definitely overwhelming. I wasn’t completely ready for it. We didn’t get to test suspension, and it ended up breaking the first practice. We threw on some outdoor stuff, and I qualified 41st—one away from making the night show. At that point, my dad said, “I’m going to pitch in whatever money it takes to get you some good ENZO Suspension.” We did that, and I tested with it the next Friday the night before San Diego. It worked great. I qualified 29th at San Diego. It was definitely a big improvement.
When you are the 41st qualifier, you roll up to the line as an alternate just in case someone gets hurt or their bike breaks or whatever. What was that like sitting there not knowing if you’re getting a gate drop?
Yeah, if someone didn’t show up, I was definitely going to be there. It was a tough, though, and kind of embarrassing in a way. I couldn’t do anything about it, and with outdoor suspension I was happy with how I rode. It was definitely not where I wanted to be, but it was good for what I had.
When you finally qualified for the show in 29th at San Diego last week, what was the vibe like when you made your first night show?
I felt like I was in a place where I needed to be. It was a big confidence booster going into the heat [race] and super cool to see I could be up there with the big boys.
For A1, you talk about even trying to qualify being overwhelming, but what was it like to roll out for your first Monster Energy Supercross heat race with lights, the crowd—just everything? Was the heart rate spiked?
I actually thought I was going to be a nervous wreck. I roll up to the line, we get the holeshot device set and I was just like, “This is sick!” There were people everywhere. The track was all lit up. The cameras were showing all over the riders and looking at me. I was stoked to be on the line. Honestly, it was super cool.
In the heat race you got 12th—just three away from qualifying—so not a bad debut.
Yeah, I was dodging a lot of crashes. I got a horrible start, I hit bars with a rider and was like dead last. Then, I just rode the race. I didn’t make any mistakes, dodged a bunch of crashes and ended up 12th. In the LCQ, I was stoked on the line again. I went for a good start, but the bike wanted to pop up on me, so after clutching and clutching it, I got another horrible start. I tried to attack the race as much as I could, but everyone was just going everywhere and all out. LCQ, four laps, wide open, it was a lot for me in my first race. I was comfortable, but I just couldn’t get around anyone. There are some things I need to work on, including starts. I think if I would have gotten good starts, I believe I could have made the main.
Well, you’ve now made the show. What’s the dream from here for Kinser Endicott? Do you see yourself in main events, battling with the big names of the class in the future?
My goal for this year is to progress every round, do better ever round. I made the night show in the second round, and I should have in the first round, so my goal for the next round is to make the main event. After that, make it into a main from a heat race, build from there and go for a top ten in the main. I just really want to not make any mistakes and to get some results in this year. It’s my rookie year and I’m still pretty young, but I’m definitely going all out for it.
We’ll be rooting for you, and I’ll come by and say hi at Anaheim 2. Who would you like to thank for getting you this far?
Yeah, for sure. My dad and stepmom, Herrera Ranch, O’Neal, MotoPro Graphics, 6d Helmets, Scott Goggles, Haeseker Motors, Enzo, Works connection, Mika Metals, Battle Creek Pest Control, FMF, Hyper X, Blue Buffalo and Slater Skins.
