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 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 guys just hoping to get a spot inside a factory semi. We tell their stories.

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When we looked down the gate at the 2017 Monster Energy Cup, there were a surprising number of privateers on the line for the Cup Class. In a time when good jobs are becoming harder and harder to come by, privateers or “unemployed” former factory riders are using the Monster Energy Cup to try to show their worth to teams and to cash in on the best rider payout of the year. Privateer Honda rider Chris Blose was one of those riders.

After narrowly missing out on winning his first AMSOIL Arenacross Championship in 2017—finishing 3rd after a crash at the finale—Chris’ team decided they would not be returning to AX in 2018 which left the 29 year-old Supercross and Arenacross veteran out of a job. Looking to find a spot with either an SX or AX team, Chris put together a privateer Honda with a little help from his long time sponsors and lined up for the 2017 Monster Energy Cup.

Chris made the Cup Class main event with a wire-to-wire win in the LCQ and finished the three main events of the night with a 17-15-13 score for 14th overall. It was not the kind of results that will immediately put Chris in the back of one of the major semis, but considering his lack of time on the bike and the fact that he could barely walk a week earlier, it was enough to remind the paddock that Chris Blose can still put their bikes into the main events.

A couple days after the Monster Cup, we gave Chris a call to talk to him about his race, his current employment status and what he is hoping to do in 2018.

How’s it going Chris? It was cool seeing you come out for the Monster Cup. What did you think of it this year? The track looked like it had zero flow, but I know you love the hard pack there.

The Vegas track was different (laughs). I guess you would say. The whole Joker Lane being faster was cool and kind of changed it up, but as far as the track lay out I think they might of made some dumb calls with some of the rhythm sections. Like the section right after you come back into the stadium. It is what it is, though. Everyone’s gotta race it.

Chris was a major factor in the AMSOIL Arenacross title chase in 2017. Photo by: Shift One Photography

Yeah, that section took out quite a few riders, and everyone I talked to said that was the toughest section by far. How hard was that, though? You come into the stadium at 60 mph and have to check up to execute a technical 3-3-3-2 with super steep transitions.

In my opinion it was kind of dumb. Like you said, you’re coming in so fast and you have to check up. The transitions were so steep and abrupt that you had to be perfect in order to do the rhythm section right, or the fast way. In my opinion, it was kind of dangerous, but in the main event when I saw [Justin] Bogle looking like he was dead just laying there when he went down, I was done doing that rhythm section at that point. From then on, I was just doubling all the way through it every lap. I didn’t want to get hurt. It had claimed a lot of people that day and also that night. I had gone 3-3 during practice and all that, but once I seen people crashing left and right on it, I pulled the plug on it.

 

How would you rate your Monster Energy Cup as a whole? You were one out of qualifying directly into the show, but you went out in the LCQ and went wire-to-wire for the win.

It obviously wasn’t the ideal way to get into the main. Being that I was my own mechanic and everything, it was good. It was a long day, though. I got there at 8am, did my own bike work and I actually only got four min of the first timed practice. I was in the far back of the pits, and I couldn’t hear what was going on. Luckily, the guys from Race Tech called me as they went out and I just happened to look at my phone when they called. They were like, “where you at.” (laughs) So I hurried and after the red flag they had—luckily—four minutes left after that. When that happened, I was 16th or 17th fastest (top 18 qualify). They had one more practice, but that didn’t go very well. It made for a long day, but I got the LCQ win.

 

Nice, Race Tech helping you out with more than just suspension. (laughs) How did the Race Tech stuff work for you on the new Honda?

It was really good. It was awesome to be honest. We made some changes throughout the day, and I was really happy with it. I only decided to do Monster Cup two and half weeks before it happened. Those guys dialed in my bike during the week. I got some seat time in, but unfortunately a week before the race I couldn’t even walk. I had strained something in my lower back and couldn’t walk for a couple days, but fortunately it got better and I was able to race.

 

How did the mains go for you? It looked like maybe starts and little mistakes early in the mains left you fighting uphill, but each result got better.

Before the first restart happened, I got taken out by someone—I don’t even know who it was—but luckily we had a red flag and a restart. I was able to kind of reset and regroup and try to get another good start. It was kind of frustrating in the first main event because the track was so muddy. People were just going everywhere, and I happened to get dirt inside my googles. I was riding with just one eye open. I had to eventually slow up and dig it out and by that time everyone was gone. I had to just take a 17th. Each main event from there got better and better, so I was happy with the progression. I just wish I could of gotten a little bit better starts in the second and third main events.

 

Was it one of those things where you thought racing Monster Cup might remind some of the SX teams that you’re available and still able to put a bike in the main event?

It’s frustrating because I know my capabilities on a dirt bike. It’s frustrating only having two and a half weeks to prepare for it. I just bought a Honda so I figured, “hey, why not!” I sent my stuff to Race Tech and went racing. I figured it’s the best thing I could do.

Chris (#102) and all the FLY Racing riders were easy to spot in the crowd at Monster Cup in their new flow pink gear. Photo by: Hoppenworld

How old are you now?

I’m 29 years-old.

 

You’re getting up there, but still under 30. Still a lot of miles left. What’s your plan at this point for 2018? You won quite a few AMSOIL Arenacross races last year and nearly won the AX Championship—finishing 3rd in the title chase.

Yeah, I finished third in the championship. I had a big crash in the last round that put me back there, but going into the last round we were only a couple points back. It was frustrating, but it was a good year all in all. I have no plans yet for 2018 yet. Whether I race AX or go back to SX, it’s still all up in the air. I’m still looking for a ride.

 

After your performance last year in AX, one would think you would be locked into a ride somewhere. What happened with the team you were on in ’17?

The Rockstar / OTSFF / Yamaha team is going to do a new series back up in Canada. I kind of got left out here unfortunately. I’m looking for something. Whether it’s racing the Lites class [250SX] in SX, racing the 450 class or going back to AX, I’m just looking to race. I’m making phone calls and trying to make something happen.

 

Just looking to make a living racing dirt bikes no matter where that takes you?

No matter where it’s at. I raced SX for a long, long time—2006 to 2014. I have a lot of experience at that, and I feel like I have some unfinished business in the Lites class there. There’s also AX too, and I am looking to race either way. I’m just looking to land a solid ride.

 

If you race SX, you would prefer to race the 250SX class and maybe handle that unfinished business?

Yeah, I mean my last year in the Lites class was 2009 with Troy Lee Designs. I was a fill in rider and was top five in the points. I really had nothing going into the next year besides riding for Hart and Huntington [RCH Racing] on the 450. I had to take it. I feel better at 29 than I did back then. I would like to go back to the Lites class and see what I could do there on a good bike or race 450’s.

 

I appreciate your time today Chris. If you don’t go back to AX, I hope to see you at A1.

Thank you. I’ll see you around.

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Author

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