ATV-TALK A Motorsport Podcast

Join Alex as he embarks on an exhilarating journey from his youth, when his family moved next door to world-class ATV racer Josh "The Animal" Fredericks. Little did they know, this encounter would set off a chain of events that would profoundly impact Alex and his family's love for riding. Inspired by the thrilling world of ATV racing, Alex takes his first steps into the sport, navigating the emot...

Join us as we dive into the captivating journey of the Yamaha YFZ450R's development, exploring its growth and transformation over the years. In this episode, we sit down with Michael Byrd, a seasoned race mechanic and engine development expert, to gain unique insights into the evolution of this legendary ATV. From the introduction of fuel injection in 2006 to significant frame and motor advancemen...

In this inspiring episode, we follow Kevin, a multiple-time European champion and Estonia's esteemed Athlete of the Year, on his remarkable journey into the world of ATV racing. Kevin's passion for racing was ignited by his father, who introduced him to motorcycle racing, but ultimately, he chose the thrilling path of ATV racing. Through the power of the internet, Kevin gains access to a vast worl...

It's an incredible honor for Jim Hardy to be selected to work with Team USA, especially collaborating with the talented Joel Hetrick. As the mechanics diligently prepare all the machines, tools, and containers, the excitement for this fantastic event is reaching new heights. Emotions run high this year with the same winning team as last year, featuring racers Joel Hetrick, Chad Wienen, and Bryce F...

Join us for the life story of an enthusiast racer and product developer, Chris. As a child, he rode along with his older siblings on three-wheelers until he was old enough to ride by himself in the nearby riding park. When the park closed, Chris turned to racing as the next best way to satisfy his love for riding. However, the cold weather limited racing to only three to four months, except for ar...

Doug Eichner's journey began in Washington State, racing 3-wheelers before transitioning to ATV racing. His strong work ethic and ability to adapt helped him secure a welding job with JP Racing. Eventually, he moved to Southern California to propel his racing career. Doug Eichner started making waves on the world stage of racing, participating in international and national events. In 1993, he made...

Traci Pickens, hailing from a racing background, grew up watching her father and his brothers ride Jeeps and Buggies. As a young girl, her family enjoyed recreational ATV rides on weekends. However, life took a tragic turn as Traci lost her brother and father just four months apart. Despite these heart-wrenching setbacks, Traci's passion for riding ATVs and racing remained undeterred. She worked h...

Herry Klemm grew up with the advantage of having a father who was a motorcycle enthusiast during a time when motorcycles were not popular. With his brother by his side, Herry secured a job at a motorcycle shop in National City, where he learned the art of creating something out of nothing. Herry's self-taught skills led him to approach racers at Corona Raceway, offering to build machines for free...

Dave, driven by his passion for law enforcement, set his sights on becoming a police officer from a young age. Starting as a San Diego police explorer cadet at 15, he worked his way up to the rank of lieutenant before leaving the Cadets at 20 to pursue a career in the real deal. Dave dreamt of joining the San Diego PD, spending his Friday and Saturday nights on ride-alongs, and paving his way to s...

In his second year in the pro class, Zack Decker's journey to the top is closely followed by analysts. While he was initially mentioned as someone to improve, his progress surprises everyone. In this episode, we speak to Zack about his recovery and preparation for the 2023 season. Just over two months ago, tragedy struck at Gatorback, causing a crash that ended Zack's season. We delve into his sur...

Cesar Jimenez, a native of Costa Rica, embarked on a remarkable journey as an ATV rider in his home country. In 2013, his passion for racing was ignited when he stumbled upon ATV magazines, revealing a whole new world of possibilities in the United States. With unwavering support from his loving family, Cesar began riding ATVs at the tender age of 4 and took part in his first race at 7. Under the...

After a setback in the final round of 2022, Niamh faced a two-month delay in her racing progress. However, with the support and assistance of her family, she managed to get back on track. Join us as we explore the extraordinary life of Niamh, who not only excels as a professional ATV racer but also juggles her college studies online. Her dedication to racing and pursuing a nursing degree is truly...

"Shattering Gender Roles: Shannon's Journey in 80s Racing" In this episode, we meet Wayne, an influential figure in the racing program PEP. Little did we know, he would become a game-changer for Shannon's racing aspirations. Wayne persuades Shannon's dad that a quad is a way to go, completely transforming Shannon's racing trajectory. As the sole female pro racer during that time, Shannon boldly ju...

Meet Summer Kukla, a 17-year-old girl with a small stature but a big passion for racing American Flattrack. For Summer and her family, racing is more than just a hobby - it's a way of life, and their goal is for her to advance to the pro level. Despite being up against full-grown men, Summer is constantly challenging herself by moving up in class and machine size, ensuring that her skills are test...

The 2023 MX season for Andrea Racing has been impacted by external factors and economic conditions. Despite these challenges, Andrea is focused on competing in local and a few national races, while working hard on new developments and training at a higher level. The busy race schedule and professional work life have taken a toll on her personal life, being away from family for extended periods of...

Leon believed that going to MIT would be the best way to achieve his dream of joining a professional race team, rather than finishing high school, getting a job at a local dealership, and hoping for the best. While at MIT, Leon met the owner of Root River Racing and the rest of the team. He sold them parts and helped out whenever he could. Follow Leon on his journey to fulfill his dream of joining...

Chad left Gatorback with a broken collarbone, scoring a 1 in Moto 1 and a 0 in Moto 2. Moving into unknown territory, Chad quickly spoke with his doctor to figure out a plan. On Monday, he underwent surgery and had a strengthening gusset added to his broken bone. With no word coming out of the Hetrick or Wienen camps, the ATV MX world was turned upside down, and after 12 years, a new points leader...

Jeffery Rastrelli comes from a racing family. His father, a former Pro ATV racer, has years of riding under his belt. He gave Jeffery the tools to build his own program. The truth is when people enjoy what they do for a living they are better, more robust, and able to make a difference in their racing program.  During his episode, Jeffrey told us about his 2023 goals. Jeffery’s Health and foc...

In 2022 Blair was running in the top 3 in both classes Pro am, pro sport until there was get off at iron man in the mud . Trying to come to his injury over early on unfortunately surgery was the only option  Graduating High school and moving to have more time to train on the machine and prepare for a 2023 season that could put him in to a sport on the proline in 2024. The purchase of a YFZ450...

Training at the advice of the physical therapist Jacob is coming to terms with where he is focused on life racing moving forward. Jacob had to fight off the inner voice to give in, sit down, give up, and call it quits. Building a new machine for the first time in 3 years asking Jacob about the rule change bringing in hybrids Jacobs's new YFZ450R with be Off-Road ready after the summer break As Jac...

The technical sides of physical efforts, machine, tire wear, and environment all make or break the race. For those looking ahead to make moves in difficult situations that can happen during a race. Cody is developing methods to keep his body and mind working together. Is like building a video game in his mind while blazing a trail through the trees. At the same time knowing his body has limitation...

In the off-season, the weather is so cold in Indiana that there’s no testing or riding. The new focus on training is increasing overall stamina for the end of the moto to increase overall finishes. 2022 was Logan's year of finding the best fit that made him comfortable to gain speed and endurance. The results at the end of 2022 showed that the development of the new package was doing the trick and...

In 1985 Suzuki released the Quad racer LT 250R. This set Cory’s world on fire. He told his parents he wanted to race ATVs. They didn't know anything about ATV racing, but fortunately, he's parents were open to their son’s desire to race quads. Local races in southern California were an every-weekend thing. Even Wednesday and Friday nights. This is how Cory’s story takes off. Brian Fry changed ever...

Rolling into 2022 the eyes were on the veterans looking to see who would come out on top when they washed the mud off Kinsey was in the 2 spots round two changed the game when the day was over she was on top of the box. Kinsey is having the season of a lifetime not finishing off the box all year locking it up with 2 races to go the support from her competitors and fans helped fuel the excitement&n...

Welcome to another two-part episode. In the first episode, we talk about the start of Cory Witherill's racing career. Following up again with him for episode 232 where he talks about his ATV career. Cory Witherill's mid to late 80s was an ATV racer from the golden state. Stadium racing to nationals the unthinkable happened that set in motion Cory’s career in motorsports.  A story for the ages...