Five Questions With Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s Adam Robinson

With the 2015 outdoor season now history, we get to look back at the summer of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals. For the next few weeks we’ll speak to all of the Team Managers and get their thoughts on how the summer went for them. To kick off the Five Questions with the Team Managers, we caught up with Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha’s boss Adam Robinson who helped lead his team to the 2015 MX1 Championship with Matt Goerke.

MXP: What have you been up to since the final round in Walton?

Adam Robinson: It has been business as usual. The boys have been busy prepping bikes to sell and we’ve been getting everything moto-related organized in preparation for off-season testing. We only have eight months to get ready and every week is going to count!! I took a few days off to go fishing and work with my brother’s tree service business (Green Field Tree Service and Grounds Keeping), but other than that we’ve been at it five days a week in the shop.

MXP: Are you happy with how your team’s summer went?

AR: I feel fairly content with how our summer went. I’m proud of Matt and how he handled the pressures of contending for and winning a championship. He minimized the bad days and really excelled on the good days. I’m proud of the whole team. Everyone (riders and crew members) has a crucial role on race days, and there was not one Sunday out of ten that I felt we left anything on the table.

Now that we’ve won a legitimate National title, it is a good time to step back and look at areas where we could have been better and set an even stronger game plan in place for next year. Our preparation coming into the 2015 season was hampered by injuries and conflicting schedules, but still everyone on the team showed great resolve and we hit the podium right away.

I believe that in racing, a program is only as good as its support network and we have some of the best equipment and companies in the business supporting us. It showed this season with how quickly we got Matt comfortable enough to push himself on the racetrack.

Unfortunately, Shawn got off to a slow start due to an injury sustained in the off-season, but gained momentum as the series went on and had quite a few podium finishes. I think if he could stay healthy for an entire year, he’d be on the box right away, which is the key to being in a championship hunt. Sadly, injuries and DNFs are a reality in our business.

I know Bobby was never content with his results this summer and they don’t speak for how hard the guy works on and off the track, but we are happy with the job he did. He is a good dude and does a great job when he is on the podium. He is more professional than anyone in the business.

MXP: What was your best moment of this past summer?

AR: I think the standout moment for me was when Matt won Moto 2 in Regina. He and Metty went at it for what felt like an eternity! We made a pretty big bike change going into Moto 2, and while we made a well-educated judgment call, there is always a small question of what if your plan doesn’t work out. There were no what ifs that day! For 30 minutes those two went at it grip to grip! It was awesome!

A close second moment was when Matt crossed the finish line in Moto 2 in Walton to clinch the championship. It was more a feeling of relief than excitement because that moto was the most stressful 35 minutes I’ve endured in a long time!

MXP: Is there a moment that you’d like to forget?

AR: Bobby’s crashes in Moncton – He is tough as nails, and when he didn’t get up right away I knew it wasn’t good. He dislocated his jaw, broke his foot and I’m sure broke a few ribs. That was all in Moto 1! He then lined up for Moto 2 and ended up crashing out.

Shawn’s DNFs – I believe that Shawn would have ended up with an overall podium for the championship if not for the DNFs, but like I said, they are a part of the business.

The second corner crash of MX1 Moto 2 in Walton – That was a worst case scenario for our team. In the end it played out in our favour, but I’ll tell you, I was in pure disbelief when I saw Matt and Colton laying on top of each other at the start of what would be the championship deciding moto!! I was fairly hot at the time, but looking back I don’t know that anyone else in Facciotti’s position would have done anything differently. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking that chance. Now, if we had have lost the championship, I most likely would have a different opinion, as anyone would.

MXP: What do you feel is the hardest part about being a team manager?

AR: In the grand scheme of things, it’s not that difficult of a job. I go to work and do something that I enjoy doing most days. Other than fishing for a living, I couldn’t ask for a better gig. The way our program is structured, the team owner deals with the financial side of the business, and we have a great marketing department so I have it pretty easy compared to most people in my position. I manage day-to-day operations and the technical aspect of our program.

The technical side comes fairly easy to me because that’s the background that I stem from. The one thing that can be really challenging in this business is matching personalities. And I would say that it is one of the most difficult things to do. When you do get it right and there are good synergies, it’s a pretty cool thing to witness. The team operates as one unit, and we were fortunate to have had that synergy this season. I think the hardest part of my job and that any one in our business deals with is being away from home, especially with young kids at home.