Yamaha Motor Canada Presents MXP Chatter With Shawn Maffenbeier

When we think of Shawn Maffenbeier and his long, successful racing career, we forget that as of today he’s not even 30-years-old. Sometimes it feels like this multi-time champion has been around for such a long time. With that experience in mind, Shawn is on the eve of his return to the 450 class in the 2019 MXTour Series this summer. After an intense off-season training program in South Carolina, Shawn enters this year’s MXTour more prepared than ever. To get his thoughts on the opening round this weekend, as well as many other things motocross and non-motocross related, we sat down with the Saskatchewan native.

MXP: Shawn, here we are a few days away from the opening round of the 2019 MXTour in Calgary. You’re back in the 450 class and looking good. How are you feeling?

SM: I feel great at this point and I’m ready to go. Obviously, the work has been done and now it’s time to go racing and see how everyone stacks up against each other. This week is just about doing the little things and getting ready for Saturday.

This winter you changed your training program and headed to ClubMX in South Carolina. In the past your off-season program has always been based in California. Why the change of coasts this year?

Really, I just wanted a change and I thought with moving back to the 450 class and signing with the Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha Team it was perfect time to head to South Carolina. Also, my teammate, Phil Nicoletti, was there, so I figure it would be good for us to train together. Looking back now I’m super happy that I made that decision as right now I feel better and more prepared than ever.

You’ve been around a while, or at least it feels that way sometimes. Are the opening round nerves still there or with your experience are you feeling relaxed?

I don’t think there are nerves that I feel anymore, I think I’m more excited, really. In years past I maybe overthought the first round and made myself more nervous than I needed to be. Right now, I’m just excited to get to Calgary and get this series started. As I said above, the hard work has been done and now it’s time to go racing and do my best.

Unlike the last time you raced in the 450 class when the opening round of the Nationals was your first meaningful race of the season, this year you competed in the AXTour and had a pretty good series. How did those four races go from your perspective?

I think they went well. Up until the opening round in Abbotsford I’d never really raced a 450 indoors or even practiced on a 450 on a real SX track. So, it was definitely a steep learning curve as it’s just so much bike to ride on such a tight track. Even on a SX track it’s so easy to over ride a 450 and get yourself in trouble. So that was new for me so I didn’t want to push too hard and make a big mistake during the AXTour. However, looking back on it I’m glad I did that series and got some intense racing under my belt prior to Calgary this weekend.

Also, you haven’t really raced these 450 riders for a few years so I would think that it might take some time to learn their tendencies.

You’re exactly right, each rider races differently and it does take some time to figure out what they’re going to do in certain situations. I think that’s why for me it was good to race the AXTour Series and get a head start on learning how to race the 450 class again.

As we’ve mentioned, this year isn’t the first time racing in the 450 class as you did it with your family a few years ago. This time, though, you’re under a factory tent and you have a lot more support.

Exactly! Last time I raced in the 450 class it was on a deal that my Dad and I put together, and we just travelled across the country and had some fun. It was a great year overall, and it allowed me to get a good ride in the 250 class and eventually win a championship. Now I’m back in the 450 class, but as you said with a lot more support and definitely with some bigger expectations. The team knows this is a learning year for me but they also know what I’m capable of so I want to battle for podiums all summer long. We have a good package with the bike and the team so I’m excited to see what happens.

Going back to your off-season training program at ClubMX, you didn’t just go there and do moto after moto. The crew there actually put together a training program and it was a daily routine, correct?

Yes, that’s exactly what they did and it was honestly the best thing for me. They not only helped me with motos and gym work but they also broke down my riding style. Together we looked at why I do the things I do on the bike and we progressed from there. It was great to hear their feedback and it helped me to not only work on some things but also to know that I do a lot of things correctly on the bike. So, it really gave me a ton of confidence heading into 2019. Also, there were a bunch of fast riders there so every moto was intense and it was good to feed off the energy of the younger athletes.

It sounds like it was the perfect environment for you. I think it’s great that you were able to take some time and work on skills. Sometimes it seems like as pro riders get older they get so stuck in their ways that they’re hesitant to break down their style and do some skill base training to try to improve.

That’s exactly what we did and I feel like not only this season but long term I’m going to be a better rider because of that training.

Moving away from motocross for a minute, I want to congratulate you and your better half, Robin, on becoming homeowners this winter. That must have been a pretty cool feeling when you were handed the keys to your new home?

Definitely Palms and thank-you. It’s something that we’ve both wanted for a while, and to finally do it was great. We love it here in Kamloops and it just feels great to come home and know that it’s your home! So ya, another step forward in life and we’ll see what is next.

Well Shawn, good luck this weekend and for the rest of the summer. Thanks for talking the time to chat with me and we’ll see you Friday at the track!

Thanks for calling and catching up. Round 1 is finally here and I cannot wait.