MXP Chatter: Bobby Kiniry

When the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals kick off at the end of May at Whispering Pines Raceway in Kamloops, BC, Bobby Kiniry will have to dawn the very unfamiliar #7. This ‘high’ number by Bobby’s standards is because 2014 just didn’t live up to the New Yorker’s high expectations. After taking a lot of time off the bike during the off-season last year, Bobby came into the 2014 Nationals well rested but also a little rusty. Even though he won the Regina National in the deep mud and had a few other bright moments, the rest of the series was a struggle. To change it up, this year Bobby has signed on to race the entire 2015 Amsoil Arenacross Series. This new adventure will allow him to race at a very high level for the next few months and be completely ready for the opening round in Kamloops. We caught up with Mr. Kiniry as he was relaxing at home after the first round of the AX Series in Cincinnati.

MXP: Hey Bobby, how are things? Did I catch you at a good time?

BK: Yes, no worries at all. We’re just chilling at home. It’s pretty cold here so there isn’t much to do outside.

Yes, I know all about it being cold outside. Let’s talk about the weekend, your first AX in awhile; how did it go?

I think it went well, I mean it could’ve gone better, but for the first round I’ll take it. I keep reading that I got 5th overall but they paid me for 4th so I’ll take it. The promoter has to be correct, right?

For sure! It must have felt good to get racing again?

Definitely, it always feels good to go racing again. I had some good battles with Matt [Goerke] and Blose so that was fun. The track was pretty cool, I think I was just a little rusty and made a few bad decisions. With it being my first AX in a few years I didn’t really manage the lappers very well. On those tight tracks you have to really plan out when and where you’re going to catch the slower riders. Well, I was running in second and I caught two riders in the whoops of all places, but that didn’t work out very well. Anyway, I felt like I rode really well. There were just a few mistakes like that one that cost me a shot at the podium.

I was a little surprised to hear that you were racing this series as I never heard anything about it. When did this deal get done?

It was fairly last minute so I don’t think too many people knew. My original plan was to race some of the East Coast Supercrosses, pitted out of one of the Yamaha trucks. I was going to get some help from Rockstar and our Canadian sponsors so I was pretty excited to do that. Then I got a call from Jim Perry at Yamaha USA and he asked me if I’d be interested in racing the AX series. At first I was kind of surprised that they called me to ride a 250F in AX, but as Jim explained things to me, I was quickly sold on it.

Not to mention that when the factory calls you never want to say no?

Exactly, so it went from there and it all happened pretty quickly. Once I started testing the 250F and getting used to it, I really started to enjoy myself. I’ve been riding a 450 for so long that I forgot how light a 250F feels. It’s a little busier when you’re riding it but it’s so much fun. Looking back I’m really happy I agreed to do this because it really makes me feel refreshed and good about my riding.

I know your buddy Shawn Maffenbeier spent a little time last week incarcerated, but did you call him and ask him for a few 250F riding tips?

You bet I did (laughs). Shawn is actually one of the few riders that I know that sometimes practices on both a 250F and a 450F during the week. He says it helps him a lot. Hopefully when the time comes to jump back on a 450 I’ll be that much better and ready to go for the summer.

Last summer didn’t go exactly how you wanted. You had some real highs but also some lows. Once the 2014 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals ended, were you able to reflect and figure out what happened?

We always sit down as a team and go over what happened, even when we’ve had a good year we sit and talk about it. I think it was just a combination of a few things that I definitely have looked at and learned from. Prior to 2014 I had my knee fixed during the off-season, so I used that opportunity to heal up and do a lot of off-the-bike training. By the time I was ready to race it was already halfway though the SX series so I wasn’t about to jump into the middle of that. So I just practiced, trained and prepared for the opening round in Nanaimo last year. Although I felt recharged, I didn’t really feel sharp and it took me too long to get back up to race pace.

Some riders can just train, practice and be ready, and some have to just keep racing. You’re a rider that just needs to keep racing correct?

I know now that I am, last year was just a little experiment to see how I would do and it didn’t work out. You live and learn right? With racing AX now I’m going to get the best of both worlds. I’m going to get to keep racing and as I said before, racing AX and riding a 250F has made me feel really refreshed. Not to mention that this weekend in Cincinnati felt like being at the Canadian Nationals, everyone was really nice and it feels like a pretty relax atmosphere, I really like it so far.

I probably should’ve asked you this at the beginning so I will now. The last time we saw each other was in Las Vegas at the Monster Energy Cup when you couldn’t fist pump very well at the after party because your hand was freshly broken. How long did that injury take to heal?

Yes, you know it’s a tough injury when you can’t even dance (laughs). Yes, the Monster Cup pretty much summed up my 2014 so I was happy to get over that. That injury actually took about six weeks to heal, it was tough but it was also a good chance to just relax. Once it healed up I headed over to Germany for a couple of SX races over there so that was fun to get back racing again.

Well, we’re glad you able to heal up from that injury. So the plan right now is to race the entire AX series and then prepare for the CMRC Nationals?

For sure, hopefully I can stay healthy, get some wins here soon and challenge for the championship. After that it will just be riding outdoors and getting ready for Kamloops.

Okay, I have to ask you this: You’ve never been a big fan of the track in Nanaimo, so are you happy that the 2015 series is going to start at Whispering Pines?

Definitely! I think for me personally it will be better because I really love the Kamloops track and I’ve done well there in the past. However, that’s not a knock against Nanaimo, I just don’t ride that track very well. I know some riders like that place and the promoters really do work hard to make it the best it can be for us. At the end of the day, all the riders have to race every moto regardless of what track it is.

Very well said Bobby, you’re a true a professional. Final question: you must be excited for the Rockstar Energy Drink OTSFF Yamaha Team in 2015. You guys have a pretty good line up of talent?

The team is in a very good position heading into this season. We’re bringing in Matt Goerke to race the MX1 class along with myself, and also Maffenbeier will be back as a title favourite in the MX2 class so it should be great. We learned a lot last season with regards to both bikes so we’ll definitely be prepared come May. I think it’s going to be great/ The series is great with Rockstar behind it and the tracks are all good. Can you tell I’m looking forward to the summer? (laughs)

Yes I can, I can’t wait either. In the meantime, best of luck in the AX series and hopefully we can catch up again real soon?

For sure, thanks for calling Palms.