MXP Chatter: Dean Wilson

When Canadians sit down in front of the television to watch either a supercross or an outdoor motocross race from south of the border, Dean Wilson is the rider that we’re all cheering for. Unfortunately, since becoming the 250 National Champion in 2011, Dean has been bitten by the dreaded injury bug on more than one occasion. After a strong start to the 2013 outdoor nationals on his Pro Circuit 450, Dean crashed while practicing and suffered another shoulder injury. We decided to give our favourite Scottish/ Canadian rider a call to see how he’s feeling and what his next move is going to be.

 

 Q: Hey Deano, how are you doing?

 A: Hey Chris, I’m doing fine, thanks for asking.

 Q: What are you up to today?

 A: Not much actually, just chilling out today. I’ve started to do physio on my shoulder but I don’t have it every day. I did it yesterday so today I am just going to have a little workout and relax.

 Q: Right now everyone is getting ready to race Southwick. How bummed are you that you’re in this predicament again with injuries?

 A: I don’t know; it’s just crazy. I want to be out there so bad, but honestly, I’m used to it now. With last year’s issues then this year with supercross and now with my shoulder again, I just can’t seem to catch a break these days.

 Q: Was the shoulder injury you got a few weeks ago as bad as the one last year because you were out a long time in 2012?

 A: Both injuries I tore my labarum so yes they both were bad. Pretty much everyone that pops their shoulder out ends up tearing their labarum so that is what happened to me again a few weeks ago. I ended up having to have surgery again, and the doctors put four anchors in my shoulder to hold it in place. It’s the same surgery I had last year, but to be honest it feels a lot better this time for sure. I already have a lot more range of motion. The good thing is that I know how to come back from this type of injury so I’ll be fine. I’ll just get strong again and come back even more motivated than ever.

 Q: There is never a good time to get injured, but you were just getting back up to speed and your 450 results were getting better each week.

 A: Yes for sure, I was definitely feeling more comfortable each time on the track. My goal this summer was to kind of feel my way into the 450 series and get stronger in each moto. By halfway through the series I thought I could be a top three guy, but that plan will have to wait.

 At the first round in Hangtown things didn’t go that well. I fell in both motos but overall I felt pretty good. The next round in Colorado I qualified fifth so I knew my speed was good. It was just a matter of building more strength. In the first moto I got a really bad start and finished a horrible 11th.The finish wasn’t great but I did charge the entire moto and felt great. In the second moto I was running sixth and fell. I got up and charged back to ninth and ended up tenth overall for the day. I have never been so happy to finish tenth overall because I did ride really well all day. I left Colorado really excited for the rest of the summer.

 Q: Then you crashed during the week and your summer was over again.

 A: Yes, that week I went back to California. During a moto at Perris Raceway I had a bike issue and ended up going over the bars and landed on my shoulder. I can’t tell you how bummed I was.

 Q: I think everyone in Canada was bummed when they found out you were injured again and out for yet another series. Let’s back up a little bit further and talk about supercross. You were by far the favourite to win the East 250 class. The series started great for you with a win, then what happened?

 A: Yes, the series started out exactly how I wanted it to in Dallas with a win. Everything seemed to be going well and then right after Dallas I was riding at Chad Reed’s track and I had a huge crash in the whoops. I went down really hard and bonked my head pretty good. The next race up was Atlanta. Although I was feeling not quite right and was a little off the pace, I ended up finishing second to Musquin in the main, which I was happy with considering the crash I had that week.

 The next race was St. Louis and I felt great. I was the fastest in practice, I won my heat race and then I had an alright start in the main, but I hit neutral in the first corner and fell back outside the top ten. I rode great and almost caught Hahn for the win. I just ran out of time. So heading into Daytona I felt like everything was going good and I was really confident heading into that race. I had a great start in the main and was running second behind Musquin early in the race, but then I cased a rhythm section and it kind of jarred my head again. After that I felt really off, my arms pumped up and I faded back to whatever I finished.

 Q: So that is what happened at Daytona. I watched that race and couldn’t understand why you were going backwards. I think everyone who watched that race was in disbelief.

 A: Yes, it was pretty frustrating, for sure. I was just trying to salvage as many points as I could and move on to the next race which was Indy. I worked really hard that week so I’d be ready. When I got to Indy I felt great in practice and grabbed the fastest time. Then during the start of my heat race I got the holeshot but my teammate just snuck around me. I was trying to carry my speed coming out of the first turn and as I hit the jump my momentum carried me wide and I caught a tuff block. Well, because I hit the tuff block I got thrown off my bike and slammed into the ground really hard. As soon as I hit the ground I couldn’t breathe. I ended up with a collapsed lung, a broken rib, and I compressed my back and separated my shoulder.

 Obviously that crash ended my supercross season and I threw away what should’ve been a 250 supercross championship. Even at that point I was starting to feel like this injury thing was like a broken record. After this latest injury I just don’t know what to think. I know that every athlete goes through injuries like I have. You just have to heal up and try to come back stronger. I am still young so hopefully I can get healthy and then start getting ready for supercross in 2014.

 Q: Are you signed for 2014 or do you have to find a team?

 A: No I am not signed as of yet. Obviously I was looking for a good year in 2013 so it would make it easy to find something. I’m not sure what I am going to do.

 Q: Like you said though, you’re still young and everyone knows that you’re not a kid that gives up. You’ll find a ride and you’ll be back on top before you know it. Maybe you could come to the TransCan in August and sign some autographs. You’ve had a lot success at that track.

 A: Yes, I have won a few championships there and it was one of the tracks that I really liked racing on when I was younger. I remember going there as a kid and the event was so big, it was cool to race in front of my friends and family. I’d love to go back there soon and see everyone but I don’t think it will be this year. All I’m going to be doing in August is training to get back to racing.

 Q: It would be awesome to see you back at Walton Raceway one day. Maybe you could come back and race plus 30 in ten years or so. You mentioned family and growing up. Did your cousin Andrew teach you everything that you know? (laughs)

 A: Not one thing actually! (laughs). I’m sure he thinks he did though. No, Andrew is a great guy and definitely one of my biggest fans. We have a great family and we’re all very close.

 Q: Well Dean, thank you for doing this and I know I speak for all Canadians when I say that I hope you heal up quick and get back out there.

 A: Thanks, I’m going to work harder than ever to get back that’s for sure. Thanks for the call and thanks to Canada for all your support.