MXP Chatter-Kyle Keast

Kyle Keast is no stranger to comebacks or doing things his way. The stubbornness he sometimes shows off the track also has carried over to his performance on the track. This never-give-up attitude has made Keast a fan favourite over the years, proven many times at the Gopher Dunes Nationals. With all of this in mind it was a delight to hear last week that for 2015 Keast has signed on to be a part of the powerful GDR Honda Team alongside Westen Wrozyna. These two Ontario riders will work out of their own truck and will compete from coast to coast in the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals. We caught up with Keast as he is now over a month into his training for what could be the biggest comeback of his career.

MXP: Hey Kyle, sorry to call you so late. What’s going on at Kyle Keast’s home tonight?

KK: Hey no worries, I actually only got home a short time ago. I just finished dinner and now I’m ready to talk so it’s perfect timing.

Okay cool. Let’s jump right into this; I must admit that I was a little surprised to hear about your new deal with GDR Honda. Not because I didn’t think you deserved it, I just thought that after last season that you were over it.

I can definitely understand why you would think that I might be done as I didn’t have a very good year at all. However, at the end of last season when I looked back on how everything went, the thing I was over was how I went about last year. My only thought was that if I was going to keep racing then I was going to do it my way, without any compromises.

You’ve always seemed like the type of rider and person that does their their way. What will be different in 2015?

Thanks, I guess I come across that way but over the last few seasons things haven’t been exactly how I would like. Back in 2012 I had a great support package from Yamaha Canada and Machine Racing. Together we were making a run at the Nationals and I was excited. I had Ryan Lockhart as a mechanic and I was fit and riding better than ever before. After a good start to the series I got injured at Kamloops and was out for the rest of that year. After that I kind of felt like Yamaha thought I was done and they gave up on me a little. I was also getting very busy with my business so I made the choice to focus on that and make racing secondary. I didn’t want to but at the same time I had to.

So the plan was to get your business running smoothly and then refocus on racing. So this is where the GDR Honda deal came into play?

Exactly, I always knew I had more in me and after last season I needed to make some changes. To do this properly I can’t be worried about having a mechanical failure because I’ve been racing with a month old piston. I’m willing to put the work in to try to get back near the front, so I wanted a team behind me that believed in me. Obviously, the GDR Honda Team’s success speaks for itself so that is what I want to be a part of. I’ve always loved riding Hondas. Even though I won’t be pitted out of their rig, I will have everything I need to succeed. The rest will be up to me.

I think it’s quite common to reach a point in your career when you just want to do things your way?

I think so also, I mean look at Chad Reed in the USA; it’s the same thing. I’m just tired of hearing that I can’t do this because it costs too much or we can’t get this for your bike so we’ll just leave it stock. I’ve had some incredible support from places like Machine Racing and Bondi Engines, and it’s not their fault as they have budgets and bottom lines. This is why I’ve worked hard to get my business running the way I want so I can fund this adventure myself. GDR Honda is helping me with a lot of items but the expenses will be covered by me. This way, regardless of how I finish, I’ll have no one to blame by myself.

That sounds great Kyle, so I’m assuming the next step is to get yourself into amazing shape?

Yes, that is the plan. I’ve been training since December so I guess I’m about a month into it. I’ve never been afraid of the work, so while it will definitely take some time to get into shape, I’ll get there.

I also hear that you’ll be heading down south soon to ride and train. I know you’ve been down there before but never for very long?

I know, I’m very excited. We’re heading down to GPF in a few weeks and we’ll be down there on and off until the end of March, depending on the weather back here. Just to be able to be at GPF with my teammates and all of the other fast riders, training and riding with them every day is going to be amazing. Hopefully everything goes as planned and I’ll come home and be ready to go for the Nationals.

Well, I’m getting excited just listening to you talk about it Kyle. Congratulations on the new deal and best of luck down south. Thanks again for taking the time to speak to us. We’ll catch up again soon.

Thanks for calling Palms, it’s always good to talk to you.