So far the 2022 season hasn’t been easy for young Michigan rider Chris Blackmer. After a solid opening round in Kamloops which the rookie 450 series rider finish 4th overall, since then it’s been an up and down six rounds. They say in life and in sport that sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can begin your climb back up. Well, Blackmer’s low point was most certainly last weekend at SDL when he tangled with Dylan Wright in the second 450 moto and went down hard. The crash knock Chris out and also caused him some back pain as well as a few bumps and bruises. However, he not only returned to the track this past weekend at Round 7 at Riverglade Raceway but he also had his best race of the summer going 3-8 for 5th OA. This Sunday Chris is looking to return to the podium in Deschambault and after practice today we caught up with him.
MXP: Hey Chris! You had the chance to ride the Deschambault track today, how did you like it?
CB: I like it a lot actually. There are some stop-and-go sections and some technical sections, but overall it’s pretty good. I jumped the big double today so I’m happy with that.
That is a big jump and I was going to ask you if you cleared it today. Okay, so you got that out of the way, now you can focus on the rest (laughs). Overall, how is your body feeling after the last two weekends?
Pretty beat and sore, to be honest. Obviously, that crash in SDL hurt a lot, and then in moto two in Riverglade I ended up puking my guts out halfway through the race so that wasn’t pretty. But, hey we have four motos to go and I’m giving it everything I got!
Was it just the heat that got to you in Riverglade?
I don’t know. I don’t think I ate or drank enough or maybe I ate the wrong food. I don’t know, whatever it was I didn’t feel too great. But since then I’ve been able to get some fluids back in me and I’m feeling much better now.
That’s good to hear. Take us through that opening moto on Sunday when you battled hard to grab that final spot on the podium. At one point you were leading!
Yeah, I got off to a great start and made my way to the front. From there, I just tried to put down some fast laps and pull away. I know Dylan [Wright] was going to get stuck behind Medaglia so my plan was to try and build a gap. It worked for a little bit but Dylan is just going too fast and he’s in great shape so he passed me and then eventually Tyler got me also. I was pretty happy to get on the podium and get some TV time, especially after last weekend.
You even had the fastest lap time of the first moto which is pretty impressive. I must say that even though you’re a Michigan sand rider you ride the tacky ruts pretty well. Were you comfortable on the Riverglade track?
I love the ruts and sticky dirt, it reminds me of where I train down in Georgia. I felt good in the opening moto on Sunday so hopefully, I can do it again this weekend.
How old are you Chris?
Right now I’m only 19 but I turn 20 on Friday.
Wow! A birthday spent in Quebec, what a lucky guy!
That’s what everyone is telling me (laughs).
So you’re still young and still building strength and endurance. Overall this season are you happy with how everything has gone?
For the most part, things have been great. My team works hard and that makes me want to work hard. My bike has been good and it seems like it’s getting better each weekend. The top riders in the 450 class are in great shape and they have a lot of experience, a lot more than me. But I’m learning and I know that if I want to win races I need to get in better shape.
As we mentioned at the beginning you had a big crash last weekend with the points leader Dylan Wright. Now that you’ve had time to reflect and watch the video of it, what are your thoughts?
Well, I know it was a racing incident and both of us were going for it. I didn’t want to give up my spot and he was obviously charging to the front after going down early. We both came into that corner pretty hot but honestly, I think he’s a talented enough rider that he could’ve made the corner or at very least not caused me to go down. I’m now saying that he meant to take me down but looking back I think we could’ve both been aggressive and still had no one crash. But it’s just racing and I don’t hold any bad feelings towards him. He’s just a rad dude on a dirt bike and he’s definitely going fast this year!
Sounds like you have a good perspective on the situation Chris. I know I speak for everyone when I say that we’re all just glad you’re okay. The series and the 450 class needs you to finish the last few motos. Well, thank you for taking the time to chat with us. Enjoy the week at Deschambault and happy birthday on Friday.
Thank you Palms! We’ll see you down here later this week. I appreciate you reaching out.