Yamaha Motor Canada’s Wednesday Amateur Profile: Corey Sullivan

For this week’s Yamaha Motor Canada Amateur Profile, we stay in Ontario and take a look at Corey Sullivan. Corey lives just outside Alliston, Ontario, and for the last few summers he’s spent a lot of time training under the watchful eye of Zeb Dennis and Iain Hayden at the Moto Park Academy. Corey’s riding has thrived in this environment and his recent results have proven that. We sat down with Corey to discuss how he feels heading into 2015 and also to find out a few of his favourite things.

MXP:  Hey Corey, I hope you’re doing well. The first question today is how old are you and where do you call home?

CS: Hey Chris, right now I’m 14 years old and live in Everett, Ontario.

How long have you lived there?

I have lived in Everett, ON my whole life. It is a great spot, as we have numerous local private tracks that we are privileged to be able to ride and help to maintain. I absolutely love the local dirt…sandy, loamy soil.

That is a great area of Ontario. So Corey, please tell us what class you’re currently riding and how long have you been riding?

I currently race in the MX2 Junior class and the Schoolboy class. I’ve been racing since I was 10-years-old, so 2015 will mark my 5th season of racing.

How was your 2014 racing season?

I was very fortunate to be able to spend the summer at the Moto Park Academy training and working hard. I left there feeling confident heading into the Parts Canada TransCan. I feel all the hard work and instruction I received from Iain Hayden and Zeb Dennis at MP helped put me on the podium with a third place in my final Schoolboy 1 moto. My good finish at the TransCan last year also won me the Total Devotion Award and a one week stay at County Line MX in Florida.

That’s amazing, I watched a few of your races last year at the TransCan and you were definitely on the gas. Prior to 2014, what were some of your past racing highlights?

I would have to say one of my favourite highlights would be racing two years in a row at the Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross. Racing on the same track as some of my favourite pro racers was pretty sick, and just being at Daytona Speedway was very cool.

I agree, there are few places like Daytona. Do you have a favourite track?

I’ve been lucky enough to have ridden a lot of tracks in Canada and the USA. My favourite track in Canada by far is Moto Park and in the USA my favourite track is definitely County Line.

These days the tracks have a lot of cool obstacles. What parts of the track do you like the most?

I like deep rutted corners and the ‘hero’ berms at Moto Park.

Awe yes, the famous berms at Moto Park, those are fun. Do you have one jump that you could call your favourite?

My favourite jump is the natural double at Walton.

Before a race, do you like things to be calm or rocking?

Is anything ever really calm at a motocross track? (laughs) Most of the time I like to go in the motorhome and chill, and I often listen to music to get me pumped up for my moto. So I guess I like it both ways.

When the thirty second board goes up, what are you thinking about?

I’m usually just thinking about trying to get a good start and try to get out front. I know that if I can get a good start the race will hopefully be easier.

I guess that answers my next question. Would you rather holeshot and win or come from behind and win?

Either way, getting the win would be awesome, but if I could chose…holeshot would be the way I would want it.

Changing the subject for a moment to school. Does everyone at your school know you ride dirt bikes?

I go to a very big high school, so not everyone knows me. However, everyone I know at school knows that I race, and several of my friends at school race or ride themselves.

What is your favourite subject at school?

I pretty much like everything at school but my favourites are gym and math.

Favourite thing to do other than ride a dirt bike?

I like hanging out with friends, cycling and working out.

Well Corey, thank you for doing this. Here is your final question. Who would you like to thank?

I would like to thank Iain Hayden and Zeb Dennis from Moto Park, John Nelson from Machine Racing, Bruce at Alias MX, Gaerne Boots, Rick and Debbie Bradshaw at Thermacoat Insulation, Smith Optics and Rolf at JRTF. I would also like to thank my parents for all their hard work, time, energy and support because without them none of this would be possible.