Privateers generally don't have the luxuries or finances that factory team riders have and therefore require much more flexibility and a willingness to adjust with changes, especially sudden ones.
So, with the 2020 Supercross season shutdown because of the coronavirus and now a late start planned for the 2020 Motocross season, riders have to contend with what amounts to an unplanned off-season, then get ready to ride Outdoors, and if current trends play out, head right back to Supercross in the fall.
This interruption affects all riders but for privateers who generally fend for themselves when trying to make mains and making a name for themselves the work stoppage turns into a much larger wall jump to get over.
We rounded up several privateers currently training for Motocross and/or who made the Main Event this year in one of the 10 rounds of the Supercross season. We tossed them the same questions to get an idea of how the work stoppage affects different personalities and training regiments. This made sense for some, but not others, as you'll see but we got an idea of how they handled all the coronavirus news and their plans for the rest of the year.
Carson Brown, Ryan Breece, Chris Howell, Devin Harriman, Brian Marty, Gared Steinke
Carson Brown #95
Supercross rounds entered: Six - 250 West
Bike: Husqvarna FC250
Years Pro: 2 years
1. Pretty big wrench thrown into your racing season! How did you handle the news of all the race cancellations?
It's been pretty crazy these last few weeks for sure. We didn't really know what was going to happen day to day with some races being cancelled and others not. But at this point, they are all postponed until later in the year, so that gives us some time to figure things out.
2. Are you sticking with your normal routine or using this time as your off-season?
I'm using this time to dial things on the training program side of things. I have been doing some outdoor testing too. I'm back home in Washington instead of California at this point.
3. Can you ride and train or are all the tracks shut down?
All of the local tracks are shut down but I'm still able to ride since I live in the Cascade Foot Hills just outside of Seattle. I have my own tracks and trails out of the house. We are in a remote area where I can go days or weeks without seeing anyone. So not too much has changed for my daily schedule.
4. What are your thoughts on possibly racing Motocross then resuming with the Supercross season maybe just a week or two after Outdoors?
I planned on doing select rounds of the outdoors this year. At this point we will just have to see how the outdoor schedule develops during the coronavirus situation. Just like most people, there are a lot of unknowns for racing right now. If it goes off, I'll be ready to go!
5. What are you doing to pass the time (when not training) while we're pretty much confined to our homes?
I still ride pit bikes for fun in the backyard and have a few bike builds going on. I just finished up a CR500 and I'm going on some 110s and vintage bikes now.
Ryan Breece #71
Supercross rounds entered: Nine - 450 class
Bike: RMZ450
Years Pro: 19
1. Pretty big wrench thrown into your racing season! How did you handle the news of all the race cancellations?
Yeah, very big change going on for all of us right now. It became clear to me that racing was canceled in Indy the 10th round into the series as soon we touched base and landed around March 12th. So I began a different route searching for local northwest races for the next couple weeks to keep busy, trained, and earn a paycheck for the upcoming month. As far as the last couple weeks, it has put my job to a halt. We're still dealing with it pretty badly but all of us are trying to come together and get this virus gone.
2. Are you sticking with your normal routine or using this time as your off-season?
I have put a lot of my program to a stand still for the moment. No riding at all as we all know riding is a big risk factor with injuries and such and no one wants to be in or near those hospitals right now. I am still able to train off the bike though. Making sure I'm fit and ready.
3. Can you ride and train or are all the tracks shut down?
No riding for me. And most all tracks have closed.
4. What are your thoughts on possibly racing Motocross then resuming with the Supercross season maybe just a week or two after Outdoors?
As far as outdoor racing, I usually stay local upper-northwest and provide lessons to a few riders during my off time, so that won't affect me. I'm looking forward to having Feld Entertainment finish out the remaining Supercross rounds after the great outdoors. I think that's pretty cool!
5. What are you doing to pass the time (when not training) while we're pretty much confined to our homes?
Well first things first, I have stayed inside! I think staying home is the main thing. I am on my road bike if I'm not inside doing some gym workouts at home. I have begun reading and studying a lot more books and racing. Using the time to heal the Supercross injuries.
Chris Howell #97
Supercross rounds entered: Six - 250SX West
Bike: Husqvarna FC 250
Years Pro: 11
1. Pretty big wrench thrown into your racing season! How did you handle the news of all the race cancellations?
Yeah, it's crazy! I was definitely a little bummed when I found out about the race cancellations. I was looking forward to the last four rounds. I wanted to put in some Top 15 finishes.
2. Are you sticking with your normal routine or using this time as your off-season?
I've took a couple of weeks of to heal up my body. I have a little knee injury that I'm trying to get healed up. So the break has been nice for that.
3. Can you ride and train or are all the tracks shut down?
The Supercross track we can ride on is shut down. But there are a couple of spots open. But I have been focused more on the off the bike training like road and mtb.
4. What are your thoughts on possibly racing Motocross then resuming with the Supercross season maybe just a week or two after Outdoors?
I think that's really the only option they have to get the final seven rounds done. I think it will be interesting for sure. I'll probably only do Washougal National. So I'll be ready for Supercross when it starts up again.
5. What are you doing to pass the time (when not training) while we're pretty much confined to our homes?
I've been just relaxing and watching some Netflix (laughs). Along with a lot of cycling starting back up this last week. I also was able to frame rebuild both my race bike and practice bike. So they are fresh and ready to go!
Devin Harriman #216
Supercross rounds entered: Six - 250SX West
Bike: Suzuki 250F
Years Pro: Seven
1. Pretty big wrench thrown into your racing season! How did you handle the news of all the race cancellations?
It didn't really affect too much of what I had going on because I was supposed to have surgery the day after Seattle Supercross, but with surgery getting cancelled along with the rest of Supercross, I made the decision to finish the season out with local races but those were cancelled as well. With that said, I am continuing to give my Moto lessons through MotoLogic along with selling merchandise.
2. Are you sticking with your normal routine or using this time as your off-season?
The off-the-bike training has slowed down a little bit, but I am able to stay riding as much as possible throughout the weeks. I am always figuring it out.
3. Can you ride and train or are all the tracks shut down?
All of our local tracks are shut down right now. I can ride a few private tracks right now, but with the weather we have in the Northwest it limits the access of the private tracks we have due to them not being able to hold that much water.
4. What are your thoughts on possibly racing Motocross then resuming with the Supercross season maybe just a week or two after Outdoors?
It does not really bother me because I wasn't planning on racing outdoors this year so it gives me a little bit of an advantage on the people that are participating in outdoors so I can just focus on the remaining season of Supercross.
5. What are you doing to pass the time (when not training) while we're pretty much confined to our homes?
I am training kids through MotoLogic right now which has been really exciting and helping us to get outdoors a bit. I recently just got back int BMX riding as well so I stay pretty active with that and I also just purchased a pit bike, a CRF110 so I can throw down with the buddies!
Brian Marty #974
Supercross rounds entered: Five - 250SX West
Bike:Husqvarna FC 250
Years pro: Three
1. Pretty big wrench thrown into your racing season! How did you handle the news of all the race cancellations?
Definitely a huge shocker with the season being cancelled since we haven't really seen something like this. I handled the news of the race cancellations very good since I was already hurt with a broken femur.
2. Are you sticking with your normal routine or using this time as your off-season?
I am using this time to heal and get back to riding as fast and as safe as possible. I'm currently staying in Montana right now since it's one of the safest states right now with the virus going on.
3. Can you ride and train or are all the tracks shut down?
I am currently hurt so I can't really ride anyways but I have heard almost all of the tracks are shut down except for the private tracks.
4. What are your thoughts on possibly racing Motocross then resuming with the Supercross season maybe just a week or two after Outdoors?
Personally I'm bummed for everyone else racing that it got postponed but I'm extremely thankful that I'll get another chance to race Supercross in 2020. Also, I think racing outdoors and going straight into Supercross a couple weeks later will be very interesting. It's going to be a lot tougher to get ready for Supercross since everyone is going to be prepared for outdoors. It'll be nice to have all the riders prepared for outdoors because normally most of the riders don't have enough time to get ready with Supercross being so close together.
5. What are you doing to pass the time (when not training) while we're pretty much confined to our homes?
I am doing a lot of physical therapy and at home workouts to get my leg back in shape after my injury. Been eating healthy and trying to be ready as best I can for the rest of the year.
Gared Stankdog Steinke #726
Supercross rounds entered: Planned to enter four
Bike: Kawasaki kx250f
Years Pro: 11
1. Pretty big wrench thrown into the racing season! How did you handle the news of all the race cancellations?
Not too big of a wrench for me considering the Kicker Arenacross season I was doing had finished. However, I was planning on doing some of the West SX Lites Monster Energy Supercross series. So it does suck I'm not getting to do those now.
2. Are you sticking with your normal routine or using this time as your off-season?
Routine? (Laughs) Just doing my normal stuff, having fun, riding my dirt bike, and chilling.
3. Can you ride and train or are all the tracks shut down?
I have been stuck in Denver Colorado, and we have been able to ride the local tracks and a local legend Bobby Fitch's house.
4. What are your thoughts on possibly racing Motocross then resuming with the Supercross season maybe just a week or two after Outdoors
I wouldn't mind it considering I consider myself a more technical rider and wouldn't have a problem going right into Supercross being comfortable on the bike and track.
5. What are you doing to pass the time (when not training) while we're pretty much confined to our homes?
Chilling and hanging with the homies, doing work outs out back, and playing Supercross 3 on PS4.
