Report and photos by James Lissimore

Anyone who has been around the BC motocross scene for the last little while, may have noticed a familiar name competing in  the MX2 West class this season, as Courtenay’s native, Lee Coutts, made a return to racing after a four year hiatus. Lee turned in some strong moto finishes over the course of the series, but inconsistency left him in 16^th place overall at the end (which was still fifth best Canadian). We caught up with the friendly Honda rider at the Chilliwack Arenacross—where he was spectating for the weekend— to find out more about his background and to hear what his plans are for the coming season.

RXC: How did you get into motocross?

Lee Coutts: My dad took me to a race when I was 11-years-old, in Port Alberni, and I started from there and just never stopped.

What were your amateur results like? How did you do coming up?

On 80s I didn’t get much opportunity, my dad was away in camp. I didn’t get to go to all the races for the first couple of years. About 1993, I got a new bike and started riding a bit more and then I broke my femur and that slowed me down big time. After I got back on the bike, I still didn’t do too much until I got onto a 125 and then I really started picking up the pace from there. I moved really quickly from Novice B to Novice A. I won the B championships that year and got second at the amateur nationals. The next year, I moved up to intermediate; I was 14 I guess, and won the BC championships. I won everything else I was in that year. Then I moved quickly into pro at 15—just turning 16—and got third in the BC Championships behind Brett DeVries and Al Dyck, and didn’t really have the money to do the pro nationals at that time.

That was back in the CMA days?

Yeah, this was the CMA days. Then the CMRC started coming in and I did good on the island and won a bunch of championships. In the ‘99 nationals, I got my first opportunity. My parents really helped me out and helped me get to the nationals. I had a borrowed 125 that I got from Brent Hamilton, I had my own 250 and I was doing pretty decent. That year, the series started in Barrie, Ontario. I was doing top 15 and then, in what would have been my best race; I was in seventh place and the fork springs broke on the face of a jump in Manitoba, I broke my collarbone pretty good and that put me out for the rest of the year. Then I was plagued with injuries right through to 2001. I finally hung it up and said, “That’s enough,” and went to work full time. I rode a little bit here and there,  then last winter I decided that I missed it too much and decided to get back into it full time.

So how long were you actually off the bike for? As far as racing professionally?

As far as racing goes, the Nanaimo national in 2001 was the last pro race I did until the spring series, this year in Port Alberni.

So the nationals you raced this year were the first ones since 2001?

Yes, and this is the first full national series I’ve raced in, where it was west and east. Back then, it was combined points, you rode 125 and 250 at the same time.

So what was your best finish this year?

I got an eighth at Nanaimo [in the first moto]. It seamed like at each round, I had a good moto and then a not so good moto; something always seemed to happen. But, I managed to finish every race and that was my biggest goal. I was 16^th overall and my goal was to get top 15, so I didn’t quite make it, but next year I’m going to step it up for sure.

So, what are your plans for next year?

Plans for next year are still up in the air right now, but I’m looking at getting some new bikes. I’m not sure if I’m going to be racing here on the mainland, or if I’ll be back on the island  for the spring, but my plans are to race the West Coast nationals again, it just makes it a lot easier cost-wise for me. I’ll also be racing the BC Championships. (Lee won the +25 BC title this year.)

How come you’re not racing tonight?

Actually, I sold my last bike today. I sold it this morning and I’ve just been working full time and haven’t really had time to ride. Between that and not having bikes, it’s not worth getting hurt. I’ve learned my lesson by now, Arenacross beats you up pretty good. I’ll sit back and watch for now, until I can make sure that I can go out there and put in some serious results.

You mentioned that you’re working full time, what are you doing for work these days?

I’m running a loader at a crushing plant and a gravel pit.

Give us a rundown on your sponsors, who has been helping you out this year?

I’ve got to thank Courtenay Motorsports, Troy Lee Designs, 661, Renthal, Pro Circuit, Gaerne, Factory Connection, Oakley goggles and Crower Power motors.

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