MARCH 21, 2006
By Danny Brault
Photos by Jean-Francois Trottier
Wow, has Blackfoot Honda Fox Racing’s Dusty Klatt been on fire the last two weekends or what? Following a very respectable 12th in the Lites main event in Daytona (after qualifying fourth in his heat race) Klatt cranked things up another notch in Orlando last weekend, winning his day qualifier, the night LCQ and then finishing eighth in the main event after a come-from-behind effort. As Dusty says, it’s been a learning experience and obviously, he’s paying attention in SX 101. We caught up with Klatt while he was watching some Toyota AX at Blackfoot’s cozy little crib in Georgia.
Oh, and I hope every Canadian (and American) that lives close to Detroit will be at Ford Field this weekend, supporting our troops. It should be good.
Blackfoot Honda Fox Racing's Dusty Klatt in Orlando.
RXC: Dusty, what's going on today?
Dusty Klatt: Well, it was raining out this morning, but it’s nice out now. So we’ve been just sitting in.
I heard the team had a photo shoot yesterday, how did that go?
Yeah, it went all right. I mean, nothing too exciting, just basically riding circles around the one area of the track where they want to do the photos, where the sun looks best.
Who was there? The whole team? JSR?
Yes, everyone is here. All the guys were in yesterday, so….
Can JSR keep up with you?
It’s his first time on the bike, it’s been five months. He wasn’t really riding much; he got blisters in five laps [laughs].
Will he spend time down there with you guys, riding?
Yes, he’s down here for a while.
So, things went pretty well for you in Orlando?
Yeah, it worked out pretty good. It would have been nicer if I could have made it out of my night qualifier. I was in right there, to make it in, but I got taken out in the second corner; I think somebody hit my front wheel coming into the corner and I ended up going down. I put on a hard charge and made it up halfway through. I won the day qualifier there; that was all right.
Did you get a good start in your day qualifier?
I was in fourth, and then by like within half a track I was in the lead and won it.
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Klatt finished eighth in the Lites main event at Orlando, just behind Kelly Smith. |
That had to give you a bit of confidence, winning your day qualifier?
Well, there’s not too many guys in it. But it was good; I didn’t feel good in the first practice and after that I didn’t think the weekend was going to go too well.
Well, things took quite a turnaround for you.
Yeah, pretty much. It was kind of nice. I was able to get a holeshot in the LCQ and make it in. Then in the main, I got a terrible start and came back to eighth. I was right on Kelly Smith on the last lap, and I was running out, anyway. The track was pretty tough.
Did you think with these last two rounds, with the tracks getting rougher and rutted, it’s helped you to do better?
It could be. I feel … I think I’m just learning every weekend, right now. I feel better every weekend and I’m not as nervous or anything like that. I’m learning what everyone is like and getting more comfortable with the whole atmosphere. Just learning and learning and that’s what this whole trip is for me. It’s been a good learning experience for me and it’s been good that Blackfoot has helped me out with it. It’s awesome.
How do you think, overall, this season has gone for you?
So, so. I mean, it would have been nice to have made those two main events there, and not having our bikes stolen and getting knocked out—that wasn’t too great, either. Other than that, I’m happy with the results. It should be good next year. I know what it’s like now and what it takes.
What’s been the team’s response so far?
They’ve been pumped with me making it into some main events. And they’ve been impressed with how I’ve handled the pressure, you could say. Jason [Mitchell] has been pumped that I’ve been making it in and getting good results.
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Can Klatt top 10 it again this weekend in Detroit? Top 5? We'll see. |
What’s with the name, Freebird, on the back of your helmet?
It means a lot of things, I guess. I mean, my column, it’s called Trans Am and Trans Am, the car, is a Firebird. That was one thing going. Other than that, I like to go fast and try to runaway from everyone. For the bird, I let a bird go last year at Walton. That’s how it came together.
You’re not ‘The Kid’ anymore?
No. That was a pretty sad one, I thought. [Laughs] Oh well, I thought I would change it up.
Good luck this weekend in Detroit, Dusty.
Thanks.
