Springhill, Nova Scotia's Ryan Lockhart

Springhill, Nova Scotia’s Ryan Lockhart begins the German Supercross series this weekend in Stuttgart. We caught up with him shortly before he left at a big party that was thrown by his parents to congratulate him on earning national #6 and to bid him farewell before his trip overseas. Some big names showed for the party, including the Mayor of Springhill! You’ll have to wait for the next issue of Racer X Canada for most of the photos but here are a few along with a brief interview with Ryan.

Interview and photos by Brett Dailey

Racer X Canada: You mentioned the possibility of going to Germany way back at the Kingston round of the Atlantic series. How did it come together?

Ryan Lockhart: Well, my friend Dave Hewitson was helping me out a bit and he wants to get into the rider management business. I never thought too much about it but he made some phone calls and got in touch with some people in Germany. It started going from there and, at first, it looked like I would ride for a Suzuki team and we were just kind of waiting for a contract to come through. In the meantime, I was in California for Sean Hamblin’s wedding and I got a call from [Jeff] Northrop because he was looking at going over there too. He called me up and said that he wasn’t going to go [Northrop is Darcy Lange’s teammate on the Babbitt’s Kawasaki team] and was wondering if I was interested in racing for a Kawasaki team that he had been talking to, EBS Racing. I told Northrop to give them my number and, sure enough, they called me in about a half an hour. We started from there and it turned out to be a good deal and I got a contract about a week later and signed it. I’m just trying to get some stuff worked out with the CMA. I had to buy medical insurance but I guess it wasn’t good enough for the FIM so I had to buy extra insurance for every weekend. I had to get a physical done for the FIM license which cost more money and I had to buy a CMA license which cost more money and I’ve been rushing around trying to get all of this done. Anyway, I’m good to go; I’m 100 percent ready.

When is your first race?

November 10^th and 11^th in Stuttgart, Germany. I have four races before Christmas and then I’m coming back for Christmas and then I have three races after Christmas.

Do you know who your teammates are yet?

I’m not sure yet but I think Collin Dugmore from South Africa is on the team. I raced against him before when I went to the Czeck Republic for that one race. I’ll fill you in once I know more.

Your party was very successful with an incredible number of people showing up to offer support. How did you feel and how did the party come together?

The party was great; my parents had been working on it for the past month. I didn’t know anything about it until I overheard her talking on the phone and figured it out. It was better than I had expected and I was surprised about the people that showed up. It was definitely good and a good way to end the season. I meant a lot to have all of the people come out that I don’t get to see. Sponsors are important but everyone there … those are the ones that have kept me going throughout the years. It meant a lot and hopefully we can do it next year.

Some fast company. How many can you name?

Who were some of the past champs that showed up?

Jack Stone, Bear Davis, Todd Cleveland, Devin Dixon and Larry Northrup, Glen Hoar. Lots of maritime champions there, that’s for sure.

I suppose you grew up watching those guys at the races on the weekend. Did you ever think you would get to the level you’re at now?

When I watched those guys race, I was small and they were the shit. They were where I wanted to be and even better. When I watched them race, I never even knew there was a level higher than that. They are guys that I have always looked up to. I certainly never thought they would be at a party for me!

A few guys were joking around about stretching the #6 out and making it a #1 for your next number.

Hey, that’s the plan. I don’t have a deal lined up yet but one way or another I’ll be back racing the nationals again and I know I can improve on it.

You’re switching gears a little bit, going from a privateer in the supercross series and driving around a lot to a good team in Germany. How will it help you?

I want to get into a position in my life and my career where I can go over and do really well for the EBS Kawasaki team so I always have the chance to go back if I don’t have anything going on here for the wintertime. Just like [Doug] DeHaan, he can go back there whenever he wants, he’s done really well over there. It’s going to help out and when I get home I’m still going to try to race supercrosses. This is a good way to establish yourself over there and who knows, it could turn into a GP ride or anything over there. If I can make some good contacts over there, maybe I won’t be stressing next May, June, July about what I’m going to do for the winter to make money.

Springhill's Mayor, Guy Brown. How many motocrossers get the Mayor at their party?!

That sounds like a good outlook.

Yeah, hopefully it all works out. I’m a little nervous about the first race because I haven’t been riding a whole lot but I’ll be getting in some riding over there and the goal is to just make the main event the first weekend and then go from there. I have no idea about the competition or the tracks so I’m going to take it one step at a time and build from there.

Good for you. Good luck and keep in touch!

Will do.