A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Darrin Sorenson (or Rookie as he is known to pretty much everyone) is a championship-winning mechanic who recently left Factory Yamaha. I worked with him for three years there and he is one of the good guys in the sport. Always willing to help out and a very positive person, he wiped the oil off of his hands and gave us five minutes of his time.

RXC: How's the new job, Rookie?
Darrin Sorenson: Good, real good. It's a lot more laid back than what I was used to.

Why the switch?
 Why not? It was time; the winds of change were blowing! [Laughs]

Dude, this interview is like pulling teeth. Okay, what is your new job title?
I am a suspension technician for KTM.  I should also add that part of the title should be apprentice, because I am still learning the ropes a bit.  I can't really rock the whole suspension technician title yet.

And I understand that you won't be just doing the supercross/motocross circuit?
No we are doing the WORCS series, the GNCC's and supermoto.  It's cool to do all of the different types of racing.  I am looking forward to it.  We have signed World Enduro Champion, David Knight, and I will be working with him.  Actually, my first off-road race will be the Phoenix WORCS race in a couple of weeks, so I won't be at Anaheim 2.

Do you still talk to The Chad, or have you guys broken up?
No, we are still buddies. You know how the whole buddy thing works! [Laughs]

Yeah, I guess I do.... So are you energized by this whole switch? Is this a new direction for you?
It's different; at the races I miss the adrenaline rush you get down on the floor. But then I remember what it was like working like a slave.  I have more respect for the mechanics now.  I do miss it ,but I am enjoying it,;you don't have the up and down emotions anymore.  I dig it.

At the end of my deal, I was getting kind of bored of the whole take your bike apart and put it back together thing. Were you?
Yeah, I was also.  With this job, I am learning constantly.  If you want to make yourself more valuable in the industry, you have to be well rounded.  You have to make yourself worth more.

Is it true that you made this move because you didn't have to get new team shirts?
Yeah, at first that was true!  I was wearing my brother's shirts for a while. But then I got kind of fat so they had to get me new ones. I am working on that.