Five Minutes with … Davey Fraser
MARCH 4, 2008

Can you name the complete Ignition Racing/RXC Factory Rider for a Day Team? (Top to bottom) Jeremy Medaglia, Kyle Stephens, Ryan Millar, Jared and Parker Alison, Josh Penner, Kyle Murphy, Andrew Belin, Nathan Slater, Davey Fraser, and Karel and Kaven Benoit.

By Danny Brault

While most riders are training in Florida or Georgia, Nova Scotia’s Davey Fraser has taken up residence in Oklahoma. Fraser’s been staying at a buddy’s place and riding his 2006 KX250F and 450F that I watched him ride at the Millsaps Training Facility two years ago. The bikes are pretty roached, says Fraser, so I assume he’s working hard. Riding Yamahas last year, Fraser scored top-10 finishes in MX2 at Ste-Julie and Moncton, and he raced the Western MX1 rounds where he scored points in six out of seven motos. For 2008, Fraser joins the Label It Honda Team. He will race MX2, and Jason Burke is back again to race MX1.


RXC: Davey, what’s been going on this winter?
Davey Fraser: I’ve been in Oklahoma all winter riding dirt bikes!

Who are you staying with?
My buddy Kurtis Kuryk.

How do you know Kurtis?
Kurtis used to live in Nova Scotia, where I lived, and then he moved to Oklahoma for his dad’s work. I’ve kept in touch with him, and then bumped into him at the Mini O’s. I’ve been riding my Kawasakis from Millsaps [in 2006] there.

When do you try out a Honda?
I’m trying to meet up with Brad [Coles] next week in Alabama. I’m in the process of trying to figure out all of that stuff now.

How did you get hooked up with Coles and the Label It Team?
Mostly through Aaron Wiebe. He mentioned to me that he wanted to start a team, or do something with Brad, but then that never happened. Then Brad called me and said Aaron had passed my name along.

And so you’re racing MX2 for Label It?
Yes.

That team will be a good fit for you. Brad’s a good guy, and Jay Burke isn’t too hard to get along with.
Yeah, I’m pretty happy.

In just his first year pro, Fraser earned national number 47. After racing the Western MX1 rounds, and grabbing top-10s in MX2, Fraser bumped his number down to 23.

photo: James Lissimore

Last year, you raced most of the MX1 rounds, and all of the MX2 East races. What was the experience like traveling out west and racing against the big boys?
I mostly raced MX1 out West, and focused on MX2 in the East, but I did race a few rounds. I liked racing MX1. It was a good experience. I got to ride all of the tracks, and now I’ll ride them this summer on the little bike. I think it helped me get faster by racing them.

Were you nervous at all lining up with JSR, Carpenter or Facciotti?
I don’t think I got nervous, but I didn’t ride with the confidence I should have had. If I did get a good start, where I was up front, I just faded back. I only had one good moto in Nanaimo.

You scored points in nearly every moto though, right?
Yeah, just about every one. There was one in Regina, where I crashed off the start, and couldn’t restart my bike.

On the East Coast, you raced both classes at some rounds. Can I ask why? [laughs]?
More track time. I find, the more time I’m out on the track, the faster I go. If I ride two classes, I feel I’m at my fastest in the second MX1 moto.

I guess you must be in pretty good shape then if you can ride all four motos.
Yeah, well I don’t find the four motos the hardest part; it’s the two practices and two qualifiers before. You’re just going, constantly, all day. With the motos, they’re almost better because you can rest between them. When I practiced last spring, all I did were four 30-minute motos each day.

You picked up a temporary ride with Simon Homans Yamaha at Sand Del Lee and Walton, but I don’t believe those rounds went too well.
In Sand Del Lee, [Kaven] Benoit and I got together off the start. I think then I must have put a hole in the magneto cover, and oil started leaking. I didn’t know and kept riding until the bike blew up. For the second moto, we took my motor and put it into that frame. Then, I’m sure everyone saw the crash where I was rubbing my bum [laughs].

And you were also part of another team, the Ignition Racing/Racer X Canada Factory Rider for a Day Team! I believe you scored your best results as a FRFAD in Moncton.
Yep that was my best ride of the year!
 
What is your take on the Factory Rider program? How did you enjoy your experience?
I thought it was cool. It was [Nathan] Slater and I, so I’m glad I got to share that with someone like him. He’s a pretty cool kid. I was riding both classes and had my MX1 bike at my trailer and my 250F at Racer X, so there was a lot of back and forth. It was cool to do it in front of my hometown.

Have you been racing this winter?
The last two weekends, I did the first two races of the Okalahoma State series. I’m riding 2006 stock Kawasakis, with stock motors and suspensions—stock everything. I think I did well for my situation. In the early motos, when the track was smooth, I definitely think I had the speed to win. When it got rougher, I slowed down a bit. I think at the first one, I had a third and a fourth. Last weekend, I was fourth. Johnny Marley was in there, and Justin Berry and Robbie Smith too.

Are we going to see you racing the Toronto supercross?
Yep. I’m planning to.

Sweet, we’ll be cheering for you, Davey!
Thanks!