Five Minutes with … Kyle Keast
MAY 7, 2008

Can Kyle Keast relive his podium experience from the Gopher Dunes national in 2006 this year? We'll find out in four weeks!

photo: Allison Kennedy

By Danny Brault

A debate is going on at www.mxforum.com over what is the best way to build confidence, keep it, or avoid losing it before the Monster Energy CMRC Motocross Nationals kick off. Some say it’s best to practice, practice, practice; others believe you need to get out to the races, be on the starting gate, and “practice” true race conditions. Machine Racing Honda’s Kyle Keast prefers to race, rather than hiding out until Ste-Julie. It’s paying off as Keast destroyed the MX2 and MX1 pro classes at the Gopher Dunes Provincial, which included top guns DeHaan, the Medaglia brothers, Burke, Hall, O’Farrell, Fitzgerald, Dubé, Hayden, Chamberlain, and Sheren. We caught up with “Kyle the Welder” yesterday while he was picking up some parts from The Machine.

RXC: Kyle, a big weekend for you at the Gopher Dunes Provincial! Did you expect to win all four motos?
Kyle Keast: I was hoping to walk away with all four moto wins. The two 450 races, I had high hopes. In the little bikes, I didn’t know what to expect because I haven’t raced one in a while. After the first moto, I figured I could do it and it just worked out in my favour.

It was a little surprising to see your dominance on the 250F, considering your lack of seat time on it.
Well, the little bikes are so light; you just need to keep your momentum up. [Johnny] Silegren and I went riding the day before to get used to it. I wasn’t really surprised; I know how I can ride a little bike.

Are we going to see you double-classing it at the Dunes National?
[Laughs] You’ll have to talk to my sponsor about that!

Why? Are you thinking about it?
[Laughs] No, I’m not going to ride two classes.

The starting line at Gopher looked like a Canadian national, minus a few guys. Who did you see as your biggest challengers?
Obviously, because I raced against [Jason] Burke at RJ’s, I knew where he was; he’s always fast, especially at Gopher Dunes. I haven’t seen [Marco] Dubé or [Tyler] Medaglia, and those were the two I was most stressed out about. After the first moto, I saw where everyone was at.

After a winter of hitting the gym consistently, "The Dozer" has shaved himself down from a D6 to a D3. He hasn't hurt his ability for moving dirt, however.

photo: Dan Stenning

How is it that a guy, such as yourself, can work all winter, hit the gym, race here and there, and come out and win like you did last weekend?
And drink coffee and eat Tim Bits [laughs]? Like I’ve said before, I think it has to do with heart. When I go out there, I go out there to win, no matter what. I was mad after that first 450 moto. I’m not saying anything bad about [Jason] Burke—I don’t want anyone to think that—but I wanted to win by 30-seconds. Burke put on an amazing ride and I only won by 10-seconds. I have high expectations this year. I know that my conditioning is there; I don’t have to question to that. My job isn’t a desk job, it’s a physically demanding job. I keep myself in shape that way. I go to the gym, and I do quite a bit of cardio.

Last year you struggled with injuries right before the nationals, but this year, you seem leaner and meaner.
Everyone knows what it’s like when you’re injured. The first race you’re worried because you don’t know what to expect from yourself and you don’t want to get hurt again and it’s always on your mind. That’s what happened last year, when I broke my collarbone, and it set things back. But because of my winter of actually getting to ride a little bit, racing some arenacross, not getting hurt and actually getting to train for the full five months off in the winter, that’s what is paying off.

What is your summer plan? Are you going to race the full MX1 series again?
I don’t know yet [laughs]. I’m going to say, for sure, six [nationals].  With everything that’s going on with the industry, it’s hard to say.

Who are your biggest supporters this year?
It hasn’t really changed. Gord Ivany is helping me out this year with Pro Circuit motors—that’s another thing that is bringing my confidence up., my family, my girlfriend, Gord Gilliatt at Podium Grafix, No Fear, Barry [Heatherington] from Fourwinds, Hoek Van Holland Landscaping, Machine Racing, Honda, and John Nelson.

Thanks, Kyle. Good luck this weekend at Walton!
Thanks!