Two Tribes: Dusty Klatt vs. Glen Hobson
MAY 7, 2008

Cernic's Kawasaki rider, Dusty Klatt, and his mechanic, Glen Hobson, square off in this edition of 2 Tribes.

photo: James Lissimore

By James Lissimore

By most accounts, Dusty Klatt’s US debut last season with the Star Racing Yamaha team fell short of pretty much everyone’s expectations. It did accomplish one good thing: At Star, Dusty was partnered up with mechanic, Glen Hobson, and the two immediately hit it off. Nowadays, you’d be hard pressed to find one without the other and when Dusty made the off-season switch to the Cernic’s Kawasaki team, Glen was right there with him making the move as well. Who better to square off than the guitar playing, Canadian/American duo. Enjoy!

RXC: Best thing about working with Glen/Dusty?
Dusty Klatt: Glen’s just like me so it makes life easy around the tent. Really, the guy almost seems pretty identical to me so I think that makes getting along easy anywhere I am.
Glen Hobson: Just a great personality. He’s easy going and knowledgeable about the bike and what he likes and doesn’t like. Just an all around good guy to work for.

Who’s the better Guitar player?
DK: Glen. He’s got about 8 years on me.
GH:I think I’ve got him right now but he’s coming on strong. He’s got a little more free time on his hands than I do [laughs].

Last movie you liked so much you watched twice?
DK: Pirates of the Caribbean 3.
GH: 60 years and a Day. The story about the MX of Nations.

Who’d win in a fight between Glen/Dusty?
DK: Glen would. Glen’s got the man muscles over me, for sure. I just hope my cat like reflexes for starts would miss all his punches til he weakened out from all the coffee he drinks and then maybe I might be able to get a couple of swings in!
GH: He’s in so much better shape than I am it’s not even funny so if he made it past a couple of punches he’d probably take me down.

Who is the craziest Canadian?
DK: I don’t know, I’ve heard about Boo Green. I don’t really know the kid but from the stories I’ve heard he’s pretty crazy. Besides him, I’d have to throw Lee Coutts in there as the craziest Canadian for sure.
GH: Ha, I don’t know too many Canadians but I’d have to give it up to [Johnny] Montes from the stories I’ve heard.

Favorite Band?
DK: Metallica, of course!
GH: Right now I’m listening to a lot of Atreyu.

One item you would want with you on a deserted island?
DK: I think as long as I had my girlfriend I’d be pretty happy.
GH: A guitar, for sure.

Who is in your regular crew?
DK: [Laughs] Mike Kelly Sr. He goes everywhere with me. He’s a good guy to have around;, he comes with me when I go riding. Then on the weekends it’s Glen and the team.
GH: Aside from Dusty, it’d be Josh [Wisenor, Jeff Gibson’s mechanic), and my boy Jim [Barberie] back home.

Words to live by?
DK: Never give up!
GH: If you work hard at anything, eventually you’ll be successful.

Favorite Road Trip?
DK: It wasn’t fun, but probably the one with Pat [O’Connor] and Howie [Spencer] in 2005, when we got stopped at the border. That was pretty hectic, our 17-hour border trip.
GH: Last year, heading to the Four Stroke Nationals in Arizona. It was my first trip with Dusty and I really got a chance to know him on the drive out to Phoenix.

Favorite race that you’ve had with Glen/Dusty?
DK: I’m going to have to go with our best finish together. That was Seattle last year.
GH: Houston last year was our first win in the LCQ, that stands out in my mind but I got to say that Phoenix was good too. He came back strong after getting burned at Anaheim 1 and I was super pumped for the guy.

Best quality about Glen/Dusty?
DK: He’s a hard worker  and it’s good to have a guy that you trust. I don’t have to worry about my bike seizing on the face of a triple.
GH: I don’t want to kiss ass but he’s got a lot of good qualities. He’s just straight-forward and would give you the shirt off his back. He’s a super nice guy.

Other sports you’re good at?
DK: BMX
GH: I like to think I’m good at Golf but I know better.

One thing you’re looking to do when you get to Canada this summer?
DK: Win!
GH: Just seeing the country, meeting some new people and kicking some ass!