Five Minutes with … Derek Sorenson
MAY 9, 2008

Monster Energy Cernic's Kawasaki team manager, Derek Sorenson, and nationals' TV correspondent, Brian Koster, trade stories at SDL last year.

photo: Dan Stenning

By Danny Brault

With the opening round of the Monster Energy CMRC Motocross Nationals just three weeks away, we thought it’s time to check with the team managers of each respective team to get their thoughts on the approaching season. Our first candidate is Monster Energy Cernic’s Kawasaki’s Derek Sorenson. While Sorenson resides in Southern California, he was actually born and bred on the plains of Saskatchewan. His first job in the industry was spinning wrenches for Mitch Cooke on the Two Wheel Kawasaki team in 2001. So to all of you aspiring mechanics/team managers, you can make your dream a reality but it takes a little hard work and sacrifice.


RXC: Derek, I see you survived Las Vegas.
Derek Sorenson: Almost! I was a little foggy afterwards. We didn’t even really go out much Saturday or Sunday night. It was nothing too crazy, just hanging out.

Are you a fan of Sin City?
Yeah, I really do enjoy going there. You know, that’s a lie; sometimes I do. I really look forward to getting there and I really look forward to getting the hell out! I was bummed to be leaving this time because I didn’t have enough pool time. The MGM has a wicked pool and it’s so relaxing and I like hanging out in the sun right now [laughs].

You’re going to be soaking up lots of sun shortly, as the Canadian nationals begin in three weeks.
Well, it’s going to be a busy couple of weeks now.

I bet! With the supercross season put to bed, what’s going on now before Ste-Julie?
Last week, Heidi [Cooke] got down here—we got home at midnight—and the next morning, we got up bright and early for our photo shoot and then we went to Glen Helen for suspension testing with Pro Circuit. The next day, we went straight to Vegas so it’s been a bit of a whirlwind.

Her brother Mitch was telling me he got sucked into taking over the bakery while she was away [laughs].
Yeah, he got suckered into that [laughs].

You know the Cooke family pretty well, from working with Mitch, Ron Ashley, and the Two Wheel team back in the day. How did the deal come together for Heidi to join the Monster Energy Cernic’s Kawasaki team?
Once we were hooked up with Monster, it was a good deal for us, and I could see they have interest here—like they do in the U.S.—to saturate all aspects of Canadian motocross. It’s pretty clear that Heidi is the number one female rider in Canada, so I was able to get her affiliated with them when she wore the Monster Energy helmet last year. They are like family to me now; we get along and stay close. The next progression was we’re Monster and she’s Monster and number one. And the way the girl’s series is going, it’s getting bigger and bigger, and everybody wants to be a part of it. It’s good for us because she’s getting a lot of exposure and it’s good for our supporters because they’re not just supporting the boys.

It’s awesome to see you and all of the big teams stepping up to support women’s racing. Blackfoot’s helping out Jolene Van Vugt, OTSFF hired Missy Hackett, and Orange Motorsports/RTR Performance KTM has Kristina Sundal.
It’s really cool, because it’s tough for the girls. They don’t get paid; they don’t get everything for free.

Now last year wasn’t your first experience working for a race team in Canada, Derek. You also worked for Two Wheel Kawasaki back in 2001. What do you remember from your first experience working as national mechanic on that team?
That was one my most memorable years—obviously, because it was my first one as well. We weren’t quite as old school as a lot of the guys here, with the box vans, but Frenchie and I had the big quad cab dually and the goose neck trailer and we stayed on the road all summer. We had the camper in the front part of the trailer, so we stayed in there and Mitch and [Sean] Hamblin stayed with us most of the time. It was a good time. We didn’t make any money at all [laughs], Mitch had a tough year, but like I said, I got along instantly with Mitch. He and his family treated me really well. It’s funny, we were just talking about this, how you can spend your high school life with people, but after the last day of school, you never speak to them again. But then there are people you meet in a very short time, and some of those people are my best friends.

How have things changed since then, as far as operating a race team goes?
It’s hard to compare, because Frenchie and I took care of all the day-to-day stuff, but it was really Ron who took care of the details. It’s pretty much the same, but we’re fortunate now to have these energy drink companies involved. It makes things easier for the manufacturers, because it’s more expensive to run a team with four-strokes. The outside sponsors are making a difference right now, especially because the economy is so bad. Everyone needs at least one outside sponsor or else it would be really tough on the series.

Where are Dusty Klatt and Jeff Gibson at, with regards to outdoor testing and riding?
Yeah, it’s been good because Dusty has been here the whole winter and has spent time testing with Pro Circuit. He’s been riding outdoors for two or three weeks now. He was able to get a good step and he’s happy. Jeff came back after Seatttle and did some testing. He had a setting from last year that he was happy with. We made some changes that we really didn’t think would make difference, but he saw a night and day difference. He’s back home now in Ohio. We’re still working with Heidi and getting her setup.

Has Dusty turned the switch on?
[Laughs] Yes, he’s turned the switch on. Obviously, we were all concerned, but he’s like a different guy. It’s refreshing in my heart to see that. Since he’s been riding outdoors during the week, I think he’s been riding way better. Even at the last few races, he looks better on the track. I think he’s just starting to become more comfortable on the bike. Jeff looks friggin’ awesome outdoors too! I’m really pumped right now.

What are your predictons for the first round in Ste-Julie?
Well, we’re going to win that’s my prediction [laughs]. That’s obviously what I expect; I don’t expect our guys to be outside the top five, at any time. You know who I’m going to throw out for the MX2 class, Teddy Maier! I don’t know him at all and I’ve never really seen him ride, other than some videos from `06, but the guy hauls butt. But who knows?