Five Minutes with … Chuck Mesley
MAY 20, 2008

Chuck Mesley scored his first ever MX1 podium at the Gopher Dunes national last year.

photo: James Lissimore

By Danny Brault

While most riders are putting the finishing touches on their race bikes, Stayner, Ontario’s Chuck Mesley is scrambling to find some pre-print numberplate decals. After waiting and waiting to hear if Honda could offer Machine Racing enough support, Mesley had to make a last-minute decision and switch to Team Honda Powerhouse of Milton. Despite not traveling south or racing arenacross or supercross, Mesley was happy to have a quiet winter off and allow his injuries to heal up. Is a month in the gym and two local races be enough preparation for Mesley to repeat his podium at Gopher Dunes? That’s a gamble, but if anyone can do it, it’s “The Mez.” We stole, literally, five minutes from Mesley as he was stopping by the Milton store for some new gear.

RXC: Chuck Mesley, what’s going on? We see you’ve found some Hondas for the year.
Chuck Mesley: Yeah, I picked up some Hondas from Powerhouse of Milton. It’s a deal with Chris Morgan and Rick Rundberg. It’s going good so far.

How come it took so long to wrap up a deal for 2008?
It’s always the same every year; it’s always been last minute. No one ever calls me up and says, ‘Hey, here’s some bikes.’ It’s always been a little tougher. I had a good winter though, took a bunch of time off the bike, and my body’s not aching anymore [laughs]. I’m just looking forward to the season.

How did you feel at your first outdoor race at Walton two weeks ago?
I felt all right. Damon Allen, he’s been training me and it’s been a late start for that because I was working six days a week, ten hours a day. He’s been putting me through the gears and grinding me out at the gym. I was happy with how things went at the first provincial.

Damon used to ride for Machine Racing, didn’t he?
Yeah, he rode Kawis in intermediate and then got some Yamahas one year from John [Nelson]. He didn’t stay at racing too long after that and then went to work.

The nationals are closing in fast, so what are you doing to prepare?
Just going to the gym and cycling everyday. I know the first two rounds are going to be real rough for me, but I’m just trying to ride as much as I can.

Are we going to see you trucking across Canada, chasing the whole series?
Not the whole series. I’m going to do the first four rounds. I’m not going to Nanaimo or Edmonton because it’s too costly. I will do the other rounds, for sure.

Are you taking your truck and trailer or driving out with your teammate, Kerim Fitzgerald?
I don’t think Kerim is going out west; I think he’s racing all of the provincials. I think Damon and I are going to head out west, he’s bringing his bike and we might race the Western Amateur National in Raymond. I had a great time at that event last year and Damon wants to race it.

What happens, if after four rounds, you’re sitting pretty well in the standings?
If someone’s paying my way [laughs], I’ll keep going. Unless that comes up, I don’t think I will be doing the other two. If that happens though, I’m hoping someone will help me get out there.

All right, Chuck, we’ll let you get back to preparing for Ste-Julie!
[Laughs] Thanks!