By Danny Brault

Photos: Simon Cudby

It never fails. At about this time each year, on the eve of the eastern Canadian national rounds, some new kid is hired to contest the 125 East series. Last year Donnie McGourty, Shane Lusk and Paul Perebijnos all made their way north, this year Team Green’s Kyle Chisholm has been invited by Canadian Kawasaki to race the MX2 series. The 17-year-old Florida native has been running top three at the big amateur nationals the last few years and this season he has qualified for two U.S. nationals: High Point and Southwick. We spoke with the young-gun earlier today and he shared his thoughts on his deal to race in Canada.

RXC: Hey Kyle, it’s tough to get a hold of you, it seems you’re always out riding. How often do you practice?

 Kyle: I try to ride at least five days a week.

Where do you ride?

There are a lot of tracks around, well where I live there’s not a lot, and you have to drive at least an hour to go to any tracks. Where I’m going today is near Orlando. There are probably ten different tracks within a couple of hours I can go to.

We got word you will be coming to Canada to race the MX2 series. Who will you be riding for?

Yeah, I’m riding for Kawasaki up there.

Do you know which team?

Actually I’m not sure what the name of the factory Kawi team is up there, isn’t it Richmond or something?

Yeah Richmond Kawasaki has a team; Billy Whitley is the team manager.

Yeah that’s it, it’s through Billy Whitley. I’m not sure, see I was supposed to ride out from under their tent, but then I would have to wear their gear and goggles and everything. I couldn’t do that with my sponsors here in the U.S., so he just gave me the same deal but I just pit under a different tent. I’m not sure, I’m kind of confused on which tent I’m pitting out of, but it’s probably with Billy Whitley because he was the one who did the deal and everything.

How did the Canada-deal come about?

At the beginning of the year when I signed my Team Green deal here in the U.S. for the amateur stuff, Craig Martin was leaving Kawasaki here and Dave Gowland was taking over his shop. Then at Gainesville, around thanksgiving, they told me Billy Whitley—well they didn’t say his name—they just said a guy up in Canada might want you to come run their series up there and we said you know that’s cool we can talk about it when the time comes. So they told us about it, talked to Team Green and called us and asked if we wanted to do it.

Have you heard much about the Canadian series?

I’ve seen it on TV a couple of times and it looks good and everything. I pay attention to who wins but I’m not familiar with the tracks or anything. It will be a new experience.

Are you looking forward to coming up here?

I think it will be fun, you know, the deal is good I get to fly up there and race and fly back. It should be a good experience riding with different people and different tracks. It should be a good transition to come back here in the U.S. because that’s my goal is to race outdoors and supercross here.

A lot of young U.S. kids come race here and use it as a step into the U.S. nationals.

Yeah I’ve done three or four nationals here, just trying to get my feet wet. I’m good friends with Donnie McGourty, he lives an hour from me and I ride up at his track. I’m good friends with him and have known him since I started racing. He told me a little about it, and said it was fun and should be a good experience for me.

So will you just fly up, race and then fly home?

Yeah. Well, I’m not sure if you know this or not, they said Pro Circuit does all their work and obviously they are Kawasakis—the same bikes I ride here. It’s the same Pro Circuit Showa suspension and it’s the exact same stuff I use here. Basically what they’re doing is taking my specs from the books and settings and putting them on up there. I have a mechanic up there, and they’re paying for pretty much everything plus bonus money. I think the first or second race I’m flying up a couple of days early just to do some testing to make sure everything is good. Then other than that, just fly up Friday night and come back Monday morning.

Will you be coming up by yourself or does your family plan to come as well?

Yeah, well I’m under 18, I’m not sure if that’s why he did it but they want a parent to be with me. So my dad will be with me, and at some races my mom and little brother too—he’s ten and races too.

Have you thought much about your goals or expectations when you race here?

Well I’m sure, there will be new riders this year, but based on Donnie winning last year and comparing my speed with him; we’re pretty close. I feel if I ride well, I can win. I’m not sure of the riders up there, I know a few riders from the U.S. and I’ve never ridden with the guys from Canada. You never know with those guys—because I’ve never ridden with them—but looking at last year with Donnie winning, I’m pretty confident with good starts I can stay close to him. I’m expecting myself to win.

And where do you live?

It’s in Seminole, it’s just west of Tampa.

Are you a good sand rider?

Yeah being from Florida I grew up riding in the sand. I don’t necessarily—I like it—but it gets old pretty quick. But I know how to ride it, I don’t necessarily like it but being from Florida I know how to ride it.

Well thanks for your time Kyle. I’ll let you get back to riding and good luck this year.

Good talking to you, and we’ll see you up there.