By Danny Brault

Photos: Jason T. Griffiths

Blackfoot Honda’s Dusty Klatt earned his second 125 West championship this past weekend in Regina and can now focus on winning some 250 motos. Klatt is one of only two riders to beat JSR in the past two seasons, [the other was teammate Damon Huffman] and the only rider to beat the King this year. The first round of the eastern swing takes place at the rough and sandy Gopher Dunes track, and should provide a good stage for Klatt and JSR to do battle.

Racer X Canada: Congratulations on winning your second 125 West title Dusty, how did it feel?

Dusty Klatt: Really good. I wouldn’t say quite as exciting as the first time, but it felt great to get it done. I worked hard all winter, I put my effort in and so did the team and everything came out well.

Tell us about your weekend in Regina.

It went well. The first moto I had a third place start but fell in one of the corners because it was slippery and muddy out. I think I fell back to ninth or so, and then I just worked my way up. I got into first place, which I didn’t know was first; I thought someone else was leading the race. I didn’t really know until the race was done that I actually won. I got the last lap flag, then I came around the second time and I threw my hands up in the air, ‘Yeah I won the championship,’ but then I get over the jump and the guy waves me another white flag, so it was a little dumb. I finished off that one last lap and everyone else just rode off the track, I guess [laughs]. It definitely felt good; to get that accomplished.

The second moto—horrible start—I got pinched off and everyone just went right by. I went from fourth to dead last off the start. I worked my way through the pack and closed in on the top three. I was right behind Teddy [Maier]; I was stuck behind him for awhile. Finally I was able to make a pass and charged hard for the final three laps and closed up on Shane Bess. I just about passed him but he snuck his bar in front of me so I couldn’t go anywhere. That was kind of it for passing on that track, it was pretty one lined after the section I tried to make the move so I couldn’t make the pass. It was good, though, to come out with the overall; it felt good.

You must be pumped to get on the 250 full-time now.

Aw definitely, you know it’s going to be interesting to see how it turns out. I’m going to practice on my bike here, get ready for the east coast and hopefully put in some decent motos.

Any expectations for the eastern rounds?

No plans really ... however it goes it goes. Obviously I want to get up on the podium, for sure; I believe I can. I proved myself in one race at Nanaimo, and that’s what I should be riding like in both motos. Hopefully if I can do that, it should go well.

Do you like the sand, Dusty?

Yeah I’m a big fan of sand and rough tracks for sure.

Well that’s good, the first eastern round at Gopher Dunes is deep sand.

Yeah that’s what I hear, it should be good.

What will be your routine leading up to that race?

Just training and practicing on the bike.

Going back to your year as a privateer, did you expect to win two 125 titles?

To be quite honest, going into last year I didn’t think I was going to win the championship. It definitely surprised me how well things have turned around for me. But I’ve been putting in a lot of effort, so that’s probably a big reason for it.

Has there been any talks regarding Canada fielding a Motocross des Nations team?

We’re not too sure what is going to go on there. It’s hard to say what’s going to happen again this year.

If we send a team, obviously you’d like to be a part of it.

To be quite honest, I was a little bummed out last year. Honestly I don’t know if it will work out in its best interest this year. Like last year we had a lot of help that won’t be there this round. For example, the guy that lent us the semi we stayed in over there, it won’t be used this year. We could go there with suspension and bars, but it’s not really the greatest thing to do for our country with a stock bike. I’ll more than likely take it easy this year and get ready for the winter coming up; which is pretty important to me.

So Blackfoot will be racing the supercross series. Do you know which coast?

We’re still talking about which coast and all that stuff. As far as I know, it’s me that’s doing it; honestly I don’t know who else is. Donnie [McGourty] might be, we’re not sure what’s going to happen.

You will be doing it for sure, though, with support from Blackfoot?

Oh yeah, that’s the plan. I’m their rider so far, but after that we have to wait and see.

Now that you will be running against Jean-Sebastien Roy full-time, will things change under the Blackfoot tent between you two?

JSR is a lot different than other riders to me; I don’t really look at him as an enemy … somewhat out on the track. He’s my teammate, it’s totally different racing. Like out in Nanaimo, it didn’t seem like it would be too much trouble like taking each other out; we’re teammates so we kind of take it a little gentle on each other in that sense. It’s going to be tough; he’s going to be a fast rider to beat. But I’m going to put in my effort and hopefully we can put on some good battles for TV and the fans. I’d like to do that and that’s my plan.

Jason Griffiths was telling me that you have a different outlook while racing. He said you are thinking further ahead and trying to avoid potential problems, such as lappers.

Oh totally. On the weekend I was trying to find different lines that might be faster but some of them didn’t work out and I lost a little bit of time. Some of the ruts were so deep and if you followed and someone ahead of you fell down; there was nowhere to go. The lappers this year have been not so great, and the blue flag—they need a few more of those out there. The last two rounds have been horrible, they’ve had like one blue flag and it’s just not enough to wave people down. In my first moto in Regina, I had a close call and just about landed on a kid. My foot peg clipped right off the rear side of his bike. It’s just stupid stuff like that, that could be avoided.

Did you celebrate your championship Sunday night?

We went out to dinner. I didn’t really giver' hard or anything like that.

So nothing happened that would force you to forfeit your entry in the next round?

[Laughs] No, not quite. I’m not really much of a big drinker anyways. We just went out and did our regular thing; had a Sunday dinner. Then headed back to the hotel and had a good sleep for the night—well I wouldn’t call it a good sleep—we only slept for four hours. We had to get up early for a flight.

All right Dusty, good talking with you and good luck in the east.

Thanks, talk you later.