By Danny Brault

Photos: Allison Kennedy

Yesterday afternoon, Allison Kennedy and I met up with the Richmond Kawasaki MX2 riders and mechanics, who were heading out to test their race bikes for the Gopher Dunes national. While watching Ryan Lockhart, Kyle Chisholm and privateer, Boo Green burn some fuel we noticed another rider on a Richmond bike. It was Ryan Poulter, an Illinois native who was loaned a KX250F from Richmond’s manager, Billy Whitley. If Poulter does well at Gopher, he will again be able to race the bike at the following MX2 rounds. Before we left the test session, I spoke with Poulter about his deal to race Gopher for the Richmond team.

RXC: Hey Ryan, so where are you from?

Ryan Poulter: Prophetstown, Illinois.

How did you get this deal with Richmond Kawasaki?

My brother builds tracks—Extreme Dirt—he was down working with Billy Whitley and he’s [Whitley] pretty much doing me a favour letting me ride the bikes.

Will you ride the entire MX2 series?

It all depends if I do well at the first round; hopefully I stay. If I don’t, I might stick around and ride my own bikes anyways.

So you ride Kawasakis in the states?

No I ride Hondas. [Laughs]

How do you like the Kawi so far?

They’re good, I love their bikes—they’ve got a good package going on. I’ll have fun on them.

What have you been doing leading up to Gopher?

I’ve been home, haven’t been racing too much just getting ready for this and pounding motos everyday for two months straight. I feel good, I mean it’s a little different with the sand but it’s good.

How long was the drive from Illinois to Gopher?

Nine hours.

Do you have much knowledge of the Canadian series?

Not much at all, this is the first thing I knew about them.

Where have you spent most of your career racing—Loretta Lynn’s, Lake Whitney?

Just local stuff, I’ve been to Loretta’s and stuff like that. I’ve done some supercrosses. I was going to do the nationals this year, but they’re kind of between what I’m doing here. [Ed. Note: Poulter rode 250 SX on a CRF 450]

How did you do at Loretta’s?

Loretta’s, I went there in 2001—which was the only year I went. In the 250 B mod and 125 B mod, I was doing really well in 250 but my bike broke and I had a third one moto. That was the last time I went. I’ve been getting ready for supercross; that’s mostly what I ride at home.

Which supercrosses did you race this year?

I raced Indy and St. Louis.

How did you do at those two races?

I made the night shows, and missed making the main by one position at Indy. I wasn’t ready too much for that, I was on stock bikes and didn’t have good suspension. But it was good; a good experience.

Who came with you to Canada?

My brother, Randy and my mechanic Robbie MacIntire.

Have you walked the Gopher track yet?

Yeah we stayed there last night, it looks fun, rough and fast. I’m not really used to the rough and fast stuff, but I’ll adapt quickly. I’m not too worried—I’m good at starts.

Okay Ryan, thanks for chatting. Good luck at Gopher.

Thanks.