Kyle Middleton is the 2013 and 2014 Australian Moto Trials Champion, New South Wales and Victorian Moto Trials Champion and the highest place Aussie rider at the Trial World Championship in Maldon this year. We talk with him about training to become an Australian Champion, competing on the world stage and his affinity to GasGas.
You started riding trials on a GasGas back in 2000, did you ever really think you'd get to this level?
In about 2000-2001, when I started to go to open events and see guys like Kale Reed, Lee Dreissens, Mick Burns, Rob Jones those were all the top guys at the time and I wanted to be like them. In 2005, when the Super Trial was on, I think it was then that I wanted to be the best in Australia. From there on I've been chasing the Australian championship.
You've mentioned before that your family contributes a lot to your success. Your Dad is a pretty big part of Trials for you.
All my family are really supportive of the Trials, my sister, my mum, my aunties they all come to all the big events. They've all even come and watched my overseas riding. They're really supportive. My dad is obviously the big support and he's there all the time. This year has been a bit different because he has been working and living most of the time interstate. Normally, he's there everyday helping me in some way with the bikes. He's helping me work on them or developing new setups, he comes riding with me every time he gets the chance and he catches for me when we are practicing. He is full on, he helps heaps in my riding.
I've seen you ride up rocks bigger than the both of us, you need to be pretty fit. How do you train and prepare both on and off the Trials Bike?
I'm a big believer in being on the bike, so that's why I ride a minimum of 4 days a week. That's my goal every week, 2 weekdays and both days on the weekend. When I come into big events I'm riding 5 or 6 days a week.
Off the bike I mix it up and do little bits of everything, I do a little bits of cycling, little bits of running, little bit of swimming, surfing sometimes. In the last 6 months, Emily my girlfriend is a pretty good personal trainer, she has been getting me into the gym type training and getting me stronger and more explosive strength. Apart from that, the thing I've done forever nearly is stretching, I do heaps of stretching. I'm pretty injury prone and without stretching I can't keep going.
When you aren't riding, how do you keep yourself busy?
Model Helicopters, Model Planes, Surfing. I haven't had a lot of time to do any of them lately. But the thing I've been doing mostly for the last year or two is gardening believe it or not.
Is that to calm you down from the thrills of motorbike riding?
I suppose because I'm always busy, I like to get out into the garden and slow down and just standing there watering plants is relaxing in some way. I like the idea of growing food.
Congratulations again on back to back wins in 2013 and 2014 at the Aussie Titles. How does it feel after many years of 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
2012 was the first time I was the top Australian. It feels like it's been a long road. I started in Open Solo in 2006 I came 6th. In 2007, I tied 5 for the win but I lost in the countback, so it has been frustrating ever since then. But to finally get there has been a big relief. It's obviously very satisfying.
Is it tough to be the defender instead of the chaser now?
The biggest thing that I noticed when I won the Aussie titles outright in Bendigo in 2013. I had spent all these years with the one goal of being Australian Champion and when I was the Australian Champion I thought what do I do now. This one thing I've been working towards and all of a sudden I've ticked that. There's nothing on the list. I had to find different ways to motiviate myself and find new goals. When you are running second or third you look up and think I know what I've gotta do, but being at the top I've got everyone looking at me thinking that's the guy I've got to take out. It's a really different game. It's a little bit harder to be that person there.
You talked about having goals beyond the Aussie titles, what's the plan long term?
I want to keep winning the Australian titles, but now the big motivator is looking at the guys in Europe and I want to start beating those guys and start getting these results. I feel like I'm getting closer in the world stage. I'm competitive with all the guys. Every competition I went to I put one lap in that was competitive with the guys on the podium, but I can't do it consistently yet. One of my goals has always been to be a pioneer for Australain trials on the world stage. Make australians competitive. I'm hoping one day I can jump into World Pro class and have a go at that.
The Aussie Mens team placed 4th in the Trial des Nations this year, what's it like competing in that arena and where do you see Australia heading in 2015?
The thing I'm most proud of out of anything in Trials is when you go over there and you have the opening ceremony wearing the Australian gear and carrying the Australian flag, it's a really proud moment.The fourth place we had this year and last year have been really good results. We've really gotta thank guys like Phil Whittle who has been managing the team and the Trials commission for coming up with the idea to send paid minders over. With the combination of what Phil's been doing and them it has made our jobs so much easier. With two fourth places it really shows that.
We are really becoming a team that other countries are taking note of. This year we took 4 great riders over there in the mens team. We've really got to start fighting for the podium. We wanted a podium this year, we didn't quite get there. We are quite capable of being on the podium, so that's what we've got to work for. I don't think a win in our class is out of the question at all.
Travelling across the country and overseas must be expensive.
The finances are massive for riding the world championships. It really adds up every single thing you do. You've gotta find a bike overseas, they aren't hard to find but it costs money. You've gotta hire cars and take a minder over. The thing that I think is the hardsest to come to grips with is getting an FIM license it's the biggest cost. To get an FIM license you need FIM insurance and that costs $1200 per person. In 2013 when I took Dad to some events and I also had Simon Grist minding for me I had three peoples licenses and insurance to pay for. That's $4000 upwards before I've done anything.
$4000 just for the license and insurance, not including bikes for you or those two, accommodation, flights. That's pretty rough.
Yeah, it's hard. This year I was really lucky that Longwall Haul one of my sponsors came onboard and basically paid for my trip to Japan. Which is just awesome, I can't thank them enough for that.
It's worth it if you can find the money to do it and get over there. You don't regret spending that money. You learn a lot and get a lot out of it. Being part of a World Championships is a super cool thing.
Your mentioned your dad has been a big part of your trials, but Simon Grist has also been your minder. How did that come about?
Simon lives just near me and I've been friends with him for a lot of years, he rides trials and he's been around a long time. I train pretty much in his back yard. He just came to me and said in 2012 do you want any extra help? At the time, I thought you're the exact person I need. He's a really relaxed, chilled out guy. At the time I've been struggling with being overly wound up, he's the perfect guy to put in amongst the team. In the last 6 months he's had other things going on in his life, so he hasn't been there much in the last 6 months. Hopefully he'll be back minding for me next year where he can.
You've been on a Gas Gas since 2000.
I started off on a 95 Gas Gas which was my Dads. Back when I started there wasn't really 125s and 80s so I was straight on the 250. I think we just build a relationship with the bike. When the Pro came out in 2002, it feels like it has always been the bike for me. Even now there's very few things that I desire that GasGas doesn't have. It has been a bit of a love of mine that bike, we keep developing it. Being amongst the world championship riders I've learnt how to get the best out of the bike and all the little setup and tuning tips. Dad and I have spent a lot of time over the years. I've really got a bike now that I've got tailored perfect to me.
Are there any sponsors you want to give a mention?
The Hell Team and Gas Gas, I've been with Gas Gas before the Hell Team had them. But they've really done an awesome job taking them on. They really look after me in all my needs. Obviously when I'm trying to train 4-5 days a week I can't afford to be waiting for parts. So whenever I ring them up, next day I've got the parts. With developing the bike, the Hell Team are really good with pushing the stuff like that. They'll push the factory to get the information that I need.
I've been with GRO (Global Racing Oils) through multiple importers. Phil took it on and has been really good support for me. It's the same if I need anything anytime, he's right there, he's got me looked after overseas and he sponsors the Australian team so we don't need to worry about when we go over there. We get some decent oils, that's all organised.
The new sponsor Forged Emperor, just started up in the business and I've known Robert who owns the company for about 6-7 years and we've talked about it alot and we've finally got the thing happening and he's supporting me, so hopefully I can get a bit of attention for his product which is a great product.
You also have your own official Kyle Middleton tees.
They help me out with the financial pressures of getting overseas, which gives a bit of extra money for helping me get over to the next event overseas. They are a bit of fun, I hope people enjoy being able to buy something like that in Trials, there's nobody else really doing that. I've got a few sizes in stock, not all sizes, but I've got quite a bit there.
Thanks for taking the time to have a chat.
Cheers.
Follow Kyle's progress on the Kyle Middleton Fan Page on Facebook and anybody interested in buying a Kyle Middleton T-shirt should head over there and get in contact.
