Insight: Cole Seely
Monday, April 18, 2011 | 11:10 AM
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With another wire-to-wire triumph in Seattle, Cole Seely is now a two-time career winner in AMA Supercross Lites. We spoke to him after the race to get some Insight on Seattle.
Racer X Online: How much of a confidence boost was it being able to get the call up to Team Honda?
Cole Seely: It was good. It’s definitely an amazing feeling to get to ride for those guys, and they kept it fun. I enjoyed the experience.
So was that boost a big factor in getting the win tonight?
You know, I think the biggest thing was getting some experience on the east coast tracks. I’ve only ridden west coast, and I got to ride some of the softer, more rutted tracks. And I did it on a 450. So on this track, it was really rutted, and I think I was more comfortable as soon as I got on it because I had ridden on those softer, rutted tracks on the east.
Seely lead wire-to-wire in Seattle for his second career SX Lites victory.
Photo: Garth Milan
Was this a matter of making yourself enjoy the conditions and just trying to have fun with it, instead of worrying about the ruts? Were you mentally prepared for it?
I don’t even know if it was the way I felt before it or my confidence or anything. It was more just the way I felt as soon as I got out on the track. It was tough, you had to be careful with your lines, but I was okay with it.
Take us through the night.
Well, it started with a really good heat race. I really wanted to do that. I had a good battle with Tickle and we went back and forth a bit. It was fun but I was able to win it. That gave me a good gate pick for the main, and I was just feeling good. After I got the holeshot I just tried to put in good laps. I actually didn’t know I had that big of a lead, I was still really pushing, and I thought those guys were right behind me. I was getting into lappers and yelling and screaming at the guys, revving my engine and everything trying to get them out of the way. I didn’t know I had a lead like I did. I was kind of surprised.
Do you not read your pitboard?
I do, but he only puts lap times on it, not the gap. He thinks if he puts the gap, I’ll be tempted to back it down too much. So I didn’t know I had a good lead, and then finally I one point I looked over and saw Tickle and he was over in the other lane. It wasn’t until then that I knew I had a big lead.
Seely dominated the field en route to victory in Seattle.
Photo: Garth Milan
With two wins, do you pretty much feel now that any time you go to the gate you can win the race?
Yeah, I do, and that’s a strange feeling for me, because, in maybe the last ten years of racing, I’ve never really had that feeling. I mean, I wasn’t winning all the amateur races, and I even had some time off where I quit and stuff, so I’m not used to going to the line feeling like I can run with anyone. It’s a good feeling though. I’m still kind of surprised I’m here!
So how does this compare to that first win in LA, though? Was this more expected?
Well, the first one was definitely sweet. That’s always good. But this one was good, too, because I had a bunch of bad races in between. Oakland and San Diego, they were tough races and I wasn’t able to really capitalize on that win in Los Angeles. So it feels really good to reestablish myself and get back up here again.
You had one big mistake out there, maybe the third or fourth lap you caught a rut and got sideways before one of the triples. Was that a scary one?
Actually yeah, I don’t think it was as bad as it probably looked from the outside. I managed to save it but I never really felt like I was going to crash or anything there. I was still just trying to put my head down and go, because I didn’t realize I had built up that kind of a lead.
Seely celebrates his second career victory.
Photo: Garth Milan
So, we’ve gone over this before, but what can you point to as a reason for your drastic improvement over the last two years? It’s like you have the magic formula everyone wants, and I’m going to guess that, like so many others say, it’s not just because you started training or working harder.
I think the biggest factor is just trying to enjoy it more and not put so much pressure on myself. I’ve said it before, I got burnt out, my dad was putting a lot of pressure on and spending a lot of time and money getting me to the races. I took a little time off and started riding again with my friend Lance Coury. We were just going to the hills and riding for fun, and when I came back, I enjoyed it a lot more. My dad didn’t put so much pressure on me anymore, either.
Yeah but dad has to be pumped with how well you’re doing now. You’re winning races!
Yeah, he’s definitely pumped that I’m doing good, but I think he’s just most happy that he doesn’t have to maintain my bikes anymore! That was a lot of work, now he just gets to sit back. I think that would make anyone happy.
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Good job Cole, and no mater where or how many time we win it is alway a great feeling !!! I miss it. I was alway my own wrench because I neve trusted to amny people. I also had to take care of the other people bikes also.
All of the races and championships are going down to the wire its a great year!
Way to go CS36.... nice ride.... hold that tiger...
It sounds like Cole's dad is a real richard-head.
Coles dad is not a richard-head, i imagine your calling him a dick head. You must remember that if it werent for Coles family sticking with him and pushing him, he would not be where he is today!!!
Great job Cole, that was the toughest SX track all year and you made it look easy. Your heat race was the best race of the night. I believe that the biggest turning point in any young riders career is when they realize that they have the talent and speed to win on any given day or night. The TLD Hondas are looking super fast and you must be feeling very confident for the outdoors after winning on the super tough Seattle track. I'm a big Seely fan and will be cheering for you all summer. Good luck buddy!
I have known Cole for a long time. He is a great guy and deserves this more then anyone. I don't know anyone that just stopped riding and was able to come back and win main events. That really says alot
Unfortunately and fortunately a lot of children are pushed when in sports by their families and especially by their fathers. Dads are competitive and Cole’s dad was a good amateur racer in his day and loves his children more than anything.
I think Cole is an honest and good kid and is answering these questions truthfully and from his perspective, and it is the way he feels and that is important. But I think these kids might want to consider what a dad goes through also. I have heard of dad’s driving across the country and sleeping in a cold truck the night before a race because they had no money for a hotel, because all the money went to gas, food and the entrance fee. (the life of a privateer) As many know that are in this sport, money helps – even if we have none, we still want to see our kids have a shot we must do the things to make it happen, some even get jobs in motorcycle shops so they can get parts at cost – they do whatever they can.
The dad gives up his life at times to see their kids make it, they become an advocate for their kid from every stand point, think it’s easy putting your pride down and asking for the “go fast parts - or any parts” from anybody that will listen so your kid can be competitive! The Dad and family are the mechanic, driver, supporter, and sometimes school teacher, unfortunately these things most kids won’t know until they are in the same position with their own children. These kids in MX and all the other greats in sports had somebody pushing them, whether father coach or somebody.
All these kids have worked so hard to get where they are deserve a lot of credit for their sacrifice and hard work also, but let’s also remember if we make it to the big show – like some of these kids have, that we might have been flipping burgers instead of signing autographs if it wasn’t for our Dad’s “pushing us” and love and to sacrifice it all to see their kids at least “have a chance” to excel.
I am sure Cole and the others that say these things do not mean it how it sounds to those that have been there for them, or to put those that have helped them in a bad light in the public,
But they might want to consider what they say in front of three million people and how that might affect those same people that were there for them and guiding them to where they are now.
I believe a few classes with a PR Person would be good suggestion these teams to consider.
And also try thanking your sponsors every now and then – we deserve a little something also!
We've known Cole and his family for a long time. His parents are the sweetest and most genuine people I've ever met. Like oldmxer7 wrote, we as parents put a lot of time and energy into our kids to help them realize their dream for this sport and any other sport. Some kids make it and some don't. Cole is one of the lucky ones and we couldn't be more proud. He deserves to be up on the box, he has a great team behind him who are also passionate about this sport. The kid holding the 'hole shot' check is my son,,,and if we would have had the $$ to help him achieve this success we would have done it too. He knows all to well about being pushed by 'dad', but realizes it was for his own good! So, with that being said, parents do what they can to help bring a childhood dream to reality. Way to go Cole and the whole TLD family!