by Jim Kimball
Privateer Profile: Alex Martin
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 | 2:20 PM
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While it may be teammate Darryn Durham on the privateer Eleven 10 Mods team that has gotten much of the attention, Alex Martin has quietly been putting in some good rides as well with a couple top ten overalls, and a sixth in moto two at High Point. Never having met Alex before, and knowing him only as Millville track owner John Martin’s son, I realized that I had missed out – with his friendly and quietly determined personality Alex Martin is a pleasure to talk to. In the far corner of the Red Bud pro privateer pits, I tracked down the 21-year-old, currently 14th in the 250 Championship.
Racer X: Alex, let’s begin with your thoughts on the outdoor series so far.
Alex Martin: Yeah, it’s been pretty good, although I have had some ups and downs, it has been more ups – so that is good. I’ve put it in the top ten a couples times, and almost took a top-five finish in the second moto at High Point. That second moto ride was somewhat a turning point for me as far as confidence – it showed me that I could be up front with a good start. Overall things have been coming around pretty well for me, and things are looking up for the rest of the season.
Racer X Online recently conducted a poll on the site about who the most under-rated Lites rider was and you came in second place just behind your teammate Darryn Durham.
Yeah, I did get a chance to see that, and I thought that it was pretty cool! It would be pretty hard to finish ahead of Darryn in a poll like that because he is just killing it outdoors. I definitely would like to be getting some better starts, and do exactly what he is doing right now. That was very cool to see that poll like that because I do feel that I am often underrated – as well as the entire Eleven 10 Mods team. You read a lot about Pro Circuit/Monster Kawasaki, GEICO Honda, Star Yamaha, and Rockstar Suzuki – but they have been around for a while, and our team is relatively new. The guys behind this team are awesome; they work hard, and know what they are doing.
Martin currently sits 14th overall in points halfway through the season.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Let’s hear a bit more about the Eleven 10 Mods team that you’re a part of.
Well, Chad Sanner at Eleven 10 Mods threw together a program that has really fit Darryn and I; it gets us to the races, and we have a very good bike under us. Darryn's dad, Chris, who is with PR2, has done an excellent job of getting us comfortable with our suspension set up. Overall, the bike package is good and has allowed us to be up front for the starts as you’ve seen with Darryn - and to be there at the end of the motos as well. Hopefully things will continue to keep coming around for us, and will be really good next year too!
You’ve ridden Hondas for a while now, right?
Yes. This is my third year as a pro - and that I’ve been riding Hondas. It’s helped me by being on the same bike, especially in supercross since I know the bike so well and how it will react.
Speaking of supercross, you had a pretty solid season indoors this year.
It went pretty good. I learned a lot and improved my results. So I was satisfied with it, but I had some pretty good crashes too – especially at Jacksonville where I went crazy in the whoops.
Alex, we touched in this a little bit earlier, but what do you feel that it will take you to get to that next step where you will be a consistent top-ten and potential top-five rider?
Right now I feel that it comes down to getting a good start. I know that my fitness is there, that second moto ride at High Point showed me that. It told me that I could run with these guys if I get a good start. Since then my mind-set has come around more, and I am thinking better, the way that I should have been thinking this whole time – that I can be closer to the front. I just need to get a good start, and be close to those guys in the beginning laps. Unless you are a multi-time champ, it is difficult to come from the back and slice through fifteen guys to get up front. A good start is critical in this series – along with the mental aspect. I’ve been really trying to work on both these things. You have to be very mentally strong, and believe that you should be up front. You are racing with the world’s best motocross riders, but you cannot let that scare or intimidate you.
Very well said, Alex. Who would you like to thank?
I cannot give enough thanks to Chad Sanner at Eleven 10 Mods, Chris Durham at PR2 Suspension, FMF, Pro Taper, Rod’s Power Sports, Husker Off-Road, Vortex Ignitions, Renegade Fuels, Von Zipper, and Zeta – those are the major ones. My personal sponsors are Shoei, Gaerne, and Fly Racing - Max Steffens at Fly has been awesome and helped me out a lot.
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HOLESHOT!! cool never did that here before. Pays to come home for lunch. Good for you Alex. A little more exposure. You're gonna be a household name soon! Spring Creek this weekend. Good Luck to you & Darryn!
Cool to see Alex getting props,he elevated his game this year in SX and MX.Pretty sure the headline and 2nd pic is Ricky Renner#94 on a KTM
Where are pictures of alex at???? lol
Going to Millville, cant wait to see how Alex does at literally his home track!
hey guys watch out for this kids bro jeremy as well cause hes dominated the b class thus far and looks poised for a great a class year next year too. alex and jeremy should be goin at it in 2 years.
its his backyard literally. if he gets a good start he'll run with em. if he gets a bad start he'll be picking guys off right and left. he made his pro debut there w/ a broken wrist.
I read that his parents own Millville.....I would assume that they have helped him out tremendously over the course of his career, but he didn't thank his parents ( only sponsors). Now I don't personally know this kid for all I know he may be the nicest kid in mx, but I hate to see when these guys don't thank their parents. Pretty much anyone who is anyone in our sport has had massive help from their parents, most of them have easily spent 6 figures over the course of their kids amatuer career, not to mention the time ( i know my parents did). Alex, if your parents have never helped you out then please accept my apology, but i would bet that they have helped u quite a bit and I think it woud go a long way for you to thank them publicly.
Hey David..
Dont give the kid a bad conscience for forgetting his parents. Every successful MX racer have super parents behind them that have sacrificed alot.. Im sure he just forgot to mention them but im also sure they know whats up..
Keep it up Alex, Always rooting for the privateers and you and DD seems to have a good thing going on!
Thanks for the help Alex, Justine has really benifited from your time.
Good and speedy recovery on the pictures
Alex is one of the truly nice guys(and his parents) in the sport right now. Top notch people.
It'd be nice if the eleven10 team would get some decent support from Honda and a big $$$ sponsor next season to further their program. I'd bet they'd suprise some people and put in some REALLY strong results. Anyone feel the same way???
david, I know the Martin family very well. A real class act-the whole bunch. Alex is very respectful and carries himself well. I would think John and Gretta are very aware of how much Alex and Jeremy appreciate what they have done for the boys. Just an oversite this time. If you ever had a chance to check them out and see thier settup, you would be impressed. Way to much for anyone to overlook! John has given me the tour on a Ranger (if you ever get this chance take it, but HANG ON!) And yes Harry, just think if Darryn and Alex had the same equipment as the factory guys, things WOULD be different. They are out there putting in some good finishes on bikes that aren't up to the top level of competition. Good luck to team ElevenTen!
I want to make it clear that I wasn't bashing Alex , just pointing out how in the future he may want to remember them. Our sport has become so expensive over the last 10 yrs, and I just don't think parents get enough credit for the HUGE sacifices they make. Everytime I see a story on a college hoops player, football player, etc, all they wanna talk about is how the parents did all this sacrificing , etc. Like buying their kid that 10 dollar basketball was a huge commitment or something. Motocross parents spend hundreds of thousand , if not millions in special situations just to make sure their kids have a shot at their dream. This is not talked about near enough by the moto-x media, without the parent the kid wouldnt stand a chance in hell. I myself am not a parent, and I seriously doubt that I when I do become one that I would put my family in such financial jeopordy as many parents do to keep their kids racing. Knowing what my parents sacrificed just to get me to a national mid level B rider will take ur breath away when u see on paper. So I just really like to see parents reconized for their efforts
OK david you're off the hook.& your point in this case then is a good one. I'm thinkin' there's maybe a bit of nervousness involved when being interviewed. Seems like so many people to thank these days(which is good) they all forget someone along the way. Great racing this year, hope you're likin' it as much as I do. SPRING CREEK!!! Just nine miles down the road. Can't wait!!
You can't expect this guy to remember to thank these people and not leave out these people. His next interview, he will remember his family/friends and forget FMF. When is the last time Dungey, Reed, or Villapoto thanked their parents? It's a given...
I actually went down to Spring Creek to do some stuff for John and had the opportunity to chat with him about this. And he told me pretty much what brocky2727 said. they would like to think that Alex is to the point in his career where he is done thanking his parents. And they are very much aware of how greatful Alex is. So that's the real deal here. But still not a bad observation, David. Interesting outcome. The place is shaping up. Will, as always, look great by raceday. Go Alex!!
To see some pictures of Alex and his kid brother Jeremy whipping it up, check out Marty Leum's facebook page. They were out at Marty's track with Jessica P$ a week or so ago and took some great pic's of them. Marty builds the tracks for the pro's to ride on. Does a great job too!