by Jen Kenyon
Insight: Adam Cianciarulo
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 | 1:00 PM
Since 1990, the driving force for Allsport Dynamic’s products has come from the physically demanding sport of motocross. From the entire Allsport team, comes a true commitment to helping others and a dedication to make the best products possible in both design and function.
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Team Green Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo has become the face of amateur motocross, housing over fifty AMA championships and several others along the way. After picking up another title last week at Ponca City, Cianciarulo is gunning for two more this week at the 2011 Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by AMSOIL. We caught up with AC after practice on Monday to hear his thoughts as he heads into the biggest amateur race of the year – Loretta Lynn’s.
Hey, Adam! How was practice?
Practice went well. It was really sandy in the morning. They put a lot of sand down before practice, and then it kind of pushed off by my last session. It was really rough out there, and I liked how the track developed, so hopefully it will be just as good tomorrow. I know some of the sand is going to be gone by tomorrow, and I really like the sand, so I’m bummed to see that go. I really like the track changes, and I’m looking forward to a good week.
So you’re coming off a championship at Ponca last week. Tell us a little bit about that.
Ponca went good. I was actually supposed to race the 125 class, but I guess the NMA rule is that you can’t race it, so I ended up only racing one class all week. I had like two days off, so I was only actually racing one class with three motos. It was good, though, I ended up winning all three of my motos and getting that championship, which was good to get my confidence up before heading here to Loretta’s – the biggest race of the year.
Cianciarulo looks to rebound from a tough year at the Ranch last year.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Last year wasn’t such a hot year for you here at Loretta’s. What happened?
We had some freak bike problems, honestly. It was getting to the point where it was kind of just not meant to be, so I pulled out of the last motos, but I stayed at the race until Saturday to watch my friend Zach. It was actually a good learning year. I had to come from the back sometimes and I had a couple falls and some bike problems, but overall it made me a better rider and a better person, so I wouldn’t change it.
How many Loretta Lynn Championships do you have?
I have seven Loretta’s Championships.
How many total amateur championships?
I don’t really keep track, but I just looked back because a press release for the Monster Cup came out and the AMA said I have 52 AMA titles. And then with the non-AMA titles, I think it’s around ninety something. You know, you don’t really keep track of those things because nobody really remembers once you turn pro anyway. At the beginning, it was just for fun, but now it’s obviously something I want to do for a living when I get older, so it’s really just about working towards that goal.
Cianciarulo is one of the favorites in the Supermini classes heading into the week.
Photo: Simon Cudby
It’s become almost expected for you to win big races. Do you feel any added pressure to be the best every single weekend?
Really, the pressure is just something that comes along with winning to me. I’d rather be winning and have pressure than to be not winning and not have any pressure - so, actually, I use it to get better. I thrive off knowing that people expect me to win, which is awesome. I’ve been fortunate to win enough times that people expect me to win now. I thrive off of it and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
For a kid your age, you have a pretty intense schedule. What do you do to stay focused on the racing itself, rather than all the distractions?
I just think about how big of an opportunity I have to be able to come to all these races and have my parents' support. They pretty much put their lives aside so I can accomplish my dreams, so that really keeps me going. My mom and dad work really hard for me, and my sister sacrifices a lot. To me, I don’t want to let them down, and ever since I saw Jeremy McGrath on TV I wanted to be a pro. Every time I’m at the track, I just don’t want that opportunity to be taken away from me, so I give it my best for sure. I thrive off of it and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It doesn’t bother me at all.
Speaking of, are you looking into the future as far as racing pro?
I’m not really thinking about it right now. I’m just doing my amateur thing. Hopefully that’s going to come and I’m doing my best to get that. It’s been my dream since I was a little boy-- well, even littler than I am now (laughs)--that I want to be pro, and if that opportunity comes up, then I’m going to jump on it for sure. Right now I’m just living in the moment and doing the best I can.
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holeshot!! haha finally!
His interviews are already more interesting than Dungey's interviews. Haha.
How old is this kid? When will he turn 16?
he's 14, seems like a cool kid. I wish i was half as fast as him, he just won a first moto at LL's
Better than Dungey. HAHAHAHA Thats Funny!!!!! I didn't like to win because people would make fun of my interviews. I studdered so it kept out of the pro's.
I can't take anything away from Adam, he got a great work ethic, he’s driven and has a great attitude...... And with those attributes I'm sure WHEN he turns pro, I'll be a fan! BUT that said it just bugs me the he gets SO much help from sponsors. I understand that sponsors want to be associated with a winner, but shouldn't they wait until they’re actually Pros? Adam has had so many opportunities because of his parent’s OBVIOUS affluence… Wouldn’t it be so much cooler for the sponsors to be helping kids at this level that really do need the financial help? There are plenty of kids out there that could be racing at Adam’s level had they had the same opportunities… I’m not going to name any of the sponsor that take out full page ads with Adam, but I will say that I’d have so much more respect for them if they were helping out a kid and his family that might just make the big time with just a little more help….. Adam is going to get there with or without them! Good luck Adam…..
hes so big ohhhh
hes hott i love him
A lot of parents simply WON'T help their kids succeed at racing. They are the average ones. The above average parents are the ones who give it their all to support their kids in achieving their dreams. My hat is off to all the parents who got their kids to the World Mini, Ponca and Loretta's. Those are extraordinary parents, all of them, and I salute Cianciarulo's parents, Ricky Carmichael's, Travis Pastrana's, and all those parents who put their lives aside to be the pit crew, sponsors and cheering section for their kids. Without them, a kid has no chance.
Jairtime, you're a damn idiot. Real Above Average Parents push their kids to do well in school, respect themselves and others and go to college. For every name you listed, there are tens of thousands of others who end up without a pro license, burned out, injured and in financial ruin. "Without them a kid has no chance" you should add "...at having a successful life."
2 Words WHOLE FOODS - his father is a major player in this corporation and has a ton of money to travel around the country, expensive motorhomes, they park in Pro Curcuit's parking lot until they get what they want, go to all the big races, the best of equipment, all the big names in the industry, all because of money that the father has ! HE IS FAST AS THEY COME
Exlax, get the hell outta here!!!
My parents gave up everything for me to pursue my amature career. Yes, unfortunately, i am one of the hundreds of thousands of kids who just ran out of money, (and maybe talent) to make our dream as a family come true. New my family and i are all still together, happy as can be, making a living on a track in South Dakota, i sleep 30 feet from my favorite jump, "Bubba Gump Goose", and my parents still cheer me on every lap i pass by there trailer.
We dont all make it pro, but because we skip school we can still be happy!!!
Would he be quicker than that girl from New Zealand who was at Ponca.
Adam has a lot of maturity in his interview, just for the fact he said he pulled out of the last moto's at Loretta's because it just wasn't meant to be....I never would have had that discipline at that age.
exlax is right, RmZizzle I see were your coming from but parents who keep pushing their kids and wasting their life's savings in a silly dream aren't helping themselves or their kids because once the kid comes to the conclusion that they aren't going to make it they have poor education and don't know what to do with themselves
won his first moto today.
Klassd2five,
"Wasting lifes savings....silly dream...poor education" Listen man, someone's dream is not yours, do you have no right calling it silly in any case. Whats the matter, are your biggest aspirations to get a good job, with health benefits, and build your 401k from a desk job? Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it aint my silly dream. If everyone took your advice, there would be no RC4 or TP199, or even Albert Einstein for that matter.
You need to re-evaluate your "dreams" man
AC gives better interviews than 99% of the pros, and he's a kid.
I rode dirt bikes sinse i was little my parints didnt my friends raced. I would have loved to but im older now still ride in and out trying to get my life straght. I have kids now. Every fathers dream is to have a boy that is talented and its funny he is and proves it 6 years old doesnt race. No way i can aford to do it right so i just try to keep hem involved. He races bmx first year he became a champion so you can see hes got it. Good at everything he does but im not going to put hem in a place of falure. He can do that on his own. So i will do my best to keep hem involved you never no where the great ones are. If its ment to be it is for eny one or what ever they deside to do with there lives you just need to stay by them and push them to be great that is a champion. Its funny i read these comits you guys talk trash back and forth some funny some anoying but it helps me fall asleep at night. when i get board. lol.
Anybody who wants to go pro is naive due to the injury rate and actual chance of making it because it is so hard and only a select few make a career of it, and you know what? I'm one of those naive amateurs, because I love what i do and it's like an addiction. Although I do race all year, stay at training facilities in winters and all that good stuff I came from an average income household and I'm managing it through talent and my parents have given up everything for it but I also have education for my backup plan though which is necessary. So I give my props to AC.
^^^ What he said......keywords: education, backup plan
having seen this kid ride several times at a local fl.mx track, rest assured folks he is the real deal. this kid already has pro level corner speed.fast, smooth,and plenty of support,if he can stay uninjured,motivated,as the comp level gets higher you are looking at another carmicael or villy.good luck kid!
The purpose of a college education comes down to landing a good job and providing for your family. If Adam's career were to end today, he has "educated" himself so much in the motocross industry he would have no problem finding a job somewhere in the industry. Whether it be promoting pro circuit or helping out on the amateur scene, he's already a celebrity. He has a dream and he's going after it. Don't put him down because his parents have money. Mich picks the best guy for the job, period. He obviously is a hard worker and self motivated or he wouldn't stay on the team, find success and be HAPPY. Have you guys seen this kid? He is always happy. That's what it's all about. Keep up the good work AC, been a fan a long time and will continue to support you through out your career.
@exlax ....Maybe every kid doesn't want to grow up to be a worker ant , lawyer or accountant........better to pursue the dream than to die wishing you had.......it takes balls to take that chance and sometimes you pay the price......but a little planning,cash,and a decent education will never hurt. Go Adam.....!
That girl from New Zealand was heaps faster at Ponca.
If you race, you know there are always the 'rich kids' at the track. Some of these kids will go on to make it big. Some will burn out & become snots. The ones that make it big have great parents. Rich or poor does not matter at this stage in their careers. Positive parental influence is key! It sounds like Adam Cianciarulo is fortunate to be in the position he's in & he wants everybody to know about it. How cool is that? Great kid, great write-up. Good luck Adam & all the other kids out there having fun on dirt bikes.
I agree with Tonewall, sounds like we are the only living souls on this forum.
God Speed my man
Its about finding the right balance between education and racing, until you see if your kid is for real or not.. Of course, its complicated, but good parents are not necessarily the ones that support the riding.. or the ones that make their children go to school for that matter.. but the ones who care about whats best for their kids!
that kid is fast i don't know how he dose it