Monday Conversation: Dean Wilson
Monday, August 27, 2012 | 10:10 AM
Alpinestars has been delivering performance of the highest level on the motocross tracks of the world for almost 50 years. Racing on Sunday and developing on Monday is a way of life at Alpinestars. Welcome to the Racer X Monday Conversation.
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PrintLost amid the tremendous battle for this year's 250 Class title in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is the fact that 2011 Champion Dean Wilson has had to sit the summer out due to a shoulder injury suffered late in the Monster Energy Supercross season. It hit him hard, as Dean admits he couldn't stomach even watching the races on TV for awhile. Dean has his full focus on a 2013 comeback, and he shares that info here, including his therapy schedule, his plans to get back on a bike, and, even which 450 team he has signed with for the new year.
Racer X: So when a rider like you, with a number-one plate, can't defend it, do you just treat this as a fun vacation, or do you get so bummed that you can't even watch racing or anything?
Dean Wilson: No, honestly, it's pretty depressing not being out there. I mean, winning a championship is something pretty special. It was even worse that I wasn't able to complete any races with my number-one plate at all. So it sucks on that end. Since I've been injured, I've tried to make the best of it. I'm recharging my batteries and taking my mind off of motocross for a change, so I'll be fully charged up and ready to commit when I do come back.
So what does a motocrosser do when he's not doing anything related to motocross?
Well, first I've had a couple of operations. I had two different shoulder operations, one was the one from this year, and another was an old injury. And I've even had my wisdom teeth taken out! I've trying to get all this stuff knocked out. Then I have to do my therapy Monday through Friday with Eddie Casillas, he's great. And that's only on the one shoulder, I haven't gotten released yet to do therapy on the other shoulder. Then I just got approved to go back to the gym. I've actually been hiking a lot with my friends.
Defending 250 Class Champion, Dean Wilson, has missed all of the 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship with a shoulder injury.
Simon Cudby photo
Hiking!
Yeah! Just doing a lot of the stuff I wouldn't be able to do when I'm racing.
Well it's same thing Villopoto recently said to us on Racer X Films. Because of your therapy schedule you can't just disappear completely and travel all over for fun.
Yeah exactly. That's the bad part. I really wanted to go to the British GP and cheer on my buddy Tommy Searle, but I have to be here for the therapy, and that's really important to me. I wanted to go to Scotland, but I couldn't. It's okay, I'm fine with it because I'm getting healed up.
Well, I would ask what you thought of the racing this year, but I'm not sure if you're following it!
[Laughs] I really didn't watch any of the first few rounds after Hangtown, but the last three or four weeks I've been watching. The 250 Class, those top four or five guys are going really fast, and it's really intense. The 450 Class is obviously a [Ryan] Dungey show, but I like watching that class more because it doesn't bum me out as much.
It would be easy to ask, "Where do you think you'd fit in with the 250 Class?" But does it bum you out to think about that? Have you thought about that? You could be winning again, which is either a good feeling or a depressing one.
Yeah I think if I wasn't hurt, I'd be trying to do what I did last year. And I think I could, but obviously everyone is going really fast in the 250 Class right now, but I raced most of those guys last year. I don't think too much can change. I think the biggest change is Eli [Tomac], he has stepped up big time this year outdoors, he looks really strong. Blake [Baggett] looks the same, always coming back at the end of the motos. [Justin] Barcia has been getting good starts except for these last two races, and he's been running up front. Ken [Roczen] I've never raced him outdoors, and he's been doing pretty well for himself. But I think I would be in there.
Wilson will make the jump to the 450 Class next season.
Simon Cudby photo
Now you have the option of racing the 250 Class again next year, but from what I'm hearing, you want to move up.
Yeah, I am eligible for another year of Lites Supercross, but I just feel like it's tough for me to compete against the kids that are smaller than me. I'm six feet tall now, and it's a struggle for me, I have to always over ride the bike. The 450, you can use more technique, where the 250 you have to ovveride it.
So, where are you with 2013?
Yeah, I've signed my deal with Jeff Ward Racing. Nothing has been released yet out of respect for Mitch and everyone at Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, because I'm still contracted to them at this time [for this season} and they've been great to me.
Whoa! You're just telling us right now that you've signed with JWR? Are you allowed to drop this right now? Are you going to get sued?
I don't know! I'm one of those guys, I'm pretty honest, really.
Cool. So, 450s next year, are you pumped, nervous, intimidated? What is it?
I think I'm more excited than anything. I have been off the bike for so long, I'm excited to get out there, and the 450 Class, it's a whole different ballgame. I'm excited to race against new people--pretty much a bunch of legends. But I'm not intimidated at all. I'm just going to enjoy it every weekend.
When do you ride again?
Hopefully mid-October. Doctors are saying November, but we'll see.
Is that enough time to be ready for 2013?
Obviously I'd love to get in as much time as I can on my 450, but it is what it is. I just have to keep doing my therapy so I can get back as soon as I can. And when I do get back, I'll be working really hard to get up to pace.
Wilson has signed with JWR for the 2013 season.
Simon Cudby photo
Okay, let's wrap this up and let you get on with your weekend. And what do you do on the weekends when you're off?
I actually hike, I go to the beach, I hang out with friends, I'll even go out at night sometimes.
Hey, we're not going to lose you where you say, "Hey, this normal schedule outside of racing is pretty good. I don't want to come back." Some guys have had trouble once they see the other side.
No, no, it's like when I do go out, all I think about is riding and how much I would rather be doing that. But you have to explore life, and it's important to me, because I know when the time comes to get going again, I'll be going 100 percent.
Will you come to Elsinore?
I don't think I will, I'm going to Florida for training soon, and that will be boot camp for me. I actually got my own house down there, and my dad and mom are down there fixing it up for me. Once I finish up my therapy I'm going down there. I love it down there, it's peaceful and you can just focus.
So we won't see you at a race until next year.
That's right, you won't see me until Anaheim 1.
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Im pretty sure we all knew about Dean going to Jwr a while ago... its all good though. best of luck to him and his family.
I have no doubt that Deano will be up front with the big boys. He's as fast as Barcia, and look how he did on the 450.
Boy those first few rounds of SX are going to be interesting indeed. There will more than likely be some heavy hitters in every LCQ. I cant picture one rider running away with the title. Damn, this going to be great!
Dean mentions he is 6 feet now, it would be really cool to see someone who is taller and superfast come in and shake things up with a little different riding style than what we've seen over the past 7 years. Pastrana was like that, had a very aggressive and different style that gave him an advantage over the shorter guys in certain sections of the track - notably the whoops. RC and RV are bad mofo's but most of us aren't 5'6".
Motodog, your comment is an all time low, even for you. I was wondering how you could spew your normal blog of negativity without even mentioning James Stewart until, oh there he is right on time at the end of the 3rd paragraph. How this article offends you in any way is completely ridiculous.
@motodog1977
Man what's your deal? Dean's contract is up, and he wants to ride a 450, he is not disrespecting Mitch Payton. What's up with the a**hole fans in this sport? How come you know what's best for Dean?
100% agree with Motodog. Not judging Dean personally but you have to call a spade a spade. I dont think he will do anything in the 450 class, he should have stuck by Peyton!
Man Motodog1977. Got a case of the mondays?
Motodog1977 you are a "BARCLAYS BANKER" Jealousy makes ya nasty.......
@motodog1977 : nice one, mon ami !
It is unfortunate that Deano is not French, we would welcome him anytime amongst us ! But as a Scot, we may be able to integrate him in our MXDN team, refering to the "Auld Alliance" to do so...
Deano's correct on the 250 vs. 450 thing. He is taller and therefore heavier than a lot of the 250 guys. Ditto for Eli Tomac who has grown a couple of inches and put on a lot of muscle in the past year. Those guys are always going to suffer with starts compared to the flyweights like Baggett, Barcia and Roczen. I think Wilson will ride a 450 quite well, I just hope he does not have to rush things to get ready for A1 and risk re-injury.
@motodog1977
Your the definition of a "moe-ron". First off, dean is 6 foot. You dont know what its like competeing against 5 footers on a lites bike. Second, Deano's contract was up and stepping up into the 450 seemed like a better way to further his career. So how about you quit leaving ignorant comments about a sport you obviously know nothing about. But then again you are the couch expert.
Motodog, relax. Does this stuff honestly affect your life to the point of losing your mind? Pro Circuit may very well be the best 250 team out there, but riders constantly come and go through teams like this and they always will. Get over it.
@motodog dude why don't you shut you mouth. First off, its none of your dam business what he wants to do, so stop making it yours. second, i think it takes balls to choose to race the 450 even if you don't have too. Dean, if your reading this, don't listen to this bum, i think you're going to be absolutely fine next year....... some people have no life!!!
I wish they would have asked him why he signed with who he did and who else was going after him.
Glad to see the @motodog comment deleted by RacerX. Good job Racer X. Debate is one thing, personal attacks and insults (sometimes graphic) against riders and posters is really inappropriate. I would like to see RacerX lock out IP addresses for people with repeatedly nasty comments.
We in the MX community are already a small group under attack by environmentalists and others looking to restrict riding areas and close MX tracks. Insulting within the community should not be permitted or tolerated.
I think Dean will be just fine in the 450 class especially outdoors! Next year will be awesome so long as everyone stays healthy.
Wow @motodog must have taken his butt plug out to spew all that crap! Dean congrats for moving up you belong there, can't wait for A-1.
He's STILL the champ and has the #1 plate ...how about maybe just a bit of respect . He'll do great on a 450 just like Barcia.will.....Wardy has some pull with brand K and some $$$$ ..his bike and team will be fine. Did'nt see the comment but its not hard to imagine what was said ...its allways the same....looks like were in for a whole new era of hate .yuk..its ridiculous and it sucks.
He will be fast outdoors, I don't know about SX. I have been a huge fan of his but I was honestly disappointed with the way he dealt with Tomac in those last rounds of SX.
I don't know what buttholesurfer motodog1977 said this time but he has said a lot of crap in the past, Nice to see racerX take it off!!
It's kinda weird factory kawi didnt go for the wilson contract considering, i think, he'll probably be better than tyla and weimer, but we'll see next year. Seems JWR has a strong team for next year.
@ BillC, "buttholesurfer motodog1977" - now that is funny! LOL. Very good and to the point.
Dont worry Dean - they always look faster when you watch from the sidelines and you are noti the saddle...you'll be fine next year - just remember to ride your own race.
Secondly I've heard it through the grapevine ( a pretty good source at that) that riders (not necessarily Dean, just sayin) - possibly Bogle and J Anderson are tired of how Mitch treats his staff and how downright mean he is to his riders and workers - sure he has won tons of c'ships but other company's are catching (or have caught) PC performance wise so it is not such a huge advantage to be on a PC bike anymore - even though JWR will run PC Dean will not have to Deal with Mitch directly - please dont shoot me down just what I heard.
Thank you Deano for stepping up and racing a 450 this early. No real advantage to another year on a 250f when you're at the level that he is (2/5/22/41/7/17). There were times when it looked like he needed more than a 250f could give him.
@LBiggie, I've been thinking for years that Pastrana not racing, slowed the progression a bit. Can you imagine TP wringing the neck of a 450 outdoors??!! Hoped Millsaps was going to be the bigger guy that was like that but......
"Bogle and J Anderson are tired of how Mitch treats his staff and how downright mean he is to his riders and workers"
Huh...They ride for another team but take issue with how Mitch treats his team members?
@ dinosaurmedia, I'm floored by a post like that!
It's M.P.'s team and he can run it as he sees fit. The motorcycle industry is predominantly manned by kids in a lot of positions and kids need guidance.............and by "kid" I mean all the way up to adults as old as their mid-twenties. Telling someone how to do their job is not Mitch's forte, building the world's fastest bikes is. I've had the opportunity to work with Mitch / P.C. and I believe what they do and how they do it raised the bar for the rest of the industry.
In a moto career, there is no better pedigree than to have Pro Circuit on your resume and some of the highest profile positions in the industry are manned by P.C. alumni. Furthermore, the majority of racers that have been associated with P.C. have championships attached to their credentials.
P.C. has done so much winning over the years, that I have begun to cheer for the other teams that compete against them, even going so far as to call them an "Evil Empire" but, the people and program are above reproach and their success is simply undeniable.
This is what happens when they stop scoring little league games, handing out trophies for last and not spanking kids that deserve it. Sheesh!
@motodog.. You got some serious problems you need to work out.. And whats with the hate of europeans, where does your redneck roots come from? Ever been outside the US?
@carlsbad - easy bro - look i've been a military man for over 15 years - no need to school me on discipline. Just saying what I heard.
And not to many kids had more spanks than me I'll tell ya!
@ MX bob - no they both had opportunities to ride for mitch -
Islamic zozo, are you still alive? I lived and worked in the US for many years and I will again soon, members of my family lived and worked there, how can I be an anti US, idiot?
Only Islamic idiots like you can say something like that to cover your filthiness, it takes ages to understand what you write retard, go to school instead of planning on killing Western people, Mohammed is a retard.
5 -7 would be epic for Deano in SX !
So who gets the heave ho @ JWR ?
JimM
Pala374
I think Tomac handled Wilson just fine in the last few rounds of SX.Didn't Tomac cause one of Wilson's shoulder injurys.
Glad to see he is getting off the west coast, and away from the fools.
@Carlsbad
The FC Hondas seem as fast or faster off the gate this year. Maybe having
Wilson- Rattray and Tickle on 450's and the slow starting Bagget the
only PC rider had something to do with it.
Still seems kinda strange how strong the Geico bikes got when they stopped using
PC motors.
JimM
Pala374
im surprised they resigned weimer instead of replacing him with wilson weimer hasnt done hardly anything they must have got him cheap I just dont see jake turning into a villopoto one day but maybe im wrong
Radish, since you can't understand the English language, I won't waste any more time with a lazy person like you. Keep on praying for Mohammed, idiots like you can just do so, stupid dumb
I agree with Wilson on moving up to the 450, he's got nothing to prove on a 250, if he's overriding the 250 he will be good on the 450 as his technique is better than alot of guys, and he's raced the 450 plenty in amatuer, I say he'll run top 10 for sure, maybe top 5
The LCQ's next year are going to be epic ! The 450 class gets another race/championship winner, let's just hope the 450 SX class doesn't get destroyed by injuries again.