Dean Wilson is about to embark on a new journey with Red Bull KTM in the 450 class. While we’ve seen Dean dabble on the big bikes before, and even race his orange ride at Red Bull Straight Rhythm and the Monster Energy Cup, the real test doesn’t come until Anaheim 1. Our man David Pingree caught up to Dean for a report on the long days of the off-season.
Racer X: Give me your thoughts on the new bike, the new season, and jumping into the 450 class. You’ve got a lot of new things going on.
Dean Wilson: Everything’s pretty fresh for me, but I definitely think I was due [for] a change. I’m really happy with everything. Obviously I’m with KTM and I’m really happy to be here. The bike’s awesome. I’m feeling really good on it. I switched over to Answer gear; I’m loving that. Shoei Helmets, Red Bull, 100%, Atlas. It’s all new for me, so it’s just exciting. Definitely happy to be on the 450. I just love the power. It’s really good.
You did a handful of 450SX races last year and showed a ton of speed, but fitness kind of beat you up a little bit. How are you feeling? We’re only a month away.
I’m feeling good. Last year, when I did a few races, I did really well in qualifying and felt really good, but I just really struggled with the arm pump. I never really physically was crazy tired; there just becomes a point where you can’t even hang onto the handlebars and it’s like survival. Really just trying to work out my imbalances and my weaknesses that’s causing that. It can be a combination of things, but everyone’s got their own opinion for it. I’m just working hard this off-season and putting everything aside and just completely focusing on this. I really hope it pays off and it will be good.
Long days at the test track. Give me your thoughts on lap after lap, just grinding it out when you guys are developing stuff and getting ready for the season.
It’s definitely tough. It’s just kind of hard. You just got to be on a good schedule when you’re doing it, when we test and we’re at the track all day and we’re just trying parts and we’re kind of grinding it out. But most other days, even like right now, I have a schedule and I have what I have to do and I start early. I’m on the track by 9 a.m. Supercross lap times are short, so it’s not like outdoors when you do thirty plus two and you got to do two of them or whatever. You can do so much in 30 minutes. Usually I’m on a pretty good schedule to where I’m not at the track all day, but when I’m testing I’m there all day. So it’s tough just because after riding, it’s not like we just ride and then that’s it. I either have to cycle or go to the gym or even some days both—cycle, ride, and then gym. Just depends on the day but it’s a grind.
I know from personal experience one of the hardest guys to test with is Bones because he will keep you at the track until the sun goes down. How has that changed coming here to KTM now? How is it different here?
It’s a lot different. With Bones we would honestly be at the track at 10:00 and then leave when it’s dark. Here at KTM we will start a lot earlier, 8:30, really early. We’ll have a long day, but we won’t be leaving at dark. We’ll cut it early. If the track starts going away and it’s not really useful then we won’t bother, just because it’s not really beneficial. Both teams are different, but I’m liking what we’re doing here.
I noticed something that a lot of guys would do, and I tried to pick up a little bit at the end of my career. Guys would do their testing all day long and then leave enough time at the end of the day, however much they would need, to do their motos and still do two twenties at the end of the day. Is that something you try to follow, where you stick to your laps even if you’re testing?
Yeah, sometimes, or sometimes I’ll just wipe out my schedule just for testing so I don’t have to stress on it. But there’s days where I’ve done my motos beforehand and then tested, but I don’t really recall too many times where I’ve done motos after testing.
I remember days where you don’t make progress. You change all the stuff and you’re going around and around with suspension setting or whatever, trying new mapping and you’re not making gains. How is that frustration? Have you ever had days like that?
No, not really. To be honest, the good thing about me is I’m not a picky rider. I could honestly hop on a close-to-stock KTM and just feel pretty good right away. To be honest I’m not the greatest tester in the world. I just kind of ride my bike, and if I’m comfortable then I’m happy. If I’m feeling out of whack or feeling uncomfortable, then I want to change things and get me feeling comfortable. That’s just kind of how I am; I’m not really picky on the bike. I don’t really use my bike as an excuse. I think if you’re gelling with the bike and feeling comfortable, then you shouldn't really change anything.
