It’s a family affair
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-- Continuation --
SFMX:
Do you feel that no matter what your level is you can achieve more? Or,
do you think everyone reaches a limit?
Brandon: No, you can never reach your limit. The more you put in
the more you are going to get out. For sure, as far as balance, the
faster you get, the more balance you can get on the motorcycle. SFMX:
You “get” or that you “need”?
Brandon: You get! You definitely need balance to go fast, but you
get more balance out of the motorcycle. SFMX:
So, would you say your goals are to become a top paid pro?
Brandon: Professional, yes, to get a support line. SFMX:
You are what level, a privateer rider?
Brandon: Yeah. SFMX:
How many levels are there?
Brandon: I’m a true privateer. SFMX:
Funding yourself (laughter). Who actually sponsors you, since your going
to school you don’t actually have time for a job, especially with all
of the training you have?
Brandon: My main sponsor, I’d say is F&S Suzuki, and my
dad. SFMX:
How about Mom?
Brandon: Mom and Dad. SFMX:
That’s good, are your mom and dad still together?
Brandon: Yeah. SFMX:
That’s a good thing.
Brandon: 34 years now. SFMX: That’s fantastic.
(Click on Picture) SFMX:
So, what do you think will make you go faster?
Brandon: Riding more. Just riding more. SFMX:
Do you feel that you need to be in more physical shape than you are in?
What do you consider your strengths and what do you consider your
weakness’?
Brandon: My strength on the track is definitely my endurance and
my weakness is probably whoops. SFMX:
Now to get to the level of the superstars, what do they have that your
looking at? When I look at a great rider, I look at someone like you
that goes that speed. And when you’re looking at them what are you
seeing?
Brandon: Just, their bike and the time on the track. It’s all
about time on the track. As far as the Supercross season, they’re
practicing five months before. SFMX:
Do you know what their training schedule is like, do you have any idea?
I notice no one ever talks about training.
Brandon: I know exactly what they do. SFMX:
Do you try to duplicate what their doing with the intensity?
Brandon: I try to but a lot of it is based on bicycling, going to
the gym and stuff like that. SFMX:
Do you mind me asking what your training schedule is like, just to get
an idea. Or is that a super secret thing, you never hear anyone talking
about that?
Brandon: That is because you don’t want to give someone an edge
over you. ….
I train every day. SFMX:
You ride a bicycle, mountain bike or road bike?
Brandon: I just started riding a road bike. SFMX:
What do you think of it?
Brandon: I like it a lot. SFMX:
When did you start riding it?
Brandon: I got a road bike probably three months ago. SFMX:
Do you ride alone or group rides?
Brandon: Mostly alone, but my roommate, Jason Thomas he rides
with me sometimes. SFMX:
How many miles do you put in a days run?
Brandon: Anywhere from 20 to 30 miles. SFMX:
Do you feel it gives you cardio?
Brandon: Yeah. SFMX:
I’m a cyclist myself, I’ve been doing it for 15 years and I ride up
to 300 miles a week, so I know what that’s like. It’s good training.
Do
you ride for Suzuki or are you just sponsored by F&S.
Brandon: Mainly F&S. SFMX:
What is F&S?
Brandon: It’s the largest Suzuki dealer in the nation. SFMX:
Where are they based?
Brandon: Dayton Ohio. SFMX:
How did you hook up with them?
Brandon: My brother. SFMX:
How much more special is your equipment than lets say the novice rider
like myself?
Brandon: It’s not any better. There are people out here with
better bikes than mine. Everything I have you can buy. SFMX:
The pros have everything hand made for them right?
Brandon: Exactly. SFMX:
Is it that much better … like what you read in the magazines?
Brandon: It is. SFMX:
Have you ever had the chance to ride anything like that?
Brandon: No. SFMX:
Bet you wish you could huh?
Brandon: Yeah SFMX:
What do you think is going on with Suzuki right now with all of their
problems, as far as riders not with the bikes? They’ve had some bad
luck with Pastrana?
Brandon: Just bad luck, that’s all. SFMX:
When that happens, is there room in the chain for everybody to move up,
does everyone get a notch up?
Brandon: There are always people to take their places. SFMX:
How about you, what is your next step from this privateer level? Do you
progress with results and then someone picks you up or do you apply?
Brandon: You just get noticed and when you get to that level you
don’t send out resumes. Your being watched and hopefully someone picks
you up. SFMX:
How do you feel when you’re at an event like that (AMA National SX)? I
come to this place (Local MX track) and I get nervous. Are you nervous
at all?
Brandon: You are more nervous trying to make it in and qualify
for the night show than trying to qualify for the main. I wouldn’t say
it’s harder but it can be hard. SFMX:
How about the outdoors, do you intend to do any National events?
Brandon: I did one this year, I did Budds Creek, but I crashed in
my qualifier and in my last chance. |
-- Continuation --
(Click on Picture) SFMX:
How many opportunities do you have to make the main in an event like
that?
Brandon: Just two. The qualifying moto and the LCQ. It’s a lot
harder than people think. SFMX:
I can just imagine: You see it on TV but you don’t get the depth of
how rough it can be out there. It’s nothing like Supercross, its all
obstacle oriented?
Brandon: Yes, it’s all about timing. SFMX:
Well, speaking about timing, how nervous are you when you come up short?
Brandon: It’s not nervous it’s more pain. SFMX:
Speaking of pain, what was your worst crash?
Brandon: I don’t like talking about that. SFMX:
Are you injury free for the most part?
Brandon: Yes. SFMX:
Who is your favorite rider?
Brandon: I definitely like Stewart, he is the baddest rider ever.
SFMX: Do you base your opinion on results, or personality and how they handle their selves?
Brandon: With him (Stewart), it’s both. Ricky is an awesome
rider too, but he can’t really handle himself as a spokesperson.
Jeremy McGrath was awesome too. Probably my biggest hero is a privateer
named Barry Carston. He has had a national number for like thirteen
years. He’s like forty years old and he can still whoop me. That guy
comes to every race in his beat up motor home, just him and his wife.
That guy is a man! SFMX:
I like the old guys myself.
Brandon: He is cool. SFMX:
What are your plans for the next five years? Do you plan on just trying
to progress?
Brandon: Yeah, I still have about two more years of college. SFMX:
After you finish college, do you plan on training harder, using the same
time you used for studying?
Brandon: I’ll see what I am doing then. SFMX:
One step at a time, you take it on a year to year basis?
Brandon: I definitely want to train harder this year, ride
more this year and be more prepared for Supercross. SFMX:
What makes you so fast? You seem very comfortable on the bike out there.
Is it just time on the bike? Did you have it from the beginning?
Brandon: No…just like everybody else. I started on my 60 with
my dad teaching me how to shift down the street. SFMX:
Yes but I see some of these 15-16 year olds out here that are just very
comfortable. You’re 20 and in my opinion your very young.
Brandon: Spending time on the bike is the biggest thing
… spend time on the bike and enjoying yourself. SFMX:
You’re still having fun and isn’t that the main thing?
Brandon: We spend a lot more money than we make. So it’s got to
be the love of it. SFMX:
What was your most memorable ride?
Brandon: Making the qualifying for the 125 main. SFMX:
You made the main?
Brandon: I made the qualifying for the 125 main twice. I’ve
never been that excited! SFMX:
What is your main ride now the 125 or the 250?
Brandon: Both. SFMX:
Do you have any superstitious rituals before a race?
Brandon: I knock on wood constantly. There is a gazillion other
ones, but that is the main one. SFMX:
Do you put your left boot on before your right boot or anything like
that?
Brandon: Always right boot before left. Right knee brace before
left. Everything is right side before left. SFMX:
That’s cool. SFMX:
What advice do you have for a novice rider?
Brandon: It depends on where they want to take it. Mostly riding,
staying in shape. Come to one of my riding schools. SFMX:
You do riding schools?
Brandon: I do private lessons.
SFMX:
What do you think is the main reason for most of these people riding
here? What is your opinion?
Brandon: Fun. There is no one out here trying to be Pro. SFMX:
Except for a very small few like yourself. SFMX: So your main support is F&S and folks … and there are smaller ones … clothing, your older brother? Brandon:
My older brother is my team manager. SFMX:
How is that … getting along with your older brother?
Brandon: He busts our ass (laughter). SFMX: But it’s your older brother and you love each other. Brandon: Yes but he definitely pushes us. SFMX:
Does he still ride?
Brandon: Yes, he is a Pro … 3 of us are Pros (Brandon #524,
Karsten #545, Forrest #544) SFMX: All right. I think I covered all of my questions.
(Click on Picture) South Florida MX would like to thank Brandon Butler for letting us get an idea of what is going through the mind of a privateer Pro MX’er. We wish him and his family good fortune and the best of luck as they pursue their dream on the Pro MX circuit. Brandon
Butler F&S Suzuki 125 & 250
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