Catching Up with...Tyler Medaglia

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Photos by James Lissimore

When you think of Tyler Medaglia, it’s hard to imagine that he is just 22 years old. He has been on the National circuit for a long time, first as a privateer, then on the powerful OTSFF Suzuki Team and now for 2010, Tyler will be riding on the Blackfoot Yamaha Team. Another change this year for Tyler will be the class he is riding, when the gate drops this summer in Kamloops Tyler will be back in the MX2 class. To get his thoughts on 2010, I gave Tyler a call and what was going to be a 5 minute talk, actually lasted 25 minutes.

DMX: Hey Tyler, what’s new in your life. How is riding going? 

Tyler Medaglia: It’s been really good so far. I was able to get down South real early this off season and start riding. I didn’t take too much time off after last season so as soon as I got my new Yamaha’s, I headed to GPF. My original plan was to ride some US Arenacross over the winter but I ran into a few issues, the biggest one was that Yamaha didn’t offer any contingency. So I just rode a few outdoor races down South and just really focused on getting ready for the Canadian Nationals, I really want to win the MX2 Championship this summer. Right now I’m in Nova Scotia, the weather has been really nice here so I have been able to keep riding and doing my normal routine.

 That’s a bonus that you get to ride in Nova Scotia this time of year.

 Yeah, the weather has been great. It’s been like 15 degrees here every day.

 Since you mentioned that you thought about doing some Arenacross this winter, what is your take on all the talk since the Toronto SX about the lack of Canadian’s racing there. You have done your share of US Supercross the last few years, do you think more Canadian guys should have signed up.

 Well, let me first say that it seems easy for people to sit back and comment on stuff they know nothing about, I guess that’s the internet age we live in now. I can’t speak for any other Canadian rider but I personally would have loved to have raced Toronto, I love Supercross and I love racing in front of my hometown fans. But, I think a lot of people don’t realize just how much preparation goes into getting ready for a SX, you don’t just show up at a SX and ride. I was lucky enough to be staying at a facility in Georgia that has a SX track so I could have got myself ready, but to do it for just one round and plus to jump into the middle of a series, it wouldn’t work.   Not to mention how much goes into bike set up, the guys racing that series every weekend had their bikes dialed in. I could go on and on. The bottom line is that Dean Wilson was there, he rode great and he represented Canada, everyone should just be proud of him and not worry about who wasn't there.

Tyler at the Montreal SX in his OTSFF days.

 Would Blackfoot have let you ride Toronto?

It’s not that Blackfoot wouldn’t have let me, they just would have given me some recommendations. Let me put it this way, Blackfoot supports me and all their riders in whatever they do. But, the team’s goal is to win the Canadian Nationals and it just doesn’t make any sense for one of their riders to show up at a SX, unprepared and risk an injury that might ruin their summer.

The sport has certainly change hasn’t it. I just wrote about how 15 years ago we would show up at a SX, sign up and ride. With just a little bit of SX practice and basically stock suspension. I just don’t think you can do that now. The bikes are too different and everyone you would be racing against is much better prepared.

Yes, I would agree. Everything is so structure now that there just isn’t room in a rider’s program to just wing it!. It worked back then but I’m not sure it would work now. Riders, bikes, and the Teams in Canada all revolve around the CMRC Nationals now, it’s a lot more expensive to go racing now so you have to pick and chose.

So moving on, how has your Blackfoot experience been so far?

Oh man, it’s beyond what I expected, everything has been great. Without taking anything away from my old team, Andre and OTSFF Suzuki treated me so good and I couldn’t have ask for anything more. Having said that, I can see why Blackfoot has been so tough to beat all these years. The testing , the bikes, JSR and my teammates, everything is great and very professional. It just gives a rider so much confidence when you see a team working so hard for you, they just want to win and since that’s all I want to do also, I think we are a good match.

This is what Jason Mitchell looked like once he found out they signed Tyler for the MX2 class in 2010.

How old are you now?

I’m 22 years old.

Do you feel like this is the perfect time in your career to get this ride. You have been on the circuit awhile now and for a 22 year old, you have a lot of experience. Are you ready for this?

Definitely, I am so ready for this. I think I have paid my dues, I’m in the best shape of my life, I have great people around me and now I am on the best team so things are looking good. I am very happy in life and I hope that happiness, as well as all the hard work I am putting in will translate into a MX2 Championship.

Well, good luck, its sounds like you are ready to rock this summer. A few weeks ago I ask your brother about his favourite Kyle Patton story, you have spent a lot of time with him, do you have a favourite story.

I have the best KP$ story of all time. A few years ago Kyle, Nick and I went to a SX and after the race I ended up staying at my parents hotel. Well, I get a call from Nick saying that Kyle lost the keys to our van, he couldn’t find them anywhere. The next day I took a cab to their hotel to wait with them, we had to wait until Monday for a dealership to open. It ended costing Kyle a lot of money to get a key made so you can imagine how he was feeling, all he wanted to do was get back to GPF and recharge. I guess he was in such a hurry that he got pulled over for speeding somewhere in the South and ended up in jail for the night. Nick had to bail him out the next day!!! Once is was over and we got back to GPF we all laughed pretty hard about it. That’s my story, I think its better than my brother's.

 That is a great one! He has told me that story a few times. Well, thanks Tyler for chatting with me. I will let you get back to your program. One more question, how is Heidi doing.

 She is doing really good.

You know Heidi and my wife share the same birthday, September 5^th dude, don’t forget that date.

 I know, don’t worry I won’t forget(laughs). Thanks for the call, see everyone in Kamloops.