Catching Up with...Dusty Klatt

Aug 3 2010 - 2:07pm - Chris Pomeroy

Dusty Klatt has had quite a summer so far, he has finished second a bunch of times to his teammate Colton Facciotti, he DNF’d both motos in Edmonton and most recently, has a four moto win streak going on. Whatever has happen in the first seven rounds of the Monster Energy CMRC Nationals it doesn’t matter now, with two rounds left Dusty finds himself with the MX1 points lead. It has been quite the turn of events for Dusty, to get his thoughts, we called him up to see how he is feeling with two rounds left.

DMX: Good morning Dusty. How are you? Did I wake you up?

Dusty Klatt: No, not at all, I try and get up around 6am and get my day started. It seems to help me when I travel east for the nationals, so when I have to get up at 7am out there, it doesn’t feel like 4am to my body.

Good thinking!. You have been riding good all summer, but at Ste Julie there was a big points swing and you found yourself with the MX1 points lead. How have you been feeling lately?

I’ve been feeling fine, its definitely been an interesting season, how everything has played out, it’s probably one of the strangest Canadian seasons I’ve seen. You know, I started the series ok, then I had 2 DNF’s which obviously set me way back, then Colton had a big crash which tightened up the points, its just been strange.

I feel like I have been riding well all year long, its just Colton has been a few steps ahead of me. I’m not sure why, Colton is about 20 lbs lighter than me on the bike so that might be part of it, but, who knows. I have the points lead now, but I am not jumping up and down until after Walton.

Things looked bleak after Edmonton but Klatt never gave up and now finds himself with a nice points lead.

You guys had a brand new YZ 450f to work with this season, how has the bike been so far.

It has been really, really good. Obviously we have been tinkering with suspension and little things but nothing major, the motor is good, the chasis is good, it’s a good package. With it being the first year of this bike, everything is new to us and everybody else, but we have it working really good.

Now, you were probably more surprised than anyone to leave Ste Julie with the points lead and even though Colton was out. You looked unbelievable out there. Did you just feel good on that track?

Well, honestly I went into Ste Julie with the mindset that I just wanted to give Colton everything I had for the last 4 rounds. I was really tired of finishing second to him and I thought Ste Julie was the time to make things happen. I have always felt comfortable on that track, with the layout and the type of jumps it has, you can really get over the front end and be aggressive. Obviously Colton going down early changed a few things, but I felt good that day and I think we would have had a good battle.

Speaking of the track in Ste Julie, what do you think of that tiller machine that was used there and at Walton last year? Do you like the way it prepares the track?

I have kind of mixed views on that, I think it is good for certain sections of a track, like a straightaway or something, but for corners I think I’d like to see it tilled deep and let the ruts form. I think the biggest thing is now on a lot of tracks like Walton, Moncton, is the lack of top soil on the track. I think these tracks have seen so much racing the last few years and the top soil isn’t being replaced. This past weekend was really rocky, and the last few years Walton has been rocky, so it would be nice to see that improve.

You have gone through some changes this year that have seemed to really help your riding. Without going into details that are none of anyone’s business, what made you decide to change things up and refocus?

Do mean changes like cutting my hair, because that was huge for me (laughs)? You know, for me, I have never been the party kid, I never drank or smoke or anything like that, that’s just who I am. I have always been a self motivator and I think that is very important, no matter how people you have around you all the time, there will always be times when you have to motivate yourself to do things, whether it be training, or riding or making changes in your life.

As far as relationships go, it has never matter to me whether I have had a girlfriend or not, my results didn’t change either way, but, sometimes you have to make life choices that are tough, but at the same time you know that you will be better off for making those changes. Everyone has jobs to go to and its a lot better if you don’t have to bring your personal life to work, and a lot better if your truly happy. I am very happy in life right now and I have nothing to complain about. I don’t want people to get the wrong idea, I am not saying that girlfriends are bad, sometimes you just need a change. That is how I felt earlier this year, I just needed a change and it seems to be paying off.

It certainly does seem to be paying off Dusty. Ok, you have two round left, how do you like Sand Del Lee and Walton?

They are both good tracks. I think SDL might be a bit tight for our 450’s but I like the layout, with Walton, there have been times when I’ve felt like it was the best track in the world, and sometimes when I’ve hated it. You never know what you are going to get with that place, so we’ll see in a few weeks. As I said earlier, I don’t want to jump up and down until after its over, this season has proved that anything can happen.

This has been a weird year in Canadian mx but it looks like Dusty will be the man on top when everything shakes out.

Regardless of what happens with the Championship, what are your plans after Walton?

Not to much, I’ll probably take a few weeks off and relax, ride some BMX, I’d like to go up to Whistler and do some downhill stuff. Then it will be time to get ready for Montreal so that’s really it. I also have a lot of work to do on my house so that will keep me busy too.

Thanks for your time Dusty, good luck at SDL and Walton.

Thanks a lot, see you there.