Catching Up With... Bobby Kiniry

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Catching up with... Bobby Kiniry

Interview by Billy Rainford

It’s hard not to like New York State’s Bobby Kiniry; I don’t think his face muscles even know how to form a frown. He’ll be racing in Canada on a new brand this summer and just got the call to race in the US as a fill-in rider in the Supercross class. We caught up with him just as he was getting ready to pack his bags for California.

Hey, Bobby. What’s going on? How and where are you today?

Hi there. Everything’s pretty good. I’m just in New York, right now, getting ready to fly out in the morning to California to start doing some testing for…..

Woah, woah, woah…let’s not get to that quite yet. We need to build some momentum, first.

Ok, sorry. Perfect. (laughs)

So, before we get to some of these cool rumours we’ve heard, let’s back up for a minute, first. Let’s talk about your brutal collarbone injury at Sand Del Lee and how that is all going.

Everything went good with my collarbone. It was a lot worse than I originally thought it was. Normally, when you break your collarbone, it’s just a fracture and two to three weeks later you’re good to go. I ended up breaking it in five places! I had to get a plate put in just to get it to heal properly, not even for a speedy recovery. It was more just because it had to get plated. That was a set-back at the end of the year, but I just took it as it was and tried to just enjoy the rest of the summer. I tried to make the best of it, but it was obviously a bummer. I felt like we were starting to put some things together at the end of the summer. Obviously, it sucks to get hurt.

Last time I spoke to you, you were at the airport on your way to Germany. How did that experience go?

That was good. I had a couple good rides. There were four races, I got on the podium a couple times, had a lot of heat race wins, and it was really good competition this year. A lot of guys were overseas looking to race their dirt bikes and it made for really good racing this year. I enjoy staying in the racing scene. In the off-season, a lot of people just practice, practice, practice, and it was nice to break that routine up with a lot of racing. There’s no better practice than racing. It was just a great experience, all-round, to see Germany. There’s a lot of history there. It was just a really cool experience for me. I’m really glad I went over.

Kiniry is a fan favourite. He is practically Canadian when he races up here.  James Lissimore photo

Who was it that hooked you up to go over?

A couple years ago, the Fly guy from the U.S. needed a fill-in spot and, being that it was a Rockstar team, André (Laurin) was pumped on it and said, “Ya, go make some more money.” It was great to support Rockstar and get their name out there and it also helps me out. They’ve been a great sponsor for me and helped us out in a lot of different instances like that.

Have you spent much time in Europe racing?

I’ve been to a lot of different places racing. I’ve been to Italy, France, Germany, Australia…I’ve been around all over for racing. Racing has been good to me over the years and let me see a lot of the world and experience cool things like that. I went over to Germany last year for the first time, but just for one race. It was good to spend a little more time and check it out. I think I ended up fifth in points. I don’t even remember, to be honest with you.

Me and (Matt) Goerke got into it a little bit the night before he won his championship and neither one of us made it into the main. He was trying to win the championship and I was trying to get third in points and we, kind of, connected and neither one of us made it. He still won the title. It was just racing. It’s such tight racing over there. I was heated at the time, but it’s just racing. That stuff happens.

Backing up even more, what was your amateur career like?  

It was pretty good, to be honest with you. I grew up with a pretty good group. We had myself, James Stewart, Broc Hepler, Davi Millsaps, Josh Grant, Jimmy Nelson, Teddy Maier, Goerke, Kyle Chisholm, Ryan Sipes, and a lot of other guys I forgot. We had a pretty elite group. Starting in about 1996, I started having really good success. I won my first moto at Loretta Lynn’s on a 60 and then, really, every other year after that I was a contender for a championship. Also, both Texas races, Ponca City, Mini O’s, World Minis, Mammoth Mountain…all that stuff. I won uncountable amounts of championships at those. I had a pretty good amateur career.

In the States, they worked it so that Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki had their little elite groups of riders that they took care of and, looking back at it, you were a full factory amateur with lots of bikes and lots of parts. My parents gave up everything to be able to travel and do that because it was still not cheap, as we all know. It was a pretty good run for me as a young kid getting a lot of experience.

Do you have any Loretta’s titles?

 No, just moto wins. I couldn’t string it together for three motos, it seemed. Two motos wasn’t so much of an issue but I couldn’t string it together for the entire week there at Loretta’s, for some reason.

Kiniry has one of the best styles going. He is not afraid to get aggresive and keep it clean at the same time. James Lissimore photo

So, then what brought you up to the Canadian nationals?

Billy Whitley was a good buddy of ours and Paul Carpenter had ridden for him before. Me and Paul were staying out at his house in Texas. He had a supercross track built and we trained down there the year before I came up. Billy started hinting about us heading to Canada to do a full season up there. I was looking to get on a 450 at that point in my career, anyway, and it seemed like a perfect fit. Instead of racing a full year in the U.S., I did a full season of supercross and then shot up to Canada for the outdoors. Looking back, I’m 100% glad I did. I’ve met a lot of good people in Canada and had a lot of fun. It put the fun back into racing for me.

What’s your favourite Canadian track?

I’d say Walton, for sure. I like Gopher Dunes a lot too, not that I’m a sand rider, but it’s just so rough and such a hard event and I enjoy pushing myself training and racing. Every year I think I’ve shown that I can push myself through. I’m not the fastest there, but I feel I push myself right to the end of the moto. I enjoy that part of racing; the self-gratification at the end of the day.

I like to ask the American riders this question: Who do you most like battling with up here in Canada?

Um, it’s great racing all the way through the pack. I can’t really point out anyone in particular. It’s not as cut-throat in Canada. You can battle people without worrying about getting cleaned out. In the U.S., even if you’re in the top ten, they run it in on you a little harder. We’re getting to that age where bones break and we’re trying to make a living. Some people don’t get that anymore and they don’t use their heads. In Canada, it seems like everybody can race a little cleaner, respect each other a little more, and everyone seems a little more friendly. The racing, in general, is just more fun to me.

Speaking of broken bones, what did you think of that crazy crash with Trey Canard and Ryan Morais?

I saw that and I feel so bad for them both! Supercross is just so tight and that stuff is bound to happen and it sucks. Especially with Canard just getting healthy again to have such a traumatic injury; you never want to see anything like that. Morais is really bad with his back, some broken ribs, a collapsed lung, broken face bones, and his jaw is wired shut. That’s about as bad as it gets! I wasn’t there, but it seemed like Trey did what he was supposed to—got over to the left, doubled the triple, hid by the hay bales, and try to jump out of there. Morais was already committed to the triple, had nowhere to go, and landed right on him.

Ok, so that brings us to these rumours. Tell us about why you’re heading to California.

Well, Andre was trying to get me lined up with the Rockstar Valli Star Racing Yamaha guys to ride East Coast anyway and with that traumatic injury to Morais it opened up a spot a couple weeks early and it was a good fit since I was making the switch to Yamaha anyway and planned on racing the East Coast. They gave me a call and asked me to come out a couple weeks early, start some testing, and fill-in for some races a little earlier than we expected. I said, “Ya!” It’s a great opportunity for me to get a couple more races under my belt and get out west.

André is working hand-in-hand with those guys, sharing a little bit of information and, with a lot of the same sponsors, it made sense to slide me in there. It’s a lot easier on them and it’s a lot easier on André for me to go racing. We`re 100% committed to racing the Canadian nationals, but André is happy that it allows me to keep racing and keep making some money.

Kiniry will be Yamaha mounted for 2012. James Lissimore photo

So, the Rockstar OTSFF team will be on Yamahas and it will be you and Richard Grey, correct?

Correct. I’m looking forward to the change. It will be refreshing for me. Starting a new season fresh with a new bike and engine program. Hopefully, I can learn some things over the next few weeks to get a head start. We had a little bit of an off year, last year. I think we sort of fought ourselves all year. I had quite a few falls and that didn’t help, by any means. I’m healthy now, I’ve been racing, been doing well, new bike, and a fresh start, so I’m looking forward to it.

So, you’re going to be #7 on a Yamaha. What do you think about that?

Ya, that’s already been pointed out to me. Hopefully, I use my head a little more than that guy does. (laughs) There should be some interesting comments this summer.

You seem to be the happiest guy at the track, week in, week out. How do you explain your perennial smile?

(laughs) I don’t know, man, I’m just happy to be there. I’m not digging a ditch for a living during the week! Riding a dirt bike is a little easier. I have to enjoy this while it lasts. You can’t do this forever. Even though some unfortunate stuff happens sometimes, what are you gonna do? That’s racing and that stuff happens. I just enjoy being there and being around good people, good friends, and I love racing dirt bikes, so it’s easy to be smiling when I’m there!

You’ve been at this for quite a while now. What are your ultimate goals in motocross?

Obviously, just like all of us, I want to win that Canadian championship, first off. I just want to keep racing, stay healthy, and make a living at it. I’m 26 years old, I have a beautiful house, nice toys, nice truck, and all that stuff. I want to keep all that. Racing has been good to me and, looking at it from that aspect, I feel that as long as I keep doing that the race wins and the championship will come. That’s what I’m out there for, every week—to do the best I can. My long-term goal would be to win that Canadian championship and do the best I can down here in the States. I’ve always been a top ten guy and, as long as I keep doing that, I’m happy.

What’s your best American finish, by the way?

I got 3^rd in the San Diego SX, 3^rd at the U.S. Open, 2^nd at the Toronto SX. On top of those, some 4^th, 5^th, 6ths on back—way too many to count. When I was racing outdoors consistently I was up there every week. I was 5^th to 10^th, every week.

Is Colton Facciotti beatable up here, or what?

I think he is. I never thought he wasn’t. I know some other people think that, but not in my head. I’ve beat him straight-up before and there’s no excuse why I can’t do it. In my head every week I don’t run it in on him dirty, but I’m not letting him go by like some people do. I have no doubt in my head that I’m faster than that guy and that I should be ahead of him. I think we’re all the same way about each other. He probably feels the same way about me, but that’s racing. That’s what drives me to train hard every week so that I can beat everyone, not just him. He’s got his off days. Whoever is on top that day, I want to beat them. I don’t care who it is.

Since you’re with André and the OTSFF team, ever given any thought to racing some snowmobiles?

I have, you know. I did a sled race for Andre last year right after the Toronto SX. I left that night and raced Sunday. It was definitely an experience for me. I didn’t know what to expect. I’d barely ridden a sled in my life. I went out there and jumped all the jumps and got myself around the track at a moderate pace. I wasn’t fast, by any means, but I really enjoyed my day on it. I don’t know if it would be something that I’d pursue because I‘m still so competitive at supercross, which is the same season, so it’s tough for me to go that direction. I’d have to put in a lot of work for minimal success when I could stay and race supercross and have good success. It is a ball and if I ever have the opportunity to go do it full-time, I would definitely consider it. I’m not at Iain’s (Hayden) pace, by any means. I have no delusions about that. It’s impressive watching those guys.

Ok how about a couple good old standard questions to help people get to know you a bit better. What’s your favourite movie, band, and TV show?

I’m not much of a ‘movie guy,’ but really any Clint Eastwood or Rocky movie. I’m kind of one of ‘those guys’….maybe Smokey and the Bandit, something like that. (laughs) As for band, I really like Metallica, to be honest with you. They’re right there with some country guys like Waylon Jennings…I’m kind of fifty-fifty there. I like the old country like Waylon, Merle Haggard and guys like that. And I only like old fishing shows—nothing anyone would know—Bassmasters, Tournament Series, I’ll watch that. I’m not much of a ‘TV guy.’

Ok, who would you like to thank?

Obviously, OTSFF and Andre for putting in 100% effort with me every year. I think it’s my third year there and he’s a dream to work with. He lines me up with all these other kinds of races. Rockstar, Yamaha, RG3, Troy Lee Designs, and, of course, my wife, Brittany. I don’t know any of our other sponsors 100%, so we’ll leave it at that and I think we’re good.

Well, thanks for chatting with us today. Best of luck this weekend in Oakland. You give us someone else to cheer for.

Alright, perfect, thank you.