Frid’Eh Update #22 | Tyler Gibbs Interview | Brought to You by Dirt Care

Frid’Eh Update #22 | Tyler Gibbs Interview | Brought to You by Dirt Care

Week #22 of the DMX Frid’Eh Update belongs to Tyler Gibbs from Abbotsford, BC and is brought to you by Dirt Care.

By Billy Rainford

Welcome to Week #22 of the DMX Frid’Eh Update brought to you by Dirt Care cleaners and lubricants. If you’ve been tuning in to our social media pages, you will know that I am currently on a non-moto vacation in the Greek Islands for Emily’s BIG birthday. That being said, this “Update” will be that in name only. If anyone cares, we just got to Milos from Santorini this afternoon.

Tyler Gibbs is the rider who we interviewed for Week #22. Tyler is from Abbotsford, BC and has been one of our top riders for many years. We all kept an eye on him as he climbed the ranks and moved up to Pro. He’s always been very good at the indoor game, having grown up inside Chilliwack Heritage Park out in Chilliwack.

He’s raced our National Motocross series, USA Arenacross, and the AMA Supercross series. Last time we spoke, he was at a bit of a crossroads in his career because he wasn’t going to be getting the necessary support to cross the country again to race the Makita Canadian Triple Crown Series this coming summer. In fact, he was only planning on racing Calgary and playing it by ear from there.

Has that decision changed? We’ll have to check out the interview to find out.

On a side note, his dad, Paul Gibbs, and I must have walked past each other hundreds of times back when we were young troublemakers carousing the beach and streets of Grand Bend, Ontario, back in the 1990’s. I was there every weekend to play beach volleyball and he was out in the water ripping around. Small world.

We’ve only got a couple more days over here in Greek paradise, so let’s get to the interview and find out what Tyler has cooking:

Direct Motocross: Hey, Tyler. We did a podcast back in October when you were preparing to race some Monster Energy AMA 250 West Supercross. I know those didn’t go the way you were hoping, but can you take us through them for us? 

Tyler Gibbs: Getting the opportunity to race the AMA 250 West Supercross Championship this season was an incredible experience. The first few rounds didn’t go the way I had hoped, and I faced some challenges along the way, but I learned a lot from the experience and continued to improve each weekend.

By Seattle and Denver, I felt like I was riding some of the best Supercross of my career. While the race results didn’t fully reflect it, due to a few things not going my way, those rounds showed me the level I’m capable of riding at and gave me confidence moving forward.

This season taught me a lot both on and off the bike, and I’m motivated to carry that momentum and experience into next year.

Supercross is obviously no joke, so what do you think the key to future success is? Can we blame Urky? Springman? I’m joking, of course.

I’m extremely thankful for the people around me. Those guys went above and beyond for me all season and worked incredibly hard every weekend, so I’m grateful to have such a great group of friends and supporters in my corner. Kevin and Kyle had me dialed in and prepared every single day.

The biggest thing I learned this season was believing in myself on race day and trusting my preparation. At the end of the day, the race track is no different than what we put in during the week. Supercross is extremely demanding and requires a high level of confidence, which was something I was still building early in the season.

Another major takeaway was the importance of being strong in the whoops when they get rough and cupped out. We’ve all seen how riders like Cole Davies can separate themselves in those sections. If you can attack the whoops with that level of confidence and intensity, it puts you in position to run up front every weekend.

I just looked on your Instagram and I saw that nice battle with your little brother, Travis Gibbs, at Mission Raceway. What’s going on under your helmet in those situations with him?

To be honest, nothing. We got into such a battle that the only thing I could think of was where am I going to pass him. If you race, you know exactly what that feeling is, nothing else matters just how can I pass him. It was definitely a lot of fun. 

Is he getting that close to your pace already, and what bikes were you both on in that video?

Yeah, he is definitely going a lot faster this year. I mean, anyone who knows my brother knows he is one of the most naturally talented dirt bike riders I know. He’s still got a little bit of wood to chop to get to me, but he is not too far off. In that video, I was on a 250f and he was on a 450f, so makes for some good battles. 

Is that your back yard track on one of your latest Instagram posts? 

No. I wish it was! Just a private track that I haven’t been to in a while. The place is a lot of fun. 

When we spoke last time, you mentioned it probably wasn’t worth it for you to chase the entire Canadian Triple Crown Series this summer. Is that still the case?

Yes. I really wish I could but as a privateer it’s too much money, especially everything being on the east coast and the pay being super low. I can’t make enough to cover just my fuel bill let alone everything else! Good luck to everyone racing this summer.

But your brother is at the age and skill that I’m sure he wants to race the series, no? 

Yes, he wants to do it. He would really like to go all the way across. It’s just a lot of money to do it. I mean, just think of the fuel bill. It’s going to be over 10k just for fuel plus add another $25k and you’re looking at over 35k to race this summer. Maybe one day he goes all the way across or maybe he does really well at round one and my dad’s like, “Okay, we’re doing it.” 

What’s your age, height, weight these days?

I’m 24 unc status, as the kids say these days, I’m 5,9 and 165 pounds. 

OK, let’s get your opinion on a couple championships. Who wins the AMA 450 class this summer? And what about the 450 class in Canada?

450 USA. I mean, hard to bet against Jett (Lawrence). Just look at his stats, the guy is good. Deep down I want Eil Tomac to win it, I just don’t know if he’s got it in him. I guess we will have to wait and see.

In Canada, I’m going Jess (Pettis). That guy needs to get one on a blue bike. As long as he can stay healthy, I think he will get it done. 

How come I don’t see your name in the Future West Moto MX series results? 

I was in California when they started the series, so that’s why I have missed them. 

So then, what does your summer look like?

Racing dirt bikes and trying to make enough money to race SX again next year. 

So the plan is to give Supercross another shot?

Yes, I want to. I’ve got some unfinished business that I need to finish. 

And what do you think you will you do for a career when this is all done? 

I want to stick around in the sport and do something, I’m just not sure what yet. 

OK, thanks for talking with us this week. See you next week in Calgary and who would you like to thank?

Yes, I’ll be there, although I’m not sure yet if I’ll be racing.

I’d also like to thank everyone who has helped and supported me in getting to the races this year. Without all of your support, I wouldn’t have been able to make it happen. Thank you all very much: Yamaha Canada, GA Checkpoint, Kyle from Akita Custom Glass, Fox racing, Lime Nine, SECO, Renthal bars, Matrix Concept, ASV, Graeme Brough, Jeff from Dogwood floors, Brad from AP Capital, Dale Hiebert, Micro machine shop, Kyle Springman, Kevin Urquhart and his entire family for everything, and everyone else who helps me, thanks.

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Obviously, we’ll all be glued to our TV screens this Saturday as the battle between Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan is ready to put up or shut up. These 2 probably don’t actually like each other, so this fruit should actually give us some juice. Who knows, Jett is, arguably, the fastest rider on the planet right now, so we shouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being Jett and Eli Tomac going at it out front with Hunter Lawrence, Jorge Prado, and Justin Cooper in tow. Will Haiden be in there with this group of heavy hitters? I think so.

Tune in Saturday to find out!

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OK, short and sweet this week, but my break is definitely almost over as we’re set to kick off our series next weekend out in Calgary. We land back in Toronto Monday afternoon and I’ll have one night to get everything ready to head west in the morning. They’ll wait for me, right?

We’ll have Austin Klassen ( AKmotoedits ) from Winnipeg, Manitoba, shooting video for DMX this summer, so I’m looking forward to seeing what he can come up with as far as edits and all things moving go.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Enjoy the racing.