Age: 27
Hometown: Annandale, NSW
Classes: All Powers (Washed Up)
Sponsors: Any of my clients that are kind enough to let me use/review their products!
Conor is somewhat of a familiar face around Australian MX tracks. In addition to being the add guru at Dirt Action, he’s also helped countless privateers put together race campaigns and was the previous owner of Takt Manufacturing, one of the leading graphics companies in the country. Conor shows up and races with us occasionally, usually only lasting a handful of laps before heading for the esky.
Give us a brief rundown on your racing career…
I used to race a fair bit when I was younger. I grew up doing minikahna here in NSW on 50s through 80s. My family moved to QLD when I was in my teens, so I spent a fair bit of time racing the QLD motocross and natural terrain series’ but have always been a gate filler or mid pack guy. In 2013 I headed to the USA to pursue a dream of being a race mechanic. I did this for the best part of a year before heading home to get a real job, and start properly contributing to society. I launched Takt MFG in 2014 and supplied the majority of the factory teams with graphics up until my last season in 2018 with Dyson Motorsports Kawasaki.
How long have you been racing and what led you to choose motocross?
Riding is something that has always been central for myself and my dad in particular. I got my first bike when I was 3 years old and have been pretty much inseparable from them since. My dad was always big on enduro and desert racing, and tried steering me that direction, but growing up I idolised McGrath and was pulled in to the world of MX and SX.
Do you participate in any other sports or have any other hobbies?
Eat Motocross, Sleep Motocross, Ride to work on a CRF hahahah. Working in the industry, its hard to get away from it, but honestly I love riding so much I wouldn’t have it any other way. I do have a 24inch cruiser BMX that I try to get out on during the week to keep the fitness up, but that’s becoming a less and less lately. Outside of 2 wheels, you can find me camping / exploring in my van or trying my hand at becoming the next big DJ.
How seriously do you take your racing?
I mean, I love to compete. I take it somewhat seriously on race day, but I know that our class- everybody has jobs. I am going towork on Monday morning so you know, there is always that in the back of your mind. I am most certainly not training off the bike, but do try to ride at least once a week. I’m competitive when I come out here because I don’t just want to give it away, which is frustrating, as I know the level that I am capable of riding at!
What are your favorite types of tracks and track obstacles?
Sand! I have never been a great hardpack rider, so I would have to say the softer the surface the better I ride. I am not a huge fan of jumps, they are more of a necessity for me on a motocross track. I really enjoy riding ruts and turn tracks, nothing beats the feeling of linking a section of track perfectly through some deep ruts!
Have you been to the Amcross before?
Yeah, I raced one back in the late 90s early 00’s. Moving to QLD I raced the thundercross events for about 5 years which is a very comparable series. I am looking forward to getting back onto a true grass track and letting it hang out a little!
What would you rather do, holeshot and run away or come from behind to win?
Holeshot every day of the week, I ride better in space and there is no better feeling that getting out front early and putting in solid laps. As a racer I tend to get frustrated when riding through the pack and make to many mistakes!
Tell me about your bike and why you chose it and what have you done to make it work well for you?
I am currently riding a 2016 RMZ 450. I have dabbled in different brands over the years, but seem to always gravitate back to the yellow bikes. Its pretty close to stock in the engine department. I have a Yoshimura Exhaust and have played around with the couplers to get a power delivery I am happy with. Being a bit of a MX nerd, I have a soft spot for factory suspension. During a trip to the USA I picked up a set of A Kit forks that graced one of the Rockstar Suzuki bikes, and Jay from All Pro Racing has been solid in helping me out with a Showa factory shock out of Japan. I finally have the bike to a point that I am 100% happy with it on a motocross track. The factory suspension is on the firm side, so look to see me pushing wide and dancing around on these flat turns until I get the clickers and sag sorted out.
Thanks for your time, all the best with the upcoming races!
Thanks guys, looking forward to getting the series underway.
