Determination

April 23, 2010

This months Featured Athlete story is about determination. In the dictionary, determination is defined as: “the firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end” and in MX, determination is that effort put forth in every practice and every race to never settle for second. “Second” as the saying goes….”is the first place loser”.

Ya’ know most spectators have no idea what happens once the riders get out of eyesight on the main track. In reality they only see about 20% of the race. The other 80% is out of sight and out of mind as some coast through the track after the start until they get up to the spectator area where they get on the gas.

From my vantage points I have seen it all. But during the last couple of races of 2009 I was privileged to see two riders (in different classes) display some incredible willpower and determination. Not because they won. Nah that would be too easy. Rather because I saw them crash, hit the ground, get passed (in one case from first to last - Noah Shirakawa, Honda 123 85 class)  and then tough it out to get back up, chase the others down and pull off the win. That’s the Right Stuff.

Brandon Cash, aka. “Cash” aka. “Rocket Man” is one of those riders and is this months Featured Athlete.

Action808: Tell the readers who you are and what you think about racing MX?

“My name is Brandon Cash, I am 27yrs old and live on the North Shore of Oahu. I love to surf, I’m a full time family man with a 2yr old son Nakoa Brandon Cash I love spending time with and I love racing motocross. It’s a physical and mentally demanding sport at all times, it takes work and dedication and you have to stay constantly focused no matter what is happening which to me makes it a sport for the strong willed.”

Action808: You are older than most of your competition in the classes you are competing in. Is that an advantage or disadvantage?

“The advantage for me is that I do take racing seriously and I think that for some of my competition, racing might just be a phase. I’m also an experienced racer and rider and used to hairy situations in the heat of a race. I also don’t mind rubbing elbows if I have to. I guess that is why I ended up with the nickname Rocketman.”

Action808: The MX scene has gone 4-stroke, why are you racing a two-stroke?

“Just to prove to my self and other riders that it is not the bike, it’s the rider! And it is just a lot of fun to ride a 2-stroke.”

Action808: What are the advantages and disadvantages? Do you think you’ll stay on the 2-stroke?

“These new 4-strokes are just motocross animals, it is hard to keep up with them but the 2-stroke is just more fun to me. Disadvantages would be that it takes way more work to go fast on a 2-sroke, you have way more tire spin, 2-strokes just don’t hook up any where near as good as a 4-stroke, no engine breaking so you're always on the brakes hard before the corner. The bottom line is that it just takes more work, strength and technique to win races on the 2-stroke.”

“My advantage are days with good traction. When it’s tacky I’m gone, rocketman in full effect. On the muddy days the 2-stroke is the choice for sure.  It’s lighter and just eats that mud up. I am looking for a 2010 YZF 450 for 250 Expert and will still ride the 250 2-stroke in the other classes.”

Action808: I’ve watched you both on the track and on the trail, what do you prefer and why?

"The track, because I love to go fast and hit jumps. There is nothing like being at the gate waiting for it to drop especially when it’s full. I get super excited and just pumped up! That feeling is one of the reasons I love to race. Just to be competitive is fun and it makes you feel good having fun doing something you love. But I will never stop riding trails. That’s where I learned how to ride. Marvin Foster taking me up in the mountains behind Haleiwa and riding every trail there was. Trail riding has a different kind of excitement. Hill climbs, river beds and terrain that a lot of people will never get to enjoy, or even know about."

Action808: Does riding both kinds of terrain help in any way with becoming better or should you stick to one and spend all your time practicing for that to move up to the next level?

“I think that trail riding is great cross training for motocross. Riding tight trails teaches you to look ahead at the next obstacle to set up your line before that obstacle to keep your momentum with out slowing down, or barely sneaking by someone in a tight area. You take those skills onto the track when it comes to avoiding riding the same line as every one else or going around bumps and not being scared to pass right next to someone. It’s just like flying past trees at high speeds and a lot of times when I go trail riding I go for a couple of hours which can make a 20 min moto seem very easy some times, especially if its muddy, gnarly and you’re dropping your bike, picking it up, sweating your butt off.”

“Off track I actively train for racing too. On Tuesdays I run 3 miles and I do my regular schedule of push ups, sit up’s, dip’s, curls, pull ups and some other top secret workouts. I try to do a lot of cardio and only use my body weight for weight training. Friday I am loading up to head back to the track on Saturday to do it all over.”

Action808: I’ve seen you come from behind in many motos to eventually take the win. Talk about what it takes to overcome bad starts and get the win.

"Well for starters the first thing would be to never ever give up, just because I got a bad start or crashed somewhere doesn’t mean I can't pull off a win. So what if I got a bad start? I don’t even let a bad start get to my head in the first 100 feet of a 20 min race! It also takes the experience of riding and practicing in the dust to be able to see thru the dust or just be used to it. I have seen guys almost stop because of dust. When I am behind it makes me ride way harder and all that I can think about is getting back to the front before I run out of time dust or no dust. "

"I’ve also come from behind on some of the muddy days, where preparation was the key. Good goggles thanks to Utopia, with tear offs or roll offs can make your race on those muddy rainy days. I actually laugh when it starts to rain. I see people pouting or just looking like their dog just got hit by a truck. They give up before they even throw a leg over the bike. Some of them even load up and go home. Where is the dedication in that? You will never see me pull that move. Most of all I think it comes from inside of me. I really want to win no matter what happens. Every time I go to the starting gate I am there to win. Key words to me are NEVER EVER GIVE UP. I just keep my focus and know that I can win if I ride the way I know how too."

Action 808: What are your immediate goals for MX?

"To keep moving forward, I am hungry to be the best, or at least one of them, keep riding hard, looking forward to Expert class at the end of the year!!!!"

Action808: What would make racing at Kahuku MX Track even better?

"WATER, WATER, WATER AND MORE HELP!!!!!!!!!!! We are a non-profit organization so we can use all the help we can get!!! We are starting to get some stuff accomplished, some things are slowly taking a turn for the better, the water department is a big job to get that water up the mountain, it has been a work in progress for years, Then when we get the water I think we will have one of the most insane tracks in the world because we have so many elevation changes and we could actually keep the dirt moist and be able to till it so it is not so hard and dusty all the time, and it would be easier to maintain."

Action808: What would you say to the riders in the younger classes about racing MX?

"If you love what you are doing don’t stop, keep up the hard work , never give up, and keep having fun!! You are the future MX riders of Hawaii, and it makes me proud to see all of you groms out there competing against each other having fun."

Action808: Thanks Brandon, we’ll see you at the next race.

Brandon is sponsored by:

Speedgrafix.com, Tag metals, MXbonz, Hinson Clutches, Pirelli tires

Tuffcoat Racing in Wahiawa (808) 622-2222 ask for Dave, great service, and prices!
O’neall Racing Leathers and Jersey’s, Gaerne Boots, Utopia Optics Goggles,

Sparx Helmets, 661 Chest Protectors and Casual Wear, North Shore Racing

Haleiwa Drive Inn, Grass Skirt Grill, L&L and Cholo’s