Mike Martin Interviews Talented and Hardworking Amateur Motocross Racer Daniel Corbin
December 9th, 2008 • Interview
Amateur Motocross is full of talented, hard working riders. Even so, every once in a while a rider comes around who is a clear standout in the large motocross community. Daniel Corbin is one of these riders. He has recently begun working with Coach Seiji and Tim Cryster in order to improve his performance in motocross. In addition, he has a steady job, a good education and looks to have a bright future ahead of him. I first heard about him on the Racer X Trainer Talk Blog. His story sounded interesting, so I caught up with him recently to bring more of his story to the Mikemartinracing.com readers, enjoy!
MikeMartinRacing.com: Tell us a little background information about yourself.
Daniel Corbin: I live in Frederick MD, on top of a mountain, to pay the bills I work for a small company called Harta Instruments building electronic devices, I like playing paintball, and above all that, motocross.
When did you start riding motocross?
I started riding when I was three on a little DS 80, and started racing when I was five.
When did you start doing the larger amateur nationals?
My first amateur national was Loretta Lynn’s when I was fifteen. It was a late start, but I guess it’s better late than never. That’s when I realized how much work it would take to accomplish my goals.
As a younger amateur, what type of support did you receive?
My parents didn’t let me become sponsored until I was almost fifteen because they didn’t want me to have a lot of pressure and think that I had to do well, and have that take all the fun out of riding. They saw a lot of my friends pick up sponsors and feel really pressured and get burned out.
As a teenager, were you homeschooled, or did you remain in public school as you worked your way up the mx ladder?
I have been homeschooled for most of my life.
Was that your choice or your parents?
It was kind of both of our decisions. I wanted to have more time to ride and they didn’t want me in the public school system. My mom was a teacher before, and a little after I was born, and she didn’t like the way the school system worked and decided that it would be better to teach us herself.
Do you feel that your education in home schooling will be sufficient to carry you through life after motocross?
Absolutely. The only reason I have the job that I do is because my boss thinks that I’m smart, and I owe that to my parent’s teaching. Also, going to work with my dad gave me the work ethic that will separate me from my competition.
Do you wish you would have stayed in school for any reasons?
Nope.
Before you began working with Coach Seiji and Tim Cryster, did you do any type of training or conditioning in order to prepare for motocross?
Yes, I did some bodyweight exercises here and there and I ran three times a week, but nothing consistently enough to get that much benefit from it.
Do you feel that this lack of condition had a negative effect on your results?
Definitely. I think that if I would have been in better shape I would have finished closer, or maybe in the top ten at Loretta’s.
I notice that one of your best results so far, 14th in the 250 Pro Sport was on an older two stroke, what was it like riding such an under powered bike?
You know, I wouldn’t say that it was under powered, what really got me was my lack of conditioning and the suspension. I had the clickers all over the place. I’m just good enough at tuning the suspension to mess it up!
Have you ever ridden a 450 four stroke? How much do you think a better bike could have affected your results?
Yes I have. I’m actually really good on a 450 because I’m strong enough to handle it. And a better bike definitely would have helped. My bike was really worn out at that point. How much? I’ll never know, but it would have helped.
You mentioned your brother over on Trainer Talk, tell us a little about him.
Joshua is fifteen and races the supermini class. He’s a born athlete, he has the perfect physic for any kind of athletics. He’s a little bit of a showoff too, he taught himself how to do a back flip on the ground and is always showing that off for everybody! He’s really motivated, maybe even more motivated than me with the training that he does.
How did you meet Tim and Coach Seiji, and what convinced you to start working with them in order to improve your racing program?
I met Tim at the Concept 2 tent he had set up there down at Loretta’s, and I actually haven’t met Seiji yet. There wasn’t any need for convincing, Tim said that he was interested in doing some kind of training program, and I told him that I was most definitely interested if he was.
What types of training have you begun to do with them?
Right now I’m doing strength training both with weights and with the TRX, and aerobic training on a rowing machine, on a bicycle, and also running. Oh yeah, I also do lots of stretching.
Have you noticed a large difference in your ability to maintain a fast pace because of your improved fitness?
It usually takes about six weeks to start to notice any improvement after you start training, but I could swear that I felt more fit just two weeks after I started training when I went to a Pro-am at Budd’s Creek. Maybe it was because I had already been doing some training for a while.
Have you been working with any coaches for your riding as opposed to just your fitness?
I have in the past, but not recently. Why, do you know one that wants to sponsor me?
[Laughs] Unfortunately, no. What are your major goals for this season, and the seasons in the future?
This season I would like to go to Lake Whitney and finish top five. Same thing at Loretta’s. As far as future seasons go, I hope that I’ll be racing the Pro national series.
Do you have any plans as to turning pro, or are you just taking it year by year?
Hopefully I will race my first national next year after Loretta’s.
Do you still feel that you can make a life-long career out of motocross?
For a little while there before Loretta’s, I was feeling pretty beat down about my situation. But now that Tim and Seiji are helping me and I’m training with a purpose, I don’t have any doubts.
Is there anyone you would like to thank for helping you out in your career so far?
First and foremost I’d like to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for giving me my talent and this incredible opportunity, and my parents for sacrificing so much to help me get here, Tim Cryster and Seiji Ishii for their tremendous help, Twigg’s Cycles and their staff, 9one9 Graphics, Chris Loschiavo and FLY, Jordan’s Flooring, Scott USA, and the Frederick Sportsplex Fitness Center.
Thanks for the interview, good luck this year, and I hope to see you with some gold medals at Lorettas.
Thank you, Mike.
You can learn more abut Daniel Corbin and his story on the Racer X Trainer Talk Blog.
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