Sam Davies
April 02, 2007
I’m not sure what’s in the water down in Marshfield but they seem to breed fast Motocrossers. The next rocketship to shoot out of the ‘Marsh’ comes in the form of wee Sam Davis. Continuing a successful schoolboy career next year looks to be as rewarding as the rest. Slight in frame, the polite kid looks like he is simmering on the edge of becoming one of the UK’s brightest motocross stars.
MOTO: Hi Sam, how old are you and where are you from?
SAM: I’ve just turned thirteen and I’m from Marshfield.
What are your achievements so far at thirteen?
In 1999 I was 50cc British Champion on a KTM, in 2001 I was 65cc runner up and in 2002 I was runner up again and 65cc Supercross Champion, 2003 I won the Champion of Champions on a 65. In 2004 I finished third in the small wheel 85 Championship one point behind second and this year I won the 85cc British Championship on a Suzuki riding for Motovision. I won it in the last race of the season at Desert Martin.
Were you nervous?
Not too nervous, I had a 36 point lead going into the meeting so I was quite relaxed and I knew if I got good starts I had a good chance of picking up the Championship. I qualified in pole 3 seconds quicker than 2nd, and had two 3rds on the Fri and a 4th and a 3rd on the Saturday for the title.
What were your highlights of the year?
Winning 3 of the 4 races at Lucas plus winning the Championship at Desert Martin.
How did you celebrate?
Everyone was coming up and saying well done, there was champagne flying about everywhere and that night there was a party in the beer tent, mum and dad got drunk but they deserved it!
How did you get into racing?
We moved to a house that had quite a bit of land and dad bought me my first bike, which was a PW50. I started riding that around the fields then dad entered me into my first race when I was 6, I think I got lapped twice but I didn’t come last.
What are your plans for next year?
I’m not totally sure yet, I’ll either be on a Honda or Suzuki again like this year, it was good riding for Motovision, they helped out a lot.
Do you have a nickname and how did you get it?
Yes, it’s Bones. It was Shaun from RWJ that gave it to me, when I first met him about three years ago I was really bony so that’s why he named my Bones, it stuck from there.
Are you superstitious, do you have lucky riding kit?
Yes I am, I never put riding boots on the table, only riding kit, and I don’t walk under ladders or open umbrellas up inside. I must put my gear on in a certain way, socks, knee socks, braces, jeans, elbow pads, top, body armour, boots, helmet, gloves then goggles, weird!
Just a little then!
Oh yeah, and I always have eggs on toast on race mornings too.
Good, what other foods do you eat?
I eat pasta, chocolate and try to drink a lot of water, dad’s always going on about that one.
What is your favourite track?
I went to the Isle of Wight track to test the new Hondas last year and that place was totally awesome, it was a little bit wet so I couldn’t do all the jumps but even still it was so much fun to ride, I would love to race there in the future.
Do you prefer hard pack or sand tracks?
I don’t mind really, I like both. I can ride both pretty good, I like the sand but where I live it’s all quite hard-pack.
If you could chose two riders to go riding with ho would they be and why?
They would be Travis Pastrana and Ricky Carmichael, because they’re both mad! It would be good to go riding with Travis for a day around his place with all the different jumps and stuff. With Ricky it would be good to see how fast he really is and how he goes that quick, I like their attitudes to the sport too. I would say Ricky inspires me the most, I watch the way he corners with the bars turned and the gas on, I practice and try to do the same, I’m not as quick as him… yet!
What about a couple of English riders?
Stephen Sword and Tommy Searle, Tommy can scrub a bike all right, you could physically see it working down at Matchams.
What physical training do you do in and outside of school?
We do a lot of cross-country running and swimming at school, plus rugby and football so we do a lot there. Over the winter I will put a training program together, my mum is training to become a training instructor so she will help me with that.
What do you do to relax at a meeting?.
Before my race I like to keep myself to myself really and just try and focus on the job ahead of me but in between the races and after I like to socialise with the guys and I’m quite an outgoing person who likes to hang out with a few good mates like Jake and Elliot.
What is your favourite DVD, TV program and music preference?
My favourite DVD is called In The Beginning with all the youth racing from the US. For TV I like to watch a lot of sport channels and any motocross when it’s on. I like any kind of music as long as it isn’t old folk music or slow songs.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I would like to be doing GPs and scoring top five in the world, I would love to do what Ben Townley has done and end up moving out to America. I have ridden and raced out there a few times. I raced at Gatorback and also went to Millsap’s place. I really like it out there.
If you could be anyone for a day outside of motocross who would it be?
I would like to be Ali G for a day, he makes me laugh.
If you found a thousand pounds today what would you spend it on?
That’s easy, I would call everyone that has helped me since the day I first swung my leg over a bike and take them all out to dinner to say thank you.
Do you want to give a shout out to some of them until you find the money?
Yes, Mum and Dad, Motovision Suzuki, Troy lee Designs, Maxima, DEP pipes, 661, Hardcore racing, Smith, Harriet, Justin Morris, Moto Xtreme, Dudley Witt, MH Suspension, Archie Church my right hand man, Shaun from RWJ and Adam Lyons when I can understand him, when he starts going off on one I just agree with him, it all sounds Japanese to me when he talks fast, thanks!
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