HIGH FIVES - Chris Bastick
June 06, 2008
This weeks HIGH FIVES interviewee British under21 contender Chris Bastick who races for the KRM Honda team, Chris's Dad runs Mildenhall practise facililty in Suffolk - so we have lots to talk about.
MOTO: Last season saw you riding a specially modified machine. Can you explain a little more about it and what gave you the idea?
“Yes last year I was riding a Honda with a KTM engine; I had been riding a KTM at the beginning of the season and was never really happy. The rear suspension on the KTM doesn’t have a rear linkage like all the other Japanese manufactures, and when I rode a Honda the year before was always pleased with the handling so it went from there really. I was always complaining and my dad said why don’t we do it as a project because he was always into making frames for road bikes and stuff, so he made me one and I loved it, even though I am riding for KRM Honda this season, I still have the bike covered up in the garage if I ever chose to go back.”
MOTO: At the 2nd round of the MMX Under 21s championship you suffered an unfortunate injury during qualifying. Can you explain what happened and what injuries you sustained?
“It was in qualifying while I was on a fast lap, I got too the end of the lap going along side the start straight and my front wheel hit a rock and high sided me off, so naturally I put my arm down to break the fall but it got caught up under the handle bar which dragged me up the track, and also my arm caught a sharp stone which ripped my arm open in 2 places very deep, resulting in 12 stitches in my arm.”
MOTO: This season sees you riding for Keith Ree in the KRM Honda motocross team, how are you finding things and can you explain the setup around you?
“Yep this year I am riding for KRM Honda which I am very happy about as the setup is one of the best in the paddock and very professional. The machinery is also very good I am very pleased to be riding for them. There are two riders in the team myself and Tom Watts, we both get treated fairly which is good and the whole team are like a big family and get on very well.”
MOTO: Your season so far hasn’t got of to the best of starts with a string of bad luck as well as injuries. The opening moto at Lyng however showed signs of perhaps your luck changing with a strong ride finishing 14th and when running in a similar position in the 2nd race you tangled with another rider effectively ending your race. How do you feel the opening half of the season has gone and will you be changing anything for the second half of the season?
“Yes the start of the season has to be the worse start I have ever made, which is very disappointing as I have trained so hard over the off season living with Dave Thorpe. Hopefully now things are starting to turn my way, and I feel my speed is there but I have just been unlucky with how everything has gone. Although Lyng was good for my confidence, it could also have gone so much better. I was actually lying in 11th place with 3 laps to go and jumped out the track losing me 3 places near the end of the race which I feel I could have held as I had done for 25 minutes, but that’s just how it goes. In race 2 I was lying 8th in lap two when Lewis Gregory put a block pass on me making me crash, but as I went to pick the bike back up Shayne Carless ran over the bike damaging it so I was un able to carry on.”
MOTO: What has been the greatest achievement of your career so far and your lowest point?
“I would have to say the greatest achievement for me so far was when I was selected to race at the junior des nations in 2005. It all happened at the last minute as another rider got injured and I got selected. I was expecting to hopefully run in the top 15 because it was such a huge event, and ended up coming away with 3rd on the podium and helped Great Britain win the event which was awesome.
My lowest point would have to be hurting my arm this year as I cant think of another real low point in my racing.
Thanks for that Chris and good luck for the season.
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