06.28.02
by: Alex
EXPN.com

10 Questions with Alex featuring Myles Richmond - Tell Alex who you want her next 10 questions to be with my e mailing her at alex@freestylemtx.com.

Ten Questions with Alex featuring Myles Richmond

This Summers' X Games will hold court to an extraordinary battle of Moto-X superstars battling in pursuit of a gold medal. While all great sports have upsets and incredible victories, a new rider has come on the scene that has plans for that gold medal. For this year, that will be an impossible dream. However, in this ongoing series of interviews with the X medal contenders, I felt compelled to do my 10Q with someone who may be virtually unknown outside a handful of moto-x aficionados, but trust me, some who has the talent, drive, and guts that are outsized for his mere 17 years. Remember the first time you heard of or saw Deegan, or your favorite movie star for that matter? Well, I'm betting that by next year's Summer X (and maybe sooner at Winter X) a name that will be on everyone's lips is Myles Richmond, and it's my pleasure to introduce him to the wider world. Remember, you heard it here first. And once you've seen him, you'll see why he's a name that will be hard to forget.

Currently doing demos with the FreestyleMX.com tour, we caught up with "Mylo" after a practice session in Beaumot, CA, with Kenny Bartram and Jeremy Carter (that's some impressive company for a country boy from Cherry Valley, CA.)

When you started hitting a ramp, you were on a 125. How long did it take you to work up to doing a cornerstone freestyle trick on a 125?

It took about a week of practicing every day. Just getting used to how the bike reacts on a ramp. First big trick I learned was a superman seat grab. After I was comfortable on the bike, I just focused on the tricks and how the bike reacted to moving around on it. It kept getting easier.

Mylo pulls out a sick no handed Cat Nac.

You switched up to a 250 pretty quickly, what was the transition from 125 to 250 like?

Each jump in the beginning I was a little nose high. I rode tracks a lot because there was so much power. You can't hold the bike wide open like on a 125. You must respect the throttle.

You learned around Chuck Carothers and Doug Parsons. You would follow behind them when they would jump. How does that help?

Well, it helps you figure out what speed you need to hit the ramp at. You hear the engine and you hear what gear they are in and with guys who have their timing down great it helps a lot.

Your very first contest you rode with guys like Tommy Clowers and Kenny Bartram. Was it intimidating going into competition against the best in the sport?

Well, it was weird when I first showed up actually seeing all those guys and stuff, but for my first contest I really wanted to ride, watch and learn from them. I think people were surprised that I did so well. Since then most of those guys have been really supportive and helpful which is cool.

What surprised you about your first big contest? What things happened that you didn't expect?

I was really pumped that the crowd seemed to like me so much. It is better to have them cheering for you than not cheering, but it was weird realizing that the whole place was cheering for me. It helps a lot.

Does watching comps on TV and videos help you a lot?

Oh yeah. I watch that stuff all the time, like the ESPN Moto-X Championships and the X Games, and when I learn something new I go back and watch how other guys do it. I pay more attention to the little details. I love 'em. Watch them all the time.

You have your sights set firmly on the X Games. You have turned the heads of everyone in the industry that has seen you. What do you feel you need to do to get there and win?

Well, certainly practice. I feel like I need to know all the tricks going in, and I just started doing rock solids. I ride because it is fun, but I also like the competition and I want to qualify for X and win. I'm looking forward to riding the ESPN Moto-X Championships this fall, which is the qualifying series, because they have the best riders and best competition. And then I'm just going to practice, stay focused, ride as much as I can and hopefully win a medal.

Mylo just learned the Rock Solid, here he makes it look easy.

As one of the new guys that has just broken into the ranks of top competition, what does it take as far as equipment and bikes to compete at the top? Anything special?

Not really, and that is what is cool. Aside from cutting my plastics and stiffening my suspension, my bike is stock and that is it. That is what is cool about freestyle. It isn't like racing where your motor and a lot of extras on your bike give you a huge advantage. It is all about your ability on pretty much a stock bike. I liked knowing I could go get a stock bike and the difference between what I do and the guys I admire like Metz and Bartram is all up to me and practicing.

Before you had ever done a competition you sent pictures of yourself out to a few industry sponsors, and you got results. All riders need sponsors to help them in their careers, was it as easy as sending out some pictures or did it take a lot more than that?

Well, I tried to be straightforward and professional. I had some photos of me doing some really good tricks and a few sponsors were really impressed. I don't have big time contracts yet, but I think they saw that I was really putting effort into my riding and I have set my goals to ride in the X Games. I could still use a lot more sponsors, but the ones I have seem to know that my goal is to be the best.

So you have a goal of competing in the X Games, and the next event you can qualify and compete in is Winter X. Do you think that riding in the snow will prove enough of a challenge that it will be more difficult for you to roll in and take a medal?

Well, I have ridden my bike in the snow before. I look at it this way; I love to ride my bike and I love the contests and riding with the top guys. If any of them can ride in the snow, than I know I can too. I know where all the hard work has taken me so far and I have had a lot of fun. The next step is trying for the X Games, and if I make it there I know I'll have a chance to win. We'll just have to see. To learn more about Mylo, visit www.mylesrichmond.com- Check back next week for a new 10Q with Alex, and a feature story on the Aussie wonder, Dayne Kinnaird. Questions or comments, e mail me at alex@freestylemtx.com.

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