Rider Photos and Interviews
Mike on Video...
MXworld.com: Is this a bad time?
Mike: No, I was just packing up for my trip.
MXworld.com: Yeah, I heard about that. Where are you going?
Mike: I'm going to Canada for two weeks.
MXworld.com: Canada?
Mike: Yep, filming for Terrafirma 5.
MXworld.com: Oh, OK. So there's actually something in Canada?
Mike: Yeah, I guess there is.
MXworld.com: So you are filming for Terrafirma, what else is going on?
Mike: Yeah, we're going to film for Terrafirma 5 and we're going to stay with Guy Perret. We're staying up there for two weeks, gonna get a lot of scenic stuff and hopefully some big air.
MXworld.com: I think I saw him in Terrafirma 4, they featured him a little bit.
Mike: Yeah, so we're gonna go up there and finish up. There's some good stuff out there I guess.
MXworld.com: So that big hill they show in Terrafirma 4, are you gonna go out there and get some air off of it?
Mike: I hope so, we're going to check it out and see how it is. It looked pretty good in the first one so we'll see how it is.
MXworld.com It kinda a wild video.
Mike: Yeah, it's a really good video, probably one of the best ones out.
MXworld.com: Oh yeah, I don't doubt that at all. I started with the first one and have been keeping up with them since.
Mike: I've got em all.
Mike on Music...
MXworld.com: I think because of my musical tastes, I think that the last couple have sucked kinda sucked musically.
Mike: Yeah the music is OK, they just need to punch it up a little bit.
MXworld.com: Some of that stuff is way too sedate for me to listen to.
Mike: Yeah.
MXworld.com: I think that's kinda way I like to first one for the sound anyway because you have Pennywise on there and Lucy's Fur Coat.
Mike: Yeah.
MXworld.com: I don't know what they were playing in that spot where they were showing McGrath, it was pretty crappy.
Mike: The rap stuff?
MXworld.com: Yeah.
Mike: You don't like rap?
MXworld.com: No, not at all.
Mike: Oh, I like it.
MXworld.com: Really? Oh...ahhh...yeah I love rap.
Mike: No, everyone has their own tastes and that's cool. I like the rap stuff. I like all kinds of music, but I like rap a lot.
MXworld.com: Really? I was gonna ask you what kind of music you listen to when you kick back.
Mike: Yeah, rap. It has a good slow beat to it and you just kinda get into the rhythm I guess.
MXworld.com: I just have a hard time when I'm riding, trying to get motivated by thinking about rap.
Mike: When I want to get motivated I listen to some kinda hard core stuff, but when I'm just hanging out with my buddies we put on some rap.
MXworld.com: Yeah, uh, I guess I can buy that. I have to stutter over it a little bit because I'm at a loss.
Mike: Yeah, everyone's got their own deal, so don't worry about it.
Mike on Sponsors...
MXworld.com: It's amazing, I looked at RenegadeRacing.com and I saw the list of film credits for you. I'm just at a loss, it seems like you've been in every video that's ever been made.
Mike: Yeah, I'm trying to get that way. Trying to get all my sponsors some recognition. They help me out, so I definitely want to help them out. They pitch in, so I have to pitch in.
MXworld.com: That's a good outlook. A lot of people blow that off and tend to forget who their sponsors are.
Mike: Yeah, without them I wouldn't be making a living at what I'm doing and having fun.
Mike on Stuff...
MXworld.com: I'm going ask you this and it's probably going to sound stupid.
Mike: Don't worry about it.
MXworld.com: It's partly because I haven't seen a whole lot of press on you. I think the first time I recall seeing you do a jump was on Terrafirma 4 and it was just insane. I can't even describe that opening jump.
MXworld.com: So your deal is doing videos and jump contests.
Mike: Yeah, doing jump contests. I've actually been getting a lot of press lately.
MXworld.com: I shouldn't have said it that way, it sounds bad cuz it makes it sound like I have never heard of you before but I have. There's this big misconception that the only person doing air is somebody like Seth or Metzger.
Mike: We're all working for that.
MXworld.com: I think before they just didn't draw attention to you, but now you are getting more and more focus. I've seen you in print ads and videos.
Mike: Well actually this is only been my second full year of doing this stuff.
MXworld.com: Really.
Mike: So I'm still the new kid on the block coming in. It takes awhile for the magazines to get to know you.
Mike on Jumping...
MXworld.com: I don't know how to describe it, but my jaw just dropped when I saw you do that jump at the beginning of Terrafirma 4.
Mike: Oh, the big up the mountain thing?
MXworld.com: Yeah.
Mike: That was in Lake Elsinore.
MXworld.com: How far is that?
Mike: I think it was maybe 160, I'm not sure. It was a good one though.
MXworld.com: Yeah and on top of that the amount of air you had to get beyond. You watch Knievel jump 160 foot and he might be able to jump over you if you laid down. What you did was just vertical and nothing but distance on top of that.
Mike: Yeah.
MXworld.com: It was definitely cool.
Mike: Well Knievel makes all his jumps look like crap anyway.
MXworld.com: He could do a 360 over a 250 foot jump and I'd still laugh at him cuz his friggin no hander was so lame.
Mike: Yeah, he just looks lame to.
MXworld.com: His riding style is terrible, I can't believe he still has a back.
Mike: Yeah, I know. (laughs) I don't even want to talk about it.
Mike on Sponsors...
MXworld.com: So what do you have on the horizon? Are you still pretty much going to be doing the video stuff?
Mike: Yeah, I just hooked up with Shift and I'm working out a deal with those guys. Hopefully with a 3 year deal that will set me up until 2001. I just got a new clothing sponsor for street clothes.
MXworld.com: Who's that?
Mike: Hectic clothing. It's a new clothing that just came out. They are cool guys to.
MXworld.com: So things are working out pretty well for you.
Mike: Yeah things are starting to come together and working out good for me.
MXworld.com: It's not a surprise, you definitely have a great riding style. No fear, I'm sure that terms been worked to death but there doesn't seem to be any fear involved there. You've got all the ingredients to make it.
Mike: Glad to hear that.
MXworld.com: A you have a little bit more of a sense of humor than some people I've talked to.
MXworld.com: I walked up to Stanton 2 months ago and he was standing in front of the semi and it was just him and I standing there. I looked at him and said hi to him. Have you ever seen a deer in your headlights?
Mike: Yeah.
MXworld.com: That's the way he looked. There was no sign of life there, he just looked at me. I grew up near where he lived, we're the same age and we've ridden at the same tracks together and he just looked at me like he didn't have a clue where I was at. Somebody explained to me that he is a really great guy, but he's focused.
Mike: Focused on what?
MXworld.com: Exactly. That's what I was trying to figure out. Focused must be the new buzzword for stupid.
Mike on the fans...
Mike: I like getting involved with people. During the autograph sessions people are coming up and talking to you and they are not afraid. People shouldn't be afraid to come up and talk to you and ask you about anything. Questions are there and they should be there to be answered.
Mike: Some kids, you see them off in the distance and they're staring at you and thinking "Should I go up to him and ask him?" Those are the kind of kids that you've got to go up to and shake their hands and it turns on a light in their head and they think "Whoa, I should go talk to those guys."
MXworld.com: You've got to admit that it is intimidating.
Mike: I remember when I was nothing in motocross and I was racing all the time and I would go to the Supercross and see McGrath and those guys and they were just like gods. I know exactly how those kids were cuz I was there.
MXworld.com: I'm still there, I'm at a loss every day.
Mike: It's definitely a good feeling when kids are looking up to you. It gives you a new outlook on life.
MXworld.com: I do understand that.
Mike: Yeah, it's great.
Mike on the Aaron...
MXworld.com: I'd get my butt kicked if I didn't ask this, but what do you think of Aaron Katzenmeyer?
Mike: Who?
MXworld.com: I'm messing with you man.
Mike: Oh, the kid that Emery sponsors.
MXworld.com: Yeah
Mike: He's a cool kid.
MXworld.com: He's a big fan of yours. He's a friend of mine and he has pictures of you on his site and he talks about you all the time.
Mike: He's a cool kid.
MXworld.com: He said, "Why don't you ask him what he thinks about Aaron" and I said "Yeah, I'll ask him." He'll poopie when I put this in here.
Mike: He's definitely a cool kid.
Mike thanks his sponsors...
I'd like to thank Shift, Fox, AFAM, Links Chains, Moto XXX for building my track, Arnette sunglasses, Etnies shoes, Hectic clothes, my mom and dad for being behind me100%, Pro Circuit is helping me out with my motor and suspension, Motul oils have been hooking me up, Straight Edge helmet graphics. Don't forget to mention Emery, he's like a big brother.