Veteran motocross racer Tim Ferry was out at Glen Helen on Thursday helping Fox develop a new Podium shock for the2010 YZ450. While Tim and the crew waited for the track to develop some bumps and dry out a bit from substantial rain the night before, MXA sat down with Tim to talk about the past, present and future.
MXA: What has happened since you hurt you ankle in Supercross last year?
Tim: I had surger, came back and raced some Nationals, then started and stopped. I wasn’t ready. The season was miserable and I didn’t do that well. I still had problems with my foot. Then in October 2009, I had another surgery on it, they took some screws out. Then, they found out the bone was still broken, so they had to put screws back it and bone graft it. By the first of the 2009 I was started to get active again, started to exercise, tried to be healthy and stay in shape—not get heavy. Going from a motocross racer to not doing a lot was tough.
MXA: How’s your ankle and foot now?
Tim: It’s doing better. I’m not a hundred percent, and that’s why I haven’t committed to doing any racing yet. I want to know that I can do it and that my ankle can hold up all season. Sitting here at Glen Helen, I know how brutal this track can get. I need to commit to racing a hundred percent and I still don’t feel like I’m there yet. We’ll see, my heart’s in racing and my age is not an issue. It’s health at this point.
The bike that Tim has been testing for Fox Factory.
MXA: How did you get involved with Fox suspension?
Tim: It’s kind of a weird deal. Not to long after the first of the year, Sergio Avanto (who I worked with at Yamaha when I went there in 2001 and was already at Kawasaki when I went also), called and said ‘Hey, I started working for Fox suspension and Fox Shox, would you mind trying some stuff for me?’ He mentioned it to Fox; they were excited. I have always been into bike setup, and things that that. I talked to them in Atlanta, and now I’m here for my first week of suspension testing on the Yamaha YZ450F. It’s no secret that they have a brand new shock for the 2010 YZ450. I’m just trying to help out, and help get them on the right path, with all of Sergio’s experience, and my 18 years experience on the circuit. So far we have done two days of testing, we have made some good progress.
MXA: How do you like the YZ450 so far?
Tim: It’s definitely different. I rode Chisholm’s one time, back in Florida on a Supercross track. But it’s definitely a different bike— a different feel. Towards the end of the day yesterday, the second day, I started to feel more comfortable on it. I’m not a hundred percent comfortable yet. I’m not sure about the engine, it makes a real loud noise and scares me sometimes. I know it’s just where the air filter up by the tank. At home I still ride Kawis, they still hook me up, but it’s been fun to ride something different.
MXA: Any plans or prospects for outdoor Nationals?
Tim. Yeah, that’s the million dollar question, everyone asks that. I don’t really have any plans. I’m just going to see where this test takes me. I’m excited to help develop stuff. It’s something I’ve always been into. No plans to race right now, unless something drastically changes health wise. I’m just going to do this thing with Fox, and maybe I’ll be back out in a few weeks.
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