Five Minutes With Dean Wilson

Regular contributor here at Transmoto, Eric Johnson, speaks with Chad Reed’s fill-in at TwoTwo Motorsports, Dean Wilson.

Alright Dean, word has it you had something going on today and enquiring minds want to know about it. So with that, just what were you up to this afternoon?

Well, today was the first day I tested the TwoTwo Motorsports 450 machine. It all came about last Saturday when Chad got injured. He called me and asked me if I wanted to race his bike and I said, “Yeah, for sure.” I mean, it was a great opportunity and I just wanted to keep racing. Obviously things needed to be worked out with sponsors and stuff like that because there were some conflictions. Tuesday night we got the clear to go ahead so we tested today and it was a good day. I just really want to thank Mitch Payton and Reid Nordin at Kawasaki for letting it all happen. I also want to thank my mechanic Oliver Stone for coming out today. He really helped me out a lot. I’m really looking forward to getting in some races on this 450 machine.

First off, how is the bike? I’m sure motocross enthusiasts out there are going to want to know how your Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki KX250F lines up against Chad Reed’s Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports KX450F.

I really like Chad’s bike. I think the engine is really good. I felt pretty comfortable on it real fast. Today we were just pretty much getting things set-up to where I feel comfortable with my handlebars and clamps and all that sort of stuff. I was really comfortable on it. The engine was really strong and good and the handling was good also. I definetley think I’m on a solid bike.

As far as the 250, as you’ve been racing in the West Region, and the 450 go, are the bikes pretty similar? Or will it take time on a proper supercross track such as Atlanta to get a better feel and understanding? It’s well known that you were faster than all of the 450 riders in a number of practice and qualifying sessions thus far in 2014.

Well, I won’t be racing Atlanta. Mitch wants me to have a week under my belt before I race the 450. But between the 450 and the 250, the 450 is obviously a lot heavier. You can’t throw it around like the 250. You’ve got to be smooth and hit your marks, pretty much. It’s a pretty big machine just to toss around. My Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki 250F is just awesome. Mitch and everybody at Pro Circuit has got me on a really good bike. I’m just really happy with the whole Pro Circuit team. They’re really awesome and always have my back and if there is ever anything that needs to be done to benefit me they will bend over backwards for me. That’s what’s so awesome about that team. TwoTwo Motorsports team, so far, has been really awesome and I’m really enjoying it.

After your crash at San Diego you wound up 21^st after the 15-lap 250 Main was run. That result dropped you down to fourth in the current West Region points. Perhaps what’s even more frustrating, though, is that your now 33 points behind class leader, Jason Anderson. I don’t mean it the wrong way, but is the West Region championship hope sort of fading away?

Well, honestly my plan was to try and win San Diego and then start focusing on my outdoor testing. I felt like I was going in the right direction to win San Diego but then I made a stupid mistake on my part and crashed and then my front brake caliper got landed on and it broke so I pretty much got last. That was a pretty big heartbreaker for me because I had good momentum going from Oakland all the way to San Diego and I pretty much thought that I had that race won. Ever since San Diego I’ve been really pissed off and I just want to race. I’ve been pretty upset with myself for making that stupid mistake in San Diego. I just want to try and stay positive and get the 450 races under my belt and gain some experience, as well.

You raced the Monster Cup on a 450 didn’t you?

Yeah, Monster Cup was just kind of shaking the cobwebs out because that was kind of my first time back since my shoulder operation. I would have been in the top five in points at the end of the day if I wouldn’t of messed up and made a mistake in the first race and finished 20^th. But, yeah, I felt on the pace on the 450. I think I’ll be fine.

You told me back in December that you were taking a step back and riding the 250 in 2014 so you could regroup and get it all back together for a run on the 450 in 2015. Maybe this shot on Chad’s #22 bike might really work out in a number of ways for you, huh? You know you have the speed and are in good racing shape…

Yeah, for sure. I think it’ll be good. There aren’t really any expectations on me. I just need to go out there and race 20 laps each Saturday night and will see where we end up.

I know you’ve been watching all of the 450 races so far this season and it’s been a hell of a war with a number of battles taking place in each and every Main Event. You’ve got James Stewart confident and back at full speed; you’ve got Villopoto and Barcia and Roczen and Dungey; and then there are the impressive upstarts such as Brayton and Peick and Tickle and Hill. Where do you see yourself falling into that brawl?

Honestly, it’s going to be hard to say. I mean all I can do is try my best. I’d love to be mixed up with those guys and running up front would be my goals but we’ll just see how it goes. We’ll take the days step-by-step and get through practice and qualifying and then get through my Heat races and then we’ll just focus on the Main Event. I’ve never actually done a 450 supercross Main Event so I think it’ll be good. I’m really looking forward to it. And I like the East Coast tracks, as well.

Barcia and Roczen are about the same age as you, aren’t they?

Yeah, me and Barcia are the same age and Roczen is just a couple of years younger. Those two had a good mash-up last weekend so we’ll see how all that plays out.

Do you see yourself being right in there and mixing it up with those two? You guys are all part of that next wave of young guys starting to really leave a collective mark…

Yeah, for sure. I think the next wave is going to be really good, you know? You look at Roczen and Barcia and Tomac and me – and I’m probably missing some people – and it’s going to be a good group of young guys in the 450 class, so it’s going to definitely be exciting.

And how about Chad? He’s still in the hospital, isn’t he?

Yeah, Chad had surgery last night and he’s out of it a little bit today but I’m going to have a talk with him and tell him how things are going. I’ll be stoked to have him at the races and having him help me out would be awesome.

Did the Monster Energy Kawasaki factory team have you entertain the idea of riding and racing the injured Jake Weimer’s bike?

At first I was actually thinking that I wanted to rider Weimer’s bike. I don’t know. Things just didn’t come together with that and Chad was ready for a rider and think they were waiting on what Weimer’s situation was. Even before Chad was actually injured I wanted to race Weimer’s bike because he was injured. A lot of people just didn’t know what was going on and we were kind of waiting on some things. Chad gave me an opportunity and I said, “Yeah, let’s do it.”

Last question. Realistically, and down deep, what are you really hoping to pull off in these 450 races? Top five? Top three? What do you see?

I would just like to see me race at my full potential and leave the races healthy. If that happens, I’ll be happy.

So what’s your full potential? Give us a number.

Every time I put a number on something, it never works out! So EJ I’m not saying anything. I just want to ride at my best potential and wherever that ends up is where it’s going to end up. I think the next month and half or so is going to be a fun, enjoyable opportunity and I’m just thankful for it.

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Check out this footage from Dean Wilson’s first day testing aboard the TwoTwo Motorsports KX450F.