FMX Insider No.26: Pete Anderson

Welcome to our weekly web-exclusive column, Transmoto‘s FMX Insider. Penned each week by South Australian rider, Ben Heidrich, the FMX Insider will present the story-behind-the-stories of the Aussie and international freestyle motocross scenes. 

Over the past five years, professional freestyle motocross rider, Queensland’s Pete Anderson, has been a smooth contender at FMX competitions and demonstrations. By securing a spot early in his career on one of Australia’s fastest growing action sports teams, Anderson grew into the experienced rider he is today. I caught up with the all-round ‘nice guy’ to have a chat about his career and his involvement with JC Epidemic.

Ben: Pete, you’ve been in the FMX scene for a while now. How long have you been riding bikes and how long have you ridden professionally?

Pete: Yes, it has been a while! I started riding at age seven when Dad brought a QR50 home for my two brothers and me to share and ride around the backyard. From there, we ended up racing a bit of enduro, dirt track and motocross for a few years. It wasn’t until 2005 when I got into FMX more consistently. I moved to Brisbane when I was 21 and began riding with a bunch of the up-and-comers of the time. As far as riding professionally, I have earned a living riding bikes on and off since 2008, but I have been Flipping for just over two and a half years now, which is what counts to me.

What inspired you to start riding FMX?

My favourite thing about riding dirt bikes since day one was jumping, which is why I did motocross, and then as FMX evolved into a sport I was naturally drawn to that!

You have been a JC Action Sports rider the whole time I have known you, so tell me a bit about your involvement with the team and what they are about.

The JC Action Sports Team has been one of the main reasons I have been a part of the sport for so long. They approached me at my first competition in 2006 and since then I have ridden almost every event they have run. They have been instrumental to me getting anywhere in the sport by providing me with great sponsors like Yamaha, providing a compound to ride at and also being good mentors in life. I have learnt a lot from the JC team and I am so stoked I have been a part of it for so long!

Who is your biggest inspiration and motivation?

Anyone who knows me would understand that Tyrone Gilks is my biggest inspiration and motivation. I was pretty messed up after everything happened last year but I found riding was a way to help me heal. And now riding my bike just feels like what I should be doing and I want to keep Tyrone’s legacy going to ‘Oneup’ myself every day.

I understand you are involved with FMX/MX on and off the bike. Tell me a bit about your history with MXstore?  

In late 2009, I suffered a pretty bad injury which led to a lengthy time off the bike. While I was hurt, my brain started ticking over and I wanted to get something happening career wise for when my riding career was over, rather than wait until I couldn’t ride anymore and then think ‘Now what?’. I had made some good friends on the Gold Coast through riding and I guess just heckled the right people at the right time and I began working on an idea for a business called MXstore. Basically we wanted to be the biggest online store which sold motocross gear and accessories in the country, as so many people were sick of shopping with local bike shops that they were shopping online overseas. We started with no money in a tiny office in Burleigh and I spent much of the first 18 months working on my own. From there we opened a shop and after a lot of hours, arguments, blood, sweat and tears, we have achieved a few cool things, such as being the largest Thor dealer in the country. And we recently moved into a warehouse with 1000 square meters of floor space.

What is the riding scene like in Queensland?

Man, I love living and riding here! One of the best things about riding in Queensland is the fact that there is a big group of good riders which are now my close friends. There are some of the best compounds in the country up here like Schuie’s and Callum Shaw’s at Boonah and the weather is always spot on. I don’t have my own set-up but fortunately enough everyone up here is very kind and they let me ride at their places every week. I tend to clock up the K’s in the van driving around south east Queensland to ride every week, but I seriously love the time I get to spend on my bike and more importantly the fact that I get to hang out with my mates and ride dirt bikes so much. It is the best!

Who do you ride with? 

As many people as possible but the usual suspects are Joey Sheppard, Morgan Gilks, Callum Shaw, Schuie, Burchy, Bayard, Binky, Toppy, Sauly, Azza Guthrie, Creedy, Robbie Marshal, Emma Mcferran, Matty Mac, Tristan Meade, Timmy Haag, Clinton Moore, Jake May and then all of the Bruvs from south of the border whenever I get a chance, too!

What is your favourite and most memorable highlight of your riding career? 

Man, there are a lot of awesome memories! I have been lucky enough to travel a lot and experience a lot of cool things because of riding bikes. But winning the JC Action Sports ‘Tyrone Gilks Most Improved Rider For 2013’ award was very special to me.

Have you got any big riding plans coming up?

This has been my biggest year to date, as I have had lots of shows all over the place. I now have a bit over a month with no shows booked, so it’s time to recharge the batteries and knuckle down on some practice before I head to Brazil for a competition in December! I want to have Look Through Ruler Flips locked in by then, too.

Anything else you would like to add?

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has helped me out along the way, from sponsors, friends, family and the guys at MXstore for being cool with me riding so much more now, too. I’ve been through plenty of ups and downs since being a part of the sport but it has been a great journey and I can’t wait for everything to come!