FMX Insider No.36: Grope’s Comeback

Transmoto’s Ben Heidrich speaks with Barossa Valley-based FMX rider, Adam Grope…

Ben: You’ve been off the bike for a while now. How long has it been since your crash?

Adam: I had my big crash in early March, 2014, so it’s been just over a year now!

Talk us through the accident. What happened?

I was having a late arvo practice ride, when my foot slipped out of my foot hook going for a Nac Flip – a crash I’ve since discovered is very common. I didn’t have any flip levers up and lost control of the bike; going over the bars and landing flat on my back. I broke my left pelvis, dislocated my femur, cracked my right hip and scored some massive bruising covering my back.

It must have been a pretty tough recovery. How long did you spend on the mend?

The doctors told me with this kind of injury there was a strong chance of the blood flow to my leg dying, resulting in arthritis extremely early and a hip replacement before I even made it to 35. It was pretty much the first time I really stopped and thought about what I was doing and considered quitting FMX. This along with some other personal things happening made for a tough few months. I was lucky though to have had good doctors and physiotherapists help me. It was full on physio for months but I made a 100% recovery which I’m very lucky and thankful for. All up I was away from work for five months and didn’t ride for ten months.

You put your riding lifestyle on hold for a while, so what have you been up to?

In the time between, I spent a bit of time traveling, physio on my hip, riding downhill MTB and mainly just a lot of time back at work trying to earn some money again. The bank account gets pretty low when you’re injured, as we have all found out before.

I didn’t realise you were jumping ramps again until I saw footage of you flipping onto a portable truck. I see you have made a pretty strong comeback! I bet it feels good to be back on the bike?

My first event back was a monster truck show in Adelaide on the Factory FMX setup. It was an awesome feeling; not only being back on the bike but having fun riding in front of a huge home-town crowd. It was one of those moments that make the hard work, physically and mentally dealing with a big injury and getting back on the bike all worth it.

Did you have to shake off the nerves getting back into freestyle?

I spent some time riding tracks and getting comfortable on the bike again, so once I started jumping ramps I felt pretty good! I was doing flips and most of my tricks by the second ride back. I kinda just told or tricked myself into thinking I’d been riding all along, blocked out the nerves and everything else and just went for it. When your back having fun everything comes back pretty naturally and when I started having fun and getting my confidence back, I began to find the love for the sport again, too.

I see you work a FIFO job, so how do you balance this with riding, shows and organising the SA FMX Events?

It just makes things super busy! I’ve got a good boss who is very understanding and is flexible with me having time off for events if the dates clash. Finding time to ride can be tough. The problem with having a week or a few days off for ‘R&R’ is that you’re home and wanting to go for a ride when everyone else is working. Every time I ride it has been one or two weeks since I last rode which makes it hard sometimes to find a rhythm and learn new tricks. But I just try to deal with it as best as I can and ride with mates when they are free. I spend whatever free time I have organising the SA FMX stuff and a lot of people help out behind the scenes to make it all come together which is great.

What’s riding about for you now? Are you about giving it your all or just trying to have fun with the sport?

I certainly used to be ‘chasing the dream’ wanting to make it as a full-time rider but after some big injuries and lifestyle changes, I’ve come to realise that this means 100% commitment to riding. I’m quite happy doing what I’m doing; going to work and riding for fun. That said, any opportunity I’ve been given to ride a show or competition, I take. I’m still working on progression, just not putting as much pressure upon myself and taking things as they come now which has made things way more fun.

What are your thoughts on the FMX scene in Australia at the moment?

The level of riding coming from a lot of riders is insane. But as far as events go it has been in a bit of a slump for quite some time. If you’re not on a big team or part of a big tour there’s basically nothing to work for. But with the addition of events like the SA FMX Championship and the Aussie FMX and Speed & Style Titles things are picking up. More ‘grassroot’ type events would be great for the next generation and development of the sport. It’s not impossible to make these events happen, so we riders need to be the ones stepping up and making things happen.

You have put a lot of work into the SA FMX Championship, so how is the 2015 series going?

Organising the SA FMX Championship has been one of the best things I’ve done. It has been a heap of work but it has been totally worth it. It is awesome meeting new riders, seeing your mates progress and getting everyone together and having fun. It has grown so much in the three years it has been running, with a lot of guys coming over from interstate. Now it has quickly become one of the main events riders are getting motivated and training for. Making these events happen, I’ve found to be just as rewarding as riding itself. The first round was held in February at the Ponde Sand Drags event. The event went really well and I managed to place third in Div 1 against some great riders which I was stoked with. The second round is coming up in a few weeks at my compound in the Barossa Valley. It is going to be another great comp!

So where to now with your riding, do you have any big plans for the future? 

I’m actually on my way to do shows with Factory FMX at a Header demolition derby at the moment, and then continuing to build, organise and ride the SA FMX Championships. As well as continuing to have fun with FMX, I’m mixing it up with a bit of MX as well. I’d still love to have the opportunity to go overseas for shows at least once, which would be a dream come true. As long as I’m on the bike I’m happy! I’d like to thank my sponsors: Motorcycle Parts & Gear, Full Perch Footpegs, Bike Tune Suspension and CTI. Also, my parents, friends and girlfriend, Jess, for their support.