FMX Insider No.52: Shaun Webb

The boys at Freestyle Kings have just boarded a plane for a six-month FMX trip to China (yeah, they’ll be having a good time). Amongst the epic squad of dirt-bike riders is Melbourne-based shredder, Shaun Webb. I’ve witnessed this guy hang off a dirt bike many times and he’s always a standout rider at comps and demos. I grabbed Shaun for a quick interview just before he started his journey.

Ben: How did you get into freestyle motocross? Were you a racer?
Shaun: I started riding up in the Alpine Hills of Myrtle Ford, messing around with my mates. I then got into FMX by watching the old Crusty Demons movies back in the day. I thought that was so sick seeing the guys do No-Footers and Heel-Clickers. I then built some 60ft dirt kickers at a mate’s farm and started jumping and trying tricks.

Who did you grow up riding with and who do you ride with these days?
I grew up riding with some mates back in my old home town, and then I moved to Melbourne. These days I’m riding with the likes of Ryan Brown, Matty Lewis, Darren Nichols, Jordan Sprague and Daniel Kistler, just to name a few.

You’ve been riding a few demos lately, so tell us about that?
Yeah I’ve been doing a few demos lately with Defy FMX, a new freestyle crew which hopefully will only become bigger, better and more known in the FMX scene. I’ve also been riding a few shows in Darwin over the last year or so at the Noonamah rodeo – that’s always a good time.

Have you been working on any new tricks?
I’ve mainly been working on all my upright tricks, getting them dialled in and looking good. I’ve got a few Flip tricks that I wanna work on and some others but I’ll get to that when I’ve perfected all my other tricks.

What is your favourite FMX trick and why?
My favourite trick at the moment would have to be a Ruler or a Double-Nac. They’ve always been tricks I wanted to do and now I have them dialled. I love banging them out.

Who influences you the most?
It’s hard to say who my most influential rider is at the moment. Right now, I would say Ryan Brown and my mate Darren Nichols. These guys kill it and every time I ride with and watch them, it just makes me wanna ride better and learn more tricks.

What do you believe is the most crucial area of being a good rider?
The most crucial part about FMX to me I think is just be yourself, go at your own pace and just do what ya love to do.

What FMX competitions do you partake in?
The most recent FMX comps I’ve taken place in was the SAFMX championship last year. I think I placed fourth or fifth Overall, I can’t remember.

Have you had any gnarly crashes over the years?
I’ve had a few full-on crashes over the years that I shouldn’t have walked away from, but I’ve been very lucky with only bumps and bruises. But my most recent crash, I messed up a Flip trick and bailed off my bike. I landed on my feet on top of the down ramp and fractured my right heel and chipped a bone in my foot.

What is the highlight of your career so far and what is your favourite riding memory?
I guess the highlight of my riding career would be getting asked to go overseas to ride in China with the boys from Freestyle Kings for the next six to 12 months. My favourite riding memory would have to be doing my first Backflip down at Brenton Dragger’s place a few years ago. I was so pumped on that, I rang everybody that night and told them (laughs).

What sort of music do you listen to before you ride?
Before I ride, I mainly listen to bands like Rise Against and Sum41. I also listen to anything that’s been in moto movies.

What would you like to see more of in the Australian FMX scene?
I’d like to see more FMX comps in Victoria and all over the place, really. All the boys getting together, having a sick riding jam, hanging out and having a good time. To me, that’s what FMX is all about, riding and chilling with good mates.

Have you got any big riding plans for next year besides your trip to China?
As for my riding plans for the next year, I’ll just be in China riding for Freestyle Kings. I will just be doing my thing and hopefully have a good time doing so.

Anything else you would like to add?
I’d just like to thank all my family who have put up with all my injuries and trips to the hospitals. Sorry Mum and Dad, I know I’ve put you through hell (laughs). Thanks to my mates that I ride with, who are always pushing me to learn new tricks. Thanks to Defy FMX, Freestyle Kings and all my sponsors that have supported me over the last year: Spy MX, Thor MX, Admissive Clothing, Krooztune Suspension, AAA Supplements, Ringmaster Images and Gourley Transport.