H2H Endurocross: Tye Simmonds

Earlier this week, it was officially confirmed that former Pro MXer, Tye Simmonds, will be contesting the first-ever Australian Motorcycle Finance Head2Head Endurocross presented by Yamaha, taking place alongside the Melbourne MOTO EXPO on November 29-30. For his first race in over a year, he’ll be jumping aboard a KTM 450EXC thanks to Ben Grabham. How’s Tye feeling as he prepares to come out of retirement? We tracked down the 22-year-old boy from Bourke for a quick chat… 

Tell us again, Tye. Why did you make the call to step away from full-time racing last year? And was that a hard thing to do?

I’ve been racing motorcycles for a long time. I started racing at a pretty intense level from just seven years of age. I was 21 when I walked away, and I walked away because I felt as though I needed the time off. I was over it, and I was really feeling burnt out. There was no love and there was no passion to be found, and I didn’t like that. At first, I honestly believed that I would never have anything to do with motorcycles for the rest of my life. I didn’t go near a bike for a very, very long time. As time has gone on, though, I’ve felt the urge to get back out there.

Been feeling a bit twitchy of late, have you?

Yeah, mate. I’ve been feeling it! I didn’t go near a bike for a very long time, as I said. I just wanted to distance myself from it as much as I could, you know? I didn’t go for any rides or anything, so I could gauge how I was feeling being away from it. Lately I’ve been doing a little bit here and there, and it’s felt really good. I’m keen to race again.

And your first race back is going to be at the first-ever Australian Motorcycle Finance Head2Head Endurocross, taking place alongside Melbourne’s MOTO EXPO next weekend. What’s your thinking there? Why not wait for the 2015 MX season to roll around?

To tell you the truth, I’ve been speaking to a few motocross teams here and there, but I’ve had a year away from the sport, so I can understand why no one was really interested in offering me anything. I’m working in the mines at the moment, doing seven days on and seven days off, so I’ve been pretty busy, but a few friends here and there have been pushing me to get back on a bike and do a bit of riding. One of my mates had been pushing real hard to get me to head out and ride in the bush, which I do enjoy doing. He was always ringing me and telling me to go riding and telling me to get in the bush, saying I should try something different. He lined up the opportunity with KTM’s Ben Grabham to race the Australian Motorcycle Finance Head2Head Endurocross and, yeah, I guess it’s happening (laughs)! We all went for a ride together over the weekend and had an absolute ball.

Sounds good. What will you be racing at the H2H Endurocross?

I’ll be on board a KTM 450EXC. I rode it on Sunday along with a few other bikes and the thing was amazing. I’ve been off KTMs for a couple of years, and jumping back on board one, it felt like I never left. The bike I rode was completely stock and it was incredible. All the ergos with the brakes and clutch and everything just work so well.

Do you have any goals heading into next weekend’s event? 

Mate, I have no idea what’s going to happen next weekend! I don’t know what to expect. I just want to stay on the bike and have fun. Ever since Grabbo gave me the green light to ride, I’ve been looking up a few endurocross videos here and there, and that stuff looks gnarly, man. I’m just excited to be riding again, to tell you the truth, which is a good thing in my eyes. The bike’s going to be good and it should be an awesome weekend of racing.

And what happens if this sparks a whole new love for off-road racing? Would you consider contesting the 2015 Australian Off Road Championship?

For sure! I think the AORC is definitely something that I’d like to have a crack at. I just want to take this as it comes. I’ll ride next weekend and see how that goes, and then think about my future from there. I don’t want to put too much stress or pressure on myself early on. I very well may end up lining something up in off-road circles next year, but I don’t want to think about that too much right now. I’ve never raced any off-road events other than the Hattah Desert Race, which I did with KTM, and admittedly that was one of the most fun races I have ever contested. As I said though, I just want to get through next weekend and go from there.

Unreal. Thanks for the chat, Tye.

Cheers, mate!