Michael Kasberg

·        First tell us a little about your self…

Well, I grew up in Birome, TX which is close to Waco.  I race the Intermediate class and go to college.  I also write for MotoPlayground, which is a really great opportunity for me to stay involved in the sport.

·        When did you start riding?

I started when I was about 12.  My dad bought me an old bike and took me out to Waco Eagles, this really small track and I got hooked.

·        What did you start riding on?

It was a ’96 YZ80 with white plastic and purple number plates.  That thing was awesome and stayed around for a while.

·        What’s your fav. Track?

I’m probably a little biased, but I love riding at Panther Creek MX.  My dad owns it, but we live about 3 hours away so I don’t get to ride it much.  When I do though, my friends and I can ride all day long; that place is just so fun!

·        What’s your plan for the New Year?

Actually, my friend, Eric Cagle, and I are moving into an apartment in Ft. Worth, so I’ll be riding more and going to college up there.  Hopefully I can get a training program together with Eric and Adam Mennenga in order to get where I want to be with my racing.

·        What are your goals for the New Year?

I really want to get back into shape because I haven’t been able to do much lately.  I’d like to ride a little more often and make some of the bigger races.  My main goal is to get to Loretta’s and, afterwards, move up to the A class.  I’d like to try and get my money back on the weekends.  Paying for gas and entry fees through racing would be awesome!

·        Do you see your self involved in other projects such as TV, Movies, Music, Ect… In The Feature?

Not really, but my mom has always wanted me to be a newscaster.  I’d like to be involved with music, but I don’t have the same rhythm on an instrument that I have on a motorcycle.  The closest thing to a direction other than motocross would be writing for a magazine.  I’m writing for MotoPlayground though, so that keeps me in the industry; I love doing it.

·        Are there any other forms of racing you would like to try and why?

I’ve always wanted to race rally cars.  Just jumping something that big seems like so much fun, and it’s basically you and a friend driving around as fast as you can.  I’ve thought about Indy cars, but I think those go a little too fast for me.

·        Has Freestyle ever appealed to you?

When I was a beginner it did!  Not now though, those guys are much braver than I am and I have respect for what they do.  They really let it all hang out, and it’s good that they do it because I don’t have to!

·        What do you like to do in your free time?

Like I said, I write for MotoPlayround and go to college so that takes up quite a bit of time.  If I’m not busy, I really like messing around on the internet and on the computer.  Video and picture editing is pretty fun.  My friends and I go out sometimes too.  Playing bingo is probably one of the best things I’ve ever done.  I almost won a game once and the adrenaline rush was just like sitting on the gate with 40 riders.

·        Do you play any Motocross games?

Of course!  MX Unleashed takes up a lot of my free time.  Eric and I are really close in speed so we have some of the craziest battles ever.  We can race bar to bar for 10 laps and by the end we are jumping around like crazy and screaming at the top of our lungs.  Some of our races are just epic; we’ve actually tied before.  That’s how close the races are, we tied for first, but since he slammed into the finish line pole, I won.

·        If there’s one thing in Motocross you would like to change what would it be and why?

I’d like to see more pro riders get paid.  There are only a handful of guys out there that are making a living doing what they love, and I’d like to see more racers getting paid.  I don’t know what it takes to do that, maybe there needs to be more sponsors or something.  It’d be cool to see privateers get more help so they can afford to do what they love and support a family.

·        Is there any advice you would like to give out to?

I think they main thing is to just keep everything in perspective.  Motocross is about fun, first and foremost.  Riders won’t get anywhere if they aren’t having any fun.  A lot of kids also need to slow down to go faster, I think.  You can’t get faster if you’re on the ground all the time.

·        In closing is there anyone you would like to Thank?

I definitely need to thank John Poor and everyone at Max’s Racing in Abilene, because I couldn’t be doing this without them.  I also want to thank Answer Racing, Gaerne, Pro-Taper, MotoPlayground, and Adam Mennenga for helping me out.  My parents really deserve most of the credit, especially my dad, for getting me everything I needed and taking me to all the races.  I would not be riding if it weren’t for my family.