Factory Connection - The Best Suspension Period

Race Team

Riders

Born: May 6th, 1984, Mannum, Australia
Residence: Lake Elsinore, California
National #: 24
Began riding: 1988, age 4
First race: 1989, age 5
Training: Gym, weights, cardio, riding
Hobbies: Drums, guitar
Height/weight: 5’9”/160 pounds
Marital status: Married
Current racebike: Honda CRF250R
Mechanic: Brian Kranz

Click on any of the photos below for a larger image.

Profile: BRETT METCALFE

GEICO Powersports Honda's Brett Metcalfe could easily be described as a quiet achiever. In contrast to the many brash young competitors who populate the sport, the Australian's laid-back approach is often misinterpreted as complacency. But don't be fooled. The minute he pulls up to the start line and prepares for the gate to drop, he is anything but complacent.

"I love to battle when I race," says Metcalfe. "There is no better feeling than banging bars with a rider who is racing up close alongside you and is equally committed to winning. That's when the best duels are on show."

In 2002, at the age of 18, the young Aussie packed his bags and headed for Europe to compete in the World Motocross GP Series MX2, leaving his native country far behind. A year later, he headed stateside to begin his U.S. racing career. Racing in both East and West Supercross support class championships, Metcalfe eventually went on to win the U.S. Open in Las Vegas in 2005.

"I've learned a lot from my experiences racing around the world and it's definitely something I wouldn't want to change. I enjoyed racing in Europe, but deep down I knew I wanted to race in the U.S. Winning Vegas was the biggest highlight of my American racing career, as far as Supercross goes."

In 2009, Metcalfe raced his first season with GEICO Powersports Honda and bounced back from an injury he sustained early on in the Supercross series to finish third overall in the Motocross Championship standings.

After racing on and against top teams from around the world, Metcalfe feels right at home with the GEICO Powersports Honda team and his Honda CRF250R.

"The team has been around for 13 years now, and has established itself as one of the top teams on the circuit. We have a good balance of rider and technical knowledge, which is great for developing the all-new CRF250R racebike. I love how easy it starts, and it has great acceleration out of turns. I'm confident 2010 will be a good year. One thing's for sure: We're going to be fast!"

With years of Supercross and Motocross Lites experience, the Aussie racer has earned his place in the big-bike class and is racing Honda's CRF450R in the Motocross competition.

"I will start 2010 racing my CRF250R in the Supercross Lites competition and then step up to ride the CRF450R in the Motocross series--I'm really excited about that. The biggest challenge for me will be getting familiar with the new bike: its engine capacity, power and torque and the way it reacts with the suspension. I have the experience, and I'm ready to step up to the big-bike class for outdoors."

Questions & Answers:

Q: 2009 had its share of racing highs and lows for you. How would you describe last season?

A: The 2009 Supercross season started out great. I finished the opening round in second place. But unfortunately the following week I crashed at Houston Supercross in practice and broke my collarbone. That was basically it for my championship run because I had to sit out the rest of the season while I recovered. In the Motocross series I started the season off a bit slow because I was still recovering from my injury--it took me a few rounds to get going--but by the halfway point in the series I was up on the podium and third in points. I held on to third for the remainder of the season, which I'm really happy about. It was a good, strong season, solid and consistent, and I did what I wanted to do.

Q: What do you think you need to do differently to get that first win?

A: Our team is strong and we have a lot of good riders. To beat my own teammates, let alone everyone else in the competition, I need to make everything come together. Mental focus is crucial and I need to be consistent and get good starts. Everything is coming together nicely now and I think I can be on top this year. I feel a change in myself both mentally and physically so I'm riding with it and doing the work I need to hopefully pull off my best year ever.

Q: Have you made any changes in your approach to training?

A: I've changed my approach to training this year and I'm mixing it up in the areas where I feel I lacked previously. I've focused on my intensity more and I've worked on getting out of the gate with more explosive power. I'm definitely changing things up. It's all about having confidence and belief in yourself, and I have that belief right now.

Q: What's it like having Mike LaRocco and Kevin Windham as mentors?

A: Our team is very unique. To have two highly experienced people like LaRocco and Windham on the team guiding and helping everyone is awesome. They understand what all the riders go through each day and they've been through the injuries and hard times; they've been there and done everything. To have them looking over the entire team is a huge bonus, especially on a team where there are so many young riders. I know when I'm at the track and they are riding I see them do things that I haven't thought of trying before. Whether it's taking different lines in and out of turns or experimenting with speeds, it's good to be able to watch and learn from them. As fellow riders, they also know the right things to say to calm you down or help out when you're having a bad day, which is priceless. Their experience is something you can't buy.

Q: This season you're moving up to race the 450 class for outdoors. Do you envision any nig challenges as you transition from Supercross Lites competition to 450 Motocross?

A: I will start 2010 racing my CRF250R in the Supercross Lites competition and then step up to ride Honda's CRF450R in the Motocross series--I'm really excited about that. I've done the groundwork in the Lites class and achieved the results I need to be rewarded with a ride in the 450 class. The biggest challenge for me will be getting familiar with the new bike--its engine capacity, power, torque and the way it reacts with the chassis and suspension. I'm not really anticipating a huge jump physically because I don't feel I'm too weak, too little or too light to handle this machine, and I don't have to learn a whole new game of racing. At 25 years of age I have the experience and I'm mentally ready to step up to the big bike class for outdoors.

Q: GEICO Powersports Honda is one of the top teams in the sport and is renown for having very fast race bikes. How does it feel to be a member of the team?

A: The team has been around for over 10 years now, and it's established itself as one of the top teams on the circuit. I feel really at home on the GEICO team. We have a good balance of rider and technical expert knowledge, which is great for developing the all-new CRF250R race bike. I love how easy it starts, and it has great acceleration out of turns. I'm confident 2010 will be a good year racing for GEICO Powersports Honda. One thing's for sure: We're going to be fast!

Statistics

2008

4th AMA Supercross Lites West Series
3rd AMA Motocross Lites Series

2007

5st AMA Motocross Lites Series (out of Supercross and part of Motocross season due to injury)

2006

7th AMA East Supercross Lites Series
5th AMA Motocross Lites Series

2005

6th AMA 125 West Supercross Series
18th AMA 125 National Motocross Series
1st U.S. Open

2004

8th AMA 125 East Supercross Series
17th AMA 125 National Motocross Series

2003

5th AMA 125 East Supercross Series
14th AMA 125 National Motocross Series