Video: High Fives with Stuart Edmonds

Neil McKeown hooked up with Irish MX1 and MX2 champion Stuart Edmonds for a chit chat on how his championship winning season went.

Image by Ray Chuss

T9: Hey Stuart. Thanks for having this interview with T9 Images today.

SE: No problem anytime Neil.

T9: I just want to start off by saying congratulations on winning your championships this year. You had many up’s and down’s this year in both the mx2 and the mx1 championships. Can you firstly start of by summing up your 2009 season?

SE: Thanks, yeah I had a good year all round and I was disappointed with a few things but managed to make up for it. I showed I can run with the lads in the Maxxis British Championship, but it took me till mid season to show it, plus I reckon I was in a disadvantage, having to ride 4 moto’s in Ireland on the Saturdays and then having the British’s the following day. Overall it was a good year and I’ll be looking forward to doing better next year

T9: A motocross season can be tough and it is important to have the right support from family and friends, both during the week and on race day. Who has supported you this season and how have the helped you?

SE: Yeah, you’re right there and if you don’t have the right people behind you, you can’t progress. I have a lot of people that support me. My mam and dad, my lil bro and sis, they constantly keep me on my ball. Nick and Electraction, I wouldn’t have done it without his support. Gavin and all at CCM racing. James my mechanic in Ireland is a true sound bloke and has my bike running mint every time I’m on it. Gary from High-5 Nutrition, supplies brilliant drinks. Big thanks to my pit man/friend Alistair Holland, if everyone had a fella like him to tell you things while you ride anyone can win. Adrian Lappin Motorcycles, very good man with a bike and suspension. Also the tie down man, AKA Michael from TM UK, he preps my UK bikes which are sweet every time I’m out on them. He’s also a serious man with a spanner “ha-ha”. Finally Fox UK, without their support id be riding naked with me lil dangler blowing freely in the wind “ha-ha”.

The day in the life of an Irish Champion.

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T9: Was there a lot of pressure on you to do well this season?

SE: There was and there wasn’t. I felt a lot of people expected me to do well but at the same time I wanted to win and do better than I did in 2008 because I was so close to winning the 4 Irish and Ulster championships.

T9: Yes there are some ups and downs in every motocross season. What were your high points in 2009?

SE: Probably the mx2 was one of my highest points. I felt really good on the bike and wrapped up the Irish championship a round early. I also can’t forget the weekend of Foxhills. That would be my best high of the year, with racing four 25min motos in Fairy house GP Track on the Saturday, then doing two 35min motos on the Sunday and getting two top 10’s so I was happy with that.

T9: And your lowest points of the year?

SE: Probably when I had the big fall in Limerick and bust my arm, I think I lost both Ulster Championships because of that and also missed out on my place in the Irish Des Nations Team too.

T9: I have heard recently, after being connected with TM for so long now, you could be changing to a new team for 2009. Can you tell me how this has come about and the details of your new 2010 team?

SE: Yes, I won’t be able to be supported by TM this year. As I have rode TM’s for such a long time now it will be hard to make a change but with the right deal I think maybe a change will help me and other people to notice me. Graham vigors came to me with a deal and seem good but we are still in talks at the moment nothing has been finalised. Also I have been approached with a deal in the UK, so it could be TM again but it’s anyone’s guess at the moment.

T9: With maybe changing to a new team usually comes many changes from both a riders point of view and the way things run behind the scene. You will be competing in the Ulster and Irish, MX2 and MX1, championships as usual, but are there any plans about doing a full season of the Maxxis British Championship and following the footsteps of fellow Irish and Ulster riders Gordon Crorkard, Martin Barr and Graeme Irwin?

*SE: Emm, yeah I will be doing the British’s and hopefully I follow their steps but I don’t have enough contacts to be racing in England full time, which I need to get. I feel if I got the chance I would be at the same level as them if not better, but sometimes you just got to wait for these things to come and it’s not easy waiting.

T9: Finally, with maybe changing to a new team, new machinery and a fresh new season in 2010, what are your goals?

SE: Hopefully I will finish top 10 in both British Championships and also defend my titles and add both Ulster MX1 and MX2 titles to my collection “ha-ha”

T9: Would you like to thank anyone for your 2009 season?

SE: Big thanks to Nick and Gavin Craigie at Electraction & CCM Racing, TNT, Belray oils, Why Stickers, Fox racing, Racetech plastics, Corcoran chemicals, PJ Mckenna Motors, Westpark Fitness, High-5 Nutrition, Michael Woodsworth at TM UK, James Kennedy at CCM, Adrian Lappin, my MX2 mechanic up north, Alistair Holland and finally my mam and dad.

Name: Stuart Edmonds

Age: 21

Where you live: Dublin

Favourite Food: Stir fry’s

Favourite drink: Sukie’s

Favourite track: Foxhills

Best motocross memory: flip between winning the Irish championship win with two broken hands or racing for Ireland in nations 2008

Inspiration: Stefan Everts

Favourite quote: ”Don’t stop till the bike stops”

Hobbies: BMX, running, ballroom dancing “ha-ha” no, only joking swear!

Tags: edmonds, ireland, irish champion, mckeown, t9 images, tm, ulster