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Michael Heingartner – TSM Interview

Michael Heingartner had been a Pro caliber racer for 8 years until life caught up with him. Now he is married to the woman of his dreams, has a small child (4 Months) who keeps him up late nights and has lost some of his fitness do to lack of training time. Sounds like anyone of us.

But Michael has a dream. A dream to compete in a few Supercross Races for 2010. Indy and St. Louis are currently on the schedule. The thing is, Michael will be racing an RM250 two-stroke.

Between his busy work day schedule where he was just promoted, the late nights with his baby, spending some quality time with his wife, he squeezes in time to work out and try to practice, even though the ground is hard and frozen.

He knows that he is overweight, but is on a training regimen that will get him down to a reasonable racing weight by Indy. (Ed. note.. Michael wrote to say “the only thing to change in the introduction would be the weight thing, lol, I will still be a giant tub of lard at Indy.”)

We though that we would check in and learn more about Michael and his goals for the Supercross Series.

Michael could you tell us how you got involved in racing motocross?
My dad has been racing Motocross for 40 years, and I got started that way, he was a pro for many years, and has owned his own small motorcycle shop for about 15 years.

Was your dad a big influence?
Yes he was the reason I started riding and racing, and I always looked up to him as a kid while he was still going fast and a stud, haha!

When did you start racing?
Actually 1986 I think my dad just found my first ever trophy from my first race but I actually stopped racing MX in about 1988 and started racing BMX till 1993 in 1991 I actually won a National title in BMX.

How did you do?
I sucked at Motocross till I was about 20 or 21 when a serious injury opened my eyes and kind of made something in me just snap.

Who was your biggest motocross hero?
Growing up I loved RJ, and Damon Bradshaw, more recently Ricky was the man of course.

What lead you to take the step to first earn your Pro license?
I had a major crash in 2001 where I dislocated and shattered my foot and ankle and I did not walk on it for 4 months and during that time I decided I wanted to take MX more serious and started losing weight and training, and I got my pro license the following year.

What were your finishes like in the Pro Class?
My first big Pro race was a regional Arenacross in Michigan I made the big bike main and got 6th place, ran 4th for most of it, I won tons of local and regional races and many big fair races in pro classes and my age classes, I have never really done to well on the Big pro level never made a night show or main.

What machines did you race in the Pro Class?
I started on a CRF450, and have raced many different bikes, mostly 2 strokes, Yamaha and Suzuki’s but I had a YZ450f for one year too.

Did you have sponsorship support when you raced Pro?
Yes but nothing major.

Who were you top sponsors?
My dad and his shop mostly, then Scott, ODI, Renegade Suspension.

Did you feel there was a great deal of “pressure” for you to do well when you were racing Professionally?
No it was always more for fun, its not like I was doing it for a living, the most pressured I ever felt was when I competed in Europe numerous times, because that was a free ride on great bikes, and I took that almost too seriously which lead me too lots of mistakes.

Did you feel that racing four-strokes was more suited to your style?
No I can ride the bikes equally, I am a smooth rider and I can ride both just fine, the only thing that a 450 has ever gained me is that little bit of extra power with my extra weight that I have.

Lot’s of racers talk about the high cost of racing, did you experience any problems when you were racing four-strokes?
You have no idea, first year I turned pro I had my CRF blow up 3 times in 9 months, I literally probably had $3000 in repairs on that bike during that time, just insane.

What prompted you to get back on a two-stroke?
For the cost of it mostly and I enjoy riding them so much more, they feel better, corner better, sound awesome, and to piss people off.

Was there a feeling that if you wanted to compete in the Pro ranks that you needed to be racing a four-stroke?
Maybe now more then before but I am doing it for fun so I really dont care, if I was going to race the whole series and not have a job I would be more tempted to be on a 450, but I dont know if I had the unlimited resources I would just have a very tricked out 2 stroke.

What do you feel about that now?
I will be on a 2 stroke only from here on out, unless someone gives me a bike!

Tell us a little bit about your quest to race two Supercross Events this year.
I just wanted to do it, I just had a dream about it one night and said screw it I am going to race a few, of course I did not choose the best timing with our baby, etc. but hey I want it.

How is your training going?
As good as I can make it go, I have only been training seriously since about Christmas time, but I am doing a little more each week, I got some new equipment for my house and have been hitting it every chance i get morning or night.

Are you feeling stronger and ready to race?
I am in so much better shape now then what I was a few months ago I cant even describe.

Have you lost weight yet?
Not enough to get pumped about, I weigh about 275 right now, and I was 280-285 after Xmas.

Can you tell us a bit about the bike that you’ll be racing?
It is just a pretty much bone stock 2006 RM 250, I got it a few months ago after I sold my previous RM, I got a killer deal on this bike and it only had about 6 hrs. on it.

What kind of modifications have you made to your RM250?
I have the suspension revalved for me for SX, by Renegade Suspension here in Indiana, I have a top triple clamp, and Twinwall bars, thats it, oh and a bigger back sprocket.

From some stories that I’ve heard you are a bit of a character, could you please tell us how that came to be?
Oh yeah my dad and most of his family are kind of a little nutty, and I just do not get embarrassed and enjoy being goofy and laughing.

There was mention of some… umm… interesting pants less riding, could you share that story?
Well several times actually, lol.

The guys at work bet me $20 that I wouldnt ride my bike in the snow across the major road in front of work shirtless and I did.
The best one is at a Arenacross last year in Chicago during the jump off I had nothing on but a open faced helmet, and my boots and a coat, I then stopped in front of catapult ripped my coat off and goon rode over it, I won the Jump off too!!

What other antics have you partaken in at the motocross tracks?
I am known as one of the or the best goon riders around, and when I frequent open ride days I tend to put on my open face helmet and have like my ass crack hanging out or something and let her rip!!!

What are your goals for Indy and St. Louis?
Honestly to just have a ball, get some big air, and maybe if lucky make the night shows.

As I understand, even though you’ve raced quite a bit in the Pro ranks, you have very few actual photos of you racing the Pro events. How can some of the fans of Two Stroke Motocross help out in that area?
Yes I have never had anyone that took photos of me in the SX and MX events I have done, I only have a few crappy photos here and there, I mean I went to Europe 5 times and have 30 crappy photos to show for it, it really sucks.

I would love it if someone was there and just went camera happy with a decent camera and had more than 2 photos of me, I would like to have some to look at when Im 90.

How can fans in the stands show their appreciation to you at these Supercross races?
How ever they want banners, yelling for me whatever!

Do you have any plans for some special way of showing your appreciation to those fans??
I havent really thought about it, I guess I will see how it goes, I will probably just thank eveyrone obviusly on forums, etc. but I guess just see what happens.

Are there any sponsors that you would like to thank for helping you out?
My dad and his shop – Powersport Specialists, Renegade Suspension, Scott Goggles, ODI grips, EVS, MSR, Gaerne thats most of it.

Any last parting words??
I just want to thank you for doing this interview with me, and giving me the opportunity to get my name out there, I really appreciate it.

Thank you so much for your time. We’ll look for you out on the track at Indy and St. Louis!!

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