Derek Drake | Rookie Season Underway

@derekdrake__

Some of you may have noticed some new faces last Saturday night, one of which was Troy Lee Designs / Red Bull / KTM’s Derek Drake. Though Anaheim One was his first professional Supercross appearance, Drake has been with TLD KTM since 2015 and is currently the team’s longest supported rider. From thinking he was going to miss his first professional Supercross gate drop, to finishing inside the top-10 with ease, Anaheim One was quite the night for Drake. After Saturday’s performance, it’s easy to see what the factory team sees in young Derek Drake, as he turned a good amount of heads with his solid first Supercross result. We got on the phone with him earlier this week and discussed the wild first night of the season. 

With this being your rookie SX season, how different were the approaching fall months than in previous years?

– My program was completely different. The team hired new trainers and we are working under Aldon. Mike Brown and Seth Rarick also joined Aldon’s training group this off-season, as Seth is more directed towards the Rockstar Husqvarna guys while Mike helps out us TLD guys. Aldon writes our programs every week and Mike Brown is basically here to make sure we do them, he also goes to the gym with us and joins us on bike rides. 

I know it’s been a while now, but what was the last amateur race you lined up for?

– Umm… it was Freestone in Texas, right before Hangtown. 

Were you lined up against anyone you had raced before on Saturday night?

– I have raced against Michael Mosiman, we were in the same classes for a little-bit in amateurs. And I’ve also raced against Mitchell Falk, but other than that, no. That was my first time lined up against all of the top-dogs. 

Continuing on with Saturday night, how did it feel to finally be there and on the gate? How were the nerves?

– The nerves were there pretty much all day, but I did calm down a lot having gotten to ride at press day. That helped quite a bit. This upcoming weekend, in St. Louis, we aren’t able to ride press day, but now that I have a race under my belt I kind of know what to expect. Everyone tells me St. Louis is pretty fun too, so I’m excited. 

Was there anything that surprised you or took you off guard Saturday night?

– Well… first thing that surprised me and the team was this new rule where heat one had to be on the line before the beginning of opening ceremonies (laughs). I was heat one and inside the truck hanging out with everyone on the team while opening ceremonies were starting off. I even asked TK what time I should go up and he replied, “like 6:40.” Well, I was in the truck at 6:20, not even prepared to leave for another 20-minutes, I wasn’t even geared up. Then an AMA official comes walking in and is like, “Hey, you’re on the line! What are you doing? You’re going to miss it!” I threw on my gear, grabbed Hunter, and we ripped out of there. I mean, I’m pretty sure the bike was already gone over by Hunter, but we started her up and left, didn’t check a thing. I missed my gate pick, instead of fourth I was like twelfth. I thought I was going to miss my first Supercross gate drop. I was freaking out. And we got down there and just sat on the line, we waited for another thirty minutes or something. Other than that, being inside of a baseball stadium was pretty cool. It felt different for sure. I’ve done Monster Cup before, but this was a whole other feeling. 

Was it gnarly having to learn the track after just a few short practice sessions?

– Yeah, luckily on press day we were able to do the major rhythm and get that down, so we got that out of the way. When Saturday rolled around, all we had to focus on was the whoops and one other simple rhythm lane. I guess to find out the real answer to that question ask me after St. Louis and see how I feel. 

Your team has a pretty interesting roster this year, which I think makes you their longest supported rider…

– Yeah, I’ve been with TLD since the end of 2015, off of my supermini stuff. October 2015 is when I signed with them and started racing 125cc’s. I went up through the ranks alongside them. 

It seems like your team is really dedicated to and invested in making the bike as good as it could possibly be for you guys, maybe this year more than ever before…

– Yeah, the amateur side was a lot different. I spent 3-4 years on that program and it gets attention, but not like the pro side does. I only did the outdoor summer series with Shane Smith, so it wasn’t really the full-blown pro program yet. This year, so far, has been completely different than what I’ve experienced in the past, with the organization and personal around the whole team. The team moved shops this year, we’re actually based out of the main KTM building now. It’s just tightened up. 

With the season now rolling, do you have any time for your dual sport? Or are you finding some commutes for it?

– Yeah, definitely less time for sure (laughs). Even if I do have time, it’s my only time to really relax so I try and take advantage of it. I’m afraid I won’t see that thing until August or September of this year (laughs). 

Dude, where did the nickname “Boob” come from?

– One of my best friends from school just started calling me that in like 8th grade, and it just stuck. Yeah, “boobie, boobs,” it just caught on and stuck (laughs). 

You guys have been unveiling some pretty cool TLD kits recently, any new favorite setups?

– I saw the gear schedule for this season and we have some pretty sick stuff coming. Glendale’s kit will be rad, its mostly black with some green in it. And then I believe we are running the Skully gear for Oakland, which will be rad. Even San Diego’s kit will be sick, we have some American flag stuff for that. The gear this year is pretty sick. 

You did really well at A1, is that how you expected things to go?

– I just really expected to get good starts, and that did not happen at all. I didn’t really have any expectations for results even, so roles got reversed for sure. My goals for A1 were to get good starts and that didn’t happen in my heat race or the main, but I guess that goal moves to St. Louis. 

Do you have any other goals for the rest of the season? 

– Now, I basically want to stay in the top-10, that’s where I should be. Maybe pick my nose in some top-fives. I’m excited!