Click here for a printer-friendly version
Tyler McDonald
Though he managed to look pretty tough for his photo, Tyler McDonald is a friendly, unassuming kid who—despite being only 16—has already put in some solid rides in the 600cc AMA classes (his best being an 11 th in the Daytona Supersport race). Though he’s still learning his way around the national paddock and tracks these days, Tyler hopes to become a fixture on the AMA scene in the near future.
By Laurel C. Allen
Road Racer X: What was your very first experience with a motorcycle?
Tyler McDonald: My very first experience with a motorcycle, I was 3-and-a-half years old and my dad told me that whenever I could ride a bicycle without training wheels, I could get one. He came home from work one day and I was riding around and I told him to go back out and get me a motorcycle.
So did you start out riding motocross?
I started out doing motocross until I was, like, 10 years old. I raced in some of the regional motocross races, but I really got hurt a lot. It just wasn’t my thing, even though I had a lot of fun doing it.
Did you always know you wanted to be a road racer?
I think I did. I think I always wanted to road race, I just wasn’t old enough yet. My dad [Sam McDonald] was a 250 national champion, so I watched my dad race all the time. I was always around road racing, really. I always wanted to be at the tracks.
Did you have any road racing heroes growing up?
Mostly my dad, and my uncle Phil.
What was your first road race?
My first road race was at Oak Hill Raceway, and I think I was just about to turn 10. I started at the very back of the grid and ended up second, which felt pretty good.
When did you get serious about road racing?
I started to really get serious about [road racing] about two years ago, when I got into the AMA and turned pro. After that, I started trying a lot harder. It’s one of my only focuses now—racing and getting ready for racing is all I ever do. I’m always training and riding bicycles.
Being so focused on racing and training, does that make you feel different from other kids your age?
No, not really. I do all of the same things they do, I just train a lot more.
What was your first AMA National?
My first AMA National was at Daytona this year. I ended up 11 th. Coming into the paddock was very intimidating. I was pretty nervous until I got into turn 1 with all of the guys, then I settled down. I’m feeling a lot more home in the paddock here [Barber] than I was at Daytona. At Daytona I was just pretty much in my pit area the whole weekend. I didn’t get around to talk to many people.
How old were you when you made the switch from the small bikes to the ones you ride now?
I made the switch to the 600 last year, and I think it was a lot easier for me than for a lot of people. I’m not really sure why, I just liked the 600 a lot better. It’s a lot easier to ride and if you make a mistake, it’s not as critical. The 600 fits my riding style a lot better.
What’s the biggest improvement you’ve made in your riding recently?
Mostly my braking and my middle-corner speed is my biggest improvement. The end of the race, that’s what I need to work on— that’s why I’m training so hard, so I’m as good at the end of the race as I am at the start. I’ve done the Freddy Spencer Racing School and the Jason Pridmore School, and my dad’s helped me a whole lot. But I think I should be probably top-15—somewhere in there. I’m a little bit off at this racetrack.
Are you going to do all of the rounds?
We aren’t quite sure about that yet. We might go to a racetrack a little closer to the house instead of going to Infineon. But we’ll try to do most of them. This year, my goals are just to learn all of the racetracks and get all acclimated with the whole race mindset—get used to everything. My future goals are to be a factory-sponsored rider and to be at the top of the AMA and maybe someday go to MotoGP. This is my whole life.
Tyler’s sponsors are:
If you’re a privateer and you’d like to be featured in this space, click here.
|
