After five rounds of racing, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC/WPS/KTM’s Blake Baggett has landed on the podium in four of them, collecting two overall wins in Thunder Valley and at High Point.
It’s Baggett’s third season riding in the premier class and only his first season with the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS team, but he seems to have found his stride aboard the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition machine. He may have been out of the direct limelight since 2014, but “El Chupacabra” is back and causing quite the shakeup in the 2017 season. From a first-turn pileup to a podium finish at last weekend’s Tennessee National, after being scored in 31st after the first lap, there is no doubt that Baggett is racing with as much heart and tenacity as any rider in the field and has proven himself to be a real championship contender as the current points leader in the 450 class of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Series. We caught up with him after his epic comeback ride in Tennessee and chatted about his season, his successes, and how he likes to spend his days off.
DirtBikes.com: Prior to this season, your last win was in 2014 in the 250 class when you were riding for Mitch Payton and the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team. How does it feel to be back on the top of the box two weeks in a row at Thunder Valley and High Point and then being awarded the Red Plate today for the second week in a row?
Blake Baggett: It’s definitely a lifelong goal and to be able to achieve it is unreal. I thought it was maybe going to be an impossible task to win 450 races. I was able to win lites bike races, and won a lot of them. But when I moved up to the 450 it was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. The new team that I’m on, the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS team is just like, they are there for you 100% and the resources we have from factory KTM – the bike is unreal. I’ve got to give it up to those guys. The equipment and the way that the whole team and everything operates is A-class business. It feels good to have everybody’s back and get a win for the team – get a podium at Glen Helen first, their first podium. Get their first podium in Supercross. Then back it up the next weekend with their first win and then the next weekend win again. And then this weekend get third with being down in the first turn of the second moto. I was hoping that it was fake and that it wasn’t really going on, but to be able to come back and go 3-3 after being down in the first turn again… we’re fighting!
DirtBikes.com: That was definitely the comeback ride of a lifetime at Muddy Creek during Moto 2! You have looked very comfortable on the KTM, ever since your first race with your new team at Monster Energy Cup in 2016. What do you like about the bike that suits your riding style?
Blake Baggett: I just think that they have a lot of options and it’s really nimble and really forgiving and friendly. I’d say you can kind of put it where you want to and do things on it that maybe you shouldn’t be able to do, but you can pull it off on it. It’s an amazing motorcycle.
DirtBikes.com: It’s been said more than once that the field is especially competitive this year, compared to years passed. What do you think contributes to the closing of the gap amongst top riders?
Blake Baggett: I think all of the brands of motorcycles and sponsors, between tire companies and manufacturers of motorcycles and every manufacturer that manufacturers a part, suspension manufacturers – everybody is really close. I think that’s why you have different brands and manufacturers winning and up front and I think it’s going to continue escalating like that as our sport grows. Everybody is trying to push the limits of things.
DirtBikes.com: Do you currently have a favorite competitor? And favorite rival?
Blake Baggett: Not really. I mean, my teammate is really cool and we have a good relationship together. We ride together and we get along really good. It’s cool to be able to ride with my teammate and have somebody on the same team and same equipment. Rivals, I mean, you get those and you lose those; they come and go.
DirtBikes.com: You strike me as more of a one-on-one guy, perhaps more of an introvert. How do you feel about the added spotlight time as of late?
Blake Baggett: It’s fine. I’ve had it before when I was winning on the lites bikes. It just depends on where you are and what you’re doing.
DirtBikes.com: Did you ever anticipate that riding dirt bikes would give you somewhat of a “celebrity” status and that people would be wanting your autograph or looking to you as a public figure?
Blake Baggett: Not really. I mean I get up and put my pants on the same way as everybody else does. I mean I look at me, myself, as being just the same as everybody else.
DirtBikes.com: You’ve built a pretty solid fan base over the years. What’s the weirdest request from a fan you’ve ever received?
Blake Baggett: I’m sure there was some weird ones on lites bikes, but it’s been pretty mellow lately.
DirtBikes.com: When you’re not riding, I’ve heard you really enjoy all of the dozer work and track prep at El Chupacabra Ranch. What’s the best part of owning your own track?
Blake Baggett: I mean you can control the environment and control your surroundings.
DirtBikes.com: What is your favorite way to spend a weekend off from racing?
Blake Baggett: Driving my tractors at the ranch!
DirtBikes.com: And with a weekend off, I’m sure there are some cheat days as well. I’ve heard that you’re a Sonic Drive-In fan. What’s your go-to Sonic order on cheat day?
Blake Baggett: Cheat day? Every day is a cheat day; seven days a week is a cheat day. (Laughs) I don’t know… definitely some tater tots with mustard. There are so many good awesome things. From the slushies to the ice cream, the sundaes. It’s unlimited there.
DirtBikes.com: Inquiring minds want to know, where does the nickname “El Chupacabra” come from anyway? Has it been around a while?
Blake Baggett: It was Jason Weigandt, 2011 at High Point.
DirtBikes.com: After the 2017 Monster Energy Supercross season, there was a lot of buzz and assumption that Eli Tomac would make an early run at the championship. Do you feel at all like an underdog in your current situation as the points leader?
Blake Baggett: No. The media just talks about some people more than others and I’m fine with that.
DirtBikes.com: Favorite track on the Pro Motocross Circuit?
Blake Baggett: Budds Creek, for sure. The natural terrain layout makes it my favorite. The rolling hills are awesome!
DirtBikes.com: As someone who has raced through the ranks and had success at all levels of racing from mini bikes, to the lites class, and now in the premier class, what advice do you have for young riders who hope to follow the same path and one day race professionally?
Blake Baggett: That’s a hard question. The best advice I can give is for them to keep it fun. Don’t over train or over ride. Just have fun with it and you will succeed. In the long run, it pays off.
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