Motocross Feature

This time last year, Dylan Leary was one of the hottest young talents in Australian Motocross.

Heading in to the 2012 season as a relatively unknown rider on the mainland of Australia, Tasmanian born Leary set about making a name for himself in the MXD class as a privateer on a KTM 250 two stroke.

After an impressive first half of the season where the he posted a host of top three moto results and even overall round win, Leary was picked up by the Axis Motorsports team at the mid point in the season, making the switch not only from a KTM to a Kawasaki but also from a 250 two stroke to a 250 four stroke.

The change in machinery made no difference to Leary as he continued his good form, pulling a big holeshot and a moto win at Appin in New South Wales during his first outing for his new team.

Leary ended up 3rd at season end in the MXD championship, however his world soon got turned upside down, with two major injuries derailing his racing career.

After making the move from New South Wales to Tasmania with his girlfriend to be closer to his team, Leary sustained two broken arms in a practice crash leading up to the 2012 Australian Supercross Championship.

After missing the 2012 SX season Leary was setting his sites on a move to the MX2 class for the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals Championship when he suffered another major set back, tearing an ACL in another practice crash, leaving him with no chance of racing in 2013.

Leary is not one to every give up however and made his first tentative steps to returning to full time racing recently, borrowing a mates bike for a quick ride, before making the decision to head home to Tasmania to rebuild his career after spending the past few months washing cars in Western Australia.

We caught up with Leary for a quick chat to find out what has been going on of late and his plans going forward.

Fullnoise: Hi mate, you have had a pretty tough run over the past 12 months, first of all how have all your injuries healed up and how is the knee at the moment

Leary: My knees feeling pretty good now. It's been a little over 5 months since surgery, I'm running and doing everything my other knee can do so yeah it's good.

Fullnoise: You posted a picture the other day of you returning for your first ride what was that like It's was so good to be back on it!

Leary: I just putted around for an hour or so, but yeah was the best feeling being back on.

Fullnoise: You have been working pretty much full time in the past few months, what is it that you have been doing to pay the bills?

Leary: I've been washing cars in Western Australia. After doing my acl all I knew is I need to pay everything off, and get some money behind me to put 100% effort in to 2014.

Fullnoise: You have also just moved back to Tasmania, what was the reason behind the move back home

Leary: I moved back to Tasmania because there is a lot more tracks than Newman WA. I am painting again down here again, in the gym flat out with my mates so it's just a better place for me to get ready for 2014.

Fullnoise: Now that you are able to ride again, what are your immediate and long term plans for racing?

Leary: I'll be doing my off season this year in Tasmania, I'll be doing all the 2014 Nationals and I've been so keen! My long term plans in racing is to have no regrets and no "what if's". I'm going to put everything I have in to it, if it means in 5 years I'm a Pro rider or not I know I've given it everything.

Fullnoise: Do you have a bike or a race team to go back to or are you currently looking for some support?

Leary: No, not really. A local Kawasaki shop in Tasmania are being very helpful, but today I've just finished filling out my loan forms to buy a 2nd hand 450.

It defiantly sucks, 6 months ago I was pretty set up with my racing. 1 little mistake and it's all over. I understand though, it's a business and why would teams help me out while I'm on the couch.

It makes me so much more motivated and determined to make it happen in 2014, knowing I'm doing it all by myself. I would love nothing more than a little support but I know results is what gets you support at the end of the day. I'll be doing everything possible to be in the pointy end of the field to get noticed.

LKI have been unreal to me, and I really can't thank them enough!

Fullnoise: Thanks for taking the time to let us know how things are going, hopefully everything starts to go your way and we will see you back at the nationals in 2014

Leary: Cool as thanks

Top Image: Dylan Leary won the second round of the MXD championship in 2012 at Coonabarabran
Credit: Aaryn Minerds