Shaun Skinner

Age: 21

Nickname: Skin Dog

Hometown: Stuart, FL

FLmx: How did you go from racing harescrambles to motocross?

SS: I just did harescrambles for three years and started getting bored with it. I started riding motocross a little bit and pretty much was hooked.

FLmx: You won a Loretta’s championship right off the bat, didn’t you?

SS: I rode motocross for half a year, and then me and my dad went and watched at Loretta’s. I trained for one full year after that and went to Loretta’s and won.

FLmx: In the C class?

SS: Yeah.

FLmx: How was that – did you know you were going to be good after that?

SS: It definitely helped me get further. I trained with Goerke a lot; he helped me get a lot faster.

FLmx: I read that you turned the fastest lap of the week at Loretta’s one year?

SS: I think that was 2004 when I was in B class. I won that year. That was probably my hardest training year ever. I trained with Goerke and it was pretty tough because Chisholm was going pretty fast.

FLmx: How was the A class for you?

SS: I went to A the year after that, and I was winning going into the last moto and crashed twice, so pretty much ruined that.

FLmx: Then you entered the pro ranks as a privateer?

SS: I did the last two outdoors on my own – Cernic’s helped me out a little bit.

FLmx: How hard is it being a privateer compared to where you are now?

SS: I only did the last two – At Steel City, I was 12^th and crashed on the last lap. I tore some ligaments in my thumb. I was pretty much done and didn’t get to ride Glen Helen. I had some pretty good finishes riding for Maestro. The Butlers helped me out. I got a top ten and stuff.

FLmx: They set up a tent for you, right next to the semi?

SS: Yeah, I was going through a lot of stuff with Maestro in the middle of the season. I didn’t like how it was going to go, so I pitted out of the side of the semi for that race and then I was pretty much good to go after that.

FLmx: Then you could move under the tent?

SS: Yeah.

FLmx: This year, you only made one west coast main. Why do you think?

SS: I don’t know. I wasn’t really confident coming in – I felt a lot better than last year, but just wasn’t really confident yet. Now, it’s the end of the season and I’m actually starting to feel a lot better. Especially having a win – it helped me out a lot.

FLmx: Do you think the west coast tracks might have intimidated you a little bit?

SS: Yeah, a little bit. I wasn’t really sure. I’d been training at MTF like two months prior to west coast, but it’s still a little bit different going out there. It’s super hard packed and a whole new crew of people I was racing against.

FLmx: What about Daytona this year? Where were you in that mess?

SS: I rode a 450 there. Practice was dry and I actually felt really good – I was eighth overall in the 450. Then it rained, and it was pretty much a free-for-all after that.

FLmx: How stoked was the team after Matt Boni made the podium?

SS: They were definitely pumped.

FLmx: That must’ve given you guys a little something extra to take to Toronto, because the team went out there and swept the podium, and you won!

SS: It was cool.

FLmx: Did you expect to do that well?

SS: I wasn’t really sure. I kind of went in with no pressure, not knowing who was going to show up there. Then after practice, I felt good, but I wasn’t the fastest and I wasn’t really sure. I was hoping for a top ten. Then I went out and had a good start and everything went smooth.

FLmx: Sweet. So, do you think it’s all about the start then?

SS: Yeah, pretty much as long as you have everything dialed on the track, it’s all about the start.

FLmx: Do you think you’re getting your starts all worked out?

SS: Yeah, the west coast rounds, I had a lot of problems with the start. Then Bryan Johnson, my teammate, worked with me a lot on starts the whole end of the season. I’m getting pretty good starts now.

FLmx: I read somewhere that you like play in your throttle. Is that true?

SS: I used to. Paul (Perebijnos) kind of got me off of that.

FLmx: Do you have any other preferences?

SS: Not really. I’m not too picky – I’ll pretty much ride anything.

FLmx: Would you say Toronto’s your biggest accomplishment as of yet?

SS: Definitely. It’s not like an AMA Supercross, but it’s definitely something cool to win.

FLmx: Who would you like to thank that got you there?

SS: Vince with BTO. Butler Brothers. Rick Case Honda. DNA Energy. WMI. Alpinestars. FMF. Fly. Sunline. My family and the Fink family.

FLmx: Thanks, Shaun.

SS: Thank you.