Features 2 Feb 2012

Privateer Profile: Brock Winston

MotoOnline.com.au meets one of FullForce Racing's newest team members, Brock Winston.

Motocross is a hard sport and Brock Winston knows how painful it can be. After multiple injuries, broken bones and surgeries, Winston hope’s to use this year to stamp his name on the Australian scene.

Despite winning three Shell Sunshine State Series wins in a row in ’08, ’09 and 2010, some may not of heard his name. Winston had a stacked junior career with the likes of Ford Dale, Brenden Harrison, Josh Strang and interstate riders such as the Moss Twins, Kirk Gibbs and many more.

“It was good growing up in such a competitive year, it made me train harder and want to succeed even more,” Winston explained. “I have been a privateer ever since I turned pro, I got a bit of a break in 2009 when I was offered a ride on the Cool Air conditioning Kawasaki team for a round of the MX Nationals at Coolum and got seventh.”

The 23-year-old from the Sunshine Coast, hope’s his dedication and hard work over the past few years, which included a break from motocross at the start of 2011 will boost him up the places in the Pro Lites this year.

“I lost the drive to want to race and had a bit of a break, I just didn’t see my career going where I wanted it and I started to think about all of the money it was costing me and decided to take some time off to get my passion back,” Winston added.

Brock Winston has joined FullForce Racing for the 2012 season.

In March 2011 he decided to get back on a bike and Pro Griffin KTM got him back on a KTM 450 SX-F. He started back at a few club days and then the Shell Sunshine State Series and then found himself on the Pro Open start line at Toowoomba and in his second national race at Moree, he was top 10 in the Pro Open class.

“Dan from MX Race Prep and I decided to do some nationals together and we got some good results,” Winston continued. “It was really good to be back out racing again, I had been training the whole time so I was still really fit.

“I had some issues with my hands though and couldn’t hold on, so after the last round of the MX Nationals at Coolum, I decided to get Carpal Tunnel release surgery.”

Winston’s hunger was at a new high after surgery and decided to head north to the mines to work for the rest of the year to save enough money to race in 2012.

“I wanted to do it right this year, I wanted a fast motor and to be able to ride during the week, so I knew I needed some money behind me,” Brock said.

During his days off, he got back on his KTM and noticed some pain in his wrist, this ultimately would be another setback to his 2012 plans.

“It was really uncomfortable, my wrist wasn’t strait and I couldn’t hold onto the bike very well,” he explained. “So I had to make the hard choice to get it re-broken and fixed.”

The surgery put him back $9000 in his savings for the 2012-racing season.

Queenslander Winston will be one to watch in the Lites outdoors.

“I had gone and worked my butt off, so it was a big let down when I had to pay for my surgery,” he said. “Luckily I still had quite a bit more saved up to get the things I needed done and to put food on my table.

“My wrist is nearly healed now, so I should be back on the bike about 6 weeks before the first round at Conondale.”

A phone call in December would be a big boost for Winston.

“I received a call from a mate that is involved with the FullForce racing team and it went from there,” Winston reflected. “Next thing I was meeting up with team owner Phil Astley of carsRus.com.au and his sons, Andrew and David and they told me of some exciting plans.

“They were buying a semi and building a team in my neighborhood, so obviously I jumped at that opportunity. To not have to worry about entries, fuel, transport and all of the things I have had to pay for over the past few years, meant I could concentrate on my riding, getting healthy and doing the best I can for my new team, FullForce Racing.

“I would really like to thank the people that have stood by me during some hard times, Dan from MX Race Prep, Pro Griffin KTM, Tam Paul at KTM, and Phil Astley at carsRus.com.au for giving me a go.

“It’s also good to get support from people like Andrew Higgins at A1 Accessory Imports with Motorex Oil, Supersprox Sprockets, Kustom MX and Tsubaki Racing Chains and also Mick Sinclair from FOX Australia for hooking me up with FOX Gear and Oakley Goggles

“Without guy’s like them, it would be impossible for Privateer’s like me around the country to turn up to the start gate at races,” he concluded.

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