A third of the way through the 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals, Tunetech Racing KTM’s Kale Makeham is sitting fifth in the MX2 points’ chase. After finishing runner-up in last year’s championship many expected the 20-year-old to be further up the leaderboard than he currently is, so we tracked him down and hit him with some of those tricky ‘Why’ questions.

Why did you choose to stay on a two-stroke this year?

The main reasons were to stick with what we knew and because of our budget. I feel we had a good thing going with the team, so we chose to continue along that path. We also don’t have enough hours or money to maintain a four-stroke either. The budget you need to keep one of those running is crazy in comparison. The sport is expensive enough as it is, so I’m happy to continue doing what I’m doing and I love riding the two-stroke. Four-strokes are fun and I love their broad power and traction, but if I had to choose what I’d prefer for a weekend ride, I’d pick the two-stroke for sure.

Why haven’t the results come your way yet in 2014?

I knew this question would come up [laughs]! At Broadford I was sitting second overall, but in the final moto a rider went down in front of me in the first turn and there was nothing I could do. It was out of my control, and to put it simply, if I’d placed in the top nine I would’ve had the red plate at Appin. We had a few issues at Wonthaggi, but there was a reason for that and we’ve addressed them. I’m happy with where I’m placed for now and I proved at Appin I have the speed and fitness to be a real championship contender. As far as championships go, look what happened last year; Todd Waters was 50 points up and looked unbeatable at this stage, but Matt Moss came back and won both the motocross and supercross titles. It’s still early days.

Why are two-stroke riders such a force this year?

I think in years past a rider had to get on a factory team to get results and privateers struggled to be competitive against the teams who were spending big money developing their bikes. Those guys who never got the opportunity to get on a factory team are now able to prove they can be competitive and as fast as the factory-backed guys. You can’t just throw anyone on a two-stroke and expect them to win, but I think being able to ride two-strokes in the MX2 class has leveled the playing field and created an equal opportunity for everyone. Being a privateer on a four-stroke is really hard, but now those privateers with talent can show their potential rather than fighting for limited opportunities.

Why did you choose racing as your career path?

I left school at 16 and worked for my dad until I was 18. I tried to race at the same time, but I spread myself too thin and struggled. I’d work an eight-hour day, then only spend an hour on the bike until dark. I was only getting average results, so I decided to throw in the job and put everything into the 2012 Under 19 Supercross Championship. It paid off instantly and I won the title, which was the turning point for me. If I didn’t win that championship I’d probably be splitting firewood right now. I’d like to say that I wouldn’t have had that opportunity if it wasn’t for the two-stroke either!

Why did you move to Newcastle over the summer?

I moved to Newcastle for three months in the summer so I can could be more central to other riders and decent tracks. The closest public, watered track to where I live at Koondrook is four hours away and it doesn’t rain here for, like, six months of the year. All the tracks get so dusty and I don’t get any pros riding out here. I rented a place in Newcastle for three months to improve my pre-season and it was great for my preparation. I’m back home now and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but I’ll definitely look at doing it again in the future.