One of Australia’s most recognised racers has been contesting the opening rounds of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, as Cody Mackie tries his hand against the best of the best in America.

Mackie has been an exciting prospect for Aussie fans to follow at the first few rounds in Anaheim, Phoenix and Los Angeles respectively, battling hard in a bid to qualifying for the Supercross Class (450) main events. He hasn’t quite got there yet, but it’s an experience that Mackie is excited to be a part of.

“I was looking for a change from the short formats and some of the tracks in Australia,” Mackie explained. “I just wasn’t having fun racing my bike, so I thought why not go to America and have fun? I’m not expecting anything out of myself and I think that people expect more out of me than what I do – I’m just here doing my own thing, having fun.

“I got over here early in December and have been riding ever since. Riding has been going really good, it just makes it really hard with one bike because you have to make sure it’s not flogged by the weekend. Parts aren’t cheap either, which I’ve kind of worked out. I’ve been lucky enough to be supplied a lot of stuff in previous years, so I didn’t really know what it cost to buy things until now.”

Riding a privateer Honda CRF450R with support from Kevin Crutcher from Cool Air, Mackie has pieced together his very own race bike to take on the challenge of racing the AMA’s premier class.

“I’ve got some ARC levers that Johnny McLean hooked me up with, but that’s it,” he said. “I bought the Hinson, bought the piston, bought the cam, paid for the suspension to be re-valved and then everything else on the bike. Kevvy from Cool-Air has bought a lot of it, but at the end of the day I think I’ll be paying for all of it because that’s what I wanted to do originally.”

During the week, Mackie has been riding with the Gosselaar brothers in California, making the most of his time in the U.S. and continuing to adjust to the fast-paced lifestyle of an AMA Supercross rider with races every weekend, back-to-back.

“I’ve been riding at Racetown 395 because the Gosselaars are pretty good friends with them, but that’s been it really,” he continued. “I spent a month in Fresno, which Chris has another track at, and that was really good as well to ride at.”

Racing with the likes of fellow Aussies Chad Reed and Brett Metcalfe in the big show has been an eye opener for Mackie, but he has enjoyed lining up with the likes of Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, James Stewart and co.

“My favourite experience so far would be just lining up on the line, even though it’s only been heat races so far,” Mackie said. “Lining up with the best riders in the world is fun, looking across and seeing all the best riders there alongside you. That has been the best part.”

And although he’s not yet qualified for a main, he isn’t giving up hope of doing so at the next three events in Oakland, Anaheim and San Diego. After that, he’s booked to return home to Australia, but doesn’t yet have a seat for the 2012 domestic season.

“It’s going to take a better start, but I don’t want to say that if I could get a start I’d definitely be in the top nine to qualify from the heat,” he commented. “I know it would make it easier, but at the end of the day I have to remember who I’m racing.

“I’ve never won in Australia, but I’ve been reasonably good throughout my career, so to come here I have to remember who I’m racing. They’re paid a lot of money and are the best in the world.

“This is the first time in my career that I don’t have anything lined up for the series once I get home, but I’m just taking it day by day. There are some other opportunities coming on later in the year, but as of now I’m not lining up on April the 1st at Conondale.”

No doubt a talented rider with a vast amount of untapped potential when it comes to winning races back home, Mackie is thankful for the people who made his dreams a reality by racing in the world’s best supercross series against the world’s best riders.

“I just have to thank Cool Air Kevvy, the Gosselaar brothers and Jenna, because they’ve helped me out a lot by letting me stay at their house. Plus Greg Schnell for being my mechanic on race day, he’s been awesome,” Mackie concluded.

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