Motocross
Sportsmen of Supercross: How the Pros Stay Bros
Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin gives us a look at a day at the SX practice track with his good friend, training partner and closest competitor, Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson.
Over the last two years Red Bull KTM rider Marvin Musquin has taken his Supercross skills to all new heights, especially so in 2017, a season where he has acquired his first two 450 Supercross wins. However, this was not without the help of his trainer Aldon Baker, and training partners Jason Anderson and Ryan Dungey.
Eyes on the prize
© Eric Shirk
“It’s good to be able to push each other so hard during training and still have such a good relationship outside of motocross”.
“Training with Jason and Ryan has had its advantages”, says Musquin. “It’s good to be able to push each other so hard during training and still have such a good relationship outside of motocross." During our time spent with Marvin and the crew, it was apparent that the relationships they had built together were timeless. While training may seem like all work and no play, the ability to have light banter with his coworkers has allowed Marvin to keep training fun. “We make jokes, and we talk about anything in life, and that’s what’s good about having training partners." With the reality of burnout burdening in our sport it’s important to balance serious training with a bit of light-hearted fun.
Friends train together
© Eric Shirk
Motocross is touted as one of the most physically intense sports in the world. This in turn leaves many riders overwhelmed with the amount of training and dedication that the sport takes to be a champion. The reality is, a professional motocross racer does not have a 9-5. Instead, they have a 24/7. For some, it will lead to burnout, as training and work-related activities become their entire life. However, for other riders, it seems as though keeping a carefree attitude toward the day-to-day grind comes naturally, allowing them to enjoy the journey they’re on, rather than resent it.
Jason Anderson blitzes the whoops
© Eric Shirk
"We take training really seriously without a doubt, and we get the work done that it takes to win. We still like to have fun though. I love riding my dirt bike. I just want to keep it that way my whole career."
Marvin’s training partner and factory Husqvarna star Jason Anderson has been known for that same carefree attitude that it takes to avoid burnout. “We take training really seriously without a doubt, and we get the work done that it takes to win. We still like to have fun though. I love riding my dirt bike. I just want to keep it that way my whole career,” says Anderson. “Training with Marv has been fun, because we’ve both been able to do just that. We put in the work, and we put out the results. We just have a good time doing it.” Surprisingly, this isn’t an easy feat to accomplish in a sport like pro motocross.
Whip training
© Eric Shirk
It’s refreshing to see a group of individuals that can balance training with the good times. Aside from the fame and fortune, everyone starts riding motorcycles for one reason: fun. Musquin has been able to build an environment that keeps a smile on his face and the fun times coming, while still performing under the most stressful of circumstances. As the saying goes, all work and no play makes Marv a dull boy, or something to that extent. For Red Bull KTM Rider Musquin and his training partners, it’s a world of work hard, play hard, and that seems to be working just fine.