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Charles Halcomb / videos / photos / blog

Jun 10

Great GOAT of Off Road MXA Interviewposted in Off-Road on Jun 10th 2010 at 11:23pm.

Burleson’s accolades are on the par of Ricky Carmichael in motocross. Basically, Burleson is the “GOAT” of Enduro. Now 60-some-years old, Dick still rides and races for fun, blazing trail at a blistering pace. I caught up with Burleson at KTM’s 2011 SX model launch.

MXA: Dick, what do you do these days? 
Dick: I’m a product and development guy at Moose Racing, and I also do promotional things for them. I live in Michigan, but I work all around. I’ll be going to the next GNCC in West Virginia, talking to customers and dealers. I will also get to race. At home I train on my bicycle a couple of times a week, and I also work with a trainer a few times a week. I ride my motorcycle about three times a week, and my wife and I love to go boating. It’s an awesome time. 

What is the most important skill that every rider, motocross or otherwise, should have? 
It depends on your definition of the word ‘skill.’ The most important thing is heart [said while he beats his chest]. You have to want it. That means that you’re willing to train, test, and ride under less than perfect conditions. I must have raced a million races, and I can’t hardly remember a race where I didn’t have a problem. It’s the same even on a motocross track. Let’s say that you hit a berm and go over the bars, or you crash in the first turn. You have to deal with those things. The guys that are the real champions are excellent at dealing with problems. They will take a bad day and turn it into a points getter. Maybe they won’t win, but they will earn points towards the championship. Determination is everything. Don’t accept less than winning. You’re not always going to win, but strive for the best. 

Of the so-called million races that you’ve done, what race in particular stands out? 
My favorite race that I’ve gone to repeatedly is the Stone Mountain Enduro, which is in Northern Georgia. It was held on the last weekend in February every year. That race stands out for several reasons. First, the weather was always really dodgy. At the minimum there were thunderstorms, but most of the time there was snow and ice on the ground. There was ugly weather. Also, there were a pile of boulders all over the course. I’d go up on this ridge, and I’d run into a big pile of boulders. It was a gnarly race, and it was the first race of the year. 

    “I always tried to kill everyone in the first race, because it would set the tone for the season.”


Just another day at the office for Dick Burleson. This guy rocks (pun intended)! Photo: Tom Webb/Dirt Bike Magazine

How did you deal with the elements?
Well, I got cold just like everyone else that raced. Yet I didn’t let it bug me. I was always ready for the first race of the year. The day before I would go out and ride in the rocks to get used to them. I always tried to kill everyone in the first race, because it would set the tone for the season. Repeatedly it was my favorite race. I remember racing it one year with a prototype set of heated grips. I don’t think that it warmed up into the 20’s. It rained the day before, and then a cold front moved in and left a half inch of ice all over the rocks. It was tough, but I liked the battle.

While you’re battling other riders for the win, aren’t you really facing off against the course? 
Absolutely. A large part of it is you against nature. In motocross, once you learn the track it becomes you against the other racers. Offroad it’s you against nature, and then there are time checks and scheduling. I like racing over the real nasty conditions. I’ve raced on courses where there were six inches of fresh snow! The whole time I was breaking trail through the snow. It was such a blast!

    “I knew after the race that I wasn’t going to win again, so I retired from professional racing. I didn’t want to hang around and finish second place.”

Who was the toughest competitor that you faced over your illustrious career?
The competition came and went. There were guys that were tough for a couple of years, but then they would go away. It’s kind of a tough question to answer. Perhaps the toughest competitor that I faced was Terry Cunningham. He and I came down to the championship at the last race of my final season as a professional racer. I barely managed to win that race. If you look at the toughest guy, it was Terry. I knew after the race that I wasn’t going to win again, so I retired from professional racing. I didn’t want to hang around and finish second place.

Is it better to retire on the top of your game? 
It all depends on what you’re looking for. I’ve never been motivated by money. It was all about winning for me. If I couldn’t win then I didn’t want to do it. My personal choice was that when I knew I couldn’t win anymore, then I was out of there. For some other guys they hang in there and make some money. I think the true motivator is winning, but I’m old school. The new school way of thinking is different. 
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