“Coming Home”
An Interview with Scott Sheak
Story & Photos by Eddie Graveline
www.motopress.net
 Motocross
is a fickle business. Factory riders come and go, and if one doesn’t make his
mark in some way quickly, his factory days will be short-lived. For the guys
that don’t make it, many times injury is to blame. If memorable results
aren’t achieved in the first couple of years of factory status, the MX world
ruthlessly abandons riders in search of new blood. Enter Scott Sheak. In the
late ‘90s, Scott burst onto the National scene and was touted as the next
star. He was from New York, not exactly the first place that comes to mind when
one thinks of motocross breeding grounds. Nevertheless, convinced by his
on-track performances, Honda signed Sheak to a factory ride. If my memory serves
me correctly, he was the last 125cc rider to race out of the Factory semi.
Obtaining factory status presents a considerable transition. That coupled with a
series of injuries saw Scott headed out the door in just a couple of years. With
no acceptable offers to ride stateside, Scott headed to Europe and the 125cc
GPs. He had some memorable performances there, but financial troubles within the
Honda team that he rode for saw him out of a job just three rounds into the 2001
GP season. Fast forward to early May. Scott is back in the U.S. and feeling
pretty good about putting together a very last minute deal to ride for Plano
Honda. Obviously happy to be back and eager to prove himself, Scott was more
than willing to spend some time talking about his career to date as well as what
he sees in his future. Shortly after the start of the outdoor series, I sat down
with Scott to record some of his thoughts.
Scott, I know that you started the year off in Europe, but now you’re a
surprise competitor on the U.S. National circuit. How did that come about?
It’s a really long story, but I’ll brief it up real quick. I signed with
a Honda team over there (in Europe), which was a new team. There were many
problems with the team. I quit after I had hit three races (GPs). I went into
those three races and I didn’t have a contract. It was never finalized. There
were a lot of problems within the team. I was in a position where I had no other
choice than to leave. I left and I came back hoping that I was going to get a
ride for the Nationals. Kenny and I, we worked together before in ’96 and he
knows what I’m capable of and I know what he’s capable of. He stepped up for
me, gave me a ride and here we are. I’m healthy. I haven’t been healthy for
the last three years. I feel I’m in a really good position. I’m just glad to
be back in America.
You were with the new Factory Honda outfit that replaced the Pamo team,
right?
Yeah, it was a late decision for Honda to go with this guy (the team owner).
There weren’t many options for Honda and this was the only one, I feel. They
took their chances and it’s really unfortunate for Honda. Honda really
wasn’t the problem. It was the manager’s problem. We just had the wrong guy
in the wrong position. He really didn’t know the system to go racing and what
it took. It’s pretty sad. For me, I’m just thankful that I had the
opportunity to ride for Honda. I wish it was better, but I continue to stay on
them so I’m hoping for some good results here.
Coming to the Plano team, you only had a couple of weeks to get yourself
acclimated. These aren’t full factory bikes like you were on. Did that make it
hard for you to get a setup on your new bikes or do you know Hondas well enough
that it wasn’t a problem?
It’s kind of a little bit of both. I’m really familiar with the Hondas.
I’ve done a lot of testing for them in the past. I kind of know what I need.
Since I’ve been riding them all year, I’m really used to the bike. Coming
back and getting on the bike, I was really impressed. They’ve (Plano) got the
motor going really good. It only took one day of testing. Pro Circuit is really
behind the scenes and that’s important. Mitch and Bones and Jimmy really put a
lot into the motors and suspension. Going out and testing the suspension with
bones, one day, we had such a productive day. We got the bike going really good.
Those guys got the motor going really good so I’m confident. They’ve got a
really competitive bike.
Was the main challenge going from works suspension to aftermarket suspension
tuning?
The big thing about that change is that it involves more testing. You can
make this stuff work really good, but it involves a lot of testing to make it
work for an individual rider. We’ve got “kit” internals, which are pretty
good. That makes for a little less testing. It brings the suspension to a
top-level rider. That’s why when we went out with Bones, we got a lot
accomplished. I feel that I’ve really prepared myself. I’m a really strong
rider. The one thing that I’ve got going for me is that I can put the bike
where I want to and I’m in really good shape, so the suspension doesn’t even
need to be the best. I’m really happy with the bike.
This would have been your second year in Europe.
Yes and last year I dislocated my shoulder three times.
The year before that you were with Pro Circuit/Splitfire.
Yes and that’s when I hit my head.
And the year before that you were with the FMF Honda team.
And I broke my ankle that year.
You really haven’t been healthy since 1997 when you were riding out of the
Honda semi.
Exactly. I feel that I’m back up to my speed that I was at in ’97. My
focus is just extraordinary. Because of all of my injuries, I’ve had to come
to the table many times and decide if this is what I want to do, you know race.
When I did my shoulder last year and I sat down to decide whether to have
surgery or to quit, I decided that I wanted to race. Since I made that decision,
my focus has been on my health and to go out there and do whatever it takes to
do my best. I’ve prepared myself really well.
Racing in the GPs, you only focus on true outdoor style tracks. Supercross
isn’t a regular thing there. Does that help you coming back and racing the
Nationals?
I believe that it helps me. I learned a lot riding over there. The racing is
so much different. Different styles. A whole different system. It’s really
hard to explain if you don’t experience it. It’s for the better. The level
of racing and professionalism is much higher in the United States. It’s just
like this team (Plano). They’re really professional guys. You’ve got a good
solid team. They know the right system to go to races. In Europe, that’s what
a lot of teams lack. You’ve got like two teams that really get to know the
system and know what to do. It’s difficult because you’ve got all of these
different teams that speak different languages. Nobody communicates or works
together. Here, they watch other people and they take things from other teams.
Over there, you can’t do that because everything’s hidden. Everybody keeps
their deal to the side. You don’t really know what’s going on inside. The
level over here is much higher and much more professional.
When you left for the GP’s, the big names in the 125cc class were
different. Travis Pastrana, Grant Langston and Mike Brown weren’t even in the
picture. How do you see the class now as compared to when you left?
By me looking in, it looks much more competitive. It looks like the 125 class
has stepped up. It’s got more recognition. It has really high profile guys in
it and that’s great. As far as where I stand, I feel like I’m a level above
everybody. I won’t know until (I race a little bit). I like it. For me looking
in the last couple of years, it’s really changed a lot for the better. It
looks like a really competitive class.
 Since
you had already ridden three outdoor races before the season started here and
focused your testing solely on motocross, do you think you’ve had an advantage
in preparation over some of these guys that have been racing Supercross all
winter?
Absolutely. My focus has been on my racing. One of my main reasons to go to
Europe was that when I was hurt, I didn’t have time to prepare for a
Supercross. The only option was to go to Europe and pursue my desire to go there
one day. I feel I’ve done that and now I’m healthy. I’m going to do the
outdoors and then go into Supercross and my regular racing next year.
Based on the little bit of training that you did with your new teammates
before the season started, did you feel coming in that you were on the pace that
you needed to be on to be competitive?
Yeah, I am. I feel really confident.
You’re 27 years old now. You’ve come from being one of the most talked
about young riders to now being a grizzled veteran who has dealt with more than
his fair share of injuries. Now that you have a totally clean bill of health
again, how are you looking at the rest of your career?
Well, I’m going to be on a 250 next year. I don’t know with who. I wanted
to go onto a 250 in ’98. I was committed to Honda and their program and
staying on a 125. But since I’ve been hurt, I haven’t been able to step up.
But now that I’m healthy, hopefully I’ll have a good outdoor season. I’ll
be on a 250 for Supercross and the Nationals next year. I’ve always been two
steps better on a 250 and just haven’t had the opportunity. Coming back like I
did this year, I was going to get on a 250, but I only had two weeks. Since I
know the 125, I said it’s going to be better for me to stay on a 125. Since
the class is much more competitive, I think it was a good decision.
From what you’ve seen of the guys in the 250 class, do you have any
predictions for the National Championship?
I called the whole thing with Ricky (Carmichael) at the beginning of the
year. I felt that he was going to come through. I like to see the progress that
he’s made and what he’s done. I’m really happy for him. I’m excited to
see what he’s going to do outdoors. I’m excited to see everyone. I’m
excited to see Shaun Palmer (actually in the 125 class) out there. We have a
good variety of riders in the 250 class and it’s going to be good racing. When
I was over in Europe, I was looking forward to watching the racing on TV, but
now hopefully after my races, I’ll be out there watching their races.
Well, Scott, it’s a really nice surprise to have you back with us this
year. I hope that you have a successful season and hope to see you on that 250
next year.
I hope to be there.
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