Not in that he’s rigid and gathers dust, far from it in fact. He’s flexible and is always on the move, either riding, setting up ramps or chatting to riders and fans. Like a few, Dan is ‘part of the furniture’ because he’s been involved with Arenacross from the very get-go back in 2013 and he’s still going strong. Infact, like a fine wine, he’s better with age. Dan fronts up the Bolddog FMX team and, in many ways, the AX FMX shows, as he’s pretty much always the first rider to hit the ramps in each show and often takes the role of spokesperson for the FMX athletes, so what person to talk to about FMX and Arenacross than Dan Whitby. So, that’s what we did.
What made you take up FMX after racing MX?
I still actually race…. occasionally! It all started when I met Andrew Godbold, who owned the Bolddog FMX team at the time, and he invited me over to check out his facility, which had a foam pit and ramps and just see what FMX was all about. I then ended up working for Andy for a while within an online store that he had for freestyle sports, and inevitably, I started to spend more time at his FMX facility and just fell in love with it from there. I just liked everything about it. The bikes stayed clean, my kit stayed clean, and I loved and still love jumping motorcycles. There were never big enough jumps racing motocross, and I always loved the buzz of big air, so it was my calling.
How well can you remember your first AX show and how did you feel?
My first Arenacross show was the first one at the O2 in London. I remember being incredibly nervous. I was riding alongside big-name FMX riders like Andre Villa. I remember it very well. When you ride the big events like AX, it always amps up your adrenaline, but that can go one of two ways, and thankfully, it’s always elevated my performance and focused me. That first show will always be a special memory for me, and here I am still at it 10 years later without ever missing an AX show.
How bigger part does the crowd play in your performance?
The crowd is kind of everything to us. We just feed off where they are at and it can definitely push you to a heightened level of even your own ability and pushes you to try that much harder. We’re always trying to do the best we can to get a reaction from the crowd, and when we do it just takes us up another level. I think that goes the same for every rider, not just us FMX guys but the races too. I think Arenacross brings the best out of us all because of the atmosphere of it, you can’t help but feel the energy of the crowd and the show.
What's your favourite thing about AX?
That’s a difficult question to answer because, for me, there are so many cool parts to Arenacross. I’m going to go with the track walk and pit party because you get to meet and greet the people who come to see AX, and that’s really cool for me. It’s a two-way street I guess and I think it means as much to us as it does the fans. Yes, it’s our job, but for the best part, we do what we do because we like to entertain and see people having as much fun as we do. They get to see the track up close and from the arena floor and that always gives it a different perspective on the racing as well as the FMX. I just think it’s a really cool element that shows how accessible our sport is, and I enjoy being a part of it.
Do you think AX helps British riders and the industry in the UK? If so, how?
100%. How can it not? It’s the only big event in the UK. I don’t want to sound like I’m slating other races or championships because I still love motocross, but AX is different and puts our sport in front of new audiences and people. The passion, effort and professionalism that goes into the show is second to none in our country. It’s like being at an AMA Supercross round, or at least it is our equivalent, and I think it’s one of the best series and events in Europe. Obviously, you get the Paris Supercross, which is long-standing and can attract some U.S stars because of that and the time of year it runs, but outside of that, I don’t think there’s anything as good in Europe regarding a dirt bike event and spectacle. I think it hugely helps British riders. It puts them on a platform to get indoors and race under the lights when there’s nothing going on in the U.K. and gives them exposure as well as their sponsors but also the chance to earn more money per round than they probably would racing motocross. Some people would argue Arenacross takes away some rawness of the racing because of the level of production and shorter races but I disagree with that, for me, it adds to it. There’s always been so much drama with the racing at Arenacross because there’s not so much room for error and less time in a race, so riders really go for it. From the moment they roll out and do the rider intros with all the videos and pyro, you get engrossed and interested, and the intensity builds all the way up to the final. I love watching the racing and going back to your previous question, and I could’ve chosen that as my favourite thing about Arenacross. Then there’s everything that backs it up. I personally feel it’s just great for the sport in the UK, and maybe we need to add another ten rounds!
I love it; I think Arenacross is awesome!
