No letting off yet for Irn Bry!
By Sean Lawless on 24th May 18
Before he retired Bryan MacKenzie was one of the countrys hardest-working riders so its no surprise to hear that hes still not letting off.
The 33-year-old, who hung up his boots at the end of the 2016 season, runs the Duns track in the Scottish Borders and this along with his ongoing role with Kawasaki UK, a growing career as a trainer and full-on family life means he still hasnt shut off. Not that hes complaining
Im keeping very well, he said. Better now that my tracks back open and its survived the weather. I think the whole country has felt it this winter.Duns is full-time in the season and then I have to tick over during the winter so I do the arenacross job for Kawasaki and loads and loads of rider training.
Duns is a labour of love for Bryan who approaches track preparation with the same focus as he did racing and this dedication hasnt gone unnoticed by ACU Events which this year is taking the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship to the circuit for the first time since 2011.
Weve got the Maxxis and two weeks before that weve got the British youth and the week before that theres the Scottish championship. Im busy! I think that if the tracks always good and consistent and people know what to expect when they come then they dont mind driving because I am a little bit out of the way.
Johnny Hamiltons track is closer to Edinburgh than me and hes one of the best track builders in the world so people have to drive past to get to mine.I need to make sure Duns is consistent so when theyre coming they know its going to be good.
Its going to be ripped and watered and power-harrowed because I need to get these guys to travel a little bit further to visit my track. I put a lot of effort in every week whether its racing or practising just to make sure people come back.
Mentoring the next generation of riders including major prospect Alexander Brown wasnt a route Bryan expected to take when he retired.
Its not really an avenue I thought I would go down.A lot of people quit racing pro and become trainers but I had no intention of doing that.I actually went out of my way to make sure that wasnt me hence the reason I had my track but, honestly, Im so busy with it. People constantly ask and even people who dont know who I am from my career come to the track and want training. Its never ending.
On top of his jobs as track operator, MX coach and team manager, Bryan has another important role he has to work his other commitments around. His wife Ashley gave birth to their daughter, Heidi, a year-and-a-half ago and hes embracing life as a family man.
The familys good, everythings lovely. Im really enjoying being a father. I just seem to be busy all the time but now that the tracks open again Id like to spend more time at home.
For more information about the Duns track including opening times and costs go to www.dunsmotocross.co.uk
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