Vital MX Forum QNA: Christian Craig

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Christian Craig
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GuyB
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GuyB
Edited Date/Time 4/10/2017 4:40pm



This week's guest in the Vital MX forum QNA is Christian Craig. During his early pro days, he was no stranger to injuries, and ended up retiring early. After a stint in the "real world," and getting married and starting a family, he's got a second chance at a pro career with the GEICO Honda crew, and is taking another shot at it. How many of you wished you could do the same, with the wisdom of 20/20 hindsight?

So what do you want to ask him?

Bring your best questions, and he'll be peeking in here this week to answer them. As always, keep it respectful, and ask questions that you would like in a face-to-face meeting.
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RCB33
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RCB33 9/21/2015 6:15pm
9/21/2015 6:15pm
What was the most difficult part of coming back to the sport,actually riding for a job again. I know you had continued riding even though you weren't racing as much,so what was it? Thanks as always for doing this,best of luck in the future.

P.S. love Jagger's insta account, funny stuffLaughing
JW381
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JW381 9/21/2015 6:35pm
9/21/2015 6:35pm
Did Paige ever get the butt flap on the onesie figured out?

Just kidding, did taking time off in your prime enlighten your perspective on over-training?
ChristianCraig 9/21/2015 6:52pm
9/21/2015 6:52pm
RCB33 wrote:
What was the most difficult part of coming back to the sport,actually riding for a job again. I know you had continued riding even though you...
What was the most difficult part of coming back to the sport,actually riding for a job again. I know you had continued riding even though you weren't racing as much,so what was it? Thanks as always for doing this,best of luck in the future.

P.S. love Jagger's insta account, funny stuffLaughing
Getting back into race shape was for sure the most difficult part. I had no idea where I'd be compared to the other guys and how long I would last. I proved that is till had speed in Colorado so that was really cool and each round I was able to keep building my fitness. I will come in fully prepared next season though since I only had a month or so to prepare this year.
ChristianCraig 9/21/2015 6:53pm
9/21/2015 6:53pm
JW381 wrote:
Did Paige ever get the butt flap on the onesie figured out?

Just kidding, did taking time off in your prime enlighten your perspective on over-training?
Haha she did! Take the two years off was the best thing I could've done. Obviously I wasn't planning on coming back so I think having my mind off of having to always be training and riding was good both mentally and physically. Now I'm more ready than ever.

The Shop

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MB109
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MB109 9/21/2015 7:06pm
9/21/2015 7:06pm
It was awesome to see you mix it up in the 250 class, I really think things would have gotten pretty interesting if you were in it from the start! Hoping you have a healthy and successful SX season.

What bike do you mesh with better? 250s or 450s?
bchisholm213
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bchisholm213 9/21/2015 7:09pm
9/21/2015 7:09pm
What are your goals for next year? You did great this year and kept improving!
Revels983 9/21/2015 7:11pm
9/21/2015 7:11pm
how hard is to juggle being a professional racer and a family man? Do Paige and Jagger travel to every race? I know how hard it is traveling for work being away from my wife and kids, so I can imagine.

Glad to see you back. Stay healthy and whoop so e a$$!
ChristianCraig 9/21/2015 7:15pm
9/21/2015 7:15pm
MB109 wrote:
It was awesome to see you mix it up in the 250 class, I really think things would have gotten pretty interesting if you were in...
It was awesome to see you mix it up in the 250 class, I really think things would have gotten pretty interesting if you were in it from the start! Hoping you have a healthy and successful SX season.

What bike do you mesh with better? 250s or 450s?
Thanks man, I agree. I think if I could have started the season from the beginning, I would have been on the podium more than just once. I'm really liking the 250 way more than I would have thought. I'm really enjoying it and having a lot of fun. I had only raced 450 outdoors before this year so it was cool to see where I stood in the 250 class! Now I'm ready for 2016!
ChristianCraig 9/21/2015 7:16pm
9/21/2015 7:16pm
bchisholm213 wrote:
What are your goals for next year? You did great this year and kept improving!
To win!! I know I can. I'm stronger mentally and physically. I want to be battling up front because I know I can be!
ChristianCraig 9/21/2015 7:18pm
9/21/2015 7:18pm
Revels983 wrote:
how hard is to juggle being a professional racer and a family man? Do Paige and Jagger travel to every race? I know how hard it...
how hard is to juggle being a professional racer and a family man? Do Paige and Jagger travel to every race? I know how hard it is traveling for work being away from my wife and kids, so I can imagine.

Glad to see you back. Stay healthy and whoop so e a$$!
Paige comes to every race and Jagger comes to any that Paige's parents go to so she can still help me during the day while Jagger is taken care of. I love having both of them there and not having to leave them every weekend so we are pretty lucky. Thanks man!
Revels983 9/21/2015 7:45pm
9/21/2015 7:45pm
Is there any way an average joe like myself could ever get a chance to hang out and ride with ya?
Ramrod
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Ramrod 9/21/2015 8:26pm
9/21/2015 8:26pm
Christian, it seems like you are in a very sweet spot in your life right now, enjoy the moments! It's great watching you ride, all the best for the upcoming season.
Old-Man
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Old-Man 9/21/2015 8:26pm
9/21/2015 8:26pm
Wish I was closer and with a better camera but I bet you were Stoaked hitting the big double just after pulling the holy at 2011 Lakewood National and again this last National there on a 250?

You have a lot of fans here in Colorado, good to see your back.



SeaClassExpert 9/21/2015 8:50pm
9/21/2015 8:50pm
Christian, I heard that at Unadilla 2012 you were throwing massive booters off of the sky shot jump and pointing at 3 hot girls on a fence. Please confirm this and you'll be forever enshrined in vitalmx glory. The video I linked starts at what I'm talking about: https://youtu.be/K68I9Zx13E4?t=1m

Side Note: Your riding style is so damn smooth it's been a joy to be a fan of yours. You and Jessy Nelson need to do another Zaca Station photoshoot like a few years back!!!
Sully
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Sully 9/21/2015 9:27pm
9/21/2015 9:27pm
Thanks for doing this, Christian. It's awesome to see you have so much success, but it's also makes me feel old, because I used to watch your dad tear up Barona Oaks on a YZ80 back in the day.

At any point in your career, have you ever felt like you have more to prove than other riders, given who your dad and father-in-law are?
Stone Spray 9/22/2015 12:32am
9/22/2015 12:32am
Glad to see your back and doing well. Too much talent on a motorcycle to not give it your best go while you can. Looks like it paid off. My comment and question is that I think your riding style may be the best ever with Stewart and Grant in tow. Who did you model your style after growing up or at least look up to?
shuggs
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shuggs 9/22/2015 12:54am
9/22/2015 12:54am
When you were not racing during 'your break' what did you do to compensate for missing the adrenalin rush of race days?
ChristianCraig 9/22/2015 5:07am
9/22/2015 5:07am
Revels983 wrote:
Is there any way an average joe like myself could ever get a chance to hang out and ride with ya?
Of course- I'll be at all the Cali tracks from now on. Would love to ride with you!

Pit Row

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ChristianCraig 9/22/2015 5:07am
9/22/2015 5:07am
Ramrod wrote:
Christian, it seems like you are in a very sweet spot in your life right now, enjoy the moments! It's great watching you ride, all the...
Christian, it seems like you are in a very sweet spot in your life right now, enjoy the moments! It's great watching you ride, all the best for the upcoming season.
I'm very lucky to be where I'm at. Enjoying every second, thanks man
ChristianCraig 9/22/2015 5:09am
9/22/2015 5:09am
Old-Man wrote:
Wish I was closer and with a better camera but I bet you were Stoaked hitting the big double just after pulling the holy at 2011...
Wish I was closer and with a better camera but I bet you were Stoaked hitting the big double just after pulling the holy at 2011 Lakewood National and again this last National there on a 250?

You have a lot of fans here in Colorado, good to see your back.



Awesome shot! Yes I absolutely was pumped- love that track.
ChristianCraig 9/22/2015 5:10am
9/22/2015 5:10am Edited Date/Time 9/22/2015 5:10am
SeaClassExpert wrote:
Christian, I heard that at Unadilla 2012 you were throwing massive booters off of the sky shot jump and pointing at 3 hot girls on a...
Christian, I heard that at Unadilla 2012 you were throwing massive booters off of the sky shot jump and pointing at 3 hot girls on a fence. Please confirm this and you'll be forever enshrined in vitalmx glory. The video I linked starts at what I'm talking about: https://youtu.be/K68I9Zx13E4?t=1m

Side Note: Your riding style is so damn smooth it's been a joy to be a fan of yours. You and Jessy Nelson need to do another Zaca Station photoshoot like a few years back!!!
Haha I was just pointing at the crowd cause they were pumped. Bummer I can't make it into the VitalMX glory yet hahaha thank you!
ChristianCraig 9/22/2015 5:13am
9/22/2015 5:13am
Sully wrote:
Thanks for doing this, Christian. It's awesome to see you have so much success, but it's also makes me feel old, because I used to watch...
Thanks for doing this, Christian. It's awesome to see you have so much success, but it's also makes me feel old, because I used to watch your dad tear up Barona Oaks on a YZ80 back in the day.

At any point in your career, have you ever felt like you have more to prove than other riders, given who your dad and father-in-law are?
Thank you! At first I definitely had to prove myself because of my father-in-law. He knew how hard I had been working so he knew I was capable of running up front. And the other team owners as well as Larocco knew I was a good fit. But I did feel pressure to prove to everyone else that I deserved it and I think I did a pretty good job. Looking forward to this season and really showing my capabilities.
ChristianCraig 9/22/2015 5:16am
9/22/2015 5:16am
shuggs wrote:
When you were not racing during 'your break' what did you do to compensate for missing the adrenalin rush of race days?
I actually still raced a lot of local stuff like the Millville series and some random races. Obviously there was never intensity like at the pro nationals but it kept me occupied on my dirt bike haha. When it was snowing I would do the gym a lot and spend time with my wife's family.
ChristianCraig 9/22/2015 5:16am
9/22/2015 5:16am
Stone Spray wrote:
Glad to see your back and doing well. Too much talent on a motorcycle to not give it your best go while you can. Looks like...
Glad to see your back and doing well. Too much talent on a motorcycle to not give it your best go while you can. Looks like it paid off. My comment and question is that I think your riding style may be the best ever with Stewart and Grant in tow. Who did you model your style after growing up or at least look up to?
Thanks a lot man! I have always looked up to Kevin Windhams riding style so probably him.
keeptwostrokesalive 9/22/2015 5:30am
9/22/2015 5:30am
Seeing you retire a few years ago at such a young age was very unfortunate to hear, definitely understanding though considering how many injuries you had to endure. Looking back to around the time you decided to hang up the boots for pro racing, do you regret that decision? Or do you feel like it has made you that much better as a rider now that you can appreciate the small things in life? Keep up the good work Christian!!
Crush
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Crush 9/22/2015 5:43am
9/22/2015 5:43am
Was awesome to see you killing it this year Christian, great story! Actually pretty unbelievable putting it into perspective, quit, got a job, got married, had a kid, time away and then boom! Well done.

My question is... how many times have the older industry guys either told you some crazy stories about your Dad, or made mention of it? Not sure you can share any but when you were on Pulp a while back I had to wonder. He was a larger than life figure of 80s/90s moto!
Dillon Padgett 9/22/2015 6:47am
9/22/2015 6:47am
I am 19 years old and I race in the B class, I haven't had a big break threw in any of my racing season I always end up on the ground and never had any sponsor look my way because i fly under the radar at every race I'm at even when I place 1st or even in the top 5 at ever race I'm at, my question is for you what was your way to cope with that? And what advice would you give a amateur rider like myself to follow threw with this dream I have of racing with guys like you in the pro level? And for my you are my idol and the guy I look up to from your comeback and your great race season.
ChristianCraig 9/22/2015 7:23am
9/22/2015 7:23am
keeptwostrokesalive wrote:
Seeing you retire a few years ago at such a young age was very unfortunate to hear, definitely understanding though considering how many injuries you had...
Seeing you retire a few years ago at such a young age was very unfortunate to hear, definitely understanding though considering how many injuries you had to endure. Looking back to around the time you decided to hang up the boots for pro racing, do you regret that decision? Or do you feel like it has made you that much better as a rider now that you can appreciate the small things in life? Keep up the good work Christian!!
There isn't one bit of me that regrets what I did. I was 100% ok with leaving the industry then. I knew it was what I had to do and honestly, was the best thing I could have done. I let my body fully heal and I've never wanted it more than I do now.
ChristianCraig 9/22/2015 7:24am
9/22/2015 7:24am
Crush wrote:
Was awesome to see you killing it this year Christian, great story! Actually pretty unbelievable putting it into perspective, quit, got a job, got married, had...
Was awesome to see you killing it this year Christian, great story! Actually pretty unbelievable putting it into perspective, quit, got a job, got married, had a kid, time away and then boom! Well done.

My question is... how many times have the older industry guys either told you some crazy stories about your Dad, or made mention of it? Not sure you can share any but when you were on Pulp a while back I had to wonder. He was a larger than life figure of 80s/90s moto!
There are many stories. Some I don't want to know haha!
ChristianCraig 9/22/2015 7:26am
9/22/2015 7:26am
Dillon Padgett wrote:
I am 19 years old and I race in the B class, I haven't had a big break threw in any of my racing season I...
I am 19 years old and I race in the B class, I haven't had a big break threw in any of my racing season I always end up on the ground and never had any sponsor look my way because i fly under the radar at every race I'm at even when I place 1st or even in the top 5 at ever race I'm at, my question is for you what was your way to cope with that? And what advice would you give a amateur rider like myself to follow threw with this dream I have of racing with guys like you in the pro level? And for my you are my idol and the guy I look up to from your comeback and your great race season.
Thanks man! My advice would be to follow your gut. I would say to never give up but quitting for two years and letting my mind and body heal was the best thing for me. Everyone has a different story so do what you feel is right! Good luck man- wish you the best!!

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