Darryn Durham - Back on Track 3

Darryn Durham is one of those racer most mortal riders are jealous of: boat loads of talent, great style, a just a good guy to boot. After turning pro back in 2009, Durham jumped around to different teams and privateer efforts before he was finally rewarded with a coveted Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki ride for 2012. Despite the fact that Darryn’s best Supercross finish before then had been a fourth place in his rookie year, he was expected to do well. It didn’t take long, as he rode to his first win in Louisiana in 250SX East. Unfortunately the honeymoon didn’t last long as an injury took him out before the Las Vegas SX has placed the Pennsylvania native on the sidelines for the better part of a year.

During a recent trip to the picturesque Zaca Station, we cornered Darryn for a few minutes to find out the latest on DD44. He’s getting healthy again, riding, and most importantly…he’s hungry.

What’s been happening in your life over the last few months?

I had just a couple of really bad injuries. My shoulder injury really set me back. Since having surgery last June, I’ve been doing therapy on that just about everyday. I had started riding a little bit and then I got hurt again. I finally started riding again about eight weeks ago, and I’m starting to get ready for the Outdoor season. That’s my plan right now.

Talk about your shoulder injury. What happened and where?

It was a couple of days before the Las Vegas Supercross. I won New Orleans, and I had a bunch of confidence heading to the Outdoors; I was riding really good. One day out at the practice track, I threw it away and that was it.

I’ve been trying to get healthy again since that happened, and it hasn’t been fun but I’m finally getting to a point where I’m enjoying it again and get to ride at places like this.

Did you have a two-year contract with Pro Circuit beginning in 2012?

After I won New Orleans, we were beginning to talk about re-signing, because at that point I only had a one-year deal. So I re-signed for the following year even after I got hurt. They stuck with me and it was really cool of Pro Circuit and Mitch (Payton) to do that. I think he see’s that I have potential and wants me to get healthy so I can come out and do it again.

You’ve had a few injuries since you turned pro, however, by the time Hangtown arrives, you will have been away from racing for more than a year. Does it take a long time to get back into the swing of racing again coming from something like this?

It’s hard to say. Usually I’ve had a small injury that takes me out for four weeks and I miss a couple of races, but this is the longest I’ve ever been out. My plan is just to go back to the gate with that same confidence I had and I think it will work out. Honestly, racing is pretty mental.

…And arm pump!

Yeah, and arm pump. As long as I don’t get any arm pump and my mental game is tight I should be good.

What is your mindset going into the Nationals. Are you just looking to do the best you can, or are you ready to win.

It’s hard to say that I’m ready to win right now, because I don’t really feel that I am. But hopefully by the time Hangtown comes, I will feel ready. I want to try to win races. It would be dumb say I didn’t. I’m going to go for it. Especially when we get back East, I’m just looking forward to it.

I didn’t get to race Outdoors last year. The East Coast crowd really seems to like me; they hang over the fences cheering me on and it’s pretty cool. I’m excited to head back there.

When do you start to step up the training and testing for the new racing season?

Just last week I did my first day of testing and I’m going to start testing a little bit more coming up. At this point we are not very far away from Outdoors so it’s coming up pretty quick. I need to get to full bore before that and come out swinging.