GNCC Racing

Tuesday Toolbox: Cole Richardson

Tuesday Toolbox: Cole Richardson

Tuesday, January 27, 2015 | 10:40 AM
by:
Tuesday, January 27, 2015 | 10:40 AM

Cole Richardson put together an excellent 2014 season, battling down to the final round for the XC2 Pro-Am championship with Marshal Goings. With his eyes set on defending his title in 2015, we caught up with Cole to talk about his 2014 season, goals for 2015 and more.

GNCCRacing.com: How's it going today?
Cole Richardson: Today is going awesome! Just out in the garage wrenching with Walker Fowler and Landon Wolfe, about to go pound out some laps at L-cross.

Cole Richardson earned his first national championship this past year 2014 in the Pro-Am class
Cole Richardson earned his first national championship this past year 2014 in the Pro-Am class Photo: Ken Hill

So how's your winter break so far?
My winter break has been amazing. This is my first year I'm able to stay down Florida and train until the 1st round of GNCC and I couldn't be more excited to do so. Walker and I have been training and riding every day of the week and ending our days relaxing in the pool and playing on the lake.

Are you ready to get back into the swing of GNCC Racing?
I'm more than ready to get back into racing, what's life without it? Let's get this season started!

So you had a great 2014 season tell us about it?
2014 was a dream come true! I've never earned a national championship before and came up 1 point short in 2013 to Marshal Goings in the College-A class. This year it was a really similar situation, except going into the last round Marshal and I were tied in points so it was 1 race 1 winner take all, and that definitely made it interesting. It kept both of us on our toes going into the last race, and we both did everything we could to come out on top. At the end of the race it didn't seem real to me that I had won my first ever GNCC championship. It was an awesome feeling.

After DNFing in South Carolina, Richardson regrouped and focused on the rest of the season
After DNFing in South Carolina, Richardson regrouped and focused on the rest of the season Photo: Ken Hill

At the beginning of the season did you think it was going to be such a tight battle at the end?
You never know what's going to happen in a race season, so I just took it race by race and whatever happened, happened. But in 2013 with Marshal and I ending so close, there's was definitely potential of it happening again.

What was the biggest highlight of the season for you?
My biggest highlight would be bouncing back after my DNF in South Carolina. Everything was going good the first 3 races, and then the worst thing that could happen, did happen, which set me back pretty far in points and it was going to be tough to earn them back against Marshal. So being able to regroup with myself and the team was definitely biggest highlight of my career.

What was it like racing with those guys all year?
It was awesome and an honor at the same time. The majority of the class have been racing since minis, earned a name for themselves and went through the ranks, where I jumped in on a 450 and everybody I was racing against where like superstars to me. I wanted to be in their shoes, and here we are. It's amazing to race with everybody in Pro-Am and I couldn't be more stoked.

Richardson is planning to defend his Pro-Am championship in 2015
Richardson is planning to defend his Pro-Am championship in 2015 Photo: Ken Hill

So what are your plans for 2015?
My plans are to stay back and defend my championship in Pro-Am one more year.

What do you hope to accomplish in 2015?
In 2015 I’m hoping to get another championship, and not go backwards on my national number, but that's not going to be that easy with all the competition and great riders we have in the series.

What about beyond? What do you hope to accomplish in the coming years?
In the next few years when I move to XC1 I want to be able to compete when I move up, but we all know there's a lot to learn riding up front with those guys. Luckily when I practice with Walker I try to learn and watch as much as I can to be able to learn everything I can before I appear on the front row, and hopefully many years after that acquire an XC1 championship, which is everybody's dream.

What's it going to take to make it happen?
It's going to take everything I have. Everybody on the front row are on rails, so I still have a lot to learn to come out on top so riding, and training, and just getting the experience of riding with them will help out the most. It takes time.

Good luck to Cole in this upcoming season of GNCC Racing!
Good luck to Cole in this upcoming season of GNCC Racing! Photo: Ken Hill

Alright before we wrap this up who would you like to thank?
I couldn't begin to thank my family enough for all the support along with the entire N-Fab AmPro Yamaha team, Maxxis, Moto-X-Perts, Lonestar, Hill International Trucks, MSR, Hiper Wheels, Pro Taper, Dragon Racing Fuels, GYTR, Yamalube, Tireballs, Leatt, Vortex ignitions, Wiesco, Cycra, Moto Seat, Precision, DP Brakes, IMS, Waynesburg Yamaha, Fuel Customs, Works Connection, Anti-Gravity Batteries, CV4, D.I.D chains, Graphix Worx, Outerwears, Alliance Off-Road, and Shoei