Don Ockerman wrapped up the XC2 title last year in time to ruffle some feathers in the XC1 class, taking second place in the last two races of the season. Ockerman hasn't been able to repeat the same success in 2009 but he says he's making some changes to his program to help. Ockerman is 30 soon, and in Tuesday Toolbox he tells us what his plans are for this summer and beyond.

How are you doing today, Don? Well, I'm hot!

How hot is it today where you are? It's probably about 90. The humidity is really high, though.

Are you out working or training in this? I'm out working. I'm a bricklayer.

I would think that would keep you in good shape. I reckon. But training and riding a four wheeler would be better.

I ask this question a lot, but how do you manage working and racing at the same time? I have just a lot of help from my mom and dad and my friends like Darrell Bozarth, and Jonathan Shaft. They help me on maintenance and the phone calls. You get up early and go to work, come home and ride and do a little training. The toughest is finding time for yourself. I usually get up around 5, get to work around 6. Sometimes work 8-10 hours. I try to be home by 5.

Last year around this time you switched to XC1 for the remainder of the season and basically killed it. You did so well but now in your first full season you've not had as good of luck. Has the transition been hard? I don't know, this speed in the XC1 is a sprint from start to finish. In XC2 you could relax a little on the first lap and put the hammer down as you went. The competition keeps getting faster and faster.  It's just hard to keep up.

Did you have to change your riding style? I took it a lot more serious over the winter and came in with a more serious attitude. But it wasn't working out. In the midseason, I switched back to being goofy and having fun again. It's been better. I've gotten up front.  But the pace just keeps getting faster and faster as the day goes on. I've always been a cautious rider and I think it hurts me on the last lap. I need to be a little more aggressive I think. It's hard to do it I guess , mentally...I just  have to pin it and hope for the best.

How long have you been racing? This is my 5^th season.  I always kind of grew up riding something.  I got a Yamaha 450 back in '05 and just went to a local track and raced and did pretty good.  I went to Texas with a buddy and raced GNCC. I just enjoyed it and the atmosphere. It just went from there.

How 's the 2009 Yamaha working out for you? It's a really good bike. I think we get thrown on a new machine after we had been on one that had 4-5 years of development on it. We're spending a lot of time developing this bike. It's getting better. It just seems like I'm constantly trying to learn something new. I'm very happy with the durability with it. I got one in January and I've done hardly anything to it and I'm still riding it today.

How did you and teammate Brandon Sommers become friends? When I started racing in the B class he was in there. I raced with him every year except last year. He went pro and I stayed in XC2. Me and his dad developed a relationship through GT Thunder and we just kind of clicked. We're both on Yamaha and GT Thunder.  Sometimes it's tough for Brandon. His dad will develop something new and he won't want me to have it! (laughs) Brandon works so hard at what he does. He comes from the back. In West Virginia he passed me the last mile to go and I didn't see him again and he got third.

What did you think of Snowshoe? The old part of the track was very technical. I liked it. The new side was like fire roads. I'm not good on the wide opens. I actually had the lead for awhile. I looked back and saw Chris Borich. He was just curled up like a little snake waiting for his chance to strike!

Is there any kind of camaraderie between the ATV guys or is it all competition? It's very competitive on the track but we're all pretty much friends in the pits. It seems like the last lap everything just gets sped up so much. Then, playtime is over. It's business time on that last lap.

You beat Brian Wolf out of the XC2 title last year, how did you feel about him taking Snowshoe?
I thought it was awesome. I talked to Brian yesterday. He works a full time job as well. It's great to see somebody like that up there. He came on board with GT Thunder and Yamaha and he's on the bike we were on last year. He's a very good rider. The only way I beat him last year was because I was in a little bit better shape. The kid is an awesome rider.

What can you tell me about the Southern Indiana Cross Country group? I hear they are pretty big supporters of you? (Laughs)Are you sure you want to hear about them?

Are there things I shouldn't hear about them?
Well, some stuff you shouldn't put on the internet! They are the goofiest people I've ever met. They actually support a series. It's awesome to go race with them and they help you out. You go out to dinner, play jokes on each other. That kind of support, to me, makes you want to try that much harder when you see them with pit boards, or jumping up and down and throwing stuff at you. They're so much fun. They make it fun when you aren't even racing. Like at Snowshoe. We all went to breakfast and then to the swimming pool. It's hard to describe how goofy they are.

Has that helped your decision to go back to having fun? I think when the fun is gone you won't want to try as hard. I just took it too seriously at the beginning of the year. People who supported me noticed I just wasn't having fun. I just want to finish out the year with that attitude. I want to come back next year with a few tricks up my sleeve.

It must make you feel good to have so many supporting you, too. It makes me feel like people appreciate what I'm doing. Without my father I'd never make it. He does the most of my maintenance. Mom keeps my clothes clean. If it wasn't for her I'd stink at every race! The kids coming up and asking for your autograph, that's nice... without that it would be hard to drive it home to train. When you're coming home from work and tired, you just start thinking about the support and you start training.

Does your dad still race GNCC? He did not race this year to try and help me out more. He is racing local races and he may come back next year. He hasn't decided yet.

What are your plans for this summer? I took a week, well two weeks off and relaxed.  I didn't really look at a four-wheeler. I didn't even want to talk to people about four-wheelers.

Ha! Sorry about that.
No that's ok. I'm back on it now! I'll hit some local races and have some fun. I would like to go to Ohio and ride with Brandon. See if we can't develop the bike a little more. Hopefully I'll come back and do a little better.

And 2010? Well, I don't know yet. I've been talking to a lot of people and I'm definitely going to come back and give her at least one more year. I'll be 30 in a few weeks. I don't think I'm not as competitive because I'm getting older, but it is crossing mind. It's coming time to start slowing down.

Well enjoy the rest of your break and we'll see you in awhile!
Thanks!