by: Jared Bolton
Tuesday, April 29, 2014 | 2:55 PM
Cole Mattison had a stellar 2013 season battling down to the wire with Braxton McGee for the youth overall championship. McGee edged him out in the end but Cole has returned in 2014 with his eyes set on taking that title. We caught up with Cole to talk about his 2014 season and more.
GNCCRacing.com: How's it going today?
Cole Mattison: Pretty good, just hanging out at the shop.
So for those who don't know you, tell everyone a little about yourself.
Well I'm from Boiling Springs, SC I live with my Mom, little brother and little sister.
How did you get started racing?
My grandpa got me racing at the age of 4, motocross and off-road, then when I was 9 or 10 we raced motocross only after I qualified to Loretta Lynn's Amateur Motocross National because the qualifiers took up so many other weekends for off-road. Last year I started racing off-road again.
So your grandpa has definitely been a big influence and supporter.
Yeah, my grandpa has been my biggest supporter and still is! My mom and dad divorced when I was young and my dad hasn't really been a part of my racing so I'm very thankful for my grandpa stepping up because if not I would never have been where I am today.
And he was a pretty successful racer in his day too!
Yeah, he was a pretty successful motocross racer and made the transition to off-road and did pretty well there too.
So last year you just barely missed out on the Youth Overall title, what was it like having such a close battle down to the wire?
Battling with Braxton was awesome! It's weird because at motocross races there will be fast kids one weekend and nobody the next, so I guess you could say you can catch a break (laughs). It was like week in week out he would keep me on my toes. Last year was a big learning year for me also and beginner mistakes and bad luck cost me the championship, but it happens to everyone!
So this year you're giving it one more shot on the youth side. How's it been going?
It's going good. I missed the first two rounds due to breaking my femur at the Sumter Enduro on February 1st. I wasn't officially released until the Wednesday after Big Buck but the Doctor wasn't too mad when I told him I won (laughs). Then this past weekend I got a win at the Limestone 100, it was great because the track had some technical parts and really fast parts, which is what I like.
You've got 2 wins in a row what will it take to get more?
All I know is I've just got to keep training harder than my competitors and put everything into it that I didn't last year.
What else do you hope to accomplish this season?
The overall championship and I really hope to just keep winning haha can't afford anything other than top threes.
Starting a couple of races behind makes it more of a challenge but do you think you can work up to take the title?
I do think it's possible because if I didn't I wouldn't be racing it (laughs) Being two races behind does make it harder and knowing there's no room for error makes me push harder to win because you never know what'll happen at the upcoming rounds.
Do you have an idea what you want to do next season?
Yes and no. If I get the right sponsorship help I'm planning on running 200 A or 200 B, not sure yet though, we'll just have to see when that time comes.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
Honestly I want to be the next Kailub Russell, Charlie Mullins or Stu Baylor and I think if I just can keep working hard and with the right help I can make that dream become a reality.
Before we wrap this up, who would you like to thank?
I would like to thank my family for supporting me in what I love to do, KTM, Neeley Racing, FMF, Fly Racing, WPS, PG, 100%, Bell Helmets, Bob Ledford's Adventure Motorhomes, Moto Hose, Monster Energy, EVS, Clean Werkz, Ohlins Suspension and all my fans and supporters!