GNCCRacing.com: Why don’t you start things off by telling us a little bit about yourself?

Nate Ferderer: I’m 28 years old and live in Minneapolis, Minnesota with my fiancé Anna. I’m a mechanical engineer at Hypertherm. In my free time from work I like to ride and race dirt bikes!

Do you feel like your background in mechanical engineering helps you with bike and suspension setup?

Absolutely. Understanding the underlying physics of the bike and the intent of the designer allows me to quickly diagnose problems and determine the best setup for the conditions on a given bike. A good setup allows me to maximize my potential and minimize my chances of a bad race. This shows in my results – I have very few DNFs and pretty consistent finishes regardless of race series, location, format, etc. I also learn things racing that help with my job, so it’s a beneficial relationship between the two.

Sounds like it! You’ve done a wide variety of off-road racing, but this is your first full GNCC season, correct?

Yes, this is my first year racing GNCC. I’ve raced the Ironman round before, but all the others are new to me. It’s a big endeavor to race the series while being based out of Minnesota while working a full-time job. GNCC is the top series in the country and arguably the world. As a racer this was a bucket-list series for me, I had to do it once. It hasn’t been easy but I’m happy to make it to the summer break, and I’m looking forward to the races this fall.

Tell us about some of the other races and series you’ve done.

My dad raced off-road and I had bikes growing up. I started racing our local series, D23, when I was twelve, and won our state championship by 18. I continued to race locally while studying, and started racing nationally after I graduated and could financially support a national racing effort. I’ve raced three full seasons of National Enduros, as well as three ISDEs as a club rider. Although I have competed the most in Enduro, I don’t strictly identify as an Enduro racer. I also enjoy GPs, Sprint Enduros, Cross-Country and MX. I’m a well-rounded racer and enjoy all formats and types of racing.

How has your GNCC season been so far?

I had a bad race at The Bulldog – I crashed and damaged my throttle tube. Other than that, my season has gone pretty well. I’ve been finishing between second and fourth in XC3 and consistently in the top 25 overall. The XC3 class is a lot of fun, there are a bunch of kids who like to battle at the start of the race, and a few of us vets who use experience to go the distance. There’s only one way to ride a 125, and it’s fun but a lot of work! I’m hoping to get a class win before the end of the year.

Besides the class win, do you have any longer-term goals you’d like to share with us?

My long-term goal is to combine my engineering and racing experience into a career. I’d like to work for a race team doing bike setup or for a manufacturer designing and developing bikes. I have a unique set of skills and I know I can offer a lot of technical expertise to someone. Until the right opportunity comes, I’ll continue to develop my engineering skills and race for on the weekends!

You recently had the chance to act as a fill-in rider for Chase Colville on the Factory Beta team. What was that experience like?

That was a super cool experience! Working with Rodney, Sam and the rest of the team was great. I liked the bike and was able to adapt to it quickly and led a few laps. Unfortunately, I didn’t hold the lead until the checkers but I had a great time trying. Depending on Chase’s recovery I might have another opportunity to race the bike this fall. It’s unfortunate that he’s injured, but I am thankful that Beta was willing to let me come be a factory rider for a day.

Besides the Beta, what other bikes have you ridden and raced this year?

I’ve also raced a Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki this year. Last year I also raced four different color bikes. I own and ride a lot of different brands, which I know is definitely not normal. (laughs) I don’t have any manufacturer support, so I jump around to make the best contingency I can. I also enjoy testing new and different bikes to learn their strengths and weaknesses, then working to improve the bike. I have a good understanding of all the brands and models, and through this process of testing and racing these different bikes I’ve increased my skills as a motorcycle development engineer.

It doesn’t mess with you at all to hop brands like that?

I’m sure if I stuck to one bike and rode it all the time I could become more comfortable and maybe find a higher level of speed. But given how little I get to ride during the week and how frequently I switch bikes, it doesn’t really affect me. With good bike handling fundamentals and a proper bike setup, I can go fast on anything.

Overall, what would you say your greatest racing accomplishment has been?

No single race or championship stands out to me, they’re all unique and special in their own way. I’ve raced at a high level for over a decade now. I consider my greatest accomplishment how well I’ve sustained my racing career. I’ve had zero injuries, raced all over the country and a few times in Europe. I’ve competed with and beat some of the best racers – all while advancing my career and building my life outside of racing. I can take some pride in how far I’ve made it, knowing I’ve always just been a Weekend Warrior.

You’ve never been injured?! That’s an accomplishment in and of itself!

I’ve been banged up plenty of times, but never had any surgeries, casts or crutches. I like to think that I’m a smart and calculated rider. Maybe I ride more on the conservative side because subconsciously I know I have to go to work Monday then wash and service my bike Monday night.

Do you intend to race GNCCs next season, or was this year a one-and-done thing?

I’m not sure yet, just because it takes a lot of effort! The average one-way drive for me is 18 hours. On a typical race weekend, I leave Friday after work and drive through the night with my friend Fernando. We get to the race Saturday then walk or bike the course. He races Sunday in the AM then pits for me in the PM race. As soon as the race ends we book it home and get right back to work. If I can get some support I’d like to do this again next year. There is a limit to how well I can do being a part-time racer, bit I think I could improve my results a little more just by becoming familiar with the GNCC venues.