MXA SUPERCROSS TEAM SPOTLIGHT: TEAM DNA ENERGY/BTO SPORTS.COM/BBMX
By: Zap
If ever there was a motocross equivalent of the epic children's bedtime hero, "The Little Train That Could", it would have to be the Butler Bros. MX Team. Started by the four Butler Bros. from Florida, they were all originally racers themselves before making the decision to start their own team. As universally understood how hard it is to get a single semi-truck going to the races, the Butler Bros. have gone mano y mano with the factories to field two super-sano rigs at the races.
Forrest is now running the show at the races and he is quick to always give credit to his team sponsors who continue to help the team out so much. "There's no denying how much harder things have gotten this year. We had to cut our staff from 20 people down to 14, but we figure that if we plan smart and get through the year as economically as possible, we'll come out stronger when things turn-around. Still, I hate looking up and seeing our tent from last year, but we made the cost saving decision to invest the money we had into the bikes."
For 2009, two of the BBMX team riders (Jason Thomas & Bryan Johnson) are on the injured reserve list. The team is currently being fronted by Matt Boni in the 450 class and Shaun Skinner and Kyle Keylon on the 250's.
Matt Boni
Shaun Skinner
Shaun Skinner & Kyle Keylon.
The little team that could.
THE BIKE: MATT BONI'S HONDA CRF450
FMF pipe, Dunlop tires, Talon/QTM hubs, Bel-Ray lubricants, VP fuel, Throttle Jockey seat cover. Stellar MX Graphics.
ASV levers, Renthal grips and Vortex handlebars.
Vortex sprocket, RK chain and Excel rims.
Wiseco piston, CV4 hoses, Devol bits, Twin Air filter.
WMI suspension and engine work, Applied triple clamps, ICW bike stand and radiators, Polisport plastic.
Team Sponsors: DNA Energy, BTO Sports.com, Rick Case Honda, Fly, Bel-Ray, Vortex, Dunlop, Ogio, DreamTraxMX.com, Applied, Engine Ice, Alpinestars, Pit Posse Motor Sports, VP, CV4, Group D Mfct., Leatt, Twin Air, Devol, MX Press, Talon/QTM, Polisport, Safety Kleen, ICW, Seminole Tribe MX.
MXA MINI-VIEW: FORREST BUTLER 
MXA: What's life like as a team owner vs. racer?
Forrest: It is different, but the same. The biggest thing for me is I was a night show level privateer. A lot of racers always think things are easier till they get there, but when they get there and race SX for a few years they definitely leave with a different impression. I feel that you can go ask any racer who has done it that question and they would agree with my statement. I started the team deal from my brothers and I all getting extra exposure for there being three of us. Then each year I would just try and take the next step, I was and still am basically never satisfied with where we are at. With that, I originally had this vision that I would make everything all factory like for my brothers and I, however the work schedule that built up with it all for me slowly eliminated all my riding. As of today, I have not even put my leg over a bike for 8-9 months and my last race was exactly a year and a half ago now. It is not what I want, but I work from morning till late at night every day now and travel to the Supercrosses on the weekends so there is just no time. With all that said, it is just life...you can't have your cake and eat it too when you are building some things ya know?
But look at what we have achieved along the way. It is so worth it and hopefully I am now building a business and a future for my family and kids to share with me. And the one thing that is the same with the owner vs. racer question, is that I still feel like I am racing every weekend with the team. Your riders become a part of you because there is so much work involved in the whole program that when they do good, you feel that same accomplished feeling inside. And when they do bad, you hurt with that same pain inside that you do as a racer.
MXA: As a team owner, where does the sport stand right now?
Forrest: The sport is growing right now and with growth there are always complications. Overall, the economy is down, but we are by no means in trouble and I think that gets lost in the mix. We have had some good years and gone so far passed where we were 7-8 years ago I think some of that has been forgotten. There is almost no room left at the races to park all the semi's and on those semi's are so many new sponsors and faces. There are more homes for riders now which helps keep the riders around longer. Top riders in the mid nineties were done at age 24...and that is if you made it that long. Now guys are going into their 30's with no problem and still getting faster in some ways. Business wise there are a lot of changes going on with the AMA and promoters, etc. That is all the type of stuff that comes with our growth and wanting to get the other series larger and more mainstream, so it is all positive. We are just going to have to give it some time and see how it all works out really.
MXA: How do you rate the team's 2008 effort?
Forrest: It was good. We were in our first year of the 250 class and we wanted to get at least one podium and we did that. We didn't have the best all around 450 season, but it is a tough class. Not helping was that no one seemed able to figure out who is or is not eligible for the so called Top Privateer Award, but we'll keep on truckin in it. We definitely had some bad luck, same as the year before, but if my guys keep trying like they are then when the bad luck is not there they will shine. I got their backs and they have mine, so I am happy.
And again on the 250, it’s the same thing. I am extremely happy being that we keep our goals set within reason for each season. This year, we will look a little higher and each year on the same. Eventually, we want to be on top and we will keep slowly plugging away until we get there.
MXA: What are the team goals for the 2009 season?
Forrest: Just to continue to keep improving. You can't ever put your head down with what we do. Like my main man Willie Manning says, the easiest thing to do in this world is quit. It’s that simple so when it gets hard, rainy, rough, whatever...we will find away to keep moving forward. We have unbelievable people on this team and sponsors behind us. DNA Energy Drink and BTOSports are like family with BBMX. We have grown together and will continue to do so and enjoy being the grass roots level guys that we are.
MXA: How does a band of brothers afford two semi trucks?
Forrest: Easy, very good sponsors! We started from a 14' Pace trailer that we raced out of for 9 years before getting our first fun mover. From there, anything is possible if you are willing to sacrifice and put in the hard work. I listened to Ricky Carmichael say that in just about any interview he has done and one day I finally understood what he meant by it and have just tried to stay focused ahead ever since.
MXA: What is the story behind "The Highest Level" video?
Forrest: The story behind "The Highest Level" is basically just a behind the scenes look at what goes on with our race team back home. Most all fans and race folks alike, only see the finished product at the races. There is always all types of opinions formed in racing and we thought it would be cool to bring people back home and show them what we do in the off season to prepare. I have a good friend in the film arena named Mike Perkins and he did some work on us this past summer as well as did the TV commercial we ran last year. He had this idea to do the documentary and made it happen, it is that simple. I wanted to wait, he said it is time to do it now, and four months later we had our first team documentary.
The film basically gives a brief bio on the Butler Brothers past to present and then takes viewers into our so called "off season", lol. I guess the point there is to show there is no off season really, and there is a lot of stress and sleepless nights that come with it all to be ready for the first Supercross of the year. It is not a music riding video, it is a real life documentary so it is definitely a first of its kind with any top professional SX/MX team. Please, support the team and log onto www.BTOSports.com and pick up a copy of "The Highest Level."
For more info on the team, Click Here.
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