CASEY COCHRAN INTERVIEW: “WE WERE PREPARED AND IT SHOWED”

Originally from Tennessee and now residing in Florida at the Baker Factory, Casey Cochran made a huge splash at round one of the 2023 Moto Combine series at Red Bud. It was in Michigan where the recently turned 17-year-old dominated both motos. As a “b” amateur, Cochran was racing against more experienced “a” amateur class riders – several that will turn pro later this summer. It’s already been a good 2023 for Casey, as he has taken several Supercross podiums, including a win, to capture the Supercross Futures Championship.  Having never met Casey before, I introduced myself in the Rockstar Husqvarna pits after his win and had a very enjoyable talk with him.

BY JIM KIMBALL

2023 MILLVILLE NATIONAL // FULL COVERAGE

---

Casey clinched the overall win at the Red Bud Amateur Combine.

CASEY, YOU MADE IT LOOK EASY AT RED BUD. It felt great, I don’t want to say easy, but it felt solid. we pulled some good starts, both holeshot and lead every lap of the day, and just took it in.  It is another little experience.  We get to race these Combine events and go one, one.

I WAS HERE LAST YEAR AT THE MOTO COMBINE, AND HAIDEN DEEGAN RACED AND WON. YOU WERE JUST AS IMPRESSIVE. For sure, and I hope to follow what he has done this year and maybe next year.  Yeah, to go one-one here with some of the top amateur guys in the sport right now. I am stoked and see what we can do at a Pro National.  

DIDN’T YOU DO THE 2023 SUPERCROSS FUTURES AND IN FACT, WIN? Yes, I did Salt Lake City, which was the finale, and won there, which meant I won the championship.

Starts are key when it comes to the Pro ranks. Casey demonstrates here why starts are crucial.

THE HEAT AND ESPECIALLY HUMIDITY AT RED BUD WERE PRETTY HIGH; COULD YOU FEEL IT? Yes, today, it was super humid this morning.  For the first practice, the whole track was foggy, and it stuck around all day. It was humid and very hot for Michigan, but it was good.  The heat did not bother me too much.  It has been super-hot in Florida recently, and we have been putting in the motos there, so we were prepared, and it showed.  

THAT IS A GOOD SEGWAY TO MY NEXT QUESTION. YOU ARE FROM TENNESSEE, BUT HAVE YOU BEEN STAYING AT THE BAKER FACTORY IN FLORIDA?  Yes, I have been at Baker Factory for 1 ½ years now. We have been grinding down there with the boys in the heat.  

Adapted to the humidity from training in Florida, Casey proves his program makes I’m eligible to compete at top capacity.

DO YOU DO THE SAME PROGRAM AS THE PRO GUYS? Exactly, compared to the guys I train with every day. We have Plessinger, Hampshire, Swoll, Hawkins, and of course, Webb. All these guys are good, and they are all factory for a reason.  Being able to train with a high caliber of riders every day is a good opportunity, and I am taking it all in.

I AM ASSUMING YOU ARE GOING TO DO LORETTA LYNN’S.  IS THERE A PLAN TO DO A FULL-ON PRO NATIONAL YET THIS SUMMER? It is up in the air, as I am technically still a B amateur rider. I know if I won this race today, it would increase my chances of this year, but I am racing Loretta’s in B class, obviously, so I am going to race 250 B and School Boy II at Loretta’s and maybe hit one of the amateur days after in A class. And maybe be able to race Ironman – we will see.

SO AS A B AMATUER, YOU HAVE WIDE OPEN OPTIONS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? Yes, so I don’t have any pro points because you can’t get pro points as a B rider, so after Loretta’s, I would have to go do an amateur day at like Bud’s Creek or something and race the pro class there and get my points. Then maybe do the Pro National at Ironman instead of the Combine.

Breaking down the moto. Even with a large lead, riders have to keep pace and fight the elements while racing; There’s no letting off.

ARE YOU ANXIOUS TO TURN PRO, OR ARE YOU HAPPY TO TAKE IT A LITTLE BIT SLOWER? I am in no rush, and I think the plan might be to run Supercross Future again next year because I am in no hurry. I just turned seventeen a couple of days ago.  I am still pretty young and have a long road ahead.  

YOU HAVE SEEN RIDER’S GO PRO AND REALLY IMMEDIATELY EXCEL; HAIDEN DEEGAN IS A PRETTY GOOD EXAMPLE. BUT YOU HAVE SEEN OTHER GUYS RUSHING IT AND STRUGGLING. Yes, there is a very fine line between succeeding and failing at the pro level when you are a rookie. you have not seen many rookies come out and do as well as Haiden has done this year.  It is impressive, we will see what the future holds. It is not totally up to me. It is when the team wants to put me out with the big dogs.  

Victory is sweet. Casey proves at Red Bud that he is a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming years.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT YOUR WIN AT RED BUD? To get both holeshots, lead every lap, win the first moto by sixteen seconds, and the second moto was around ten seconds. On the last lap, I was just cruising and taking it all in. It was a great day to win both motos by a large margin and show everyone what I can do.  

AND YOU HAD A NICE LITTLE FIST PUMP CELEBRATION OVER THE FINISH LINE. You got to do it, got to! 

2023 MILLVILLE NATIONAL // FULL COVERAGE