CHRISTIAN CRAIG INTERVIEW: FEELING A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENT

2022 was good for Christian Craig as he wrapped up a 250 Supercross championship and finished fifth overall in the 450 outdoor motocross championship.  However, 2023 and 2024 have been filled with serious injuries with lengthy recoveries. The life span of a professional motocross rider is short, so rather than sideline himself for additional recuperation, the 32-year-old knows he needs to be at the races. Craig is facing severe adversity but doing his best to improve.

 

BY JIM KIMBALL

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CHRISTIAN TALK ABOUT YOUR RIDING,  IT APPEARS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IMPROVING AND IMPROVING. Yes, slowly and steadily.  I think my riding has been getting better.  My finishes have been a little up and down the last few rounds, but I finished off strong recently, particularly at Millville. I am seeing my speed come around and during the week, I am starting to get closer to the guys I train with like Aaron Plessinger and Malcolm Stewart. I am feeling a little more confident.  I would say that we are seventy percent.  My goal for each race is to improve each weekend and then just build from there. this is something different than I have had to do this year with building back.  I started from nothing. I still don’t have a lot of strength in my arm, but it is what it is, and you just must deal with it. 

Each weekend Christian has been progressing with overall results grabbing seventh at Spring Creek and ninth at Washougal.

HOW HAS THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY OF RECENT ROUNDS AFFECTED YOU? I was second-guessing my arm strength.  Just hanging on was tough.  I knew it was going to be a long day at recent races. I’ve been finishing closer to the top five, and you can’t ask for much more right now in this spot, and what I am dealing with.  I know I am capable of more and I know I have podiumed before. I have gotten multiple top fives, so it is in the tank somewhere in there.  It is just finding it and you know, letting it out there.

Christian currently sits ninth in the overall points standings.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO RACE  WHILE HAVING AN INJURY, AND STILL? DO YOUR TRAINING DURING THE WEEK? It is frustrating for sure but after how much time I have missed the previous year, the only thing I can do is just grit my teeth and build when I am racing.  I wish this was the off-season or we were not racing right now, so I can build up myself back to normal, but it is what it is.  I am having to give a little bit during the week, like take a little bit off my motos just to be fresher for Saturday which is fine but eventually, I want to be able to hammer out those motos and then be strong in the week.  It is just finding what works for me right, and then each weekend try to improve it a little bit more.  

Christian is looking to finish strong in the remaining rounds.

WRAPPING UP WITH FOUR ROUNDS REMAINING, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS GOING FORWARD? I loved Millville.  My wife and family are from there, so there are always good vibes there.  Washougal was a track that I always looked forward to. But, other than those, I don’t look forward to any more of them.  I will try to put this next couple of weeks to good use. I’ll put my focus there and try to get the best out of it.