Austin Forkner Interview: Tampa Press Day
February 07, 2025
Image from Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Yeah, how does it feel to be back in the spotlight, answering questions on a track in a stadium?
It feels good. I'm excited. Obviously, the nerves are there—being at the first race, there’s no getting around them. They’re going to be there at every race. But I’m excited just to get out here. We’ve been working on the bike since October, and I was off of it for a long time last year with the injury and then the brain surgery. But I’m ready to go and see where we stack up. Jordan has been making the bike look really good on the West Coast, especially with that win last week. So, I’m excited to see how it performs on these tracks—softer dirt, more rutted, more torn up—and how I adapt. I’m just ready to get out there.
It feels like there’s a lot of change for you this year—new team, new gear, a baby on the way, and a medical procedure that you’ve been open about as life-changing. How different is your mindset?
Yeah, everyone’s been asking about the pressure this year. Of course, I put pressure on myself, but things are different now. Being about to be a dad, I need to be there during the week. I don’t want to be banged up or broken—I can’t be the best dad I can be if I’m not healthy. Riley told me, "I believe in you, and I know you can win, but come home. We need you back at home too." That’s something I’m sure any athlete with kids can relate to. The pressure and perspective aren’t gone, they’ve just shifted. But it doesn’t change the fact that I believe I can run up front and battle with these guys. I’m ready to see what I can do.
Do you think your priorities have shifted a little?
Yeah, maybe they’ve shifted, but honestly, for some guys, that’s when they start performing at their best—when they step back and stop putting so much pressure on themselves. Sometimes, when you just say, "Whatever happens, happens," it actually helps you perform better. You never know.
At the end of the night, regardless of results, you go home to your family—that’s not bad, right?
Not bad at all. No matter what happens, going home to my wife—she’s still coming to the races—and eventually to our kid when he’s born, that’s what’s most important. With or without a trophy, going home to them is what really matters.
Last question—expectations for the season?
I expect to be up front. That’s just who I am. I know I’m talented on a dirt bike, and that’s not going to change. But I haven’t raced in a year. Honestly, there are guys younger than me who have more race experience because I’ve missed so many races due to injury. Even though I’m 26 and considered a veteran in this class, I don’t always feel like one. I’m still learning—learning this bike, this team, and where I stand this year. But I’m ready to get going.
