The Matt Walker Interview
Photos by Szymon Nieborak, interview by Pete Scullion and Jamie Edwards
As World Champs approaches, Madison Saracen’s Matt Walker is the man to watch.
Sure, there’s plenty of veteran racers and old guard on the scene… but Matt just constantly surprises us with his raw speed, a cool and modest head and his ability to beat the the World’s best despite only just entering his first Elite year.
We joined Matt (and his team mate Danny Hart) at their recent Saracen Experience Day at Hamsterley for a chat about what makes the young gun from Shropshire tick.
Thanks to Madison Saracen for making this interview possible.
So Matt, we’re about halfway through the season, how has the opening half been for you?
It’s been interesting for sure, there have been a lot of things to get used to at the start of the year with moving into the Elite class. My idols now becoming my rivals was always going to be difficult. I’ve had some great results and some bad luck too.
A lot of it has just been the learning process I think, I am happy with where I’m at. I have a good feeling and speed on the bike and I’ve proven that. So all is good; I’m taking the rough with the smooth and just enjoying it.
You just won the elite National Championship at Glencoe. How did that go? Did you have to fight for it?
It was definitely a surreal one for me, I know I am riding well at the moment and I feel very comfortable being at the sharp end of things on home turf. Everything just fell into place quite nicely. My practice went smoothly, I got up to speed on the track, I took my time to set the bike up and I got that all dialled in by the end of practice on Saturday.
When the rain came down before finals I felt confident, I knew the other guys had to find some time and I was in a really good position.
I’d won seeding and had done enough to put a smile on my face however finals ended up. My run was just how I hoped it would go, I didn’t rush, I took two or three corners to figure out grip levels and then opened the taps towards the bottom.
And you’ve just been given a place on the World Champs squad. Was making the squad a goal of yours?
Of course, but in saying that I know hard it is to make the British Squad these days so I wasn’t going to be too bummed if I didn’t make it in my first year, it’s a solid achievement and I’m stoked.
Lenzerheide hasn’t been kind to you in the past, is that a concern for you?
Not at all, I’m a different horse this year.
Let’s talk 29” wheels briefly. In a sport where speed is everything, does it seem mad to you that some people are against going faster?
Yes and no. 29ers aren’t for everyone so those guys will naturally go faster on 27.5. Personally I love it, wouldn’t go back, I love how it feels and I have a lot of fun riding it.
What’s it like having Danny Hart as team mate?
Pretty damn cool! He’s a great guy and is always there if I need to talk through lines on a race weekend. But more than that he’s a good mate and a right laugh to hang around with. We get on really well and it makes life in the pits a pleasure.
I just can’t ride with him early doors because he gets up to speed so bloody fast…
You mentioned that people don’t have expectations of you, where does the pressure come from?
Pressure? That’s for my tires.
Is your life all bikes or do you get a chance to do anything else? How do you switch off?
I pretty much live for going fast on my push bike. I find it hard to move too far away from that. I think it’s how competitive I am.
I do like to hang out with the boys at home, but we all race DH or Motocross. We meet up every week and talk about how our race weekends have gone, it’s always good craic.
How does it feel being at the breaking through point in your career?
It feels great, I try not to think about it too much and just take every race at it comes, learning at each one. I have an awesome team behind me that give me all the support I could ever need to go out and do the best I can do. They have all the faith in me, all I have to do is tick the boxes and trust myself.
What makes a World Champion? And what makes an elite World Champion?
Hard work and a shit load of sacrifice is the truth of it.
You have to really live for it to be the best. As for what it takes to be an Elite World Champion; you’re asking the wrong dude, but I’ll let you know when I get there!
People may not realise that you started on the Madison Saracen Development team and earned a promotion to the main team.
How important do you think development teams are to you and the sport?
Massively important, without the Madison Saracen Development Team I wouldn’t have been as successful as I have been. No doubt about it.
To the sport its critical, we need young riders to continue British success at World Cup level and the way World Cups are going, the talented has to be spotted early and developed from a young age.
And what about the National series?
Everyone needs to get behind the British National Downhill Series.
I think it’s incredibly important to support the series that’s made the UK such a dominant force at the highest level. It’s very important to me to give back to the series that’s made me the rider I am today.
Without it, it makes a team manager’s job in finding new talent very difficult, because how are you supposed to know who is the best without a series that brings everyone together on the UK’s most difficult tracks?
Also, you can’t give back to the fans of your home country without having a series where they can watch some of the World’s best riders compete on there doorsteps.
It feels like British racing is at a real make-or-break point right now. What’s your feeling on it all?
I think there are still a huge amount of people behind racing. Forget social media presence and cool riding edits. Racing is where it’s at. Bike companies need it, the fans need it. The riders love it.
But I’m a die hard racing fan and you’ll never change me.
We’re talking a lot about privateers at World Cup at the moment.
As someone that’s earned the support of a team… do you think there’s still a way for privateers to keep up at World Cup?
It’s getting tougher no doubt about it.
The way things have changed the last couple of years has only made it more difficult. It’s a shame because I think riders who are very competitive in their country deserve to have a crack at World Cup racing.
Do you have any race day rituals?
Nah not really, I guess I have a routine that I like to follow leading up to my race run but that’s pretty normal. I’m not very superstitious!
We’ll ask you one of our Wise Words questions. What single thing about riding bikes do you gain happiness from?
Seeing my friends and family proud of me for what bikes has given me I guess.
That’s pretty cool to see.
Will we ever see Matt Walker race an enduro?
Potentially yeah, I’m DH till I die but never say never. I might do a couple this winter to keep me sharp!
Keep an eye out for Matt going flat out in Madison Saracen colours at the remaining World Cups and at the Lenzerheide World Champs.
Follow Matt on Facebook and Instagram.
Thanks to Madison Saracen for inviting us on their Madison Experience Day at Danny’s Hart’s Descend Hamsterley Bike Park to make this interview possible.
