On the Radar | Cody Bint | Presented by Blade
By Jeff McConkey
Name: Cody Bint
Age: 21
Hometown: Simcoe, ON
Occupation: Toyota Plastics Line Worker
Number: 95
Bike: 2017 YZ250F
Race Club: TVR, AMO, AMA
Classes: MX2 and MX3 Intermediate, 250B
This week, Cody Bint is ‘On the Radar.’ | Randy Wiebe photo
How did you get started in racing?
I got started racing because our family friends raced CMRC, so we decided that I should give TVR a shot. I raced there for a couple years, then moved on to CMRC.
What is your favourite track and why?
I would have to say Gopher Dunes. I grew up about 25 minutes away from Gopher, so I rode the deep sand quite often. There was also a private track just outside of Simcoe that was almost the same as Gopher in the sense that it was super deep sand. It was great practice for endurance and I just always felt super comfortable at Gopher. It was almost a second home for a couple of years.
Who is your favourite rider and why?
I am a really big fan of Ryan Dungey and Chad Reed. Both guys are always crazy consistent, and the never look like they are trying to ride over their heads to get a win. They both know that they don’t need to get the win every weekend to win the championship, so they just stay consistent and get good results. Plus, who doesn’t love watching someone like Chad Reed battle with the younger guys in the class and show them how the “old guys” really ride?
What Canadian Pro do you look up to and why?
Out of all the good Canadian pros to look up to, I would have to pick Colton Facciotti. He is another one of those guys that never looks like he is trying too hard, but is almost always going faster than everyone on the track. He is so ridiculously smooth, his style is fun to watch, and he proves that it doesn’t always have to look like you are going fast to be the fastest and win motos.
“…who doesn’t love watching someone like Chad Reed battle with the younger guys in the class and show them how the “old guys” really ride?” | Juli Butler Photography photo
Who is your hero?
My hero would have to be both of my parents. They put basically everything they had into my racing for so many years, which caused them to miss out on plenty of fun times they could’ve been having by themselves. My mom always used to tell me that going to the big, far away races was just the same to them as going on a big vacation, and I will always be grateful of that. They put they’re lives basically on hold to get me to races every weekend, and they had fun doing it. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Also, with my step dad working on my bikes for me, we could help each other out at home and at the races, he knew what to watch for so we could make changes during the week and have the bike going good for the next race, which is always good.What are your goals for next season, and what is it going to take to reach them?
Racing has kind of tapered off for me in the past year or so, just due to work and injuries, but I am really hoping to get back into it in the next year or so. I want to go out and give it my all but I know that I’m nowhere near the level I was at a couple years ago. That being said, I am going to try to get to as many races as I can while working around my hectic work schedule, and get the best results I can get. If I can’t get very good results, I will just go to some local races, have some fun, and get my fitness back for when I get back into racing the more important races.
What are your biggest accomplishments?
I can honestly say that I don’t have many BIG accomplishments, but I do have some that I am definitely proud of. One of the biggest accomplishments would have to be an 8th overall in the MX2 Junior class at the TransCan a few years ago. After that, a couple 1st place finishes at some CMRC, TVR, and AMA races, a couple top 5’s, and a couple top 10’s.
“Racing has kind of tapered off for me in the past year or so, just due to work and injuries, but I am really hoping to get back into it in the next year or so.” | Paige Kemp photo
What is your favourite part about going to the races?
My favourite part about going to the races was obviously the intensity and the whole race weekend, but also spending time with my family and friends. Everyone in my family works long hours and it isn’t too often we get to hangout together for an extended period of time, watch TV or a movie, or even really eat dinner together. When we are at the races, we all get time to just sit down, relax, and spend time with each other.
The racing is definitely what the weekend is all about, but the highlight is for sure hanging out with all of my family and friends.What do you like to do when you aren’t racing?
I would like to get more involved in motocross photography. I went to Fanshawe College in London, ON for Photography, so I would like to put that to use in the future. Maybe someone over there at Direct Motocross can hook me up? (Laughs)
Other than that, I would just like to raise a family, continue riding any chance I can get, and have fun going back to the races at some point in my life.Who would you like to thank?
First of all, I want to thank my parents for everything they have done for me. From buying my first bike, to taking me to all the races, they are my biggest supporters. Also, my girlfriend for always coming along and supporting me 100%, whether it’s racing, or just going out to practice.
Another big thanks goes to everyone at McKee’s Sport and Garden for always having everything I need and helping me out with parts, bikes, and gear. And to Ken Handsaeme at Rynotech for keeping my bikes running smooth. And finally, a thanks to Jeff and Direct Motocross for having me do this interview!
