Interview: Dillon Zimmerman - Motoworks / Can-Am ProAm ATV Racer

#49 Dillon Zimmerman

Dillon Zimmerman has adjusted well to his new Can-Am DS450 ride as he is once again chasing after championships in both the WORCS & Quadcross Series.

Recently, the Motoworks team headed to the East Coast for some GNCC & AMA ATV Motocross racing and Dillon Zimmerman joined his team and competed in both events while the WORCS series was on summer break, so once Zimmerman returned from his trip, we had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his trip and 2008 racing season.

ATVriders.com: How's your summer going so far?
Dillon Zimmerman: So far my summer has been going great!! I moved down to California for the summer and been riding with my teammate Brandon Smith and just hanging out with everyone. I’ll be heading back to New Mexico when the summer is over.

How's your transition from your Honda TRX 450R to the Can-Am DS450 been?
Well when I first got on the Can-Am, I was actually more comfortable on it than I was on my Honda. It only took me about an hour to be completely comfortable on the ATV. After that, I felt better than I ever did on my Honda.

I heard mention about you doing some training over the WORCS summer break...what have you been doing to stay in shape?
The best thing I've done is just ride with my two teammates Brandon and Josh. They both push me to be better and help get my endurance up. Other than riding, I have been trying to go to the gym as much as I possibly can and just stay active.

The WORCS series has really taken off in the last couple years; it has gained a large amount of interest and exposure. How long have you been running the WORCS series, and how do you like all the factory involvement this year in the series?
My First full year of racing the WORCS series was last year when I got second in the Pro-Am class for the championship. I did a couple WORCS races the year before, but last year was my first full year of racing WORCS. I’ve seen factory involvement take a step forward for the last two years I’ve been racing this series. I'm glad factory teams are getting into this series, and I think it will help this series alot.

Tell us a little bit about your racing career and how it all started?
My first quad was a Suzuki 50. But my first race was on a TRX Honda 90. I raced all the local races and moved on to a Honda 250R. I raced my 250R in the novice class at all my local races. I finally got a Honda 450R and raced amateur. I did my first WORCS race and got moved up to the Pro-Am class. I did a couple races and waited till the next year, so I could do the full season.

So how was your trip out to the East Coast recently? How did you do racing and what did you think of the overall experience?
I thought it was a good experience; I did both GNCC and ATVA series. It was my first time being on the East side of the country. In the ATV MX Nationals, I got a bad start every moto, and the motos were very short not giving me any time to make it up so my overall results were not very good. In the GNCC we made the whole bike a lot narrower than what I'm use to and the type of race was just so much different. I'm more use to a WORCS type race with motocross and dessert type off- road.

Do you have any further plan's on racing back East in the near future?
Yes, I do plan on doing some more East coast races, but not all of them like my teammate Brandon Smith, he will be dong all the ATV MX Nationals next year..

So what's it like hanging out with #1 WORCS champion Josh Frederick?! Do you get to train with him much?
Josh is a cool guy, and I do get to train with him. He lives in Nevada so it's hard to get much seat time with him, but here lately we have been doing a lot more testing, so I have been doing some ridding with him.

How's the WORCS series going so far for you this year, and who is your main competition so far this year?
The WORCS series has been going great accept for round one in Arizona it was a mud fest, and I did not have a very good finish. The competition is great this season, and the points are very tight. Josh Row is leading the points after round 5 of the 8 round season

What was your most memorable race you've ever had, and who has been a great mentor to you?
I really enjoy racing and all my wins have been memorial to me. I would have to say my mentor is Jeremiah Jones he has always been my favorite rider.

What is going to be your main focal point's in the 2009 season? Any big plans?
My main focus is winning races, annd I will have to let my sponsor Johnny Leach with Motoworks/ Can-Am answer what series and plans for the 2009 season.

Dillon, we all wish you the best of luck this season, is there anything you would like to add and who are your sponsors?
Thank you, of course I would like to thank all my sponsors Motoworks, Can-Am, Holzs racing, Fox Shox, Maxxis tires, streamline, X-Factor, Mechanics wear, Motul oil, Douglas wheels, Spy goggles, Pro tech, Cmi, Precision, and of course my dad which is my mechanic and my whole family that is behind me on this.