Motocross in the 80's, a young Chad Reed, WSX and more with Craig Dack.

With a highly decorated career both on and off the motorcycle, Australian legend Craig Dack dominated the sport of domestic motocross and supercross throughout the 1980’s, before transitioning into the team manager role with the Craig Dack Racing Yamaha Monster Energy squad.
Celebrating their 30th year as a team, Dack details the inception of the CDR program, managing a young Chad Reed, the landscape of the sport throughout his professional racing career, and much more in this in-depth interview presented by The Ride Network.

[@gregb2873]

Memory lane. Remember Craig in about 1976 zipping around Pacific Park as a kid on a RM80 I think. I was competing against his father Barry in a trials event. Who was to know what a champion he was to be. Great interview. Great overview of the evolution of MX from the old days. Congratulations on a great career Craig.

[@mxlarge6915]

Great interview. Had Craig not been a home-body, he could easily have been a top five GP guy.

[@voodootele]

Great interview, as a kid I idolised him. Clearly a very switched on man off the bike too.

[@mkerrisk]

Have always respected Dacka. A very intelligent man. Watched him win a round in Manjimup in the 125 class back in ‘84 or ‘85. But , mate, your interview style also impressed me. Very smooth and insightful to say the very least. Great job💯👍

[@jasonudy5626]

Top interview, total professional, tons of respect for this guy.

[@neilr4867]

This is really good. Great how you let the guest speak!

[@dmach83]

Yeah funny that not like another oz mx podcast that invites mx legends on only to let them listen to him speak 🤦🏼‍♂️………. This is great finally keep up the great work

[@user-dk3xe3lg5c]

I’ll be honest that’s the first podcast interview etc I’ve listened to ever not only because of the Mx royalty but you listen let the guest speak and don’t say like 5000 times out of context well done son I’m a new subscriber

[@bobovv6060]

wow what an awesome video! cheers. hearing Dackas view on SX & MX in Oz, the challenges of WSX, opportunities in Asia, all brilliant. His legacy is nothing less than the sport continuing to exist in Oz. for future interviews if u need ideas, be great to hear from some other 80s legends - Glenn Bell, Armstrong, Leisk, Melton....also some of the junior riders at the time...ashkenazi etc, and even maybe some of the old editors of ADB and Trail& Track reckon theyd have a good perspective on how the sports evolved.

[@theridenetwork]

Thanks for stopping by mate and we absolutely plan to delve into Aussie moto history, though our upcoming guests are quite diverse so we're interested to see what you get out of the chat with each of them. Cheers!

[@georgemcmahon78]

Great Idea, Love It, Once you get through The Aussie's from this Era Mid 80's to Mid 90's you might want to try and get a couple of the Americans that used to come over, Fast Eddie Warren springs to mind and having just looked him up it looks as though he lives in NSW now, so should be easier to find :) I remember going to Supercross Masters at Wayville Showgrounds in the early to mid 90's as a 13, 14, 15 yo kid. Absolutely Loved It. What a great time for Australian Supercross it was. Craig Dack, Glen Bell, Fast Eddie Warren, Peter Melton, Craig Anderson, Kim Ashkenazi Etc...

[@benwahsmotoworld]

Dacka is Oz motox gold He is a treasure.. he’s our Roger 👌

[@theridenetwork]

Absolutely! An Australian motorsports Icon.

[@jdhart111]

outstanding interview from both involved!!!

[@danoa8859]

I met craig when he was with yot alongside phill alderton. (Rip phill ). And this interview confirms my initial thought of him. Super nice guy and smart.

[@theridenetwork]

Thanks for tuning in. He's definitely a switched on character and we agree, he's a great guy as well ☺

[@bernardkehoe7610]

So So So good, that was just such a great interview and I know Im repeating all the other comment's but what else can we say just loved it thank you so much. And I agree Motorcross is our thing here in Australia, and I love the fact that all us dirt bike fans are asking the same questions on how to improve the sport.

[@theridenetwork]

Thanks Bernard, that's really kind of you mate. Hopefully we can continue to inform or inspire thought.

[@user-fk6qi2yq4g]

Absolute legend of our sport. Australian motorcross would have a very different outlook without legends like him. Great interview

[@theridenetwork]

Thanks for stopping by mate!

[@NeilJable]

Dacka was a brilliant guest, his straight shooting attitude, knowledge, experience & credibility in the sport and his passion for the sport is clear to see.

[@theridenetwork]

It was a great experience Neil, that's for sure 👍

[@timifumi46brown91]

very cool , I'm a massive fan , he was the man back in the day , I'm 53 and i remember watching dacky dominate!! Funny story.. I meet him at motogp a few years back in Vic , he was just walking by...i walked straight up and told him , i was pumped " Hi Graig ..Can i say You are still the sickest rider on this island today " he was a bit shocked i think. Crazy westy lol...got a photo ...happy days!! PS happy 30 CDR years mate and thank you , your input to the MX community is huge !!! all the best ..fyi im gonna go look at my 2000 signed chad reed , lee hogan , cheyne boyd , Daryle hurley poster .. attack force !!!! probably why i own a 2012 yz250 and will never sell it , im to fast on it !!! mixing gas and kicking arse !!! lol

[@theridenetwork]

Dacka has definitely had this impact on a great many Aussies 👍 Sounds like you were pretty honest in your approach! 😆

[@timifumi46brown91]

@@theridenetwork lol , i was like a 14 year old again when i seen him at the gp!! that's why...NO FEAR !! ...and 100% he did alone with a few others , maybe its there fault ive been working in the bike industry for 23 years and still going !!... very lucky ..ps keep up the good work !!

[@raymondharold5973]

Wow what a storied life, I’ve heard of CDR and seen the Australia motocross on my Direct Tv package I think it’s MAV Tv but it’s programmed to record so maybe not. But hearing the craniology of how it happened was fascinating. Just subscribed so can’t wait to see what’s coming. Great job on the interview some of the guys in the US wish they had the talent you did the flow was really good 👍

[@theridenetwork]

Dacka's story is well worth diving into, that's for sure. He's an icon in this part of the world and it's hard not to imagine WSX success is ahead for him and the team. Thanks for the kind words 😀

[@aaronbourke7649]

Great interview and great questions keep it up

[@dropbear9526]

I was working at Top Gear motorcycles in Frankson back in 1988. There was Craig Jordan, Craig Russel, working there, and my name is Craig as well. I have a big hoonker as well, Like Dack, so they called me Craig Dag (Dag Attack), Instead of Dack Attack. Anyway, I'm working away one day and Craig Dack comes into the shop, he was a rep for Rat Racing. While he was chatting to Marty, he signed a few catalogues, and says to Marty, "You can sell those if you want", LOL. Admittedly, I took one home, but, didn't pay for it. The 80's were the best! Thanks for the memories, past, present, and future. You're a legend Dacka!

[@theridenetwork]

We're truly jealous we missed the best of the 80's 😢😆

[@stevenmonro6405]

Awesome, so many great insights to both the man and the sport. Great episode.

[@theridenetwork]

Cheers Steven, glad you got something out of it ☺

[@walttgrace]

Such a wealth of knowledge & experience, in so many facets of the game!⚡

[@craighills2382]

I really enjoyed this ,thank you

[@theridenetwork]

It's our pleasure Craig. It was a great experience for us as well ☺

[@scottyoz2460]

Watching this 14/8/22 and 99% of Australia do not know who Jett Lawrence is. And he’s just won the AMA outdoors

[@simonty353]

Great Interview! Loved it. Cheers

[@theridenetwork]

Thanks mate!

[@user-dk3xe3lg5c]

He certainly is But truth of the matter is 4 strokes have made it so unaffordable Long live 2 strokes you know it dacka deep down inside

[@littemisscarrage2909]

that thing swinging off the front is as big as a NY pizza slice

[@georgie-peorgie73]

That's constructive..

[@user-fk6qi2yq4g]

Absolute legend of our sport. Australian motorcross would have a very different outlook without legends like him. Great interview

[@theridenetwork]

We couldn't agree more. Dacka has really paved the way in more than one sense.