Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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2019 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK TWINS CHAMPION BRIAR BAUMAN P112 Interview EARLY BEGINNINGS Bauman was born in Salinas, California, home to some of the sport's best, but for Bauman and his younger brother, Bronson, their start in the sport is a little different from most. Neither of their parents were avid motorcy- clists. They just sort of stumbled into flat track racing. "My parents didn't have any involvement with motorcycle racing," Bauman said. "We just decided to get motorcycles and go race. Which is crazier when I think about it now than when I was a kid. It was actually my mom's idea, which is a little bit different than how it typically works. There was a race that was right down the road from our house. It was called the Ricky Graham Memorial Race. We went and did that. That's what started the racing career for Bronson and I." It was a lot of money and time spent to keep two kids in racing, but the Bauman brothers' par- ents were fully supportive of their love of flat track racing. When Briar went pro, he had a brief, but successful Singles career and then decided to make the jump straight to the premier class in 2012 and race a twin. Looking back on it now, he recalls how big of a leap that was. "Honestly, I thought I kind of ran the world at that time," he said. "I thought I'll go ride a twin, and it will be a piece of cake, no big deal, but it was definitely the hardest thing I've done in my career. First off, you don't realize how insanely good the top 10 guys are; their mechan- ics, their equipment. I got myself into a position where I wasn't in the best situation as far as rides, I was shuffled around a lot. It was an uphill battle. It was the hardest transition I've ever had to make. Looking at it now, it's kind of made me how I am. It showed me that you can kind of get through whatever you have to." Being an up-and-comer and privateer was no easy task, espe- cially during a time when the sport was big on enthusiasm but short on cash. For a while, it was just about breaking even to do some- thing you loved. At some point, though, that mentality changes. " I thought I'll go ride a twin, and it will be a piece of cake, no big deal, but it was definitely the hardest thing I've done in my career. " Bauman admits his mentality this season was about "sending it," but looking ahead, he wants to improve as a racer.