With the theme of the Rocky movie playing on his iPod he reaches the peak of a hill and throws his arms in the air, punching his fists into the sky then quickly starting the second part of his six mile run.
Motocross riders are hard men and none come any harder than Red Bull Pro Nationals Champion Brad Anderson. Anderson is probably as old school as you can get. Tough as nails, a harder worker, but also somebody who is slightly probably unappreciated for his fighting spirit and never say die style. We decided to sit down with ‘Bad Brad’ and ask him about his preparation for what will be one of the most important seasons in his career.

Motocross Illustrated: Can you explain who Brad Anderson is?
ANDERSON: People look at me like I am an angry person, but if they really got to know me they would look at me differently. Neil Prince didn’t know me at first, but now we get on great. If people had a good talk to me they would realize I am a pretty nice guy. People think I’m rough because that’s how I am on the track.
Motocross Illustrated: Would you say you are just a sweet guy?
ANDERSON: I wouldn’t say I am sweet, I don’t know how to describe myself, but not sweet (Hahaha).
Motocross Illustrated: Did you get much of a chance to hang out with your mates and socialize?
ANDERSON: Not really, the off season before Xmas we enjoy ourselves, about a month of going out and enjoying ourselves with our friends and then it’s time to get to the serious work. People can probably see that, but I don’t drink through the season and I do go out with my friends in the off-season and have a good drink and go a bit crazy, but I know what my job is and when it comes to training and my racing then I knuckle down and get on with that. I love Motocross and to be honest in the winter I get sick of the drinking.
Motocross Illustrated: I remember seeing you at one of the parties at a Motocross of Nations and you were having a pretty good time.
ANDERSON: It was America I think, could have been Italy. After every MXoN they have parties. I was meant to ride in Italy, but I hurt my thumb, so I went to the party at the end, I usually go to the parties at the end of the MXoN, it’s the end of the season and time to relax.
Motocross Illustrated: What other type of training do you do?
ANDERSON: I have a membership at my local gym and I do loads of cardio, which is what I concentrate on, I don’t do many weights because I get arm pump. I went for a six mile run the other day and did it in 30 minutes, so that is pretty good.
Motocross Illustrated: How is the hardship of training, do you enjoy it or find it fun?
ANDERSON: To be honest, it’s hard by yourself, but you have to think I am going to win the number one plate, or I am going to win a race, but when you are with somebody else it’s easier to forget about the running maybe and just get on with it. It’s my job at the end of the day and I have to do it 100%.
Motocross Illustrated: I have an image of you doing training a bit like Rocky Balboa from the Rocky films, is that far from reality?

Read the rest of this interview in our e-magazine Motocross.