One American that has done plenty of travelling and had a nice career outside his home country is Darian Sanayei as he decided to come and race in the GP paddock. He started in the EMX250 series before moving up to the MX2 World Championship and he had plenty of strong results.
Recently, KTM announced Sanayei as Amateur Racing Manager over in America so he’ll have his eye on the up and coming talent to try and make sure they end up in orange. We caught up with Sanayei to discuss his role and more…
GateDrop: Darian, it has just been announced that you’ve been appointed as the Amateur Racing Manager for KTM USA. Just how did this opportunity all come around?
Sanayei: I started working here a few months back and when Blair left they asked if i would be interested.
GateDrop: Did you already have a role with KTM and if so, how will this role differ? Or are you new to the KTM family?
Sanayei: Yes I was working helping with WP and sponsorship orders a few months ago.
GateDrop: Your experience should really help you work with the younger riders as you’ve experienced coming up through the in the USA and also worked in Europe so know what it takes to try and make it in the sport…
Sanayei: Yes definitely when they offered me the opportunity I thought it would be really cool.
GateDrop: Julien Beaumer is looking really good at the moment, I guess your job will be to try and spot the new Beaumer to try and sign them up to the KTM family for the future… Do you feel you’ve a good eye for talent and what’s your thoughts on Beaumer?
Sanayei: With racing there are a lot of variables, but I feel I have a good eye for talent. The rest is up to the rider, and Beamer has really found his groove which is great to see.
GateDrop: Feld have introduced the Supercross Futures class recently. I think this is a big step as kids won’t totally get thrown into SX when they’re pro, what’s your thoughts on it?
Sanayei: I think its great and love what they are doing with SMX Next. I wish I had that when I was an amateur. I feel it is similar to EMX in Europe which is a great series.
GateDrop: You know plenty about racing in Europe as you came and raced the EMX250 series before moving up to the MX2 World Championship… What’s your thoughts on the system in Europe? With the EMX125 and EMX250 championships running alongside the MXGP/MX2 classes I think that is superb for youth…
Sanayei: Yes, its awesome to ride the same tracks as MX! and MX2 and think that you need those classes for the younger guys coming up.
GateDrop: I was at Paris Supercross in November and I’ve got to say Vialle looked a lot more comfortable on the KTM than he did a year ago, Chase and Julien also look more comfortable at A1 and the results showed. Do you think they’ve found something with the bike over winter?
Sanayei: With SX you need the experience. Each year Tom will be better and better. Everyone involved here at KTM are putting in the work on and off the track.
GateDrop: There’s no secret about the budget issues KTM are having – what’s the feeling like internally?
Sanayei: Sometimes companies go through thinning periods and restructures. Everyone internally on the racing side is still focused on winning.
GateDrop: You spent most of your pro career racing in Europe and the MX2 World Championship with the likes of DRT Kawasaki and BUD Kawasaki. How would you reflect on your time racing the World Championship?
Sanayei: I loved racing the MXGP series. I showed some flashes of really good things, I feel i didn’t get the results I was fully capable of but that’s racing, things don’t always go your way.
GateDrop: When you went back to America things never materialized for you after you did pretty good in the World Championship… Any regrets? Perhaps staying in the World Championship and moving up to MXGP – but maybe you had no good offers…
Sanayei: MXGP would have been tough for me. I don’t regret the decision moving back. Having EBV my last year MX2 which killed my confidence, led into 2020 with Covid (racing only 3 Supercross) and injuries in outdoors. 2021 I won in Canada I started feeling myself again, but the passion was over.
GateDrop: You were pretty young when you made the move from America to race the World Championship… It is never easy to leave USA but what did you find to be the biggest challenges? You are obviously racing a different country most weekends so you have to deal with different languages, tracks and more…
Sanayei: Yeah there are definitely a lot of challenges, too many to list. With MX if you have an obsession to race and be the best you can anything is possible. That’s how I knew in 2021 when I had not much passion left my MX career was coming to an end. You cannot push to be the best if you are not obsessed.
