Kiwi trials, enduro and XC ace
Liam Draper has been living in
the USA and competing in the
GNCC series for the last year.
We caught up with him recently
to see just what life is like living
the dream and racing a long
way from home...
DRAPER’S FIRST YEAR IN THE USA
At Round 3 I was lucky enough to meet
Steward Baylor, a racer who recently got
4th overall in the world at the Six Days. I
I was just like a little kid in a candy store
was buzzing as I got to talk to him and he
– as BT would say! It sure is hard saying
said we should walk the track together.
goodbye to your family, your friends and
After the race he gave me his number and
your home. But I was off to chase my
dream and I was all excited as well as sad. invited me to ride with him the following
I got there and was picked up by my team week. So, I met up with him the following
boss. It was 10pm when I arrived so it was week and did some riding. Afterwards he
invited me for dinner with his wife, and
all dark but my excitement levels were
then asked if I’d like to live at his place! I
pretty crazy to think I was actually in the
was completely lost for words, but quickly
USA. We made it back to the base where
unloaded my clothes and I was moved
the team trailers are kept – they’re 48ft
long! I was shocked and just buzzing that I in before he could change his mind! So,
was to stay in the team trailer for the next I lived at his property and travelled and
trained with him all year. We get on real
few weeks and get settled in.
well, and I was his groomsman at his
Waking up and seeing we were at a
wedding and I hadn’t even known him for
massive training facility surrounded by
a year.
the best riders in the world just seemed
All-in-all I met some awesome people and
like a dream, but one that I was going to
have a lot of friends there now. The racing
be living.
is super tough, but I love it.
HOW WAS YOUR FIRST YEAR AWAY?
92 KIWI RIDER