Checkerz
Devin Harriman has been around long enough to start to be considered a veteran of the sport. Using his veteran role as an established privateer journeyman, Harriman used his platform and took to social media raising debate about what makes a true privateer. He has some strong words, but as a longtime racer and also a business owner; it’s worth hearing him out. Get his thoughts towards the end of this edition of “Words with Warriors”.
After previously finding some success in Monster Energy Supercross with multiple top fifteen 250 Main Event finishes, Devin Harriman has made the move to chasing the AMA Arenacross Series for the 2024 season. We tracked down the privateer warrior as he headed West from Oklahoma towards Round 8 in Prescott Valley, Arizona to learn more about him and his decision to race AMA Arenacross.
Vurbmoto: Can you tell us how old you are where you are from?
Harriman: I’m 28 years old and I’ve been doing this sport for 24 years now, so I’m getting old. I was born in Spencer, Iowa but that’s not home. When I’m asked where home is I always laugh and ask what you consider home (laughs). I’m everywhere usually. I spend a lot of time in SoCal during the season, with my mom and girlfriend both living down there. In the summer I spend my time where my vehicles are registered to which is “home” I guess you could say in Vancouver, Washington. I’m only there during the summer and man I honestly think it’s the most beautiful place in the country. I’ve traveled across this country 2-3 times a year for the last seven years. I spend time at Reynard Training Complex in Oklahoma during “offseason” and at the end of March till the series finishes up out West. Then I’m in Cali again getting ready for the first two outdoors.
Spencer, IA; the hometown of the great Cody Gilmore! If you’re not claiming anywhere in particular, as a proud member of #TeamIowa we are proud to call you one of ours.
(Laughs) I don’t know if I could consider that “home”. I haven’t been there since 2018. I moved out of Iowa at like nine months old. So, I’d have to say Washington is home, but only during the summers.
Note: I still 100% plan to claim Harriman as part of the Team Iowa crew. “The Flyin’ Iowan” has a nice ring to it.
You chose to chase the AMA Arenacross Series full-time this season, what went into that decision?
In a way this is my first year of Kicker AMA Arenacross, but I did the full Amsoil Arenacross Series back in 2018 and did the West Coast (regional series) in 2016 as well. Once Amsoil shut down their efforts I went to Supercross full-time in 2019. I wasn’t sure where I would stack up. but I ended up making two mains my first year which I was extremely happy about considering I was hoping to just make night shows. Over the last fiver years I’ve made a bunch of mains, scored a couple 13ths and a couple 15th place finishes as well I believe. I had a lot of fun racing supercross! In 2022, I had one of my best years racing making six out of eight mains and got a fill-in ride (with AJE/GasGas). It was an awesome experience. I accomplished more of my childhood dreams than I had ever thought I would by earning a national number. That’s all I had ever wanted.
I decided to go back to AX full time last year, and I had some podiums before compound fracturing my tib/fib in Dallas. I had a lot of fun and it’s a lot more laid back. I really enjoy the tracks, they do a great job with them and listen to the riders. They’re constantly evolving the series to make it better.
I didn’t know about the injury last year. Sounds brutal. Coming into the season I expected to see you fighting on the podium often, is the recovery what has been holding you back in the results column?
I was expecting the same to be honest, but I can’t blame it all on that. I don’t put in a lot of work off the bike. For the six and a half months I wasn’t riding, I just played a lot of pickle ball and rode some stand-up jet ski’s. I ate at a lot of different places and did a lot of different hikes. I lived the Northwest life for a summer. Pretty much lived a normal person’s life and didn’t focus much on riding.
I think going into the season, before I went to Reynard’s, I had maybe 8 hours on a bike and that might be pushing it. I honestly went right into racing because I needed the money, and I could get away with it at home. I tried to build a base at Reynard’s and did for the most part. I left at Thanksgiving and only rode approximately three times before heading to the first round. The Tuesday before I thought I was in X Games Best Whip and slid off the face of a finish line. I ate sh*t pretty good. Going into round one I was super sore and then round one did me dirty (laughs).
Honestly I just feel like I’ve been playing catch up. I didn’t go to round two because I had some doctor’s appointments to check my leg out. It swelled up bigger than a softball, so I was forced to sit out of that one. I had to take another couple weeks off for that to calm down, let my nose heal, and regroup. I still didn’t have a lot of time to ride once I got back going and it’s showing.
I’m not happy with where I’m finishing at all or where I’m at physically on the bike either. But I’m driving to Arizona right now to be able to get some seat time, ride, and get my confidence back. I know I can still do it and my leg is not holding me back anymore. I’m just mentally not strong right now due to the lack of riding. My intensity in the qualifiers is good because I know I can make that whole race and not be tired and I know I belong up front. When it comes to main events I mentally am more focused on making it the whole race instead of sprinting and worrying about it as it comes.
I’m excited to get back to training on the bike. I’m making a call to a guy to help me off the bike as well, so I can get back up there and be fighting for podiums with the boys.
It sounds like you have a solid path to creating better results the second half of the season. The AX Series has gone through a ton of changes the past year and a half. Completely fresh format, a single Open Pro class, more technical track designs, and more. What are some of the positive changes?
Yeah it’s been a wild one for them for sure. After Amsoil ended, I thought I was done. The new ownership group started, and so far it’s been a lot of fun. Arenacross is a lot more laid back and simple compared to Supercross. That alone takes a lot of pressure off us riders. The tracks are pretty basic with nothing too crazy on them. They’re about half the size of SX tracks, so it’s a “simpler” track and I enjoy that a lot more. It makes it so there’s not as much stuff to separate us and that’s where things get hard. I’m a huge whoop guy, so I’m always hoping and telling them to build monsters because that’s where I make up most of my time. The whole series being back is a huge positive to the sport.
Is there anything you wish was different?
The dual mains I could go without. I wish that it was just one main that was a touch longer. That would be cool to see. It would be awesome to see the manufacturer get back behind the series and do contingency again. That would really be helpful. Other than that, it’s just as good and fun as it was before.
Stepping back from the Arenacross Series for a moment, I have a couple more questions. I believe you started your own company? Tell me about that and how you balance managing business and racing.
My best friend and I started a custom canopy company called Legacy Custom Canopies back in 2021. We’ve been trying to push canopies and anything custom you could think of for advertising. It’s been so much fun trying to find new products to offer and ways to advertise companies. It was pretty easy because I had a desktop and a laptop, but all of my luggage was stolen. They ended up snaking my laptop, so designing isn’t the easiest now. But we make do with what we have and it’s been an awesome time. My partner does a great job doing his part, and I try to do the best I can as well focusing on growning the company while traveling and meeting people on the road.
This week you put a post out on social media, “What is a privateer?” that stirred up quite a bit of conversation. How would you define a privateer in the sport?
I was pretty fired up about what went on with the Rocky Mountain “Privateer” $1000 award being a true privateer myself. (ed. note:Derek Drake was given this weekly award from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC at the Monster Energy Supercross race. Drake rides for the Toyota of Redlands/BarX Suzuki Team.)
It pissed me off pretty good to see a guy that’s on a full blown team, is married to the team owner’s daughter, is on a salary, and the team is getting help from the manufacturer. That pissed me off because that $1000 to him went to some designer clothes or a nice dinner with his wife. It didn’t go towards his program. There’s no need for that because he has everything paid for, so it went right to his pocket. A true privateer is someone that drivers to and from the races in a van, pits out of a van, finds his own sponsors and makes his own “team”.
Prime examples are Logan Karnow, Kevin Moranz and Justin Starling. Those dudes all drive to the rounds, they grind. They worked hard on finding sponsors to pay for a mechanic to travel with, but that’s coming out of their pocket. Someone that shows up in a semi isn’t a “Privateer”.
There are a lot of teams that are Satellite teams where they might get a little help, but that’s still a team. Those riders aren’t paying for their bikes, entree fees, hotels, or mechanics on race day. If they consider BarX a Privateer team, then so is Ken Roczen with (Progressive Suzuki). The AEO team, those aren’t a privateer effort. Those are full-factory KTM motors. No, it’s not Red Bull KTM, but it’s the same bike. Those boys along with ClubMX, Beta, Triumph; all those teams have support from the manufacturer. There are multiple satellite teams like AJE, PRMX, Bubba Pauli’s team (Madd Parts Kawasaki), a lot of little teams…but still showing up in big rigs and getting things paid for. Those are Satellite teams not privateer riders.
I don’t give a damn if you paid for that ride to be under a semi. You aren’t a privateer. Show up and park next to the shitters, sign very few autographs, pay your own entrees, your hotel, all the stuff that goes into it! Then you can call yourself a privateer. If you’re not paying that then the (privateer award) money needs to go to the dudes that are spending their last $1000 to get to the races. I could go on and on, but I think we get it (laughs).
Well, I hope to see that aggression going into every pass this weekend as you fight for a few bucks for every position and get your results back where they belong! It’s been awesome learning more about Devin Harriman, a true privateer chasing the Arenacross circuit around the country. Privateers can’t do it alone, who are some of the major people who help you piece this thing together?
Yeah, I know right? I had a good week of riding, so that’s nice. It has been the first time I’ve gotten to ride other than on race day since the season really started.
It’s been a hell of a season already and to think I’m only seven rounds into the Arenacross series is crazy. We have seven more to go and then I’ll be doing 7-8 Supercross races. After that I’ll hit the three west coast outdoors.
Honestly racing couldn’t happen without one of my close friends and main sponsor CFP Construction. That man goes above and beyond for me and helps me get to all these races. Scott at Motosport Hillsboro helps me with bike and all my customers that have purchased from my company make this happen. Of course there is a long list of gear and parts companies that keep me going. Thank you Fusion Graphics, Aektiv, Leatt, Traction MX seat covers, Devol Engineering, Rekluse clutches, No-toil, Sunstar, Braking, Dunlop, Motion Pro, and Motul Oils.
Robert and Robbie Reynard; those two have been a huge help to my program. From on the bike, to suspension, to off the bike stuff; those guys have it all. I also want to thank everybody that I know who allows me to crash at their place and shower. It’s been a blast traveling the country, racing my dirt bike, and having my beautiful girlfriend traveling with me. It wouldn’t be possible without everybody that helps me out.
Main Image: AMA Arenacross
