The Dudes started back in 2005 with my friend Richard Finlayson. We thought it would be great to make a film for the Fort William Mountain Film Festival, so, along with the help of local chief Gordie (maker of the Grand Theft Auto video game) we made a brilliant 15 minute film. It was a success and was sent over for the boys in Banff. This original project has never reached the web, so it might make a appearance one day. The name was a mixture of ideas and we basically just liked the words ‘dudes’ and ‘hazard’. A definite tongue in cheek feel as well. My vote was for ‘Genuine Leather’. I don’t know why. Five years passed until its current form, but the name stuck and it now has a good feel for us and involves everyone like the name suggests.

I still can’t quite believe I got sponsored by Orange in the first place. My first proper bike was a Patriot and after three years racing various Oranges, I got offered a deal. I was so excited to ride for them and since then I have gradually worked up the ranks to be their top rider. I don’t know what I am most excited about, getting new bikes to play on or having a bit more money to buy more toys with. Either way it’s exciting times and Canyon also offer the set–up I have never had before to allow me to push my racing on: training support, power cranks, manager, mechanic and race pits. All new to me, and a good change from what I am used to. Many a wise fox has told me that at this level it is all about support and I wholeheartedly agree. Winging it in a van won’t make you World Champion, so the time has come to move on.

Now this is the most exciting thing right here. My buddies Ferg and Liam are also making the change to Canyon with me. They aren’t on the same race team, but have got good backing from the Germans too. This helps our travel and general banter in the summer run smoothly, being able to do things together for the bigger cause. The films will have a new flavour and a lease of life to push them to the next level and we can work on bigger and better projects together. I value riding and working with my friends above everything, so making the ‘work’ side of earning a living into riding with friends, is essential for me. A big thank you to Canyon for not splitting up something special.

Aye, I am currently building an extension onto the Landship (team van) at the moment actually. Each year the luxuries creep in, next there will be mints on the coffee table and a personal masseuse.

I was very careful when setting out my plans to take this into account. It’s flipping well–good being a big deal, as long as I can still truck with the boys and make comedy videos with the crew. This freedom has really helped me as I have gradually changed to Enduro. Being able to make videos for our own banter and not for sponsors makes the videos not product based or incentive driven. The Dudes is still sponsorless and it’s good to keep it that way. As for me as a rider, Canyon and Orange both see the positive in letting me get on with it. If I want to kit out a Reliant Robin with a big Dudes lightning bold down the side (which I do) instead of tweeting about going to a trade show, it’s better in the long run. Let’s hope so anyway. Cheersh baeys.

Mixed riding meaning different bikes? Then probably not. Mixed riding like mixed climbing, one route taking in many disciplines, then yes. I generally ride one bike all the time and make it happen. This year we packed the Landship with only trail bikes for the Euro trip. DH in Morzine, the Mega and road rides for the training all on the one steed. That’s the beauty of enduro.

That’s true. Apart from if I am in Britain on my 120mm bike or in France on a 160mm bike or riding some DH on the DH bike. Oh wait, or the XC steed for the West Highland Wheelers winter league. If I get injured, I might ride some road also. Don’t even mention motorbikes. Yep you win. Bikes are well fun. Why have just one.

I went over for the first one as a pre–season warm up. I was amazed at how the event ran and from there on I decided to do the whole series. It was brilliant fun with all the major factors of racing taken care of – taping, timing, venue and courses all being spot on at every round – and great atmosphere too. Compare this to races where the taping is questionable and you are fronted with people who don’t accept that you can’t have a timed discipline with a subjective course. This included some riders amazingly. The course must be double taped like a slalom gate or DH track for a specific section or corner and if it is a single piece of tape it is only as a guideline. The Irish know how to do things and I look forward to returning for more craic with the lads next season.>>