MIA: SUNNY DRAKE
	Author: Chase Stallo	MIA-Missing In Action | Tuesday, 21 April 2009 12:42

If it feels like it’s been a while since you have seen the #167 of Sunny Drake cruising the pits of an amateur national (or any race for that matter) it’s because it has. Having been bitten by the injury bug, Sunny has been recovering and just recently jumped back on the bike. But the kid from New York is chopping at the bit to get back out there and bang bars with the rest of the pro class. If all goes well this year we just might see him making his pro debut in front of his hometown crowd at Unadilla. We caught up with Sunny to ask about his injury, his plans for the rest of the year and how his road to recovery is going. CHECK IT OUT.

VM:  Sunny, we almost can’t remember last time we saw you race before this weekend at Muddy Creek, take us back and fill us in on what’s been going on?

About 5 months ago I had surgery on my ACL. They took my patella tendon and reconnected it. So I have been out for a while, so just getting back and ready. The whole ACL surgery put me out for a while.

 

VM:  You have obviously missed some time on the bike, when was your last race?

I raced this past weekend at Muddy Creek for the Area Qualifier. But before that just some local races in New York.

 

VM:  How did Muddy Creek go?

My finishes didn’t really add up. I was one of the fastest guys there. It was me, Futtrell, McDade and Trettle banging bars all weekend. I just had some bad starts that’s the main thing I need to get back. I’m a little out of shape, but I can go for a few laps and just pin it. But I feel good; I’m pumped about this year because I’m already running the same speed as Futtreel and those guys. I just need to get my endurance back and that’s what I’m trying to do.

 

VM:  We know you have had some knee problems in the past, is the knee back to 100%?

No, it’s definitely not 100%. It still hurts here and there, it’s going to take a little while for it to feel a 100%.

 

VM: Yeah, that type of surgery usually takes a year to get back to full strength?

Yeah, it really sucks.

 

VM: Have the doctors told you when you might be back to full strength?

No, I’m just kind of waiting and seeing. The last time I talked to my doctor was about a month ago and he said I could start riding the turn track and I went from the turn track to running motos.

 

VM:  Are you still training at the Millsaps Training Facility?

Yeah, I’m still at Millsaps.

 

VM:  Have any of your sponsors changed?

The only thing that has really changed is that I’m not with Atomic Racing anymore; I’m actually sponsored by Mom and Dad. I guess the team fell through and kind of screwed me. His son got out of it and they kind of dropped the team. I had some promises made to me and got screwed. I had some other deals going on which I could have had but I was relying on that so I didn’t make any other deals. But my main sponsors right now are; Fox, Smith and Pants Saggin’ Designz.

 

VM:  What are your plans for the rest of the season, are we going to see you at Ponca and Loretta’s?

I’m definitely doing Loretta’s. Ponca, that is a maybe, I’m not sure yet. I just can’t wait, I’m ready to mix it up, I’m sick of sitting on the sidelines.

 

VM:  You will be stepping into a pro class that has had much more time to settle into a fast pace, where do you feel you will find yourself in that pack?

Yeah, I feel like MTF trains you so hard. You train with the best I’m riding with Barcia and those guys everyday. That’s a huge help. I know for sure I will be ready as far as endurance goes. I’m not holding anything back this year. I’ve had so many injuries that I have bounced back from and I know I will bounce back from this one.

 

VM: Depending on how the rest of your season goes, are you considering racing Unadilla, or will we see you back in the amateur pits for one more season?

Yeah, we have talked about that quite a bit. If the season goes well and if I do good at Loretta’s I will be at Unadilla, which is one of my hometown tracks, which would be cool. I’m excited for it.

 

VM:  Do you feel that you not having that pressure from sponsors that you are riding with more freedom this year? Like you’re riding for yourself with nothing to prove to anybody?

Yeah, I guess so. I have never really thought of it that way. I don’t really have anyone behind me except my family and a few other sponsors. I want to go out there and prove to these teams that I should be on their team. But I have been doing this my whole life, I’ve been getting dodged by every team. I’m under the radar.

 

VM:  Sunny you are now off the MIA hot seat; would you like to thank anyone before I let you go?

My family, my mechanic, MTF, Todd Hicks from Fox, Smith, Kurt and Ryno from Pant Saggin, all my friends from back home, Todd from TLR for my motors. Just would like to thank everyone for helping me out.