Kyle Engle stepped up to the A class this year and admits shooting for our new movie EPIC, Engle wadded his day up. If you haven't seen it check it out here and you'll know what we're talking about. Pretty intense, right? Good news, Kyle is okay and only suffered a broken collar bone. He's been on the mend and missed World Mini, and for that reason he qualified for this week's Missing In Action.

Kyle Engle: Hey you called Chicken Bucket, you order, we cook it, how can I help you?

Vurb: I thought for a second there you were going to rockstar me and not pick up!

Kyle: (laughs) I was going to but...then I thought twice!

Good thinking. So anyways, you're back at MTF, what's going on?
Well really I just flew in for the weekend. We had this Red Bull race here and I fly back out tomorrow. That's it!

What was that whole Race deal about?
Shoot, I guess I'd call it like a team race. I don't know what exactly to call it but basically there was a couple teams and each team had a Red Bull rider on it and we would sprint two laps, pull off and another team member would transfer off, it was weird but cool, that's the best way to explain it. Overall, my team finished second.

What! Your team got beat?
Yea, I know not saying names but our team didn't put it all together, plus I was running supercross suspension on the outdoor track!

How about your gnarly wreck out in the Hills. It was pretty crazy, everyone thought the worst. Let's clarify to everyone know that you are okay.
Well, the saying is go big or go home, so I just thought I'd go big and go home. Basically my bike was stuck in 4th gear and next thing I knew I was coming off the jump 4th gear wide open, after that, I don't remember much. I broke my collar bone and knocked myself out but everyone on the outside will have to see the whole crash in the new movie, it's gnarly.

Your broken collar bone set you out of World Mini. Do you see this as a set back?
You know, if there was one race of the year that I would want to miss it would be Vegas. It is only four hours away from the house but you know, every year we get there and at the end of it we always say we're never coming back, but we always end up back there. I was off the bike for three weeks, I still was out there checking out the competition and  I really didn't miss much.

Have you qualified for any regionals yet?
I've done three so far. So I have two back ups for regionals, just incase. My first regional is out here at the South East Regional in two weeks and then the second one is out at Glen Helen.

So you're just planning on going back and forth, traveling between California and MTF?
Well we started out here and just planned on doing all the East stuff but then I ended up going home and hitting up those for back up. Hopefully I just get it done at the SE Regional and then not have to worry about traveling a whole lot after that.

The lifestyle is completely different than your typical day in California. , how have you liked living there?
The lifestyle down here is definitely different. Living the dream basicly. It's cool, we live and think moto 24/7. I love it. I just got back and I've been gone since Texas and coming back here even for just the weekend makes me want to stay out there. Ya know, I texted Jeremy from Red Bull and said please send me back out, I want to train and want to stay out here. The weather is hot and humid, but it's good for training and the gym is right here. You can't beat that.

Are you planning on doing Mammoth?
Last year I was out there, and usually I go, but this year I want to just focus on the one race that matters, Loretta's. So no, I won't be there. I'll be home tomorrow and then the plan is to train and get ready for the SE Regional and then cruise back out here for that. If that goes as planned, I'll spend the rest of the season at MTF.

What about Ponca?
Nahh, not doing Ponca. If you do Ponca you basically have to have two sets of bikes. You want to have fresh bikes going into that race and then the week after is Loretta's so that just wouldn't work out for me. This year I only got two bikes from Honda and I really only have one practice bike and a race bike at the moment. Anyone else on the line in the A class pretty much has 5 to 10 bikes. It's rough for me, but I'll pull through.

Have you thought about your Pro plans yet? Have you been working on anything or are you planning to stay in the A class one more year?
Well, my agent Paul Lindsay is working on a sx ride. You know, I'm not positive anything is going to pull through, nothing is for sure about my 2010 season. It's possible that I may ride the last three outdoors and then start testing for SX but that's a couple months away. Let's get through Loretta's and see how everything goes. If I don't have a ride I can tell you that I won't do it as a privateer, and I'd rather spend another year in the A class and get more experience and speed if I have too. You only have one opportunity to make it in this sport and if you don't make good a solid transition into the pro ranks then it can possibly cost you your career. Honestly, I'm not worried about staying another year in the A class as an Amateur.

You had a decent run in Texas, you threw away that one potential title win at Oak Hill when you were leading and I'm sure more than anything you wanted that championship. That probably fired you up a bit. What are some goals in the back of your head for the rest of the season?
Well coming up through the ranks I've always been a top guy but I've only had one championship at World Mini on 80's and I beat Barcia out for that one. Ya know, I didn't even spend a full year in the B Class and the A class as you know is about getting good starts, because if you don't have a good start you aren't going to catch up to the guys in the front. Everyone says their goals are to win, but I want to also stay as consistent as possible, ride smart and stay healthy. Believe it or not my only broken bone was my collar bone.

Wait, for real? First broken bone ever?
Yep, first broken bone, that was the first time I'd ever been knocked out.

Let's keep it that way.
Ya exactly, I just need to stay healthy and stay on top and come out with the W.

Who's your toughest competition right now in the A class?
No one but myself. I don't think of any riders I think of myself. I need to keep my head game right. When you show up on the line, don't think you might win or that you might be faster, you show up knowing you're going to win and in your mind you've already won. That's the mentality it takes for you to have a good chance of winning.

Who would you like to thank for helping you out?
Red Bull, Pro Circuit, Dunlop, Factory 8, Tag Metals, Sunline, EVS, ProSkin, MSR, Filtron, Six Six One, Scott Goggles, UFO, Kal Guard Lubricants, Light Speed and Decal Works. Also, I want to thank my Mom and Dad, Ken Johnson, my second family the Sanky's, thank all you guys so much; I wouldn't be where I am without all your help and can't forget all you guys at Vurb, thanks a lot.