5/18/2018

A tribute to the passing of motocross rider Brian Swink

Everything on Earth has a finite life span, including the Earth itself. Don''t get too concern though, the Earth has about 2 billion years or so left to live. There''s plenty of time for you to enjoy life, but make sure you make the most of it while you have it. Ask Neil deGrasse Tyson about Earth''s life expectancy and it''s demise if you get the chance to meet him.

With the passing of motocross rider Brian Swink,I can''t help but think about the 1991 and 1992 seasons of Supercross and Motocross. Those were arguably the best seasons in Brian Swink''s career. Especially since Brian won the 1991 and 1992 east coast Supercross titles those years.

While Brian my have lived in the shadow of Jeremy McGrath, as everyone else did during the mid to late 1990s, he struggled to find the speed to win races as he did as an amateur and his 1991 and 1992 seasons. Brian rode for several factory teams during his pro career.

In addition, Brian had some private demons he had been dealing with for some time. I recall talking to him about a picture of him that I posted online.

The pressure to succeed at anything in life is tremendous. For the factory Motocross rider, the pressure to win is always there. They say you are only as good as your last race. Make sure the last one counts.


Jeremy McGrath:

Bummed to hear the news of @Swinkster42 today ???? Solid dude, teammate and shared some good times... My thoughts go out to the Swink Family #RIP #BrianSwink

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Denny Stephenson

I spent about an hour or so going thru some boxes trying to find this specific zip lock bag of photos I thought I had somewhere. They were from a trip to Japan and another one to France I remembered. Different trips but the promoters had flown a similar group of American riders over to race. There was one pic I recall being in the bag. The bus from the airport or hotel or wherever the fuck had stopped on the side of a busy freeway so we could all jump out to pee. We were all dying laughing so I snapped a pic when I ran back to the bus from my cheap cardboard Kodak camera I had brought on the trip. Swinkster was looking over his shoulder laughing and flipping me off when I yelled out, "Cheese you fuckers!" I've know Brian since we were on minibikes. He was couple years younger but as we all know in moto, age is just a number. One year while both riding for Suzuki, he invited my dad & I down to ride at his new place in Ocala to do motos on his new SX & outdoor tracks. He wasn't a very open person. But when he was, we shared more away from the track stories. Raw. Just random shit. Mostly he just didn't give a fuck what anyone thought. Funny. Passionate. And real is what I'll remember most. He respected the hell outta my dad. Because let's be honest Don doesn't give a fuck what anybody thinks either. ?? I chose the pic I found online of him, without a helmet because the legacy he leaves is far bigger than him simply as a racer. Godspeed Swinkster. You will always be a bad motherf**ker my friend. #RIP

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Nic Wey:

This Brian Swink poster has been up in my garage for 27 years. Watching him as a young kid he showed me that anything was possible. Brian had a lot of determination and next level skills on the track. Unfortunately things weren’t as easy for him off the track. RIP Swinkster. #mafiamotocrew

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Tony Blazier

After Brian Swink left Suzuki, he ended up on the Honda of Troy squad of Phil Alderton. Ironically, the man they called Flipper also fought private demons that tragically ended his life way too early. Phil and Brian both played a major role in making 90s moto the great era it was. Both men will be remembered long after all of our riding days are over. - @hultnerphoto ??

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