Aldon Baker (born 1971 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) is a trainer of motorcycle racers.
Early life
editAldon was a club level motorcycle roadracer before being inducted into the South African army.[1] He was a two-time winner of the South African XC Championship for mountain biking and represented South Africa in the 1996 World Championships.[2] He was set to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics when the South African Olympic Committee eliminated mountain biking from their program. His father was a top marathon runner.[1]
Career
editBaker started his career as a personal trainer at a gym in London creating fitness routines and diet regimens drawing on his mountain biking experience.[3] In 2000 Johnny O'Mara was overseeing the training of Ricky Carmichael. O'Mara was acquainted with Baker through Oakley and suggested he might help him. Baker traveled to Florida to meet Carmichael and after a six-month trial took over his training for the 2000 outdoor Motocross season.[4] Baker's success with Carmichael reshaped the landscape for riders and their physical fitness. Initially he worked with one rider at a time, transitioning from Carmichael after his retirement to James Stewart Jr.[3] In 2014 he took on two champion contenders: Ryan Villopoto and Ken Roczen. At that time Baker was conducting the training on the property of Villopoto. When Villopoto sold the property, Baker acquired 92 acres and built what came to be called "Baker's Factory". From 2000 to 2020 Baker's riders won 15 out of 21 Supercross championship titles and 14 of 21 outdoor Motocross titles. Some of the titles were not won because of riders being out due to injuries.[1] Riders trained by Aldon Baker include: Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, Ken Roczen,[note 1] Ryan Dungey, Marvin Musquin, Jason Anderson, Zach Osborne, Adam Cianciarulo, [note 1]Cooper Webb and Malcolm Stewart. .
In 2016 Baker entered a five-year deal with factory KTM to work exclusively with riders on KTM and Husqvarna motorcycles.[1]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Smith, Brett (30 December 2017). "A Look Inside Baker's Factory". Retrieved 2018-04-16.
- ^ Espinoza, Zapata (1 March 2002). "A man of two tribes". Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
- ^ a b Cox, Steve (14 January 2009). "BETWEEN THE MOTOS: Aldon Baker". Retrieved 2018-04-16.
- ^ Wilson, Andrea (25 April 2012). "Interview: Aldon Baker". Retrieved 2018-04-16.