Moto Moms: Cyndi Goerke

By Andy Bowyer

2002 was the Goerke's best year at Loretta's

The Goerke's have been Loretta Lynn regulars for over ten years. Cyndi and Gary first qualified with their oldest son Matt and watched him climb all the way through the ranks and into a professional career. Matt won two Loretta's championships in his amateur career and now his little brother, Kyle, is scratching his way to a Loretta Lynn's amateur championship of his own. The Goerke's stay really busy traveling to most of Matt's supercross races and still hitting enough amateur events to enable Kyle to qualify for the national. All of this has given their Mom, Cyndi, a lot to worry about that is for sure. In fact, Cyndi witnessed Matt suffer one of the worst crashes in supercross history at his very first supercross race! It was a scene no mother should ever see, but lucky for the Goerke's, Matt escaped with only a few stitches. Matt has recovered to tally a couple of strong seasons on the pro tour, including a couple supercross podiums. He will ride for the MDK/KTM factory supercross lites team and has already been logging laps aboard the KTM250f. With such a grand story, we wanted to get a hold of Cyndi and talk to her about her family's experiences and their plans for the days to come.

MX Sports: When did the Goerke family first get involved with Loretta Lynn's and what is your best experience?

Cyndi: We've been racing Loretta's since we were on pee wee's. Matt made it his first year and its been great ever since. Although, I'd have to say our best experience was when Matt won five out of six motos in 2002 and dominated that Supermini class. That was just a really good year for both boys. Kyle got 5th overall in the 65 7-9 class and we were so proud.

Matt will be a podium threat in the 2008 east coast SX Lites division

What is your favorite non-racing thing to do at the ranch?

I always go over to that neat little Amish village. They have homemade jams and pies and I just like to get away and go do that. The boys used to always go ride horses too.

Do you have any superstitions?

No, well, I used to, but it seemed like nothing ever worked so I just do my best to wish for the safety of everyone racing. We're not very superstitious.

What kind of a role do you play in the boys training?

Well, Kyle is home schooled so we always make sure he is way ahead of his work so we can dedicate the entire month of July to training for Loretta's. I take their lap times and I've been watching long enough to tell them if their cornering style is good or not so good. I actually help the boys practice making block passes too. Matt had some trouble being aggressive enough so I'd have he and Kyle practice racing each other into the turns. Now, Kyle, he doesn't have a problem being aggressive at all! I actually have to calm him down sometimes (laughs).

There is a lot of evening activities for the kids at Loretta's. Do you enforce a curfew for the boys?

Yes, they are supposed to be in bed by 9pm. Matt was always in bed on his own by that time anyways, but if we didn't keep an eye on Kyle he'd be up all night. Kyle likes to do more normal kid activities than Matt. He goes down to the pond and fishes and stuff like that.

Kyle Goerke hopes to follow in his brother's foot steps

What was more nerve racking. Watching the boys at Loretta's or watching Matt at his first pro race?

Well, Matt had that really bad wreck where he jumped way into the grandstands and that was the worst ever. I thought he was hurt really bad or worse. I was almost in shock because I saw the whole thing and it was so scary. Something was watching out for him that day, I think maybe his grandparent's angel's caught him. It was just a miracle he wasn't hurt really bad. (Ed note: Matt's crash actually changed supercross forever. After the wreck the track builders we not allowed to build a berm over two or three feet tall that were on the edges of the track.)

Do you think the Goerke's will still go back to Loretta's once Kyle graduates?

I sure think so. We went the year that none of the boys even qualified. Matt broke his leg and missed qualifying, but we went anyways so we could see all of our friends from all over the country.

Well, thank you for your time Cyndi. Good luck in 2008!

Thanks, Andy!