Ryan Nitzen | January 6, 2022
We experience a day in the life at the Baker’s Factory.
Training guru Aldon Baker also practices what he preaches.
By Ryan Nitzen | Photography by Aaron Anderson
We’re deep in the off-season and the light of Supercross is just cresting on the horizon. Come Anaheim I, everyone on the start gate will be wondering about what the next guy has been doing. And vice versa. The head games and thoughts of someone working harder than you is something that will keep even the toughest of competitors up at night. But rest assured, everyone is grinding, putting in the work, and as always, trusting the process. The new bike is great, fitness is better than ever, and things just seem to be clicking. Uh huh. It’s the same thing we hear every year, right? This year was different though because we got a firsthand look at Aldon Baker’s program before the season ever started.
Back in December the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team invited us to the unveiling of the new 2022 Rockstar Edition motorcycles. The launch was held at none other than Aldon Baker’s world-class training facility known as The Baker’s Factory in Clermont, Florida. Clermont might not look like much on a map, but for motocross riders, it’s hallowed ground. This Orlando suburb is now a hotbed for the motorcycle industry, and several big-name training facilities have sprouted up in the surrounding cities. It’s here where we spent the weekend with this year’s recruits, Dean Wilson, Malcolm Stewart, Stilez Robertson, Jalek Swoll and Aaron Plessinger.
Cycle News Off-Road Editor Ryan Nitzen got to experience firsthand what a couple of days are like at the Baker’s Factory.
Our trip started on a Sunday. Most of the time, Sundays are a recovery day for the Baker boys. If you’re not familiar, a recovery day is basically a rest day designed to let your body recover from a long week of activity. But by the time we arrived, the crew was already nine weeks deep into Aldon’s notorious boot camp and recovery days are hard to come by. This is a grind that the best Supercross and motocross racers have endured for the past decade or so and one that is proven to win time and time again. We gathered for a simple introductory road bike ride, about 25 miles through the Florida backroads. The pace was light, if you consider an average moving speed of 18.5 mph light. Sunday’s hour of cardio was the only work on the rider’s schedule. Once the work is done, the rest of the day is theirs to enjoy. Eating properly, stretching, and sleeping all are understood parts of the deal that don’t need to be reiterated.
On Sunday evening, Husqvarna invited us out to Aldon’s facility for the presentation of their new Rockstar Edition FC250 and FC450 motocrossers, the same ones that will be raced in the upcoming Supercross series. This all-new platform sports a redesigned frame, swingarm and bodywork just for starters. Under the hood a new engine, shock and electronics package come to light. The bike even comes with a quickshifter option. Has that ever even been a thing before? The name is truly fitting as rolling one of these bikes out of the dealership will make you feel like, well, a rock star.
Cycling is a big part of Aldon’s training regimen.
Aldon and the team all attended the evening launch, too. The event was catered but only after the legendary training guru hand-picked the menu. Whole-grain rice, steamed veggies, and a choice of roasted chicken or salmon were the options. No dairy, no desserts and no alcohol were found anywhere near the premises. Aldon runs a tight ship and always keeps a close eye on his riders. The media crew ended the night joking about a late-night ice cream run, but the feisty glint in Aldon’s eye warned us otherwise. We were sent home at a reasonable hour and were advised to rest up for the day ahead.
Eight-thirty Monday morning came quick. The riders gathered early outside of Aldon’s home. Being late is not an option. The skin-tight spandex, aerodynamic helmets, clip-in shoes and skinny-tire road bikes are a far cry from the shiny new gear and glamorous Saturday nights inside the stadium. Out here, there’s no one cheering your name, no one taking your picture, and no one wanting your autograph. It’s just you versus you. And you have to want it.
When you’re finished putting in the laps, the real workout begins.
Aldon warned that Monday’s pace would be faster than the day before and advised us to not get in the mix with his riders. We were allowed to ride with them, if we could hang, just staying back in the draft while the others took turns leading the group. This crew had a good vibe about them. We all know motocross is an individual sport but having a team of riders to work with makes the suffering that much easier. You can tell these bonds were real and their success comes as a group effort. We averaged a no-joke pace of 21 miles an hour around Clermont’s “Lake Loop” where the Strava leaderboard looks like the lap-time sheets at a pro national. You better come prepared, too, because once the ride is over, it’s protein smoothie, breakfast and time to head for the track.
The gates at the Baker’s Factory opened to reveal motocross heaven. Five perfectly manicured tracks rise out of the flat Florida landscape and one giant steel building serves as the home base. Inside, there’s well-organized work bays that would make someone with OCD smile. And you better take your boots off before coming in. Aldon runs a tight ship, and let’s just say you don’t want to track any dirt inside his shop. If you do, it means you’re sweeping out every square foot of the building.
Yes, a lot of time is spent on the motorcycle, too.
A fleet of brand-new Husqvarna FC350s were waiting outside the shop. The media gang would ride the sandy outdoor track while the real pros put the final touches on their A1 prep over at the Supercross track. A warmup, some starts, and two 20-minute mains highlighted the day’s agenda—for the pros, that is. For the desk jockeys, well, we spent most of the afternoon adjusting to the foreign Florida conditions. The sand and humidity are nothing like back home in California. The sand is finer and doesn’t pack in like what you’d expect. Lines just get deeper and suck the bike for every last horsepower. It’s a whole different kind of riding. The high-revving FC350 was a great weapon for the given conditions, but, by the time I got fully acclimated, it was time to clock in at the gym.
As if the bike ride and sandtrack motos weren’t enough. Malcolm, RJ, Deano, Jalek and Aaron finished up their motos while the rest of us peeled off our sweat-soaked riding gear. Somewhere in there everyone managed to scarf down a snack and some MindFX to keep the hydration flowing amidst the 85-degree December weather. Mike Brown handles the 250 program at the Baker’s Factory and has taken on a larger role as the rider roster is ever-changing. He rallied his guys and headed to a private gym back in town, leaving Mookie, RJ, and AP to suffer with us in Aldon’s on-site gym.
Aaron Plessinger (right) and Malcolm Stewart put in the work.
The gym is just through the doorway from the immaculately clean shop. Helmets line the walls with names like Stewart, Dungey, Musquin and Anderson. Those guys really put the work in in this same room, and it’s hard to not feel some sense of motivation. Aldon whipped up a fast-paced circuit workout with about seven different stations and no rest in between. The only “rest” you get is the time it takes you to move from one station to the next. Plan accordingly. We hit some surprisingly basic exercises that weren’t as terrifying as I’d imagined. Balance, core and stability are the name of the game here. One-legged step-ups, weighted wall sits, and yoga ball push-ups were the tip of the iceberg. Some of these movements will make you feel like a total beginner, but you immediately see how they benefit the motion of riding a motorcycle.
What off-season? We will know who’s been putting in the sweat come Anaheim I.
Everyone finished the workout in good spirits. The crew here works hard and leaves the excuses at home. It’s easy to see why these guys are so good. They train out of a world-class facility, and week in week out, it’s their job to be the best versions of themselves. Pedal, ride, lift, sleep, repeat. The confidence of being on this legendary program doesn’t hurt, either.
The only “rest” you get is the time it takes you to move from one station to the next. Plan accordingly.
Sometimes I think the industry puts this mysterious aura around Aldon and the Baker’s Factory. There’s no denying the championships this place has produced but there really is no secret as to what goes on here. The work is simply a lifestyle. Aldon is no drill sergeant. Stern, yes, but from my brief experience, he’s a fun-loving guy who finds ways to push you when you can’t find that internal motivation. He encourages you to be better, to break through to that next level you didn’t think you had. There are rules, but remember, this is what you asked for. You said you wanted to be a champion, right? Aldon certainly has the knowledge, the tools, and the facility to make that happen.
The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Team gather for a photo during the Rockstar Edition reveal at the Baker’s Factory in Florida.
My legs are still sore as I put the finishing touches on this piece. I hit the gym almost every day and yet there are muscles I didn’t know I had that are still feeling Aldon’s wrath. Everyone wants to talk about “the program” or “the grind,” but for one weekend we got to really experience it. No ifs ands or buts, this is the regimen to be on if you want guaranteed results. It’s a ringer, no doubt, but as the offseason ends, don’t be shocked when you see the Baker boys come out swinging in 2022. CN
