"I'M SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH IT" – CARSON MUMFORD INTERVIEW

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CARSON MUMFORD INTERVIEW: 2025 BIRMINGHAM SUPERCROSS

For every incredible success story of a rider such as Haiden Deegan or Jett Lawrence, there are hundreds of stories of promising riders sidelined by injury and team changes. While this list would be a long one, we will focus on one rider in particular: Carson Mumford. Carson was a mini-cycle and amatuer phenom from California. He signed with Geico Honda’s amateur feeder team, Amsoil Honda, to pave his way to the pro ranks with Geico. However, Geico Honda folded, leading Carson to the short-lived Chapparal Honda team. After a season, that team would also quit, leaving the now twenty-three-year-old looking for a ride. What followed was brief stints with other teams such as Bar X Suzuki, a Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki fill-in ride, MCR Honda, and Firepower Honda (which has been renamed to Quad Lock Honda for 2025). All through these transitions, Mumford suffered several severe injuries, resulting in setback after setback. Mumford’s career trajectory is often the norm in Pro Motocross, and he is not alone. I met Carson at one of his first pro races and wanted to take a minute at the Indy Supercross to get his thoughts on 2025. Mumford has run near the front in the 250 East Supercross series with an eighth at Detroit and is currently tenth overall in points.

2025 BIRMINGHAM SUPERCROSS // FULL COVERAGE

BY JIM KIMBALL

CARSON, I WOULD SAY YOUR RIDING LOOKS BETTER THAN EVER. HOW ARE YOU FEELING? I am feeling good, and I would agree. I feel like I am riding pretty well when I watch myself back on video. Also, I feel like I am starting to look more like one of the guys. I have always believed that I could be right there. I just have had weird setbacks. Even coming into the season, I was not really riding that well. I broke my leg last year, and I was nervous that it was going to be one of the same types of years where I just looked out of place. But I have been doing a good job of seizing every moment, and anytime I see an opportunity, I have been able to capitalize on it—and that is good. That is hard to do, you know? When you are in the stadium, it is a lot harder than when you are at the practice track. At the practice track, it is easier to make passes, do cool rhythms, and feel comfy, but now I have been able to keep that same mentality at the races. 

YOU HAVE BEEN ON SOME DIFFERENT TEAMS THE PAST FEW YEARS, ALONG WITH HAVING YOUR INJURIES, HOW IS THE QUAD LOCK HONDA TEAM? The bike is good enough to get me to pretty much whatever result I feel like my riding can get me to. So far, I feel like as a rider, I am progressing every weekend.  I have not really touched the bike all year, so that is a good thing. And obviously, Factory Connection makes amazing suspension, so I have a good base. Since the beginning with the team, my bike has been great.

THAT’S AWESOME TO HEAR. I mean that is the goal, right? That is the dream is to have a bike and all you need to do is get better yourself, so I am lucky to have that. Like I said, I was struggling before the season and even coming into Tampa, I could only really do like eight laps that were worth anything. I have just been building at every race, and it seems that recently, I am able to put a Main Event together at the practice track. That is good. I have been working hard. I don’t think my full potential has really shown yet. I think most people in the industry have spent a little time with me. I have obviously grown up in this industry my whole life, so I have spent a lot of time with all these folks, and everyone knows that on my good days, I can go fast and do amazing things on the bike. It is only a matter of time, if I keep my head on straight that I can show that at a race day.

Carson during his rookie season on Geico Honda. 

WITH HOW WELL YOU HAVE BEEN RIDING, YOU CAN MAKE THE PODIUM. I would agree. I don’t think that is super far-fetched. Sometimes, I think people look at me and they think “Oh, he got seventh last weekend, he is delusional for thinking that a podium is possible,” but realistically it is not that far off. I might need something to go my way like maybe one of the fast guys has a bad race, but that is the cool part of racing it is different every time. People do have bad nights, and if I have a good night, I could for sure get on the podium. 

Carson with the Alpinestars medics at Thunder Valley in 2023, during his time as a fill-in rider on Pro Circuit. 

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL? For me, it really comes down to the fact that  I want to fight the whole race, and then just battle with these guys. This is just a personal thing for me this year, but I feel like I am starting to earn other people’s respect again. There were years when I rode on teams that were maybe not at this level, and I feel like when other riders are around you, they view you like, “I need to move this guy out of my way right now because he is not on my level.” Now, it seems I am starting to earn these guys’ respect, and when they see me up front, it is nothing new to them. A few weeks ago in Daytona, I went from outside the top ten, to fifth place—and I rode there for a little bit. It did not seem like anyone was angry that I was up there. So that is cool; I could be wrong, but that is just a feeling I have had.

I BELIEVE MANY SEE YOU AS SOMEONE THAT CAME INTO THE PRO SCENE WITH HUGE EXPECTATIONS BUT STRUGGLED WITH INJURIES. Oh, for sure; I don’t think it is that common of a story to have someone like Haiden Deegan, or Jett Lawrence—where you come in and win right away. That is the story that everyone dreams about, but it does not happen that often. That is why it is so amazing when someone like them pulls it off. I definitely have a relatable story. Everyone goes through a hardship in life, no matter if they are racing, in sports or just have a day job. A lot of people can relate to my story where stuff happened out of my control. But I have made bad decisions and gotten hurt and done this and that. I believe people can tell from the outside looking in. I hope they can tell that I have been learning and I have not given up. I hope I can set a good example for these kids coming up because the media really pushes the dream to a lot of people that some riders are always winning. That is only the top one percent. So, there is that 95 percent of us that are all in my position where we are just trying our butts off to make it. I hope that I shed some light on this and that these kids know that hardship is going to come, I am somebody who has been through it and I am still pushing.  

Carson in the Supermini class at Monster Cup on his CRF150.

Carson raced REM at Glen Helen multiple times over the years. Here’s one of the earlier photos we had of him when he was a part of the Team Green amateur program.

Carson (122) and Jett Reynolds (79) grew up racing together. Both have had a tough go with injuries in their pro careers. 

Carson on his Geico Honda CRF250, racing at Glen Helen when he was still an amateur. 

2025 BIRMINGHAM SUPERCROSS // FULL COVERAGE

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