by: Jared Bolton
Tuesday, April 22, 2014 | 1:45 PM
Blake Tornes has put in the work so far in 2014 and currently leads the championship points in the ultra-competitive College-A class. After a 5th place finish in 2013, there’s no doubt that Blake is hungry for the class championship in 2014. We caught up with Blake to talk about his 2014 season and more.
GNCCRacing.com: How's it going today?
Blake Tornes: It's going good. I just finished up at work, and now I'm getting ready to head to the gym.
Are you ready for another weekend of GNCC racing?
Oh yeah man. I can't wait! The atmosphere at GNCC races is awesome. We always look forward to seeing our racing family.
How do you feel coming into The Limestone?
I'm feeling great. Much better than I felt going into Big Buck. At Big Buck, I didn't feel like I was mentally or physically prepared. I didn't get to lift or do cardio before the week of Big Buck, so going into it I had it in my head that I was not in shape. Then about lap 3, I could really feel it. I came back home and told my trainer Jarred what I was feeling and he completely changed my workout. I’m 100% confident in it and can't wait to hear "10 seconds."
How has the Limestone treated you in the past?
Well, last year was my first full year of racing, so I have only been there once. I got a good start and had fun at the track, but I faded off the lead pack pretty quick. I’m excited to see how it treats me this year since we considered last year a "learning year" in College-A.
So, tell us how your 2014 season has been going.
It’s been awesome! I really hope the rest of the season is like the beginning. I really don't like to talk about the first race in Florida. Three laps in, my bike overheated. We learned from it and moved on to Georgia, where I had an awesome battle with Levi Coen. In the end, I earned my first College-A win and overall amateur. I backed that up with another win in North Carolina and second in South Carolina. We’re really pushing for more wins and amateur overalls.
You've got the points lead in college A class. How's that feel?
It feels great. It's a good motivator and confidence booster, but at the same time it keeps you on your toes. The competition is really stiff in College-A class. You have to have solid finishes year round.
What do you hope to accomplish through the rest of the 2014 season?
The main goal is winning the College-A championship. I’d love to get on the podium a few more times for the overall amateur award. As long as we keep getting solid finishes, I feel like I have a good chance of reaching my goal.
What about the future? What do you hope to accomplish down the road in your racing career?
I hope to keep pushing and getting faster and stronger. Like any other amateur making his way through the ranks, I hope to be lining up on the pro line one day and making racing my career.
What’s it going to take to get there?
It’s going to take endless hours of training and riding. I have great people helping me and pushing me to get better. I think with practice and the help of great sponsors we can get there.
How does it feel to be the only repeat race winner in the college A class this season?
It's a great feeling. I try not to look back and spend too much time thinking about past races. Every kid in the College-A class is wanting that win just as bad as me, so I try to keep my head on straight, push to the next race, and work on improving each time I go out there.
What will it take to keep getting wins in such a stacked class?
Starts are a big part of the race. If you can get out front early and break away from the pack, it’s definitely a big advantage. I think fitness is a big factor in this class too. It’s a 2 hour sprint to the finish. I need to keep having smart, mistake-free rides. If I can keep doing that, I think I can continue having strong finishes throughout the year.
Alright, before we wrap this up, who would you like to thank?
Well, first I’d like to thank Brian Vasko at Waynesburg Yamaha. These guys are awesome. They’ve been behind me from the start and have helped us out in so many way. They know all there is to know about Yamahas and woods racing. I actually got to help them set up the new revalve shock that Waynesburg is making and it’s by far the best rear shock I’ve ever ridden on! I would like to thank my cousin Kyle Kincaid for backing me and for getting me started racing. Without him I wouldn’t be where I am today. A huge shout out to my mechanic, Jon Hart. He spends endless hours in fixing everything I tear up! He’s always pushing me to be better and I owe a huge part of my success to him. He’s a great mechanic and an even better friend. Rudy Pennock is the "secretary" of the group he is the one who keeps us organized. He also jumps in when we’re running short on time to help get the bike ready for the race. Tyler King jumped in and started helping me a lot this year, we’ve been working together on suspension and we have the bike dialed in perfect. I’d like to thank my friends Casey, Alex, and Brice for stepping in and helping me at the locals, helping me get stuff ready before the race and just being there for support. I’d like to thank Jarod Arnold for training me and pushing me when I didn't want to be in the gym! Levi Coen has also kept me motivated in the off season. We’ve become good friends and we got together to go ride down south as much as possible over winter which was a big help. Thanks mom and dad for always believing in me and supporting me along the way. My family for always showing love and support throughout the season. and finally I would like to thank all my sponsors, they are the best out there and without them I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in; Lonestar Racing, MotoXperts, Pro Armor, Hiper Wheels, TireBalls, Custom Axis, Works Connection, Cycra, Streamline Brake Lines, Fasst, Moose Racing, Parts Unlimited, Gaerne, Shoei, EZG Manufacturing and Virgle Huck Builders.