Tuesday Toolbox: Jesse Robinson

Things are progressively getting better for Husaberg's Jesse Robinson. At the beginning of the 2009 season, before Husaberg came along, Robinson was still on his 2008 bike. Then, Husaberg showed up and offered Robinson had a brand new ride. He started an intense training program, lost weight and now that he's on a brand new 450, he's already making plans for next year. Robinson, the hometown boy at this weekend's Yadkin Valley Stomp GNCC, shared how he "got his heart back into racing" in today's Tuesday Toolbox.

Jesse, we've seen a changeover in you since the beginning of the season. It seems like as soon as you got a factory deal with Husaberg you started upping your program. How is Husaberg working out for you? It's going great. Someone being behind you really motivates you to work harder. You put more of your heart in it than when you're doing it on your own. You always do a better job when you are working for somebody.

Before you started riding for Husaberg, you were riding 2008 bikes. What was that like competitively? It didn't bother me really because I had raced them all the season before so I knew about the bike and everything. It wasn't like I had to test and get a lot of stuff figured it out. The hard thing was getting parts with no support, and going through a dealership.

Then, there was talk of this being your last year. Did you feel like you might hand in the towel for awhile? With the way the economy is going, there re no rides available because of the industry. I figured why work and spend all the money racing if I could save it and go ahead and move on with my life. Then Husaberg stepped up and I put all my heart into racing.

You started working out pretty hard and got into good shape after you were signed. Do you feel like the deal rejuvenated your career? For sure. I was riding like once a week and then going to the races. When I got the deal, I started hitting the gym every morning and cycling a lot. Within the first three weeks of getting the deal, I dropped about 10 pounds.

Did your program change in any other ways? I really don't have a program. I do what I feel like doing. I go mountain-biking with friends on Tuesday. It's a workout but it's still fun. I go to the gym every morning. I try to have fun with everything. I just try to stay busy and stay fit as best as possible.

You have a 2010 450 now, right? But before they gave you the 2010 you were on a 570. How did the work out for you?
The bike is actually good. It has good power. It doesn't wear you out in 3 hours. The new 450 is a step above that. It's more suitable for racing than the 570 but it was still great. With the 450, I just hopped on it and went.

When did you get the 2010 450?
I got it about 2 weeks ago. Just before Unadilla. I got it and actually raced a local mid east race. I was doing an enduro on Sunday and I broke my hand the week before Unadilla. I went and rode two laps.

You raced at Unadilla though? Can you take me through the two laps? I got a good start. It didn't hurt that bad. I was into the top 10 about through the first lap. Then I go

t roosted and a rock hit me in my sore hand. Then I fell back to the back, and then I realized that I couldn't beat the last place guy, so I just pulled in.

Your dad seems to be pretty integral to your program. How has he helped with your career? He has been behind me a hundred percent. He told me if I was serious about it he would be serious about helping me do it.  He would make sure I had proper equipment and get to the races. I kept myself out of trouble through high school. He stood by and funded me. Now I work for him at the garage so I have the right schedule for riding and training.

How do you feel about Yadkinville? It's pretty much your home base. The hand is going to hold me back a little bit. I'll do better there than I did in NY. It's tighter so I can sit down more. Other than the broken hand, I would consider myself to do well there. I went to the doctor this morning and he said it was still broken. Looking at three more weeks to get it about 75 percent still healed.

So what does the doctor think of you racing?
The doctor doesn't know I'm riding!

What are your plans for next year? Husaberg is talking about getting me on the same program as this year. I feel sure the sponsors will step back up. I should be back into full force in 2010.