How's it going today?
Good, just hanging out and enjoying some time with my family here in Indiana for a couple weeks before heading back home to North Carolina.

So now that we're officially into summer break, what are your plans for the summer?
No crazy plans. I'll get a break from racing, but the work never ends. I'll be back on the grind working hard to get better, stronger, and faster for the last 4 rounds of the series

What do you hope to accomplish when we get back to racing at Unadilla?
Podium.

That was an easy answer! So how do the last four rounds suit you?
3 of the 4 aren't bad and I would say are some of my more enjoyable courses of the season. The Ohio round however, I could easily do without and not lose any sleep over. I’m just tired of the same beat track every year there. Hopefully Barry can work his magic and make it a bit different this year. So far he has been doing a great job with changing up the courses, and I'm sure he will be able to bring his touch to the St.Clairsville round, which will be a welcomed change.

You had a solid ride at the John Penton, how'd that race go for you?
The Penton was really good. We made some changes and switched a few things up after snowshoe, nothing major, but it paid off. Also getting back on a more neutral terrain helped too. I'm not 100% used to the Yamaha yet, so technical races were going to be my weakness, and I somewhat knew that going in.

You had a pretty good battle with Thad Duvall, when did you finally stay in front of him?
Everyone keeps saying Thad and myself had a big battle, but I think it looked closer than it really was. Thad, Rory, KR, and myself all freight trained for a while at the beginning, then me and Thad fell off the pace a bit, and just settled in. Our speed was pretty close, so there wasn't much gaining or losing of time. We rode together a lot, but as far as battling and passing for position, it was low key. We exchanged spots in the pits, but that was about it. Our pace was close, and we rode well together. I think we just made a few mistakes each that dropped us off of KR's pace and that's all it took.

What will it take to jump up a little higher and get back on the podium?
This was a good race for me going into break.. I learned where I stand, and knowing how I felt riding in the top 5 was a good base point for moving forward. I'll be ready and swinging for podiums after summer break. 

How has the rest of your 2012 season gone?
2012 has not been good. No sugar coating here. Started out so-so, then things went downhill with the Beta deal, then switched to a whole new brand I've never rode before, and I've just been learning as I go the last few months. Up until Kentucky, I had never rode a Yamaha ever, let alone race one, so it’s been a learning experience at the least. The Yamaha is a great motorcycle and I'm having fun riding again, and I think with the summer break I will have more time to fine tune a lot of things I haven't had the chance to yet. I had good runs in Kentucky and Indiana, and now with this Penton run, things seem to be turning around, so I'm going to try and keep this good momentum ball rolling through summer break.

What is your main goal for the last part of the season?
Podiums. Four of them.

So after parting with Beta earlier in the season, how long did it take you to adjust to the Yamaha?
I'm still not totally adjusted to the Yamaha. It’s a great platform, just so much different than what I have been riding for so long. Aluminum chassis, cable clutch, 19in rear wheel. It’s little stuff like the clutch and the brakes that you don't realize take a while to get comfortable with.

What are the biggest differences in the bikes for you?
They are apples and oranges and literally not comparable. Motocross bike versus a trail oriented bike, aluminum chassis versus steel, cable clutch versus hydraulic. It goes on and on.


How did the deal with Obermeyer come about?
The whole choice to ride Yamaha’s really came from my relationship with the guys at JGRMX. I have no support from any manufacturer. It was almost mid-season, so obviously budgets don’t exist. I knew that whatever I did, I was going to be going at it 110% privateer, again, just like I did in 2010 before KTM stepped in, with no one to fall on for help. With my relationship at JGR, I knew that if I got on a YZ, at least they had the info to answer any questions I may have. So then the wheels started turning and Jason Raines talked to Keith, who turned out to be interested in helping out. I got some help from a close friend, went over to Obermeyer Yamaha and bought a 450, and then Randy stepped up to offer any info and tech help that he could to get us rolling, and here we are.

Do you have any plans for 2013 yet?
I have no plans for 13, and with the current state of things, it’s looking fairly scary. I'm going to do my best to try and put together a program that will allow me to race in 2013, whether it be with a team or on my own effort. However, I'm also not banking on anything. With only 3 teams really, and some spots on those teams already filled, it’s a pretty cruel game of musical chairs right now from a riders standpoint. I want to race next year, but I can't do it for free like most of us guys are doing right now. So currently I am doing the magic act of trying to juggle putting out job and career resume's and racing resume's, and that is not a fun task. It’s a tough spot to be in, but also a reality, and the world doesn't stop turning so I just need to be prepared for whatever comes up.

Alright, before we wrap this up, who would you like to thank?
Everyone at the JGR/Toyota/Yamaha MX team, JGR Suspension and Engines, Keith at Obermeyer Yamaha, Dale Cooke and George Pollard, Jason Raines and Randy Hawkins, Troy Ross, Maxxis, Scott, Sidi, FMF, FLY, Trek Bicycles, DP Brakes and Clutches, RidePG, FasstCo, Motion Pro, Elizaville Cabinetry, and everyone who has stuck with me this year through the rollercoaster of emotional and physical highs and lows.