You’ve been a fixture on the GNCC series for a while. What was your first year racing over here?
I came over in 2008. I won the first round that I entered and then Fred Andrews approached me and I started riding for his team after that. I had been here in 2005 at the very end of the season. I came over with Paul Edmondson and I really liked it. I liked the atmosphere and the opportunity, but I was under contract through 2007. So once I had the availability, I came over and I’ve really enjoyed it! 

So what was your focus before GNCC?
I was riding Hondas in the U.K. I raced a little bit of everything. I did cross country, motocross and some enduros. 

What’s the biggest difference between racing here vs. racing back home?
I’ve been very fortunate that this is a great place to be. It’s hard being away from family, but I don’t ponder too much on it. This is home now. I was living in Ohio until January last year. I’m in North Carolina now and been here just over a year. 

You’ve been able to make racing your career for quite a while. Are you still focused on just racing or are you working now, too?
No, just racing. I’ve been racing full time, but it’s becoming apparent that it won’t last. I’m 32 years old and am the oldest guy on the front row. So I’m looking ahead. I’ve still got racing in me, but I know I need to consider the next thing. I took my championship money from last year and purchased some lawn care equipment. I’m actually working on a weed whacker right now.

No kidding?! Is it a 2 stroke or 4 stroke?
It’s a 4 stroke! All these new ones are 4 strokes now-a-days. 

With your level of experience, that shouldn’t be a problem! Shifting gear, you are now on the front row. How did Florida go for you?
Florida was pretty much a wash! I got hurt the week leading into it. I had been down in Mexico for a race, trying to make some extra money. I ended up having a nasty accident where I fell off a cliff and cracked my pelvis, my cheekbone, got a concussion and just bruised and banged up. So coming into Florida, it was pretty much a wash. I rode three laps, but had severe kidney pain and ended up pulling off. I got home as quick as I could so I could get checked out and rest up and ready for this weekend.   

Concussions and kidney pain are no joke. Are you going to be ready to ride in just a few days?
The doctor checked me out and said the kidney pain is a result of bruising and maybe related to the concussion as well. He advised to rest up and don’t push it. So I’ll be at the race and we will see how it goes. I have to be on the line. I raced in Sparta, GA at a local race not too long ago so I know what to expect. It’s not like Florida. That is a unique, tough track. Georgia will be a bit different and won’t be as physically demanding. I know what to expect and think I can do good there.

Well, go back to this Mexico story! I heard Rodney talking about you going over a cliff on Racer TV the other day. What was that all about?
I had gone down there to do an extreme race. There was a section that was so steep I was walking my bike down. I got to where I could get back on and as I climbed on, I braced my foot against a stump. The stump was rotten or something and it gave way. I fell off! I wasn’t even riding! I came to and I was 250 feet from the bike and was held up by a shrub or stick or something sticking out of the bank. That’s all that kept me from falling another 500 feet. My helmet was cracked and I managed to crawl my way back up to the racetrack. But then I guess I fell asleep for about 3 hours. They found me by the GPS mounted to my bike. 

That’s crazy! And as bad as that is, it sounds like it could have been so much worse. That is gnarly, though.
Yeah! We race high speed every week and then I get hurt at a walking pace. But that’s how it goes. Everybody gets hurt. Sometimes you go years without anything happening, but it comes around. 

Tell us about your new team for this year.
That’s something I was able to put together myself. A lot of people think that it would be hard to do, but I’ve been here for a while and know a lot of people. I always have good relationships with my sponsors. So this year, I was able to get with Lojaks Yamaha and I’m riding XC1 while Ryan Lojak rides the XC2.