GNCC Racing: Congratulations on getting your first XC2 win at Wild Boar! Walk us through that race and how things came together for you.

Jhak Walker:  My race at Wild Boar went very well, I was about mid-pack, found my way into third, then made a pass into second, and around a mile later, into the lead on lap 3. I then rode my own race and finished with a good lead. 

Take us back to the beginning. When did you first start riding, and what got you into racing dirt bikes?

 I started riding when I was 5, before then I was racing quarter midgets, but my grandpa used to race, which got my dad into it, and now me.  

The XC2 class is always stacked with talent. Competing against racers who are all pushing toward the goal of moving up to XC1, how does that level of competition motivate you to keep improving?

 Well, I love racing, and with that I love winning, and no matter the competition, I’m going to always try my best to win. Having a competitive class is great because it helps me learn and become better. 

Before moving into the XC2 class, you were one of the top riders in the XC3 class. Even though that class is no longer around, how do you think racing in XC3  helped prepare you for where you are today?

I did race XC3 for a few years, and I think riding a 125 helps a lot, with learning to ride the bike with good form and learning to carry speed and find traction.  

Three hours on a GNCC course can be a long and demanding race. What does your training program look like to stay physically and mentally prepared for those races?

 I work with Krivi training, and I’ve been working with him since I was 12. I have a group of close friends, and we spent the winter down in Florida. I do quite a bit of cardio, whether it’s cycling, running, or high-intensity lifting. Along with some heavy weight lifting. As for Mental work, I don’t do too much just watch motivational videos or read books.  

Throughout a race, the track conditions and lines change constantly, with ruts forming and lapped traffic coming into play. How do you adapt your riding as the race progresses?

After riding the track a couple times Saturday, looking for lines that may be slower but won’t deteriorate as much, Sunday, I look at the track as much as I can prior to the race. During the race, I try getting out of the main line, whether it’s 5 feet over or being in the rut and jumping out early to get out the chop. I make sure to look ahead and stand up, which is huge help for me.  

What’s one lesson you’ve learned in the past couple of seasons that has helped you become a better racer?

I have learned a lot and I’m still learning, and I would say one of my main things is knowing you can be at the front of the pack because you can be just as fast as everyone, but actually telling yourself you should be winning makes it come true.  

Is there a particular GNCC round that you look forward to most every season and why?

At this point in the season, one of the races I look forward most to probably Ironman, it’s local to me, and all my family and friends that live near me are there, so it’s awesome to see everyone there.

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, what goals have you set for yourself?

Goals really change through seasons, I find, but at this point, with the points lead, my goal is to keep that and keep consistent podiums, and keep at race wins.