Jimmy
Jarrett at Anaheim I 2008
While at the
Supercross opener I was fortunate enough to run
across a rider I had meet a few years ago. As chance
would have it Jimmy Jarrett was also at A1 helping
out Smith Goggles doing prep for the Supercross guys
who feared the worst from old maid mother nature.
Jimmy a super guy kindly agreed to give me an
exclusive interview while he stuffed roll offs and
wrapped up goggles for the soon to be muddy riders.
No stranger to mud ,
Jimmy is a champion off-road rider and an
established ISDE trophy team member so mud is
nothing for this guy who rides the GNCC series in
the X1 class, Jimmy is the guy on the Suzuki getting
all the holeshots, he’s also a very humble person
who just takes it all in and enjoys the moment. So
we kicked off the interview and what follows is
below.
King Cobra of
Texas – Fist off for some reason my wife
wanted to know if you were married and just how old
you really are?
KCOT – So the new
thing is I-Pod and everyone has to have their
rocking hip-hop tune, what are you sporting yours?
JJ – I’ve got
Social Distortion right now.
KCOT – Cool band
name, but that sounds like a real problem! anyways
everyone has the “First bike” the one you learned to
love this sport on, what’s the one that just brings
you back to the start?
JJ – that’s easy, my
first bike was an XR-75 funny thing was it was my
sister’s bike, I was 5 years old, and I rode the
crap out of that bike.
KCOT – So now your 31
that would put a few years under your belt, how my
years have you took it to the track with racing?
JJ – Wow I guess
about 21 I started racing about 5 years after I got
my XR-75 roughly.
KCOT – Everyone has
that certain someone that brought the sport to you,
the Dad that raced, the uncle who takes you to the
track, who’s that one person who got you hooked?
JJ- That would be my
dad he raced woods and hair scrambles so I guess
he’d be the reason I’m here now.
KCOT – Lets talk some
about your program and about the kids coming up, any
advice you’d like to offer for the little guys, and
is there any training that you feel helps keep you
on your game?
JJ – First off and I
guess mostly keep it fun, keep it lite and just
enjoy it. If you’re always stressing about the next
race or whatever, it’s no fun and there’s no reason
to do anything if it’s not worth it. Secondly, as
far as training, I like to lift weights, when racing
for the hours we do, endurance and strength are just
as important as the bike itself. So weight train and
road bike for cardio.
KCOT – for those
riders who dream of being a factory rider like
yourself, what would you feel is the coolest thing
about it?
JJ – It would have to
be the support base, you’re not in it alone. You’ve
got people there to work with and keep your focus;
it’s real good to not feel like you’re on your own.
KCOT – Something I
like to ask everyone is just what is your favorite
memory in the years of travel, what’s the one thing
when you look back it just makes you bust out and
think man this is a great sport.
JJ – That’s a tough
one, because in this sport you travel so much and do
so many things, it’s great to be with family and
friends, but if I had to nail it down I’d have to
say a few years ago while racing in
Mexico myself and a few other riders got into
a little hassle with some other guys, well it
started to get a little crazy and a few of the guys
jumped me, and from out of the blue comes Brain
Garrahan, the guy is like 9 feet tall and he just
did this bonsai move it looked like he was in a
Japanese carton. Man that still make me laugh for
sure.
KCOT – Well Jimmy
it’s been great to see you again and catch up, I’m
sure you’re going to have a busy year, tell us about
what’s going on for you and the Suzuki team.
JJ – Of course I’ll
be headed back to the GNCC series, also to the OMA
series I’ve got to defend my title you know. Looks
like ISDE will be in
Greece this year and I’ll be headed to that
as well.
KCOT – Good luck with
all that sounds like you’ve got you hands full. Tell
us who will be helping you out and is there anyone
you would like to thank?
JJ – I’ve been lucky
enough to get picked up with Suzuki again this year
to ride with new team mates, Charlie Mullins and
Paul Whibbley both are new to Suzuki but both are
very good riders. Smith will be the goggles and
Dunlop the tires.
I’d like to thanks my
parents for the support through all the years, also
my lovely wife Barb for everything.
Thank you for your
time Jimmy and again it’s been great to see you
again; we’ll be pulling for you so good luck.
To follow Jimmy and
keep up with all the crazy places and races he
attends you can go to the following links.
Jimmy’s personal site
http://www.jarrettoffroad.com/index1.html
GNCC main website
http://gnccracing.com/
OMA main website
http://www.unitedoffroadracing.com/
For ISDE info check
out these
http://www.isde.tv/
http://www.amadirectlink.com/amrace/2007/isde/
