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Photo courtesy of: Steve "TFS" Bruhn,
Motonews.com
Interview
with Flint, Michigan's
Josh
Woods *
AMA Pro Motocross Racer - #91
LOW-KEY / HIGH SPEED
By
D. Kaczan
Review
Magazine
caught up with local pro Motocross racer, and Flint native, Josh Woods
recently training at Birch Run/
Millington's BAJA ACRES MX PARK <go to bajamx.com!>, in between
stops on the AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series.
Currently battling in the upper-middle points range, and half-way
through the season coming into the July 1st
- 3rd
Michigan stop at Redbud MX <go to redbudmx.com!>, the upbeat and
mild mannered 22-year-old, brings us up to speed on what's going on with
him, his new team, and his new bike: the potent Team Maestro
Suzuki's RMZ450.
Review: Hi Josh, and thanks for taking time out to talk with us today:
Woods: Aww, no problemŠthank you!
Review: What's going on? How are you doing?
Woods: I'm doing real good!
Review: Just hangin out in Flint-town? Woods: Yeah well
actually, I'm at my house, out in Laingsburg, just North-East of
Lansing.
I just moved back this week, I've been in Georgia all winter at our
practice facility. Yeah, my parents still live right in Flint, and
I grew up in Flint, and I'm always up there, though.
Review: So you're riding and training everyday?
Woods:
Yeah, that's pretty much it, I'll be practicing tomorrow, and Thursday,
and then heading out to the race on Friday <in Budd's Creek, MD>
Review: Where do you ride in this area? Woods:
Mostly, I ride with friends and other riders and racers around here, or at
Baja Acres, I like coming out to, but other than that, during the
season, mostly private tracks.
Review: How are you getting to the races nowadays?
Woods:
Well, luckily I'm on a really good team that has a rig that goes to all
the races, and they fly me to them, so yeah, they got me hooked up pretty
good.
Review: Team Maestro Suzuki is new for 2005ŠHow are things working out for
you under a new tent? As well as on the new bike - the Suzuki RMZ450?
Woods:
Good, Great! I'm just getting used to it you know? Things are getting
better and betterŠ It's a big learning experience for everyone, but I
think based on my factory team background, I have a lot of input to offer
as far as how a lot of aspects work, and I'm doing my best to help as much
as I can, and get good results in the races, and we're getting better.
We've got a great team owner, Jeff Edwards, and he is 110% behind
us. He's all about doing whatever he can for us, helping us out anyway he
can, and just wants to do whatever he can to 'make it happen', I'm having
a lot of fun on that bike, and it gets better and better everyday. You
know, I just got to spend some time last week in New Hampshire working
with Factory Connection doing some suspension testing, and we got
the setup on the bike better, and especially with the new bike, you know,
we're leaning more and more about it as we go, and we're trying different
things and seeing what works, I'm really looking forward 'cause I know the
bike is just getting better and better all the time.
Review: So everyone is listening and supporting you?
Woods: Oh yeah, definitely, we have a great team and the bike is
just phenomenal. For all of us though, there's a learning curve there, and
it's just a lot to get used to on the bigger bike, but every time I ride
I'm feeling more comfortable on the big bike, and trying different things
with it. It's a great bike!
Review: You've had some difficult last couple of races ... last
week in Southwick was brutal, huh?
Woods: Oh YeahŠWell, the track was just ridiculously roughŠI
honestly think it was probably the roughest track I've ever ridden.
Review: That's says a lot!
Woods: Yeah, I mean, I got a little out of shape in a couple of
sections, I crashed twice the first motoŠI ended up way in back and didn't
finish the first moto, I had a pretty bad getoff when I got cross- rutted
coming off one of the jumps, and I got tangled up with Michael Byrne, I
don't knowŠI was feeling really goodŠworked my way back up to 10th,
butŠ..that's just racing I guess ŠI don't knowŠI'm disappointed ya know,
but -
Review: But you're OK, then?
Woods:
Oh yeah, yeah I'm fine nowŠI was a little dazed there for awhile, but
I'm all good now. I mean I was a little sore, ya know, my neck was sore,
butŠI'm feeling fine now, today.
Review: How do you get past all that, and remained focused on the next
race?
Woods:
You know, you just take it one race at a timeŠand hope for the best!
Review: Who is in your circle of influence? Woods:
Mostly my Mom and Dad. Definitely. They're the ones who support me the
most. They have been there since day one, without them I wouldn't be where
I'm at right now. They just drove out to Southwick last week to catch the
race, and they're on the road quite a bit...they go to as many races as
they can, but you know with my Dad working for General Motor he stays
pretty busy, it's a good job, so it can be tough for him to get to some of
them, but they just have put a TON into helping me and supporting me in my
racing career, I couldn't even be close to where I'm at without themŠso,
you know they are definitely my 'support group' and I know it's hard for
them sometimes like going through injuries, or if I have a big crash, or a
weekend like I did last week, I'm sure it's a bit scary for them, you
knowŠbut they're still lovin' it , and always there for me, you know?
Review: Well I know you have a lot of fans, especially in Michigan.
Woods:
Yeah definitelyŠI'm always surprised by how many people come up and say hi
at the races, and stuffŠit's great seeing how many people are behind me,
and really gets me pumped!
Review: Being a 'Michigander', do you have more pressure to do well in the
rounds that are 'home', and do you look forward to the Pontiac Supercross
and/or Redbud National rounds more than the other stops?
Woods:
No, I don't really feel any more pressure, but yeah, I've always had
pretty good results in Michigan; in fact, my best finish in Supercross was
in Pontiac, so no, I don't really seem to think about it like thatŠbut
yeah, I'll be looking forward to those rounds. Its great seeing a lot of
fans, and people I know, that come out and support me at the racesŠ
Review: One last question: My boys want to know if you play MX vs. ATV
Unleashed* and if so, can we hook up and play sometimes since we're
practically neighbors?
Woods:
Sure! YeahŠAbsolutely! I think that most all of the motocross guys
play itŠI like playing all those when I canŠ
Review: I'll let you get back to what you do...best of luck, keep 'er on 2
wheelsŠ and we'll be talking to you, rooting you on at Redbud man! You
know if you do good there, I'll write a whole story about it!
Woods:
Thanks a lot! Yeah that'd be great! I'll do my bestŠ see you there. Tell
everyone to come out to Redbud, you know, catch the race and stop by and
say Hi!
Round
5 of the AMA Pro Motocross Nationals is July 1st
- 3rd,
in beautiful Buchanan, Michigan
Check out Redbudmx.com for info and directions - come have some Good Dirty
Fun this weekend!
CAPTION:
<The author gives Josh some valuable advice>
"So just RIP it, and get out front!"
"Yeah? I'll try to remember that!"
CAPTION: Come cheer Josh on, and have a blast at the Redbud National,
in beautiful
Buchanan, MI,
this weekend! <go redbudmx.com!>
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