by dirtgirl
5 Minutes with...Josh Hansen
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 | 4:30 PM
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PrintOn October 29, 2010 – the day before round three of the 2010 Monster Energy Super X Series at Aurora Stadium in Launceston – I called Josh Hansen down in Australia and we knocked out a comprehensive interview. During the 30-minute question and answers session, Josh dropped a few swear words and made a few observations that set off a fireworks show of an interview. It took a few days to get things smoothed over and for the smoke to clear, but all is well that ends well. And Josh Hansen has been doing very well Down Under. Last Saturday in North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, the American won his first round of the Australasia series, and in doing so opened up a 32-point lead over closest rival Jay Marmont (225 points to 193). With round five set to run this Saturday in Carisbrook Stadium – known, for some reason, as "The House of Pain" – Hansen plans to keep his drive for the championship alive as the series now begins to make the bend and head down the final stretch to the wire (have to love that old horse racing cliché’). This afternoon, we rang up the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider to see how things were going down on the upside. And away we go…
Josh Hansen: What’s up, Eric? I’m good. I’m just chilling right now. I was about to go for a run. I was going to do a little running near the beach. It’s hot as – uhm - it’s really hot out here.
Hey, you can swear while we do this, but I’ll leave the swear words out this time. I know I got us both in some hot water with bad words in our last interview.
Oh yeah. Are we doing an interview right now?
Yeah we are. I should have shown better judgment in typing up the last one…
Yeah, it’s all in the past. It’s all good. So we’re good; we’re good.
Man, I’ve had a hell of a time tracking you down. Your publicist down there, Sue Perry, told me you lost your phone.
Yeah, it wasn’t too good. I was pretty bummed. I went to that whole Melbourne Cup thing and I lost my phone and somebody swooped it quick. The iPhones here are $900 bucks, so people take advantage of it when they find an iPhone.
How are things going? You’re four rounds into the Monster Energy Super X Series and leading the point standings. Are you still feeling good down there? Are you comfortable? Are you homesick?
Yeah. It’s weird. I’ve been making it happen and it’s been good. I’ve been really sick, though. I haven’t been able to get rid of being sick. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve been riding good. Last weekend was a little scary because they have the four main events (Note: At the Auckland, the promoters utilized the "Survival Format" which featured four six-lap "main events") and they count each race as points. Basically you have to put four good races together and you have to count on trying to get four good starts. There isn’t a lot of time to do a whole lot out there. You have to be really precise on everything so it gets a little stressful. And the tracks are pretty narrow, so if you get a bad start it’s really hard to get through the pack and stuff. I ended up getting all the holeshots, but in the last one – the fourth main event – me and [Daniel] Reardon almost went down so I came from like 15th and made my way up to third. It was good. I can’t complain. Maybe I was a little greedy about not winning all four, but that’s a personal goal of mine: I want to win every race. I think each weekend I’ve gotten better and better, but man, I just need to get rid of being sick so I can really, really feel better fitness-wise. It’s really been holding me back. I don’t know… I feel good on the bike and I’m definitely getting faster and faster every weekend. So I just really want to shape up so I can just kill it these last two or three rounds.
Do you have a cold or something? I can totally tell your sick…
Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t really know what it is. I had the flu. I haven’t really said anything. I’ve been racing the last two races feeling pretty bad. I don’t really know what it is. Yesterday I couldn’t even talk, but today I have a little bit of a voice. It just sucks. It just holds you back so much. I want to run. Today is going to be the first day I can really do something kind of off the bike. So I’m just kind of cruising. I fly out tomorrow morning for New Zealand.
Downshifting a gear, Chad Reed won the opening round of the series; Kevin Windham won the second round; Justin Brayton won the third; and now you’ve gone out and won the fourth. Was it a good feeling to nail down that first victory down there?
Yeah, it felt good to win. I’m a little bummed I didn’t win when the Americans were here. I felt like I could really make my mark and beat Brayton and that. Yeah, I felt like I rode good this past weekend. I rode good and did what I had to do. I just want to keep building each weekend. I just want to come out strong for this next year. I want to win the American title. That’s a really big goal of mine. That’s is the plan for myself: To make that happen.
Whether it be Mitch Payton, the other guys on the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team, your dad, or other people close to you, everybody is really pleased and impressed with your consistency and just how you are stringing this series together. Are you "feeling" that?
Yeah, definitely. I think I have to practice being consistent because when I go back to the States, this Lites class isn’t that many rounds so you really do have to be consistent to pull a championship together. It’s good and bad to say that it’s taken me long enough but I think I’ve matured a lot. I kind of understand what I have to do and tell my body what works for me and what doesn’t. I feel like that’s been helping me a lot. I also like I’m pretty mentally strong right now. At the races, I’ve been just really trying work on my starts and riding smooth and putting on a good pace. I’ve been the fastest guy a lot and that’s been good, but I’m just basically putting good laps together and being consistent. I feel like that’s really helped me out a lot.
I went out to the Kawasaki track the other day. Villopoto, Weimer and virtually the entire Monster/Pro Circuit team - Rattray, Wilson, and Baggett - were out there testing away. You could definitely feel a little bit of tension and the mechanics were trashing away at trying to build bikes and the riders were trying to put in as many laps as they could. Is it kind of refreshing that you don’t have to be out there and that you’re down in Australia and actually racing?
I definitely like kind of doing my own program. Being away from all that is good. You get tied up in all that. All those guys are good guys and stuff, but especially with our team – and we have a couple of new guys on our team – everybody tries to one-up everybody and try to show how sick they are on a dirt bike and how hard they work. I don’t care about that stuff. I just want to worry about myself and my goals and what works for me. I think this Australian thing has really been a good opportunity for me. I didn’t really think it was going to be as good as it has turned out. I’m really stoked it worked out.
The last round down there is on December fourth. Soon thereafter comes Christmas and as all of us involved in this sport know, after Christmas and New Year’s Day, it’s on – it’s time to go racing. So if I’m seeing it the right way, you’re literally racing your way into the new season, you know?
Each year that I’ve raced I’ve always kind of gotten burnt out for some reason and never been too pumped on like having to put a full season together. I was just thinking about it the other night. I was thinking about how stoked I am and how good of a feeling I have and how good of a spot in life I am right now. I’m enjoying riding my dirt bike, I’m enjoying my team, I’m enjoying Monster putting everything together for me. It’s really fun for me and when I’m having fun I think I ride really good. I’m stoked to be doing a different program. I really don’t feel stressed out. I’m really, really, really looking forward to doing this series and finishing it out and going straight into another series. I think I’m going to be well prepared. I think I have a good mindset going into this and really feel like I have championship in my corner.
Upon arriving home and heading into Anaheim I, would you rather go ride right into the West Region or wait for the East?
I think I’m going to be ready for either or. If Mitch wants to send me West, I want to win West. If he sends me East, I want to win East. I’m pretty easy with anything. I guess whatever Mitch says it what I’m going to do. I’m pretty open to anything. I think I’m going to be well prepared. I’m excited. I’m happy. It doesn’t matter to me.
Speaking of Mitch, he goes into the AMA Hall of Fame this weekend in Las Vegas. We’re all going over there. Anything you want to say about him?
My dad, I actually talked to him a couple nights ago and he’s going over there, too. He’s going over with some of the JT guys from back in the day that helped him out with gear and stuff. I think it’s rad for Mitch. I think it’s pretty cool he’s getting acknowledged for something so big like that. He’s one of those guys that has definitely taken our sport to a different level. There are a few dudes that have really elevated our sport and I think he’s been one of them. Even though maybe he hasn’t been on the racer-side of things, it’s amazing he’s a guy who built bikes and what-not and has built the best race team out there and has been recognized for it. All props to him. He definitely deserves it and it’s pretty cool to be a part of his team.
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F beatches get money! haha im a fan..
Monster propaganda at it finest.
Wouldn't that be nice if Hansen showed up at A1 with his PC 450 kawi.
Must be a slow week for Racer-X.
I am alla bout individuality, but why do/did all of the PC riders look like dirtbags this year? I'm sorry, but image, no matter how nice and polite you are, still plays a part. I would think that this joker should be able to win a lites crown. I mean, who is his competition? Other than Barcia, I dont know any of the other guys that even have a chance. Maybe I am just forgetting a few names...
Love the passion EJ! Keep doing your thing, i have always enjoyed your writing.Motocross needs all the great characters it has,good or bad.It would be damn boring without them. Go hany! Nice to see him turn his life around. I am crossing off the days until A1. Wish i could be there in person.
With the 450 hype the lites guys haven't got the press they deserve. For the past 3 years the lites guys have been keeping the racing close and interesting. Great to see Little Hanny's determination after an unlucky 2010. Who cares if he's a little colorful! I wouldn't worry about the whiners EJ. They likely do it because people don't listen to them in their real lives.
Jealousy is an ugly emotion. Since when in the past 40 years has anyone cared about an atheletes apearance? Answer:When they're jealous of him. Sandranger, it's so obvious.
Whoa! gotta keep perspective EJ. Most of the dic*shiners that blast you don't understand your job, the "grown-up" world or many of life's intricasies in general. You sir, are an a**ett to this community, and I thank you. Are we seeing a(n) (new and) improved Josh Hansen? I'd like to see Mitch place him east & give him a MX opportunity. Welcome to the grown-ups Hanny, now cut your hair dirtbag, you look like you're going to give some poor girl cooties.
Dang im not looking at hanny in that last pic. Things look nice down under.
What EJ? Hansen is riding for KFC? Rainman, happens a lot. Dennis Rodman? Manny Ramirez? Allen Iverson? The NBA made Iverson wear a neoprene sleeve on his arm to cover his tattoos in games. They even airbrushed them off his arm on the cover of an NBA publication. People have to stop with the jealousy claim. Why is it no one is jealous of RC or Windham? Oh, wait, I'm sure we all are, yet for some reason we don't pick on them. Maybe it is just about appearance? In that last pic Hansen looks more Hasidic than dirt bag anyway. Oy vey, Lil Hanny!
BKR, I think you could understand that what I said was a generalization. Dennis Rodman is a good example. I'll bet most "fans" from the '90s couldn't even tell you the position he played or what his strengths were as a player. If he would have kept his mouth shut you probably wouldn't even hardly remembered his name. He got negative attention because of his actions off the court, not his apperance. How about Kyle Petty? hair down to his ass. No one had a problem with his apperance, because he was quiet and he sucked (by NASCAR standards). Now he does tv.
Wow Rainman, you are SO right! I am totally jealous of this punk, lol. Now I see why you call yourself "Rainman" since you are about as bright as that character. And lets not generalize with other sports then. SX DOES care about image. If you look at the "colorful" characters that never got a factory ride or support. Tyler Evens, Jason Lawrence, Brian Deegan....STFU you crackhead!!! And stop pointing fingers at people on here like a little baby would. Youre probably at home getting your a** kicked by your boyfriend right now..."2 minutes to Wapner!!!"
Why do they keep interviewing this kid? When he beats some top Americans, than maybe. HE wouldn't have a ride at all if it were up to Mitch. Unfortunately Monster Energy likes his tatoos, and thinks he draws the young "still mad at the world" crowd. Waste of a spot if you ask me.
Like I said sand ranger, it's obvious. By the way, I don't know what STFU means. That must be an acronym you and your pals use while giggling and texting.
How does Rattrey or Bagget look like dirtbags?? They look like regular guys to me. Heck, Rattrey has his head shaved real tight like a serviceman. I like Hanson. He is a good personality and is busting his butt trying to stay in a sport we love. E.J. dont let some bad mouthing clowns turn you off this sport. I really enjoy the interviews you put on here. And we get this on a FREE website that alot of guys take for granted. Keep it up, its great.
WOW, EJ, lay off the red meat man! Warranted..............probably, effective, probably not. If you look at it for what it is, it's not inconceivable that we need all of it to make it work. We need goody two Shoes Trey, and Ryan (fan of them both). We need Grant and Hanny, they have all of us covered on their worst day, we need the men in the middle, the Windhams, and Larocco's, all of them. If you think Josh's vulgarity, and appearance are counterproductive to the sport, or his image is daunting, or his vocabulary is lacking, simple as this, don't read his interviews, don't acknowledge him, his contributions. Drink a Red Bull instead of a Monster, or ride a YZ F instead of a KX F, or run a FMF pipe instead of a PC! I have 3 sons, the one in the middle 19 years old is sitting at home with a broken femur right now, (a MX accident on Memorial day weekend) he has ear rings, tatoos, (does not swear, or reins it for my sake anyway) wears clothing that I wouldn't wear ever! Anyway, would you look at him and make negative assumptions, you bet you would!Yet (when he wasn't hurt) he gets up and works everyday of his life, has never ever been a problem in the least, is polite, well spoken and respectful. For those of us who aren't tatted up, or who dress (as determined by me) normal, and are not swearers. Imagine if your boss told you that you are not hip enough, and that you need to get sleeves, hardware in your ears, maybe start drinking, smoking and cussing a bit.
I understand the need for a PG website and professionalism and all that, but ... The last interview with Hansen was one of the most entertaining moto-related things I've read in a long time. No one wants to read some cut-and-paste, dry, sponsor thank-you list and some pre-hashed paragraph about how great you're program is. Remember the when the Ironman was on T.V. every year in the eighties? Now, let's face it, its not very exciting to watch some dudes run or swim on ride a bike in a straight line for 3 hrs but a lot of people did because the producers went beyond the sport and showed the athletes as people, as personalities. Its a lot easier to cheer for a person, to get behind a championship chase, etc, if there is a real human at the other end of the (computer, T.V., whatever). I want to hear about top pro racer sleeping in an airport, probably not even knowing what city he's in, probably dealing with crappy seep and crappy food ... and telling it like it is. Isn't that what journalism is all about?
Motomike77, that is quite honestly one of the dumbest and misinformed things I've heard in a while. Word is, Mitch likes Hansen, and Hansen needed to show that he could win at least one race to get a ride in 2011. Salt Lake City.
First and foremost: congratulations to Hanny for his wins Down Under and for succeeding in such a thorough change of attitude. I bet it required a lot of work, but, hey the results are here! Now, Hanny, if you are reading this and care to improve your marketability as a pro athlete, look at the 2nd and 3rd questions EJ asked you. Basically he said "don't worry about your foul language, I'll just shove under the rug so that you won't cause us any headache as you did the last time I interviewed you and as you did in Phoenix earlier this year". Are you OK with somebody filtering your words, or you would rather learn how to express yourself as an established professional athlete? Think of EJ as the Mitch of the PR guys and ask him to help you learn how to communicate more professionally (which does NOT necessarily mean "corporate"): it is a skill, and once you learn it nobody will take it away and more and more sponsors will be interested in you.
Damn you Gio for making so much sense!
Hanny needs to get his own logo & wear it on his cap like Tom Brady. It could be L with H through the bottom. After all he has won several championships like TB. Well,,,, I mean maybe he will.
@werewolfracing: Was that last interview entertaining because of all the swearing? Couldn't it be entertaining w/o all that? It's been said many times; swearing compensates for lack of vocabulary. We don't need it here, and the kids don't need to see it here. (They'll hear it on the school bus.) On the other side of the coin, while I'm not a big fan of the long hair, tats, piercings, etc., as YZF571 put it so well, is that what we should be judging people on? MX's first "rock star" was Marty Smith. Remember his hair? Was he a dirt bag? @motomike77: Australian SX is the ONLY big series going on right now, and Josh is leading it. Why wouldn't they interview him? As for Hanny himself, I'm glad to hear him talk about consistency; that's something that has killed him in the past. Oh, and @sandranger: Who is Hanny's competition in Lites? Seriously? The Lites class is ALWAYS loaded with the top young talent in America/on Earth. Maybe none of the current crop has made a name for himself on the level of a Canard/Weimer/Pourcel, but they're there!
Alot of you guys complaining about long hair or language or tatoos are really showing your age. You sound alot like the old people who said things about YOUR hair when you were young. Dont become those people.
True Sef, about the 250 comp. Musquin, Roczen, Wilson, Baggett, Barcia..... Unfortunately society does judge people at a glance. If you went to a doctor and he had a mohawk, sleeve tattoos, neck tattoos, and piercings in his face would you be all that confident in his ability to care for you? What if you're a lawyer? Think the judge won't "prejudge" you at first glance? It doesn't make you a bad person based on your appearance but you have to realize how people perceive it. I always say that if you go to all kinds of ends to make yourself look scary, don't be surprised when it works and people are scared of you.
What a crap interview, the last one was way better. F--u--c--k the haters!
Agreed, BKR ... but Hanny's not trying to be a doctor or lawyer. These are supposed MX fans getting down on him because of his looks.... J-Law with a buzz cut - now THAT'S scary.
I must agree BKR, if I went to a lawyer or doctor who looked like that I would get a second opinion. Hand, neck, or facial tats = future income inhibitors.
Mr. inconsistent,CUT YOUR .....HAIR.....MITCH SHUOLD HAVE KICKED YOU TO THE CURB..PERIOD...WHAT A TOOL...
what a bunch of ignorant wanna beeeezzzz!!!!who cares what hanny"s hair looks like weather his finger nail's are dirty weather he scratches his ass in public or cusses on his interviews!!!mitch hired a kid who wanted a second chance as any of u would if u screwed up something and look he is tearin it up,u all talk about having no competition but this guy is faster then weimer and alot of those other guys just hasnt had good turouts ....and unfortuanatly all ur stupida** comments make our sport more popular but u all are a bunch of walkin goons thinking u know all about it!!!so go ahead talk **** about the good riders and stick with u fan club of stewart and reed sorry gay goones but there are new kids in town to play and granite cr22 and js7 are fast the kids are the future and i love when people talk shit about dungey having no competition and how he isnt the fastest ,well maybe ive been lying to myself cuase i thought u all were morons but i have come to the conclusion that these guys are the fastest on 2 wheels cuase if ur fast for 5 laps u aint gunna win shit