5 Minutes with....Blake Wharton
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 | 11:15 AM
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Rockstar Energy Drink Suzuki’s Blake Wharton has logged a solid year so far in Lites East, but he went to another level with his victory on Saturday night in Indy—making him the first rider not named Justin Barcia to win a Lites East race. Matthes caught up to Blake after his ride.
Racer X: Blake Wharton, great job, second career win. Kind of a weird deal with the start, but you rode great.
Blake Wharton: It was weird! I’ve never seen anything like it, and I don’t know if we’ll race like that again. That kind of thing is few and far between. Unfortunately, if we have them, someone has crashed, and we don’t want that. The regular start of the race was good for me. I worked my way up to third, and then the red flag came out. I’m so used to the red flag rule, you just go back to the gate. Out west, they’ve had a lot of red flags, and they’ve always gone back to the gate. So you kind of think that’s just the way it goes. You know, I haven’t been reading up on the rule book lately, you know, before I go to bed or anything! But I have no problem with it.
Even before the restart you had already passed a few guys so you were already kind of feeling it.
I was feeling it tonight. You have to kind of wing it out there when you’re racing. But you have to stay up at the same time, too. It’s cool, it’s cool to win it.
Pretty uneventful main after that. Roczen went down, you got the lead and kept the guys at the same distance.
At that point I did my own thing. Rode my own race. I didn’t have anyone directly on me, so there wasn’t any direct pressure, but there’s always pressure when you’re leading. I felt like I handled it good, and pretty much did my own thing, like I said. I’m just going to try to carry this forward into the next week and then into the following week.
Big win for Blake.
Fredrickson photo
The whoops looked kind of sketchy.
The whoops were tough, but my bike was getting through them good and I was getting through them good. I wasn’t the fastest guy through them but I got the win and that’s what matters.
Talk about working with Randy Lawrence here with the team. You said you’ve been learning a lot.
Yeah, I’ve actually been living in California, three weeks before Halloween through now. And I’ve been working with Randy. It has been months, and I’m going to keep staying out there even more, to outdoors, and I don’t even know when. I haven’t even been in Texas. We’ve been training, we’ve been riding bicycles, we’ve been doing a lot of stuff. I feel good and I feel strong so I’m going to continue to do it.
Is this a little bit of redemption? The GEICO guys let you go. Maybe they didn’t think you could win again?
No, the GEICO guys are good, they’re good guys. I rode for them for a long time, four years. So I have relationships over there, but to come here is even better, I think. The team is great over here, I have a great mechanic, and the team has been supporting me through all the months and months getting ready for this. They developed a great bike. It wouldn’t be possible without a great bike. It takes more than just a fast lap out there, as everyone can see, it takes a lot of things.
So, no "Suck it, GEICO" on the buttpatch next week?No, none of that. I’m not all about that!
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Great ride Prince! You killed it on Saturday. Hope there are more rides like that in your future!
Blake, you handled your self with class. Nice interview.
I agree with mit12....good job.
He was trying to hard to get him bad mouth Geico Honda, but Blake didn't bite. Good job.
I'm not sure how many other musicians are on here, but I think it's cool that he is one (not sure how good he is) and the Rockstar team has at least one guy, the rider, that kind of looks like a rock star.
Class act for sure. He doesn't look the part, but he seems like a good kid. I hope that win gives him the confidence to run up front all the way to Vegas.
Nice to see a rich kid with lots of drive and determination!
Glad to see the maturity in Blake, he is focused, in shape and smart....to realize this is a business and that bad mouthing any one only reflects poorly on them....I hope he has great success this year...Sugar Bear Grossi is at home rooting for Wharton...Power to the Hair !!!!.
Hey Blake you were just a kid on the mini's when I was kinda retiring. I remembered you and have followed you since. ya I live in Plano and raced in TX since 78. I am proud of the way you made it. Keep pushing you can get better. Wish I would have spoke to you when I saw you show up at the Hauler last year in the morning, I was checking out your bike at Jerry World but you were busy talking to others. Good luck.
hey welker, you been around awhile...do you know a guy from texas that raced the world mini's in vegas in 1997, vet class and had #125 for race number?? very random question, but worth a shot in the dark.
Good guy, I like Blake, he is cool.. He rode great in Indy, smooth and good throttle control. Its what was needed on that track..
Seems like a real good guy, But I really think he could try to look a little more presentable for sponsors. I know ,before everyone starts lighting me up, not bashing the guy, just think if he wants to really "make" it, he would be concerned with trying to look a little more professional. I know If I were a sponsor, I would rather have a clean cut fella representing, than a guy that looks kinda like a homeless person. Just my opinion.
Bravo Blake; Great ride! And thanks for not offering up the same, predictable, post race "15 seconds about the track, his bike and 45 seconds of thanking all his sponsors-that-everyone-can-read-all-over-his-jersey-goggles-strap-hat-etc.-speech so many guys fall into when they get some of the spotlight.
I like when we actually get to learn a bit more about these guys personalities. Plus, He looks like Team Suzuki Rider Billy Grossi from the early-mid 1970's.
D@mn..., getting old.
Met Blake at Millville a few summers ago after he just signed with Factory Connection. He was at Millville racing a local series to get ready for his pro debut (which was a month later at Millville) and I was racing vet class.
I was struck by what a polite kid he was when I spoke with him, and I think he was only about 17 years old at the time. He is a refreshing example on how you can have a lot of flair and be unique while still behaving in an acceptable and professional manner.
Refreshing kid ...finally nice to see someone use and give some credit to how good that bike is. Hes tryin hard and riding the wheels of it..AND doesn't seen to let contact and hard racing bother him...Kinda tired of watching Davalos (and previously malcolmS and Val kilmer er ah i mean stroupe ,etc etc )use the Suzuki like a hammer for pounding tuff blocks. I think its modern American and the hair thing is old news and his own business. @j..mccollum have you ever actually made a comment that was'nt a put down of some sort......your not gonna bash the guy but then you bash the guy...must be hard to be the only perfect clean cut fella left on the planet. I think a WIN makes his sponsors plenty happy....Mr Kotter is now the worlds fastest homeless person...cool.
I'll have to agree with tonewall there. Josh you expecting Greg Brady there? I believe that has always been Blakes style. So if he wins and puts his team on the top of the box, is what matters. Blakes's riding has really improved this year, so it's good to see him moving forward. As tonewall said "Mr. Kotter is now the worlds fastest homeless person". Good job Blake.
Good Kid..Mickey Diamond Like.. Rock On B Dub !
@tonewall, That wasn't a bash, I was just saying I think he could look a little more professional. I think the long hair is cool as hell, but it looks like the dude doesnt know what a comb is. I think it's cool, but what I meant is that that look is not a very popular one to get further along with alot of the people inside the industry. So go ahead, like all the other pundits on here and make fun of my comments, I was just stating my opinion...
That is just how us N. East Texas boys are. Our momma raises us right.