by Aaron Hansel
5 Minutes with...Jessica Patterson
Thursday, April 5, 2012 | 12:25 PM
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After winning more races than anyone in her class last year, six-time WMX champ Jessica Patterson found herself in the unenviable position of searching for a ride. When nothing was panning out, a determined Patterson started putting her own team together, which eventually ended with her being on a team after all! We spoke with Patterson about her new deal with Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki, and the journey that led her there.
Racer X: Congratulations on your new contract with Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki!
Jessica Patterson: Yeah, thanks! I was getting a little stressed out there at the end when I was trying to put together my own deal. This just happened to come about, and next thing you know I was riding for them, so I was pretty pumped.
You’re a six-time champion, including taking the 2010 title, and you won more races than [2011 WMX Champion] Ashley Fiolek last year. You had to be pretty confident that something would materialize, right?
I was pretty confident, but a lot of people didn’t even know that I was searching for a ride. Once they started to find out, it was like, they would try, but flake out at the end. It got really frustrating and I was like, “Screw it. I didn’t want to do this, but I guess I’m going to start my own team.” I wanted to ride Suzukis if I did anything, so I talked to Don Sakakura at Yoshimura, and he told me my best bet would be to go talk to the Rockstar guys, so that’s what I did. I showed up at the office and talked to Dave [Gowland] (Gowland is the Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki team manager) and told him that I wanted to rent some motors. He asked me a few questions and said, “Why don’t we just put you on the team?” I was like, “All right.” I’ve been working on this for months now, and then everything happened so fast. I went in there, and two days later I signed a contract.
The six-time WMX champion found a home for the 2012 season.
Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki photo
So you went in wanting to rent motors and got a ride?
Yeah, pretty much. I was like, “Oh my goodness, is this for real?” I’d been working so hard to figure out what I was going to do and I was stressed out. I’d been talking to Rockstar anyway, and they were going to support my team. I thought if I was going to have to buy bikes, then I was going to buy Suzukis. I went to the office, Dave just happened to be there, I told him what we were looking for, and he said, “Let me make a few phone calls, I’d rather just put you on the team.” I said, “All right, me too!” It worked out, it was crazy. It’s such a crazy thing to me, I’d been looking for so long. I guess I just happened to show up at the right time. I got the bike on Thursday, rode it at a Fox photo shoot, and Saturday we already started testing.
I can’t even think of Suzuki-supported team that has ever fielded a WMX rider before.
I don’t really recall anything either. There’s obviously been girls on Suzukis, but I don’t think anyone has given them support and I feel pretty honored to be the first girl to be able to give them their first chance at a championship. That’s what I’m working for; helping them stand out, and getting a Suzuki on the podium.
How are you liking the bike so far? I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but it’s got to be nice to make the switch to a fuel-injected bike.
It’s definitely a bit of a change for me. My race bikes last year were amazing, they were always spot on, and it’s great knowing that your bikes are always going to be perfect no matter what. It’s a nice feeling to know that no matter where you go, your bike is going to be good. Honestly, I jumped on the bike Thursday, and I felt comfortable right away. I was pretty excited about that. I was pretty nervous, because I hadn’t really ridden one. I took a chance, I said, “I don’t care, I want to ride something different, I want to ride a Suzuki.” I jumped on it, and it was really good. It’s nice and slim, it’s working good so far, and we just have a few more things to do and I’ll be dialed on it.
You and Fiolek have been the top contenders in the class for quite a while now. Do you see anyone else being able to step up and start consistently challenging for race wins this season?
You know, I honestly hope so, just to mix it up and get everybody excited, including myself. It’s always cool showing up to a race, with the guys, and knowing there’s a few guys that can win. I would like that to be the same for the girls, to try to help build it up a little bit more. I’d like to see the podium changed up, with me on top of course! So I’m hoping there’s going to be some girls that can step up this year and battle with us.
Patterson is hoping to bring home her seventh title this season.
Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki photo
What are your thoughts on the single moto format we almost saw for the WMX this summer?
With a single moto at least we’d get TV time, but after a while it started to turn a lot of the girls off, which is understandable because they have to spend so much money to go to a race just to do one moto. What if something happened? And for me, if I screw up one of the motos, at least I’d have one more. I had a lot of people emailing me that were bummed out about it wanting me to do something, but I can only do so much. Davey Coombs called me and talked to me for a while about it, too. I think at first everybody thought having TV would be the best, but it turned out that everyone would rather just have one extended practice and two motos, which I think is going to work out the best.
Normally at this point in the interview I’d ask you what your goals for the upcoming season are, but I think it’s pretty obvious that you are going for the championship. Who is helping you get there?
N-Fab sponsored my last team, they were going to help me with my team this year when I was starting it, and when they found out I signed with Rockstar Suzuki, they decided to become a sponsor of that team. So N-Fab is going to be a sponsor this year, and maybe even beyond.
Wow, you’re already bringing new sponsors to the team. That had to make Dave Gowland happy.
Yeah. N-Fab has been behind me for a few years now, and they wanted to go wherever I went. This opportunity came up, and they decided to be a part of it. I’m very excited to keep a sponsor with me.
Who else is helping you out?
Fox, Bell Helmets, Oakley, Rockstar, Suzuki, and Ryno Power Sports Supplements
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Congrats to JP money and I hope she has continued success..........
........but DC needs to drop his women's lib crap. The girls don't want to race a single 20 min moto, most fans don't necessarily care to see it, and it most definately doesn't belong on TV. Give them their own series.
Untelevised 125 non-pro 18 and under support class.
OK, Lets just think of some of the new sponsors they can bring to the table????
I would write them down but lets hear from someone else on this
Does anyone know why we never see any of these girls trying to qualify for a Supercross? You never know there might be some good results.
@ Ron1... its because they ride at a B class level and not much better than that. They would kill themselves trying to qualify for SX
Cool for Jessica! I like watching the girls race, they have a totaly different riding style. Some of these girls haul ass and have lots of talent. So good luck to their sucsess in 2012.
@Ron 1, I believe several years ago one gal try to qualify, she just didn't make it, only wish I could think of here name. Maybe somebody out there can help with a name.
ride111mph what sponsors........feminine products? I appreciate what these girls do but I don't see it belonging at a pro national. If it was that kind of a draw the sponsors would already be onboard.
Holy crap BobTheBuilder, you have to be kidding. Just stop with that crap, stop.
CZMark, was it Steffy Bau? Not a good situation, scary dangerous
Great article! I really enjoy watching the women haul ass around the moto track. good luck JP, what a way to kick off the 2012 season, from no ride to bad ass team ride! Can't wait to see the WMX at Thunder Valley this summer.
@BobTheBuilder -----> These girls can ride and deserve 2 motos and TV time! Wish they would put this series on RacerTV (like they did with the GNCC series).
I wish we could see the whole series on TV. You can never get to much moto!
Wondering how many of you have even attended a national. I go to Hangtown every year and when the women race thats when people go get food and visit the pits. As for TV its hard for the men to get coverage let alone women. There is a reason women do not have their own nationals and its because of low attendance. The women should appreciate the two motos they get now and not complain about being on TV because that is not going to happen.
Doesn't sound like they were complaining about not getting on TV. If anything, it sounded like they'd rather have two motos than be on TV
Don't try and teach your squidbilly woman to ride motocross. Instead, try and find a woman that already kicks butt on two wheels. There will be less frequent trips to the emergency room AND she probably already has a bike. Cha-CHING!!!!
I was lucky enough to be the Women's Chairman in District 14 at one time and would hear goof stuff like what bob the builder has to say. Always wondered if that is what those kind of peoploe said to their mom, it's good what you do mom but you know the boys are better so you should just be happy with what we give you.
Go JP, I have always been a big fan anjd may make the trip to Red Bud this year just to see you.
I think its rad that girls are out there racing in general, and also really cool that they get to race at the nationals. This way they do get some exposure so the top gals can afford travel, equipment, etc -- maybe even make a little money. But T.V. time is like gold. It brings money into the sport. I feel that TV time has to go to the show and that show is the fastest racers in the world doing battle.
MX will never be as big as NASCAR, but it definitely can keep growing and that window to the world outside the sport is currently TV broadcasts. Effort should be put into improving the quality of broadcasts of the top of the game -- there's plenty of room for improvement -- instead of showing the girls just 'cause they're girls... I don't think that does much for health of the sport. Sorry ladies...
There are 4 girls that are fast and jump the jumps... Patterson, Fiolek, Gieger, Golden... The rest are Novice... But label themselves as a Pro moto babe...
Bobthe builder, is who I wish could be kept from the races. We know he has a mom, but if he has a girlfriend or wife I feel sorry 4 her. I have no use for male supremist pigs.
You go girls we love you and you are getting better every year, I really enjoy their racing. I always watch and cheer !! and so does my son, buddies and girlfriend !!
Bob- the slowest girl out their could whip your ****
@davidl , your comments again make great sense to me. If these few can't watch just turn away or go get a beer. Why rain on their parade ,they try hard and most of them are as fast as 98% of the dudes on here i'm sure.
Come on, has anyone actually checked the women's lap times? Ashley Fiolek wouldn't even qualify for a 250 moto (If you compare her lap times to the 250 riders she would qualify an average of 60th place out of an average 80 riders who attempt to qualify). This isn't a matter of sexism, its a FACT; women are far slower and draw little attention (I was one of a handful of people who stuck around for the 2nd WMX moto at Freestone). I have nothing against female riders and am very supportive of the WMX class, but don't sit there and tell me that the women are just as good as the men.
If anything I would say that its sexest that there's a women's class, because last time I checked, men don't have a "men only" class.
The fact of the matter is that the top pro WMX riders are mid pack B class riders. Its a hard pill for some people to swallow for some reason but its the truth. I'm all for them racing and I think its cool when girls ride (my wife loves to ride her little bike) but just as someone said above, TV time is gold and it doesn't make sense to put them on. And personally, I'd love to see them ditch the WMX in the intermission to try to condense the races into a live tv program.
And smee113, you are exactly right. There is no "men only" class so they can line up with everyone else if they think they got what it takes. But of course in this politically correct world most people are afraid to point that out it seems.
Thats the whole reason there is a womens class- they are not as strong or fast. If you don't want to watch them go buy your beer and hot dogs. Of course they wont pull as big an audience, in person or on TV, but they are VERY good and probably better than 95% of the audience and VERY competitive with each other. I am VERY glad they have the oppertunity to race in the national venue and I think they probably work as hard as many of the guys.
YOU GO GIRLS !!!
UCONN Women didn't win a championship this year. No tax payer funded parade this year!
What about prolonging the AMA WMX after the Pro National, four rounds in four week in California in Septembre and Octobre for example, but this time with two motos of 20 mns + 2 laps, and maybe some top womens racers from Europe and all around the world will also participate
Kudos and good racing for all the women racers
The girls don't have to be as fast to have good races. Do you get a beer at the lcq in supercross because it's filled with the slowest riders of the night? Quite often it's the best racing of the night. Speed doesn't factor so much when the racing is tight, they don't look slow when the whole pack is the same speed. Only when you compare them to the premiere mens classes on paper do they seem slow. The most memorable race from my 3 years at Loretta's was a womens class race with JP$ and Sarah Whitmore along with a few others that battled each other to the bitter end. Good racing is good racing. Period.
I watched the women to see JP$ beat AF. JP is faster but AF is more popular. Why is AF more popular? My neighbor is a huge fan of the women in part because I think he has stalker potential for AF, but even he didn't stay to watch the women. He said it was a long day and he just wanted to go home.
I bet she wears underwear with a peehole. Wmx is a joke at best. They do not sell enough bikes or gear to justify any support.
I bet she wears underwear with a peehole. Wmx is a joke at best. They do not sell enough bikes or gear to justify any support.
Anyone watch the X games womens enduro cross? Only one woman could even get around the track without crashing 5 times and that was the winner Forsberg from Washington. This race made the TV low lights on ESPN.
Last year when the women were doing the last race at Hangtown everyone was leaving the parking lot and I was glad they were last I wanted to get out of there.
I think women should definately race but like in Basketball just have their own gig because believe me most fans don't want to spend all that time at the races especially outdoor nationals. So why not let them race on friday the day before the men and let them ride four long motos and practice twice?
Looks like Suzuki has finally signed someone who could win a race this summer. Jessica is in a tough spot. She wins more races but the media ignores her and swarms all over Asley as it makes for a better story. I have a lot of respect for these Ladies but I don't care to see it when I go to a National. The day is already long enough with the two mens classes.
A girl made it to the main at a Arenacross, but a guy who won a Arenacross championship has only made lites main event a couple times this year. I wonder who gets more support.
Much respect to Davey Coombs for the positive effort he and MX sports are doing to lookout for the WMX racers. That being said some of you guys are still stuck in the stone ages, the way you view these amazing women racers! They are some of the most amazing and talented women on the planet and they just happen to love racing motocross, and that is extraordinary in it's own right. They are bringing more and more women to the sport that has only begun to pick up momentum because they are showing that they can muscle the two wheeled machines and doing a very fine job of it. And those few who refuse to stick around and watch their moto's are missing some truly amazing athletes at work there have been some awesome battles the last few years especially at Red Bud. For you guys not to give these ladies their props is one, disrespectful, because they put in the hours and hard work just like their male counterparts.And two instead of bashing them why not encourage them and congratulate them on the fine racing that they are doing. The majority of you are no better than they are, because if that were the case, we’d be watching you every Saturday. The more support we give them in the long run will only enhance the sport as a whole. Let go of your male ego and show these ladies some love and respect. You seem to gawk over them if they are in a bikini or less, but you can’t give them respect if they ride how ignorant is that?
Do what you do ladies and keep fighting for you equal piece of the MX pie.
Oh and for the Eduro-cross haters most of these ladies that rode X-games had never ridden endure before, and many of the men had the same issue with get off as well. Hopefully X-games trashes that event and adds speed and style to the women’s events… some of those ladies can throw down some super whips and scrub like none other. Thanks again Davey and the Racer X family keep doing it bigger and better for the WMX!!!