Photo by: Hoppenworld
In 2010, after having a breakthrough year with the San Manuel/Yamaha team, Josh Hill had a vicious crash while trying to learn the back flip for “Speed and Style” at the 2010 X-Games. In the crash, Josh completely destroyed his femur. With that came a long list of operations and more than a year of recovery time due to a myriad of complications.
In 2011, the RCH/Soaring Eagle Casino/Suzuki team (formerly Hart and Huntington) hired Josh with the knowledge that the #75 may never race again and, if he did, may never regain his health enough to perform at a World-class level. Since then, Josh has made a few comeback attempts, but a broken leg and other injuries have seriously stalled progress over the last two seasons.
In 2014, though, other than a couple minor injuries that kept Josh out for a short stint to recover, Josh has been making huge strides towards becoming the podium guy he once was. After round fifteen in Seattle, Josh sits 9th overall in the 450SX standings with eight top-ten finishes and a season-best 7th in St Louis.
Unfortunately, Josh’s best season with RCH is not going to be enough to keep him in the semi when the team heads outdoors for the 2014 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Last week, the team announced that they would be bringing MotoSport.com/FLY Racing’s Weston Peick on board for the outdoors to fill-in for the injured Broc Tickle and would be letting Josh go. It was a huge surprise to everyone, and after talking to Josh in Seattle, we now know it was a huge surprise to him as well.
After Josh’s 9th place finish in Seattle, we caught up with him to ask him about his night and the recent announcement on his termination from the team. You can read the candid interview with the Oregonian Josh Hill below.
Josh, ninth place on the night in Seattle, but you definitely had better speed than that tonight. Unfortunately, bad starts got the best of you again.
Yeah, that’s been the story of the season really. I feel like I’ve been riding really good, but I haven’t been able to get off the line. Great jumps, but I don’t know, it’s been rough. I feel great. I feel like I’m riding at top-five or maybe even better speed, but I’m just not getting the end result I’m looking for.
Overall, you were one of a few riders that look really comfortable in the ruts tonight. Is this a soil you’re normally really comfortable on?
No, not really any more comfortable than anywhere else really. On this track, the dirt’s weird. I don’t think anybody was really that comfortable. I’m just feeling really confident on my bike. I’m finally healthy—well as healthy as I’ll ever be. (laughs) I mean, I’m finally feeling good. I’m going out there and jumping jumps and doing obstacles that nobody else is doing, and that kind of stuff gives me a big confidence boost, but it really don’t mean a lot when you can’t start up front with everybody.
Yeah, you yanking that quad before anyone else in qualifying was impressive in itself, but pulling the one-hander for the crowd over it in your semi was awesome to watch. What made you do that?
It was that easy. I was doing no footers over the quad last week when I won my heat race, and they never showed it on T.V. I was kind of bummed. Like I said, I’m just trying to have some fun out there, and I ride good when I’m having fun. It’s really all about the crowd. If I can come out here and put on a show and make everyone happy, that’s what I want to do. I’m not in the Championship hunt, so why not be a crowd pleaser?
When I first walked the track this morning, the quad in the middle looked huge because of how big the landing was, so I thought you guys might be quading out. Did you ever think about quading out of that rhythm section?
No, because there was no berm to catch you. I mean, you could have done it, but it would of been hairy to stop for the turn.
Yeah, overall your semi win was the most fun I’ve ever had watching a semi qualifier: wheelieing the whoop section, one-hander off the quad and a huge whip off the triple. The crowd was eating it up, too. Was it a hometown vibe thing?
Yeah, I had a blast. I have a blast every time I’m on my dirt bike. The only time I’m not having fun is when I’m eating roost back in 10th-12th place the first five laps. That’s the only time I’m not having fun.
News broke this week that the RCH team was letting you go and taking Weston Peick with them outdoors as a fill-in for the injured Broc Tickle. It was a huge surprise to most given how well you’re riding. With that, though, do you have any team offers to race outdoors this summer?
Yeah, I mean, I’m trying to talk to some people, but I don’t have anything locked down solid ’cause it’s so fresh. It caught me so off guard that I didn’t have time to prepare. I came back Saturday and found out I was not going to be racing outdoors. So, that’s where it is. I have nothing but great things to say about Carey Hart (RCH team co-owner) and Kenny Watson (RCH team manager) and the people that supported me from the get go. It’s an unfortunate deal that we’re not going to keep moving forward, but I have nothing but love to those people. And, to my mechanic Richard, Tony Berluti—man, there’s so many great people. Really the list goes on for how great this staff is, and I’m a little bummed that I can’t continue with them. Like I said, I really appreciate the things they did for me.
I heard it was some kind of performance clause or something like that? What’s that about?
It’s not a performance clause. That’s all a bunch of—it’s just we decided to part ways.
I’m sure I’m not alone, but with them sticking with you in years that you could not even race, I find it head-scratching that they’d let you go now that you’re finally healthy.
Believe me, it left me scratching my head. There was no single big issue. We’ve had a couple disagreements on bike settings, but that’s about it to be honest. Yeah, it caught me off guard, but like I said, I don’t want to put out any negative vibe to this team. It’s time to go, so it’s time to go.
All night long tonight, Carey Hart was tweeting about how well you were doing, so there’s obviously still love there from Carey.
Right back at him. They gave me an opportunity when nobody else would, and now I’m in a position where somebody else may want to give me an opportunity. So I have to thank them for getting me this far.
Josh, thanks for talking to us and being so candid as usual.
No problem, man.
