Words by: Dan Lamb – Interview by: Chase Yocom – Photo by: Hoppenworld
These “Privateer Showcase” presented by Race Tech Suspension at MotoXAddicts are interviews telling the stories of the guys in the trenches week in and week out just trying to chase their dream of racing in Monster Energy Supercross. While the riders at the front of the pack get the money, the T.V. time and the glory that goes with it, there’s a huge pack of kids just hoping to become regulars in the main events. We will talk to them and the guys on privateer teams looking to break through to that next level.
This week’s “Privateer Showcase” is not just trying to make events, he is a privateer looking to prove his metal on his way to becoming that next level guy. Since turning pro back in 2010, Jimmy Decotis has always been right on the brink of breaking through. After a successful rookie year — a top-five finish and 12th overall — Jimmy got a dream fill-in ride with the GEICO/Honda squad in 2011. “The Ripper” did have some great rides in 2011, but just when he was flirting with a podium appearance, a major injury in Seattle sent the Peabody, Massachusetts native back to square one. Since that GEICO ride in ’11, Jimmy has been fighting year in and year out, but no more dream rides have come a calling.
For 2015, Jimmy is back after it and with help from companies like Riverside Harley Davidson, Trail Jesters, South of the Border and Race Tech Suspension, he looks on point. In the first two rounds of the Eastern Regional 250SX Championship, Jimmy went 16-15, but last weekend in Atlanta, he was back inside the top-five with a fifth. The #49 got a great start, and after banging elbows for the first five laps for a podium spot, he dropped back to sixth. Rather than settle for a solid sixth, he went back after Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawsaki’s Arnaud Tonus and, with a very aggressive Jimmy D. style last-lap pass, finished fifth. It was a great ride for the privateer and one that could definitely begin to open some eyes.
After the race, MotoXAddicts’ Chase Yocom caught up with Jimmy to talk about his night and 2015 as a whole. You can hear what Jimmy had to say in his “Privateer Showcase” interview below.
We’re here with “The Ripper”. Jimmy, top five tonight, how are you feeling?
I feel a lot better. Last weekend was tough for me. This year, I’ve actually worked a lot harder than I have and am actually making the right decisions, not going out and doing the party thing. Those first two rounds were like, man, maybe I should be partying because I’m doing bad. Tonight it really shows that if you just stick to it, it can click, and that’s how it is in racing. It’s one race for it to click. To be honest, I think I had a little bit more in me, but I got a little tight. You’ve got to expect that when you’re running up there with those guys on a tight track like this. Overall it was a good main event, it was a good practice, and it was good heats. When you start feeling that all day, you know it’s coming. I’m happy with it.
Take us through the pass on [Arnaud] Tonus? You went to the inside, went two, three. He went from the outside and went three, two, and you made it stick. What was going through your mind there?
I was so pumped up and I knew he was so tired, but I had to get him. My wind felt really good. It was just my arms got tight from bad body positioning out there. I had never jumped that two, three all day, but I said, “I have to hit this.” Sixth is not nearly as good as fifth and I had to hit that jump.
Jimmy created a big fan base for himself ripping it up in videos on the 125 two-smoker.
I was thinking that what was probably going through your mind was, “Send it, bro; send it.”
Send it. That was it.
I hear you’re training with a new guy this year. Tell us about that a little bit.
Yeah, I got Gary Bailey here. This guy here, he’s the Professor. I’ll get off the track and everyone around this group is happy on this fence, but I know he’s going to have a few things to show me that we still need to work on to get better. That’s the best, when you do pretty good but you know you could do more and you have people in your corner that believe in you. That’s the key.
What’s clicked this week compared to the last couple of weeks? I know it was a little bit of a rough start this season, but you really turned it on tonight.
Just nerves and being mental with it all. I was not being myself. In years past I didn’t really do the right thing, so coming into the race, I was never really nervous. I put so much emphasis on this year, got all these awesome sponsors backing me. It was like this is my year to do it and I wasn’t doing it. I’m going to stick to the program and keep trying to do what I can do, and that’s really all that I can do with the equipment that I got. Just happy to be the top privateer tonight. That shows a lot.
I noticed that you do have some new sponsors this year. I noticed a new suspension company. I never really thought I’d see you away from the Factory Connection, but working with Race Tech, how’s that going?
It’s going really good. There’s Riverside Harley Davidson – my main sponsor – Trail Jesters and South of the Border, but then there’s guys like Race Tech and Motor Tool and these guys that put in a lot of effort. For me with Race Tech, it was how much Rob wanted to see me succeed, and nothing mattered to him except for getting my bike better and working on that stuff. It is huge to have people like that. I have made some changes, and sometimes you question changes when results aren’t good, but we just keep plugging away and do the best with what we got.
Sounds like you’re doing pretty well with what you got right now, fifth overall. Thanks for the time, Jimmy.
No problem
