Photos by: Hoppenworld
Over the last seven years of Monster Energy Supercross, BTO Sports / WPS / KTM’s Justin Brayton has been one of the guys we have come to expect near the front of the 450SX class. At the ripe old age of 32, you would think that Justin’s been at it longer than that, but he has only been a regular in the 450SX class since 2010. Before that, he was the three-digit #114 we would see in a select few main events.
Since 2010, Justin has accumulated seven 450SX podium finishes and has finished the 450SX championships in 5th, 9th, 4th, 8th, 7th, 18th—when he missed half of ’15 with injury—and back up to 8th so far in 2016. If not for a few mistakes, bike problems and a crash that was out of his control, Justin would be much closer to the top five in 2016. With 2016 being a contract year for the #10, we have no doubt Justin’s speed has been enough to land the likable veteran on a great bike once again in ’17.
After Justin’s second top five finish of 2016 in East Rutherford, we caught up with him at the BTO Sport / WPS / KTM rig to talk about his night, his year as a whole and how his Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship preparation has been going.
Justin, fifth tonight in East Rutherford. How are you feeling about your night?
It was a solid night. My goal was to be in the top five every time we were on the track, and we did that except for one practice. I feel like it was solid, yeah! I battled for a podium position in pretty much the whole main. I was in the mix all night. I’m happy to go home with a top five—I definitely want more—and we’ll come into Vegas swinging. I’ll try to get my first podium of the year there.
What did you think about this track tonight? I thought it was a little different track .
I liked it! I liked the challenging dragon’s back. I liked the challenging whoops. I really like it when it’s challenging like that. I think when the track’s super easy you pretty much just finish where you start. Tonight, you could make some passes and it was tricky. You had to be on your toes. It was really a super intense twenty-laps. The whole time I felt like I was in a battle.
That’s because you were. (laughs)
(laughs) Yeah, there were guys around me the whole time. It was cool to finish off in the top five.
After sixteen rounds, you’re eighth in the Championship—obviously not where you want to be—but how would you rate your 2016 Supercross season overall, or how do you feel about your season so far?
I feel like there’s been a couple races where misfortunes have happened, but I’ve run up front really almost every weekend. I feel like in the second half of the season, I’ve been a top five guy, just I really haven’t sealed the deal. One of them, a flat tire. Another one up front in third and I got taken out off the track. In another one, I made my own mistakes, but I’m trying hard. I’m getting good starts and I feel like I’m one of the guys up front, where in the years past, I might just get a tenth place start, finish eighth and kind of be eighth or ninth in the championship. But this year I feel like if a couple things went my way, I could be fifth in the Championship. That’s a positive thing and good to build on for next year.
Look, you’re a veteran and have been around for a minute. What do you think of the pace of these new, young kids coming into the series? You’re what, 30 now?
Yeah, I’m 32 actually.
Oh, my bad. (laughs) What’s your opinion on these young kids?
I’m definitely a veteran, but I haven’t raced that long. I just got my 100th start—compared to like Chad Reed who’s over 200 starts—so I feel like I still have some years in me and I’m still trying to hang with the youngsters.
We have outdoors coming up now in a few weeks. Have you been doing a lot of outdoor testing on this bike yet?
Yeah, we’ve had a few days of testing and five of six days of riding. Usually I come home and ride Monday and Tuesday outdoors and then Wednesday and Thursday on Supersross—maybe just Thursday Supercross. Yeah, it’s been fun to mix it up. I feel good outdoors, but it’s usually a little tougher for me. I’m a little more natural at Supercross.
You do have a win outdoors.
I’ve won outdoors, so that’s a positive.
And on a KTM as well.
Yeah, exactly, on a KTM. I feel good! I don’t see why I can’t be a top five guy there too.
Alright, Justin, thank you for your time. Good luck next weekend in Vegas and as we go outdoors.
I appreciate it, man.
