Photos by: Hoppenworld
First place Monster Energy / Pro Circuit / Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy and second place Star Racing / Yamaha’s Alex Martin were two of the biggest surprises from the opening round of the 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Joey was the bigger surprise because he has never won a moto, but after Alex’s rough Supercross season, most had pretty much forgotten about the #26. After his second overall at the Hangtown National, though, the older brother of the 250MX National Champion, Jeremy Martin, is back on everyone’s radar.
After qualifying thirteenth in the morning sessions, Alex remained under the radar with eighth in moto one. It was a solid come from behind moto after a mid-pack start—and losing his goggles in the rain—but not the kind of ride that had anyone saying watch out for the #26 in moto two. That would quickly change about six minutes into the final moto.
In moto two, Alex got about a tenth place start and checked in after lap one in sixth, but he was just getting warmed up. With his teammate Aaron Plessinger in tow, the two began catching and picking off the front of the pack riders at will. First Alex surprised everyone—probably himself as well—by getting around his brother, the defending Champ. Then after following GEICO / Honda’s Jordon Smith for four laps, Alex pushed the #39 out of the way and over a berm to move into fourth. Two laps later, he made a similar pass on Monster Energy / PC / Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner for third, and by lap thirteen, he went around Troy Lee Designs / KTM’s Jessy Nelson to finish second in moto two and second overall.
After Alex’s second overall at Hangtown, we caught up with him at the Star Racing rig for a quick interview.
Alex, first race of the year and second overall at the Hangtown National. You have to be happy with your day.
Yeah, absolutely. I had a really rough Supercross season. We had bumps and bruises, and we were on the ground a lot. We made some big changes, and I think it’s paying off now. I feel comfortable on the bike. My speed and intensity was there. My fitness is great. I felt really strong at the end of that moto; I think it showed. My starts could be a little bit better. I was up there on that [first second moto start] start, but then they red flagged it. It is what it is, but I was happy to come back and be up there. Second overall is awesome! I couldn’t ask to start in a better position.
You were eighth in moto one. Talk about that moto for us.
It was just kind of lackluster. I started about fifteenth and I passed a lot guys, ran out of tear-offs, and then it started raining. I got roosted really bad, and I just had to throw the goggles; I couldn’t see. At that point, I was up to eighth behind Jessy [Nelson], and I just kind of rode around. I tried to make some moves the best I could, but the vision wasn’t there. I settled for eighth. It’s a long series, and it was good points for the first moto. The second moto we came out swinging, so it was good.
Did you know you had more in the tank for the second moto at the end of that first one? You obviously did. (laughs)
Yeah, I was more bummed because of how good I had been feeling coming into the season. I didn’t show it in that first moto, but that’s why we race two times in one day. I feel like I showed it now, so I’m satisfied.
In the second moto, you seemed to find your pace about the six, seven minute mark. You started really wanting to move forward, and uncharacteristically for you, you even got aggressive. I saw you put “Smitty” [Jordon Smith] over a berm to get him out of the way, and two laps later you made the same move in the same turn against Austin Forkner. Forkner checked up and stayed on track, but I have to be honest, it was nice seeing you get frisky.
Yeah, that’s normally my M.O. Actually, Jordon Smith might be the first guy I’ve ever taken out. I’m sorry, but I was wanting to go forward.
Don’t say sorry. (laughs) Do you ever take Phil Nicoletti out at the practice track or anything?
No, but he’s taken me out plenty of times.
I know you said you’ve worked hard, but after that tough SX season, were you surprised at all with how far forward your pace took you?
A little bit. After SX being so rough, I know I’m capable, but mentally sometimes—when you have so many bad races—it’s easy to doubt yourself. It’s good to put the stamp of approval on the weekend.
You were making a run on [Joey] Savatgy for the lead at the end of the moto.
I was trying. I just ran out of time. I wasn’t even sure where I could make the pass at. The only place I passed the other guys was in that bowl turn [coming out of the half pipe], and I was almost t-boning them. I really wasn’t close enough to make the pass there.
Yeah, it was fun! We obviously grew up riding and racing against each other, and it was good to be up there at the front of the pack battling. I was like, “Alright, let’s get going Jeremy. Let’s go through the pack together.” But I think he came in a little under the weather, a little sick, and he just didn’t have that spunk, so I was like, “Okay, well, I’m going to go around you if you’re not going to keep going forward.”
Video of the Martin Bros’ battle.
We’re heading to Glen Helen next weekend. I know that place is scary fast for everybody but one the best tracks on earth.
I love Glen Helen! We ride there a lot during the week, but at the National is another step above with prep and how they water it and maintain it. It’s a great track. I personally like it; it’s grown on me. When I first came out here back 2009-’10 and was riding it, I thought it was the worst thing on the face of the earth. (laughs) You get used to it, and I think it’s a man’s track—especially during the week with how hard it gets and the washboard type of bumps. Last year I got second in the second moto there as well. I am looking to improve on that.
Alright, well, congrats and good luck next weekend.
Thank you.
