Photos and interview recorded by: Chase Yocom – Written by: Dan Lamb

Everyone has been talking about Chad Reed breaking the career starts record and now possibly becoming the oldest rider to win a main event, but right now if anyone is going to become the new oldest rider to win a main event, the top candidate has to be Motoconcepts / Honda’s Justin Brayton.

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Mike LaRocco was 33 years, 1 month and 8 days when he won his last main event and set that record, and Brayton will turn 34 years-old in just 8 days. Reedy is two years older than Justin, but right now, he is struggling to score top tens while Brayton just won one of the three motos at the Atlanta SX “Triple Crown.” Justin was not able to back it up with the overall win–going 1-6-6 for 4th overall–but he definitely showed it is possible.

Over the first 9 rounds of 2018, Justin has been inside the top ten at every round, has finished fourth at both the “Triple Crown” races and currently he sits fourth in the 450SX Championship–just 6 points behind Blake Baggett who may be out with an injury after a crash in Atlanta. After the racing was over in Atlanta, MotoXAddicts’ Chase Yocom caught up with the #10 to talk to him about his surprise moto 1 win and what it meant to him and his team.

It’s weird to see a rider reach their peak at 33 years-old , but that is exactly what Justin is doing.

Justin, big night for you. You got a win in one of the main events. I guess they call it a moto. That race alone was crazy. You gotta be stoked on that and with a 4th overall.

That was great to get that first main event win. It was so cool. Just really really special to have my family and my kids here. They got to see daddy on the big screen. It’s funny with life and the things that matter the most. That was really special. To get 4th overall is prettty good, but after you win one you definitely want to be on the podium overall. It was a solid night. I can’t discredit that win, it was really special.

 

What did the MotoConcepts / Honda team have to say? Tony Alessi [Team Manager] and Mike Genova [Team Owner] had to be have been super ecstatic.

Yeah, for sure. Tony was pumped. Mike Genova’s not here. He’s actually in Maui hanging out.

 

He chose the wrong one to miss. (laughs)

(laughs) Yeah. It was a special night. It was there kind of first win. We got a couple podiums at Anaheim 2. It was special night. A big step for everybody.

 

How crazy was that first main event? How was the heart rate the last couple of laps? You looked smooth out there.

It was good. [Jason] Anderson was obviously running it in on me. We battled a little bit, but I felt good. I felt like that’s me, that’s where I belong. A lot of people might not think so, but I feel like I proved it tonight.

Justin (10) stalked Christian Craig (32) before passing him and hanging on for the moto 1 win.

The track had almost an Arenacross’y feel to it. Do you think the track played to your favor at all?

Nah, I think a lot of people say that some times on tighter tracks. It’s been so long since I’ve raced AX. (laughs) I think those days are long gone. I think it’s cool that I came through AX. It was kind of by accident, because I wanted to be an AX Champion. That was my path. It’s cool, it’s just been so long since I’ve done one of those. I don’t know if I’d know how to get around one of those tracks any more. (laughs) I’d probably get whooped by my buddy Gavin Faith.

 

I’m sure you’d do okay. (laughs) Speaking of the first moto, after that win how much does that take out of you going into those second and third motos? You didn’t have as good of motos. Did all that excitement take anything out of you?

Yeah, 100%. I gotta be honest, I had a little win hangover in that second one. I was just flat. It was like I was really ready to go. I was lining up, still adrenaline pumping from that win. My family came back to the truck and we were high-fiving and hanging out. Then it was like, “alright, let’s race again.” It was kind of a weird feeling. Next time, I’ll be more ready for that. I’ll celebrate, but it’s time to go back to work. I felt better in that third one. I felt like I had some spunk and was riding good.

 

Team HRC / Honda has had some big injuries this year and lost Ken Roczen and Cole Seely. I just heard you talking to someone else about it. Did anything come up about maybe you moving over to that rig?

For sure it did. I’m great friends with all the guys at Honda, but it didn’t make sense for both sides. For one, everything has been working so well. The Smartop / Motoconcepts guys have been doing awesome so it’s not really fair for them. The way my contract is structured with Motoconcepts, it doesn’t make sense for me. Then I’d have to learn a whole new bike. There’s a lot of things that go into it. It’s not just like I’m on the same bike and just slide over there.

 

Yeah, just put some new graphics on and head over. [sarcasm alert]

Yeah, just put graphics on it. It’s a lot more than that. It’s cool that they called. I’ve got a great alliance with them now. They help me out with suspension and other parts here and there. They have made it clear that they’ll help me any way they possibly can.

Justin is becoming a “Triple Crown” specialist. He has had his two best finishes of the year (4ths at both) at the “Triple Crown” races.

I’m sure you’re relationship with Mike and Tony and them taking a chance with you, that has to play a factor as well?

For sure. They’ve got great support from Honda. They have Bullfrog Spa’s on board, Smartop and legit guys paying a lot of money to have a guy like me on the team. It just wouldn’t be fair for anyone.

 

Some times Mike and Tony get a bad rap, but you’ve had your experiences with them , and everybody that I’ve talked to says it’s a great team to be on.

It is, absolutely.

 

You gotta be stoked to give those guys that first moto win.

For sure. They deserve it. Tony is one of the hardest working team managers. I always say, he’s a riders team manager. He’ll go to batt for the rider any time. If I need something, he is right on it. And Geneva’s been great too. I’ve gotten to know him personally and he’s a great guy and a great family man. I’ve learned a lot from him away from the track moreso than at the track. It’s a fun vibe. A cool team to be around.

 

Next week is Daytona. Obviously, more of an outdoors’y feel. What are your expectations heading into Daytona?

Get a holeshot in the main and just survive that track. (laughs) It’s always a little tough, but we’ll go there and have fun. We’ll see where we end up.

 

Do you like Daytona?

No, not really to be honest. I don’t really like it, but you gotta do it. I’ve done well there before. I’ll just try not to be too bummed we’re going there, but I don’t really like it.

 

Hey, well thank you for the time and good luck next weekend. Hopefully it’s one of those years it does go well for you and congrats on the ride tonight.

Awesome, thank you.

Author

Dan Lamb is a 12+ year journalist and the owner of MotoXAddicts.