Photos & Interview by: Chase Yocom – Written by: Dan Lamb
With two AMA 250 Motocross National Championships on his resume and only four 250SX main evnet wins in his five years of 250SX Regional Championship campaigns, GEICO / Honda’s Jeremy Martin has been branded an MX specialist that has not figured out SX. The only problem is, SX has become far more valuable than MX to the factory 450 teams, so if Jeremy wants a lucrative 450 career, he needs to shed that label.
Over the first three rounds of the 2018 250SX Eastern Regional Championship, Jeremy looked like his normal mediocre self in SX, but something clicked at round four and he has caught fire. Over the last four rounds the #6 has gone 2-2-1-1, including a dominant main event win at the Indianapolis East / West Shootout. If not for a 7-point penalty (jumping on red cross flag) in Indy, he’d be just 9 points behind Zach Osborne in the points. As it is, though, J-Mart is 16 points back and with just two rounds to go the Championship is a long shot. Championship or no Championship, Jeremy has made huge strides towards shedding that MX specialist label in 2018.
After his win on Saturday night at his home SX in Minneapolis, Chase Yocom caught up with him to talk about his night.
Jeremy, you kept the momentum going from your East/West Shootout win and got the win tonight at your homed town SX, you gotta be stoked?
I was beyond happy. Like you said, to get the home town win is unbelievable. I went kind of crazy after the win and celebrated pretty hard because it’s a moment I’ll cherish for the rest of my life basically.
It was well deserved, for sure. You earned that moment.
It was tough. When you do the three races for the “Triple Crown” the intensity is very high ’cause they’re shorter. I’d say it was deserved, for sure.
How was the home crowd? In the press conference you were saying you wear earplugs, but you could still hear them. That’s a cool feeling.
Yeah, I could hear them. It was really neat and a memory I’m going to cherish forever.
What did you think of the track tonight? I’m hearing a lot of one-lined and that made it hard for you in the first two motos being behind, but in the last moto, you made it work.
It was definitely one-lined. It made it where you had to really get in there and stick it in on the guys pretty hard. I don’t really like to do that, but I had to in that last one.
What are your thoughts on the “Triple Crown” format. This is your second one, but how was it compared to Atlanta?
It’s just another race to me. They’re just trying new stuff. If you have a bad main event, you wish you had “Triple Crown,” and if you have a good main event you’re like, “Let’s be done.” It’s all on how you did I guess. Hopefully they can figure out what they’re going to do in the future and we’ll stick to that.
How hard was it with this weather? With the “Triple Crown,” the snow makes it more difficult getting back to the truck. Did you guys pit inside?
No, I pitted outside. I was navigating ice and snowy conditions all night. (laughs)
No slips out there, though? I think I saw Weston Peick slip. (laughs)
We were close. I’m a little seasoned in this weather; Weston is just a SoCal guy. (laughs) I know to take it easy.
You’re working with Dylon [Turner, trainer] a little bit more, but how’s that been? How’s that relationship been? You’ve obviously been on a roll recently, and bringing him in has to have played a part in that too?
I think it’s about surrounding yourself with good people, and Dylon and I have been together for a very long time. We know each other. I don’t even have to talk to him and he’s like, “Dude, what’s going on?” I think that pays off, having people around that know you the best and can read you. And I have the Tomac family and I’m blessed to be with them and be able to ride and train with Eli. I just cherish where I’m at right now and I appreciate everyone in my crew.
The dream team is back, so look out people!
