Photo by: Nicolas Cade
During the off-season, most AMA Supercross riders are signing contracts and testing new setups, but the privateers of the sport are just trying to get enough funds together to race. One of the privateers that is getting ready for a full on assault in 2012 is Chris Johnson.
In 2011, Chris—through circumstances out of his control—was forced to take the season off and is now looking forward to making up for lost time in 2012. We gave Chris a call to find out some of what went down in 2011 and to see what his plans are for 2012.
What are you up to tonight?
We were working on the bike. Me and Ben [Lamay] just came inside—watching Moto Inside the Outdoors.
Nice. You call him Ben, not Benny? (Laughs)
(Laughs) Yeah. I don’t know. I call him “Mr. Lamazing.”
I don’t even want to ask. And you guys live together?
(Laughs) Yeah.
No, I know one of his friends from Alaska, and he’s always calling him “Benny” so I thought maybe that was just his pet name for all of his close friends.
(Laughs)
So what have you been up to lately?
Not much. I got some new bikes, started riding again. I got a concussion right before Pala, and then started riding after that. I was going to do the last couple rounds of WORCS, and then I hit my head again. So I took like, there were probably 8 weeks where I wasn’t riding. And I just started riding again a couple of weeks ago, so I’m pumped.
What kind of bikes did you get?
Hondas 250Fs. Lites class.
Nice. Did anybody hook you up, or did you get a deal? How’d you come across that?
Well, I got my bikes through Motoworld, but it’s my own program. You know, me and my dad—we’re going for it. I’ve been working with Troy Ross for years as far as training off the bike and stuff. And this past year was kind of, you know, a work in progress, and I dealt with some injuries and stuff. So it was kind of like starting over, you know, like a couple times this year. So now, I feel good. I know I’m getting stronger, so I’m pretty excited for this year.
I know a lot of people are going to be wondering who Chris Johnson is because this sport is so “out of sight, out of mind.” What happened in 2011 that kept you from the track for the most part?
Well, it’s kind of a long story. I had a Suzuki deal lined up for 2011 as far as WORCS goes, and I got a call two weeks before the first round, and they weren’t going to be able to get me any bikes until April. There was a shipment that was coming in, and it was all messed up—and they only imported so many bikes. So, I wasn’t going to be able to get any bikes until later in the year. Luckily, Yamaha pulled through, and I was going to all the WORCS stuff. Well, I got approached right before the Nationals started by a couple of private deals. They were going to fund the whole deal. So I went to all my sponsors, put together like a little race team, and they were supposed to be funding the whole deal in terms of the travel and getting my 250s ’cause my Yamaha deal was 450 only. It was going to be me and Ben Lamay. So I put the full deal together, and we were good to go. And I went to Hangtown, and I DNF’d both motos ’cause I had bad fuel. And we couldn’t figure out what was wrong. We were getting ready for Texas and they were supposed to—there were a few things that happened that were kind of shady, and I was kind of doubting the deal. And then, right before Texas, some shady things happened. The bikes weren’t paid for. They were writing bad checks. I sold them a few of my Suzukis—my Rockstar bikes—and those checks bounced. I was in debt like 20 grand. They owed Motoworld a bunch of money. So I split ties with them, and then I wasn’t able to go racing over the summer. Yeah, it kind of screwed my whole year up. I was pretty disappointed and pissed off, so I shut my phone off after Texas and kind of went M.I.A., but there was nothing I could do. It was kind of out of my hands. And I didn’t really want to tell anybody what was going on just ’cause I was dealing with attorneys and stuff. So, that’s the story of 2011.
So you really didn’t do any WORCS either in 2011?
I did the first round on my Suzuki, but I DNF’d. I actually borrowed a bike and it failed on me. So first round I didn’t finish. And the way the WORCS is set up this year is they’re doing one moto Saturday and one moto Sunday, but at the first round—with Nathan Woods passing away—they only ran one day. And then at the second round, I got hurt so I didn’t do any other WORCS rounds. I started doing outdoors—or was getting ready for outdoors. I didn’t do any WORCS. And then, you know, that whole deal happened.
Sounds fun, Chris. (Laughs)
(Laughs). Yeah, I was so bitter for so long, you know, not being able to race and score any points. You know, I pretty much dropped off the map. Everybody forgot about me. So this time rolls around, and it’s hard to get going, but I’m gonna go for it and do it on my own and pin it.
Well, a lot of people don’t even know that you were a WORCS prodigy back in the day as a kid and then you kind of crossed over. You did motocross first, though, right?
Yeah, I grew up racing moto, and then in 2001, I did my first WORCS race. And the promoters at the time were super awesome. We kind of got close to them, and they kind of took me under their wing, so I decided to do the whole series. And then I got picked up by Team Green—I think it was like 2003—you know on 80s. So I was a Team Green rider growing up doing off road stuff. I did a couple rounds of the amateur stuff in 2005. I did pretty decent. You know, I wasn’t a top guy or anything, but I always wanted to do moto. So in 2006, I went to Texas, got a couple of podiums and then I went to Mammoth and Loretta’s and did really well. Then in 2007, I got picked up by Yamaha on their White Brothers amateur team. That’s kind of how it came about—me doing motocross.
When did you decide that moto was going to be your main focus? I remember Loretta’s one year you finishing fifth behind one of the best amateur classes in recent history.
Yeah, that was 2007. I finished 5th behind—you know, it was Trey, Stroupe, Izzi and Hahn. And I actually had a Star contract that I turned down just ’cause me and my dad met and we didn’t think I was ready. So we met with Mike Guerra, Donnie Luce and Bobby Regan, and we decided I was going to stay amateur another year. I was also good to go with a Yamaha deal for the year. Then the economy went bad, White Brothers went out of business and Yamaha cut their budget—and I was kind of left high and dry for 2008. That’s when I went back off road and rode for ZipTie on Suzukis.
Did you ever think of just racing WORCS?
Yeah, that was actually my plan for 2011. I was going to do all the WORCS races, that was my main focus. I was committed to that. And then these people approached me and it was too good to be true. (Laughs) And that’s what it was. All the rounds—they had a plan. It’s funny because I sat down with them and I put a budget together, you know, with all the numbers you know cause they had to buy everything. “No problem, no problem.” They signed the contract. Did the whole deal, you know. It was really professional at first. And then there were shady people handing out bad checks. It wasn’t good. (Laughs).
Sounds like a bad deal.
Yeah, I stuck my neck out there and got burned. I’m paying for it now, but you live and learn, I guess. This year, I’m doing it all on my own, but right now, I’m so much happier on my own program.
So what are you doing to prepare for the 2012 SX season? Where are you riding?
Well, I’m going to start riding Supercross this week. I have maybe two hours on the 250F. So when I start riding SX, it will be at The Ranch, Milestone, and I think we’re going to try and build a track down in San Diego and get ready that way. Me and Ben train together—we both use Troy Ross—and live together, so it works out really good.
What are your expectations for the upcoming Supercross season?
The first goal is making mains. Then, I definitely want to get into that top ten. And I know I’m capable of that. Just put my head down, work hard and hopefully it all pays off in the end.
I guess really your main goal is to make an impression?
Yep, yep. I actually have a few tricks up my sleeve that I’m working on for A1 to stand out. I can’t say anything yet, but it’ll definitely raise some eyebrows. (Laughs)
(Laughs) Nice! I know you’re from the Northwest, so did you call Greg Crater and borrow the Hurricane gear he wore last year?
Yeah, (laughs) I’m going full pink! No, but we have something cool planned.
So you’ll be riding West which is obviously a lot more affordable for a West Coast privateer. Will we see you at A1?
Yep, I’m definitely riding West, and after that I’m thinking about going up to Canada. I’ll do Hangtown and Texas, and then I’ll go up there. It’s all still kind of up in the air right now and dependent on if I can get a budget together. If I can do AMA, then obviously that’s what I’d like to do. Me and Ben are—Ben’s still waiting on some things, but if nothing pans out—gonna team up, split expenses and do the deal.
Hopefully, both of you can grab a fill-in ride before then. Back in 2010, you were able to score a fill-in ride with Rockstar/Suzuki in motocross. How was that experience?
It was rad. The bikes were good, and the team treated me good. In the end, it was kind of unfortunate. They wanted to keep me through the end of the season, but I had a WORCS race with prior commitments, and I didn’t want to burn any bridges. So when Unadilla rolled around, I went up to Washington and did a WORCS race—and that cut ties with Rockstar/Suzuki. They got another guy to fill-in, and I wasn’t able to finish the season with them. Looking back, I probably should have stuck with it and my sponsors probably would have understood, but that’s not how I do things. I had to keep my commitments. There’s no regrets, but there’s always looking back and wondering what if.
I know there are a lot of skills that crossover well, but is it tough going back and forth between WORCS and moto?
I think as far as skill they kind of all go hand-in-hand. They do benefit each other. As far as going from WORCS to moto, the first few laps it took me a while to get warmed up and get going, but towards the end of the moto, I was an iron man. It’s definitely good in that aspect. Then going from moto to WORCS, the intensity level was night and day from the competition.
So where’s the heart at? WORCS or moto?
Yeah, my heart’s in moto. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be racing Supercross. I’d just go race WORCS. I know I can do well, and I have good people surrounding me, so I’m looking forward to this year.
Nice. I know you’re pretty much on your own, but is there anyone you want to thank for pitching in with help for 2012?
Yeah, definitely! There’s Motoworld, Race Tech Suspension, San Diego Powder Coating, Fasst Company, Maxima, Custom Decals, Hot Cams, Vertex, Smith, Pro Wheels, Tom Morgan. I’m pretty much running everybody that’s helped me out in the past. Also, my dad and Troy Ross, who is a huge asset and a great guy.
Nice. I’ll be looking forward to a possible surprise from you at Anaheim 1. Good luck with making 2012 way better than 2011, and thanks for talking to us, Chris.
No problem. Thanks for calling.