Words by: Dan Lamb – Interview by: Chase Yocom – Photo by: Hoppenworld
In 2013 and in 2014, Star Racing/Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin was at the top of everyone’s list as a rider to watch in the Eastern Regional 250SX Championship, but in both years, the soft spoken Minnesotan started the season off by not qualifying for the Arlington Supercross main event. In fact, in 2014, Jeremy started the season by missing the main event at both Arlington and Atlanta, and he backed that up but finishing a dismal 19th at round three in Indianapolis. But after scoring just two points in the first three rounds of the season, he finished his 2014 supercross season off by finishing 2nd at the penultimate round in East Rutherford and winning his first-ever 250SX main event at the finale in Las Vegas. From there, Jeremy carried the momentum into the outdoors and went on a terror, winning the 2014 250 AMA Motocross National Championship to cap off his year.
With Jeremy finishing off 2014 like he did, he was once again near the top of everyone’s Championship favorite list heading into the 2015 Eastern Regional 250SX Championship. First things first, though, he had to get through his nemesis: the Arlington SX. In Arlington last weekend, you could tell the ghost of Arlingtons past was on his mind with his uncharacteristically tentative approach in the main event, but the #6 left AT&T stadium with eighteen more points than he’s ever scored there and a 4th in the main event. It was a solid performance, but it looked more like a “just get through it” performance than a “let’s try to win this thing” ride.
In Atlanta last Saturday night, Jeremy definitely showed that Arlington was just a warm up for what’s really to come. It’s one thing to holeshot and win a main event; it is a whole different level of winning, though, when you come from behind to pass and leave every Championship contender in the class. After rounding the first turn around 10th and checking in after lap one in 6th, Jeremy methodically caught and passed Vince Friese, Matt Lemoine, Marvin Musquin, Martin Davalos until finally passing the defending Champion, Justin Bogle, on lap thirteen for the lead. From there, last weekend’s dominant winner, Musquin, tried to mount a charge, but it was no use. It was Martin’s night, and with the second main event win of his career, he moved up to second behind Musquin in the Championship, but more importantly, he served notice to everyone in the class that he wants this Championship trophy in his ever-growing trophy case.
After the race, MotoXAddicts’ Chase Yocom caught up with the Star Racing pilot to ask about his night in Atlanta. You can read what Jeremy had to say in his “Race Rewind” interview below.
Jeremy, awesome ride tonight in Atlanta. That was the Jeremy Martin we’ve gotten used to seeing outdoors, but you really put it to the guys indoors tonight. How was that main event for you?
The main was good. It was a tough main event. They didn’t give it to me easy, and those guys are riding really good. I had a great battle with Marvin [Musquin], [Justin] Bogle, Martin Davalos, Vince Friese and pretty much everyone. It was a great night of racing, and it was cool to be able to come away with the win.
How much of a confidence boost was it to be able to come from behind like that and pass all the biggest names in the class. I mean, Marvin just beat everyone by a long ways last weekend, but you caught and passed him and rode away.
Yeah, it feels good, but I think he’ll be back next weekend and he’ll be strong. Just as everyone that was running up front will be. Sometimes, it just matters whs the better man is on Saturday.
What did you think of the track tonight? The lap times were short, and because of that, it can sometimes be harder to make time up on guys.
Honestly, I thought it was one of the better tracks. They had a crazy big dragon back into a dragon back down—I don’t know if anyone’s seen that in a while—and it was hard to get that triple onto the table. It was a little tough to pass, but I thought the dirt was good; the dirt’s always good here in Atlanta. It was a good night of racing.
You were fast in qualifying practice—qualifying 5th overall—but obviously in the main event, something clicked for you. Was it something you guys changed on the bike or something else?
No, we didn’t really change anything from the beginning of the day through the end of the day. I think it’s just we’re all going so fast during those hot laps and it’s the perfect lap you’re chasing. I think as long as you’re solid and you’re right there, I think you’re fine. There were a few times today where I was putting down a burner [fast lap] and unfortunately something happened or I made a big mistake or something. It’s just, those other guys beat me in practice.
I know you said the Atlanta dirt was good tonight and that it’s always good, but I’m hearing from other riders that it was uncharacteristically slick tonight. Did you feel that way as well?
Yeah, it was slick. I thought I remembered Atlanta being a little more rutty than it was, but it was better than Dallas [Arlington] was in the main.
It was a little strange. I noticed the dirt wasn’t as red with the red clay as it usually is. It had a total different look to it.
Yeah, it’s funny you say that because I noticed the dirt in Dallas was a lot easier to see ’cause it seemed brighter, and this stuff seemed darker. You really had to have the eye of the tiger on the track today.
There were a few differences tonight that we’re not used to seeing, like putting tough blocks in the middle of the whoop section. What were your thoughts on that?
Yeah, I didn’t know what that was about, and honestly, I just forgot about it. I was so focused on what was going on.
Well, you did a pretty good job on focusing. Congrats on the win.
Yeah, thank you.
