Photos by: Todd Gutierrez
The Race Tech Suspension presented Privateer Showcase interviews are usually reserved for the guys struggling week in and week out on their own dime trying to get to that next level, but this week we talk to Nut Up Industries backed privateer Josh Hansen. No, Josh isn’t an unknown struggling privateer, but he is a privateer and the top finishing one last weekend in Santa Clara.
After not racing at all in a full year, Josh nutted up (pardon the pun) and joined the Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship series, in the 450SX class at round twelve. With an abundance of natural talent, the #57 qualified for the show in fifteenth, qualified for the main event with a fourth in his semi and scored a fourteenth in his first—and possibly only—main event of 2016. It was an impressive performance for a privateer of any kind, but for a man coming straight off the couch with two weeks of SX riding under his belt, it was eye opening to the kind of talent Josh still possesses at 32 years-old.
You can check out what ‘lil Hanny had to say to us after the race below.
Josh, first race back to Supercross and a 14th in the 450SX class—not a bad debut at all, but how are you feeling about it?
It was alright. We decided two weeks ago to go do this. This is pretty much off the couch, I would say. We did motos last week and this week a little bit, and we’re here; it’s crazy! I’m stoked, though, to be here, and I thought it turned out alright. I think if I was in shape I could run with the front guys, but it takes some time, a good off season and being strong. It’s cool, and everything’s been good so far.
Did you surprise yourself at all tonight with your raw speed because, I’ll be honest, you surprised me a little with your speed.
Really? That’s cool. I feel like, with not being in shape, I can’t do the things I want to do. I have a vision of where I want to be, but I’m nowhere close right now. I think with some good preparation, we could do a lot better.
What was involved in this decision to come back to racing here in Santa Clara tonight?
Actually, I have a new sponsor, that Nut Up sponsor. They’re an almond company up here in Escalon, California. It was a local race for them, and I’m like, “It’s rad.” I had a lot of fun last year here; I almost won last year here before the bike went out. I wanted to come back here. It’s a good spot, beautiful weather and it’s a rad stadium.
How much more are we going to see of you this year?
I don’t know. This might be the only one. I’m going to race full on next year. Like I said, it was just a “we’re going to go racing” thing. It was kind of like, “Let’s get the rig ready, try to get a bike ready.” We rode a stock bike, literally. We had suspension, but it was a last-minute thing. At the end of the day—when you’re on a 450—it doesn’t matter if you’re on a stock bike or not, it’s a good bike. We’re out here, we’re doing it, so it was cool.
What did you think of this place tonight? The dirt kind of sucked.
There was a lot of rocks.
That’s what I was getting at. There were a lot of rocks and it was a little short for an SX track even.
Yeah, yeah, I thought there was a lot of rocks. I thought it was really fast—it was a fast track. A lot of intensity and that’s something I kind of struggled with at this moment in time, (laughs) but I had a lot of fun.
You come back after a long time away again and, as always, the fans seem to love you. That’s how it always seems to be when you come back, but does that ever surprise you?
Yeah, absolutely. I love being able to see the fans. It’s cool. I really do enjoy racing and riding dirt bikes so to be able to meet the fans, I enjoy that more than just being able to race. Like I love being able to mingle with people. It’s a great opportunity and I’m blessed for it, so it’s a good time.
What did you do to get ready for tonight?
Well, I couldn’t bicycle too much. The thing is, if I start going hard, you have to go through the steps of being sore and stuff. Within a week or two weeks, you’re not going to push that, so I had to do motos. I couldn’t really do too much cardio, because I didn’t want to be too sore to fit in the next day of riding. (laughs) It was still cool, though. It makes me really want to take it seriously and get back out there. It would be rad to race.
You’re talking about coming back next year full on. I know it’s early, but are you thinking 250 or 450 class?
I don’t know, but I’m kind of thinking the 450. You really have to have a good bike for the 250. I do feel like I could still win in that class, but at the end of the day, it’s like you need a good program. That’s something I’m kind of lacking—to be able to get really, really good bikes. I don’t know, I have to be realistic with myself. I am older and I should be in the 450 class riding with the guys I grew up racing.
If we don’t see you again this year, thanks a lot for taking the time to talk to us.
Thank you guys.
