Photo by: Chase Yocom

These “Privateer Showcase” interviews presented by Race Tech Suspension at MotoXAddicts tell the stories of the guys in the trenches week in and week out trying to chase their dream of racing professional Supercross. While the riders at the front of the pack get the money, the T.V. time and the glory that goes with it, there’s a huge pack of guys just hoping to become regulars in the big show. We tell their stories.

Click to check out what's new at Race Tech
Click to check out what’s new at Race Tech

This week’s “Privateer Showcase” interview is with one of the top finishing true privateers at the 2017 Anaheim 1 SX, KTM of Murrieta, Toyota of Escondido, FLY Racing backed Blake Lilly. 2017 marks Blake’s third full season of contesting the Western Regional 250SX Supercross Championship and he had a big breakthrough ride with a 14th at A1. The seven points Blake scored at A1 are more than his last two and a half years combined, but more importantly it was a huge shot of confidence for the Californian moving forward.

After seeing Blake’s results at the opener, we scored his phone number from a friend and decided we give him a call so we could all find out a little more about where he came from.

Blake, thanks for taking the call and congrats on the 14th at A1. A lot of people in the stadium were probably wondering who the #138 was. When did you first start riding, and how did you originally get into racing dirt bikes?

I started riding when I was nine. My dad rode and I originally got into BMX and I raced BMX for three or four years. I was pretty good. They have what they call NAG10 which is National Age Group, and I was 10th best in the nation at the time. I kind of just got over racing BMX and wanted to ride dirt bikes. I got my first KX65 and it took off from there.

 

Where are you originally from and what were your local tracks growing up?

I’m from Riverside, California. The first track was Starwest, but that’s not even there any more. That was the big local track for everyone around Riverside at that time.

Blake #138 battling with Noah McConahy #59 for position in the heat race. Blake qualified for the main directly from his heat race.
Blake #138 battling with Noah McConahy #59 for position in the heat race. Blake qualified for the main directly from his heat race.

Did you have much success as an amateur at the Am Nationals coming up? I remember hearing your name on occasion.

I had glimpses. I had good years and I had quite a few bad years as well. (laughs) My last year on 65’s was really good, my 85cc days weren’t too great, and on big bikes, I had my best finish ever at Loretta’s in the Schoolboy 2 class which was seventh. I had a couple good races in the A class, but nothing that sparked too much interest with helping me in the pros. Obviously, I had to pursue it on my own, become a privateer and do it that way.

 

Did you do all the amateur nationals or just a select few like Loretta’s?

I would say we chased it quite a bit. I had my fair share of injuries, but I did Loretta’s seven times, World Mini because it was close [Las Vegas], Ponca City a couple of years, Mini O’s twice and the Texas rounds four or five times. Mainly, though, Loretta’s was always the main goal throughout year.

 

Were you home schooled or did you go the public school route?

I was home schooled from sixth grade on. I grew up training with Mike Craig and travelled around with him and Christian [Craig] a lot. I grew up riding with those guys and going to the races.

 

What was it like working with a 90’s legend like Mike?

When I was younger, me and Christian became really close, and with Mike I was almost like his son ’cause we were together so much and I hung out with them all the time. It was more than just a trainer / rider relationship. I had a blast with them and it taught me a lot.

 

Hopefully, he didn’t train you in off-the-bike stuff. (laughs) Mike was known to be a wild one.

No, not too much. I learned what not to do. (laughs)

 

(laughs) When did you turn pro? The first time I remember hearing your name or noticing you in the results was when you made a main at one of the Anaheim’s in 2015.

Yeah, it was Anaheim 3. The plan was to turn pro in 2014, but I was a couple weeks in to riding SX and I had a bad crash. I broke my ankle and it was some weird break in the top of my foot. I was still able to do the last three West Coast rounds—Houston, Seattle and Las Vegas—and I qualified and finished 17th in Vegas. Buy yeah, 2015 was my first full year in SX.

 

You also made a mains in ’15 and ’16, but this weekend’s 14th in Anaheim was a career best for you. What did you do over the offseason to elevate your game in 2017?

Yeah, 14th was by far my best. Before that it was 17th. In the offseason, my dad and I kind of looked and figured if we were going to do this, we needed a little more serious approach to it. My practice bike is quite a bit better than it’s been in the past. I also hired Jay Whipple to be my on the bike trainer. I worked with Jay during the offseason two to three days a week. He will also be helping me at the races like he did at Anaheim 1. I didn’t know what to expect because I’ve never had help before, but he took so much guess work out of it with lines and stuff like that at the race. He also helped me out with stuff before the race with all the work we put in. He definitely helped, and it’s cool to see all my hard work payoff.

Blake #138 (center) got a bad start in the main event and checked in after lap one in 17th before working his way up to 14th.
Blake #138 (center) got a bad start in the main event and checked in after lap one in 17th before working his way up to 14th.

What did you think of the track this weekend in Anaheim?

I’ve never seen a Supercross layout develop like this one did with some of the rhythm sections. There was a lot of inside roll sections and not doubling or trickling out of turns. I mean, the track is pretty good. It produced some decent racing, but it was much different than I think we’re all used.

 

Do you feel at this point that you belong inside the top ten? I know from talking to a lot of privateers that you can sometimes struggle with seeing the big names on the back of the jerseys and believing you belong. Is that something you’ve ever struggled with?

One of the things Jay and I talked about was making things happen. You can’t sit there and hope that the race goes really well or hope that I qualify; I have to push my way to the front. It doesn’t matter who’s in front of me or around me, I have to run my race. I have to do whatever it takes to get in the main and then do whatever I can to get a good finish in the main. This weekend was a big breakthrough for me—I was really happy with it—and the goal for the season is to get better each weekend. Eventually I want to be in the top ten and keep climbing from there.

 

I was told today your sponsor is the pro baseball player CJ Wilson. Is that true?

CJ owns CJ Wilson KTM of Murrieta and I ride for his dealership. I don’t have too much direct contact with CJ, but I do ride for his dealership and they help me out a lot. They’re pretty new and I’m glad I’ve been able to help grow their name on the West Coast.

 

When you’re looking at the results at the end of the year, what results would make you feel like you accomplished your goals?

I definitely want to break into the top ten. That’s a goal Jay has for me, to end in the top ten. With how Anaheim went, I definitely think that could happen sooner than later. I just want to keep pushing and knock those seconds off for the main events. I know my times in the heat race were 1:05’s or 1:06, and I want to stay closer to that for the main event. Even if I fall off late in the main event, I want to at least do it at the start and put myself in a good position. I want to see that every round and maybe get into the top ten every round.

 

Blake, thanks for giving us your time today and good luck moving forward in 2017 SX. Are there some sponsors that are helping you out that we can give some love for you?

No problem, thank you. Yeah, I would like to thank CJ Wilson KTM of Murrieta, Toyota of Escondido, FLY, FMF, ODI, 100%, Five18 Designs, 2X Motorsports, Jay Whipple, my parents and my girlfriend Jordan.

Click to check out what's new at Race Tech
Click to check out what’s new at Race Tech
Author

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