What started off as an idea to point out the differences between NBL and ABA for expert riders lead to me getting in touch with Supercross' 30-34 X rider Jesse Guibault. I found his story a little more interesting than the original intention, but you will find some of the differences between the two US associations in there as well. Enjoy! - Shane Jenkins
bmxultra.com:
How/When did you first get involved in BMX?
Jess: I first got involved with sanctioned BMX in April
of 1986. While visiting my mom (I was being raised by my Grandparents
on their farm at the time) she found out that they were having
some races close by her house. She knew I loved riding my bike
so we went and I raced. It was on a Huffy Pro Thunder and I won
all three motos. I still have that trophy.
I didn’t get to race again for 2 years. I ended up moving in with my mom and we started racing the 1988 Delaware state series at Lums Pond BMX.
bmxultra.com: What level did you get to the first time
around?
Jess: At the end of the 1990 series the NBL announced
this new class called “Superclass” where we raced
as Experts locally and for money at the nationals. It replaced
B Pro. I think everyone and their brother signed up for that class.
I signed up for Superclass and went to my first national race
of the 1991 series at the Harrisburg farm show arena. I think
we had 1/16th qualifiers that weekend.
bmxultra.com:
How long were you in the sport that time?
Jess: Not including the one race in 86 it was four years.
bmxultra.com: What was it that made you stop?
Jess: I worked at a bike shop at the time (Wooden Wheels)
and Cliff who was one of my coworkers was in the Navy Reserve.
He would bring in these books about different Navy careers which
were pretty interesting. Then everything started happening in
Iraq and I started getting the “Your not going anywhere
with your life riding those kids bikes” rap from the family.
I was doing well and making mains. But I caved to the pressure
and joined the military. I raced the weekend before I left for
boot camp at the NBL Sarasota national. I only had money for one
class so I raced Super Cruiser. I made the main Sunday for my
last race with Kenny May, D.D. Leone, Barry McManus, Billy Au,
Tony Szynaka, Sean Newberry and Ron Sutton. I let myself get nervous
and smacked the gate. It was not the way I wanted to end my racing
career.
bmxultra.com: How did you get back into it the next time
around?
Jess: I ended up getting injured when I was stationed
in Guam. I spent a few months in the hospital and by the time
I got out, my four year enlistment was two weeks from being over.
I decided to go home and cancel my reenlistment. That was in 95
and I was told I would never ride a bike again or even do a pushup.
I was still having surgeries on my arm with the last one in early
2003. Around this time my wife became pregnant with our second
child. She ended up stuck in the hospital on bed rest as she went
into labor at twenty weeks. I found out they were building a track
close to the house so I decided to take my son out there when
we weren’t spending time at the hospital visiting his mom.
Due to the ward she was in, there were only certain hours we could
be there as the moms all needed their rest and it had to be quiet.
If it was visiting hours, we were there. My son was three at the
time and has a mild case of Cerebral Palsy. It affects his lower
legs but riding his BMX bike worked like therapy for him. I think
it had to do with standing up and pedaling which stretched his
calves out, they were real tight and would cramp on him at night
time. He would wake up screaming it was so painful, but after
he started riding for a few months the cramps he always had stopped
and never came back. His walking corrected too as he always used
to walk on his toes, now he has a normal stance and gate. At the
track I would follow him around on a cruiser to make sure he got
up the jumps. We had a lot of fun out there just playing around
and became good friends with the track operator. The track was
not ready for racing until later on in 2004, plus I needed time
at home with my daughter so that is when we started competing.
It was for my son, but then I started getting better at it and
progressed quickly.
bmxultra.com: What do you do for a job now to keep your
BMX habit and food on the table for the family?
Jess: I’ve been working for a large bank now in
Information Technology for 5 years. I’ve been in the field
now for about 10 years. Last year was really good for racing as
I worked long days on Monday through Thursday and had off Friday,
Saturday and Sunday. I started with a new department this year
so it was back to 5 days a week of work. It’s a great job
for BMX as it is more mental than physical. I can still work through
most injuries and even work from home if I really have to.
bmxultra.com: What about training? How do you find time
for that?
Jess: Very good question. Right now I start at 4:30am
during the weekdays with sprints for an hour. This gives me time
to shower, dress and hit work by 7am with the hour drive in. I
was doing them in the evening but this took time away from the
family. I now do my stretching and exercises in the evening as
I can do them while hanging out with the family. Big thanks to
Greg Hill for all the help with training. I just started working
with him about a month ago. He has put me on the right path for
success.
bmxultra.com: Working with Greg Hill must be fun, was
he one of your heros back in the day?
Jess: Greg is a great guy. He’s not as intense
as he was back in the day but that is because he chooses to be
that way. If you look at his eyes it is still there, he just has
to flip the switch and turn it on. He still makes it look effortless
around the track. I really hope he spends some time competing
in the near future. Greg Hill is BMX and it isn’t the same
with him and some of the other greats not around. I enjoyed my
time with Greg when he came out to one of our local tracks to
train us. He was a hero back in the day and still is today. He
tells it like it is so if you don’t want to hear the answer,
don’t ask the question.
bmxultra.com: What does your wife think of BMX?
Jess: Well, my first lap around a track at a sanctioned
event I broke my wrist. She wasn’t really happy with me
racing at that point. I waited 3 days to go to the doctor hoping
that it wasn’t busted but it started turning funny colors
so I had it checked out. Ended up spending 4 months in a cast.
Last year when I busted the shoulder up she made sure I had plenty
to do. That was to make sure I understood that even if I get hurt
I still have responsibilities outside of racing to take care of.
She gets worried sometimes at the big events but has come to understand
it as a part of our life. She is very supportive and has even
taken a lap or two around the local track on a cruiser. Our daughter
is disabled and cannot walk which takes up a lot of the wife’s
time. She doesn't get to make it to many races. I try to help
with everything I can but I still do not know how she does it
all. She is an inspiration.
bmxultra.com: BMX is very much a family sport, and as
we all know every family is different and has it's own sets of
needs. Do you think BMX tracks, clubs or associations are set
up to cope with handicapped riders or spectators? Is there any
room for improvements?
Jess: I think there is a lot of room for improvement.
Currently the number of handicapped riders is pretty low. They
are not drawn to the sport with any incentives. One of our other
local riders has an almost unusable leg due to cerebral palsy.
He uses one clipless pedal and shoe to help control the leg. The
boy is around 10 years old and has a lot of heart. I think the
riders are more adapting around the associations. I would like
to see BMX included in the Special Olympics in the future. It
can be difficult to bring my daughter out to the tracks depending
on the facilities. You have to bring a big blanket for her as
you don’t want them laying in the dirt all day and the wheelchair
is very hard to push in the dirt. But we do what we can.
bmxultra.com: Where is your property?
Jess: The new location is just off the Chesapeake Bay
in Maryland. We are out away from everything where I can put as
much jumps on the property as I want and not have to listen to
any one complain. I can’t wait to get the jumps in as mowing
the 7 acres of open land sucks!
bmxultra.com: Does it get very wet, or even snow, during
winter?
Jess: We definitely get snow, which is a lot of fun on
the four wheelers. We have also been getting rain for the past
3 weeks about every day. Did I ever tell you how much fun sprints
in the rain are? If we get a lightening storm the bike stays parked.
bmxultra.com: You currently live on a large property
any plans to build a backyard track?
Jess: With the new house being as far as it is from the
tracks this is the plan. I already have a couple of jumps out
there but I plan to have a two man BSX style track. One side will
be for the adults to ride and the other side for the little guys
to ride. The adult side will have gap jumps and the little guys
will have the centers filled in for them.
bmxultra.com:
Do you do a lot of riding with your son (JD)?
Jess: When I can pry him off of his dirtbike. He likes
to ride his ramps and jumps when I am at work. His mom doesn’t
like him riding the dirtbike when I am not home so usually that
is first thing he wants to do when I get home. When he is done
we spend some time goofing around on the bikes. He loves to go
to practice sessions at the track on the weekends.
bmxultra.com: Do you think you can learn as much from
him as he can from you?
Jess: He has very unique perspectives on different BMX
subjects. I really like listening to what he thinks. He is the
future of BMX so I pay attention to his input and give him the
best feedback that I can. Some of the stuff he comes up with is
off the wall and makes you laugh, it makes you appreciate his
youth.
bmxultra.com: What class does he compete in?
Jess: 6 Intermediate in the ABA and 6 Novice
in the NBL.
bmxultra.com: Do you think if he stops racing that you
will to?
Jess: No. He pretty much stopped racing this year and
is taking a break. I think he has 3 races in since January? Last
year he moved so fast through the lower class that he had no one
to race with. He ended up racing kids much older than him (sometimes
twice his age) that it really got in his head. Not only that but
he saw my two serious crashes with injuries happen last year which
really bothered him. Some time off is what he needs. I miss having
him with me at the big races but if he is not having fun it is
not the place for him. He has a ton of talent so I hope he continues
on with the sport. I will still race no matter what he decides.
bmxultra.com: What do you think he wants out of BMX?
To be #1 in his class, to have fun, or to beat his father?
Jess: To have fun. He finished #3 last year and within
striking distance of #1. All he wanted to do was race his pitbike
in the 3rd round at the Grands. He got his wish and really hammed
it up on the track. Fun is always greater than a number. You only
get one chance to race that specific race and have fun. There
will always be a new number waiting for you, and that one number
only lasts a year.
bmxultra.com: How long do you think you can keep racing
for?
Jess: Baring serious injury? I plan on racing you for
the 55+ cruiser title in 2028.
bmxultra.com: What was your first bike?
Jess: It was a Huffy Pro Thunder. My first good race
bike was a 1986 Haro Group 1 that was a left over model we got
for cheap in 1987.
bmxultra.com: What's your current bike?
Jess: Currently I am on a Supercross UL. We will be unveiling
a new frame at the UCI Worlds called a S7. I love my 4130 frames
but this new one is pretty slick. Sammy Cools will be racing it
there. The S7 is in the mid 2 pound (1.2kg) range for a Pro XL.
It has been a big project and the test bike has 2 hard years on
it.
bmxultra.com: Do you prefer flat or clip pedals for racing?
Jess: I prefer flats but that is not as conducive to
racing here in the US. Clips are so prevalent here, even in the
5 and under beginner class at locals. You will see dads shoving
their kid's feet into the pedals and then run and catch them at
the finish line because they are too small to clip in and clip
out on their own. It really is a shame as I think it drives a
lot of riders away from the sport. That could be due to injury,
not feeling comfortable at speed clipped in or not being able
to compete in flats if they do not clip in. They feel they have
to clip in to compete, and at the top national level you pretty
much need to. If clips were banned tomorrow I would be perfectly
happy. But until then I will still clip in like the rest of the
competition. My son rides flats only. I let him try clips one
time at a local track. This was after bugging me for 5 months
about it and I knew he would not like them. He almost went over
the bars the first lap and off they came per his request. I haven’t
heard one word about clips since then from him.
bmxultra.com: do you consider yourself old school?
Jess: Not totally. Since I started racing in 86 that
is the fringe of what the collectors call old school and mid school.
We were there for the beginning of manuals, which we called “coaster
wheelies”. Electric gates were the norm and the equipment
was pretty good.
bmxultra.com: do you have an old school collection or
project?
Jess: I have some real old stuff hidden around. Most
of the stuff I have is 1990+. A small collection of Technique
frames as they are very cool looking, S&M, Auburns, HH racing,
Supercross and stuff like that. I missed the late mid school time
with the Techniques, JAD, Rumblefish and all the odd ones so they
are very intriguing to me.
bmxultra.com: What sort of music do you listen to?
Jess: Hard Rock. Disturbed, Korn, Static X and most of
the stuff they play on Sirius’ Octane channel. My wife loves
country and hates the hard rock stuff. So I will listen to country
at times, plus you’ve got to love chicks in cowgirl boots.
I grew up listening to country on the farm as a kid but it doesn’t
get the blood flowing fast enough when your getting ready to hit
the track.
bmxultra.com: With such a big difference in musical tastes
like that what was the last concert you went to with your wife?
Jess: LOL, Alan Jackson. I had to go with my brother
to see Disturbed. As a compromise we are seeing 3 Doors Down and
Bon Jovi this weekend before the Worlds.
bmxultra.com: What do you think of Neil Young?
Jess: Good question. Neil Young puts a lot of thought
into his music and it has a lot of meaning buried in the lyrics.
Some of it is political agenda and this is his way of showing
his view. The loud stuff is cool (Rockin’ In The Free World)
and some of the quieter songs are great for hanging out around
the campfire and drinking a beer with friends.
bmxultra.com: What was the last CD you bought for yourself?
Jess: 10,000 fists.
bmxultra.com: What are you favourite websites and why?
Jess: This should be a good one.
BMX Ultra as I like to see what is going on with the Australian race scene. I will make it over there at some point to race as it is one of my goals in life. The scene and structure there is way different, yet we are still doing the same thing.
Vintage BMX. They have a lot of traffic and I know a lot of the people on the board from out at the races in the new school section. The collecting stuff is cool and it is great to see a bike or part you no longer have from a long time ago show up looking like new. It’s like stepping out of a time machine. Some of the memories you can share about the old times are great too. There is a lot of history there. Every once in a while we have some one drop a “drama bomb” but Elvis has been on the ball lately.
BMX News. Lots of drama. You have to read between the lines a lot of the times but some of the posts are hilarious. Most people are trying to hide who they are and talk a lot of crap. It’s 80% drama and 20% attitude.
BMXmania. Good updates as to what is going on all around.
BMXunderground. Nick does a lot of updates and pictures for us here in the North Eastern United States. You see faces you know in the pictures and sometimes even get in one yourself.
bmxultra.com: How often would you say you visit the sites?
Jess: Daily. With the job I have we only have a very
short time to fix any issues that happen due to the monetary impact.
But when things are quiet there is a lot of down time. I usually
spend that time reading.
bmxultra.com: What's your fasination with Australia?
Jess: I really wish I had made it over there when I lived
in Guam. The people are passionate about racing and have a history
with it. The blue water and the scenery. The crazy animals you
guys have there and the bitchen accents! How has that been working
for you when you are over here visiting anyway? LOL. I work with
a few Australians here at the bank and they are great people and
have a lot of national pride. It’s hilarious when we are
out at lunch and the waitresses ask if they are English. You guys
do not take that lightly. Plus Australians can down a pint like
no other. Cheers!
bmxultra.com: Have you raced many Aussies?
Jess: I got to race you and Dean Coles this past year.
I’m sure I will see an Aussie contingent at the Worlds.
bmxultra.com: What do you think of the style of Aussie
riding that you have seen?
Jess: The only one I have really been able to sit and
watch ride has been Madill. I think the Aussies are thought of
as power riders but Madill shows the skills are there by pulling
Robinson through the rhythms to win the NBL Grands in Pro Cruiser.
bmxultra.com: Did you learn anything racing against Aussies?
Jess: This is where the power comes in again. If you
are ahead of them they will be putting the pass attempt on you
at some point on the track. If they are ahead of you, Lord help
you because they are hard as hell to catch. #1 lesson is try to
get out ahead of them first.
bmxultra.com: How do you think Aussie BMXers are different
to US BMXers?
Jess: The Aussie riders seem to be less clip dependant
than the US riders. With that the US riders seem to be more on
the technical side. I’m not saying the Aussies do not have
skills, it’s just at a lot of our tracks in the NBL there
is hardly any room for pedaling. When the kids grow up racing
in this type of environment and clipped in they either get their
technique down or fade fast. It’s sink or swim.
bmxultra.com: What time of the year would you prefer
to come to Aus?
Jess: I would probably have to come during the BMX “off”
season here in the US. We do not get much down time here except
during the January through February time frame. We are also starting
a horse riding therapy site on our new property for disabled children
so it would have to be scheduled around that too. It should also
be closed during those months due to the weather until we get
an indoor riding ring built.
bmxultra.com: What races would you prefer to race here?
Jess: I would be happy to hang out locally or hit whatever
big races are going on.
bmxultra.com: Are there any specific tracks you would
like to check out?
Jess: I think Knox is out your way correct and the BSX
track? I’ll bring the bike, you point me to the good tracks.
Deal?
bmxultra.com: Would you bring the whole family?
Jess: It would really depend on the time of the year
and time frame with school and what not. My wife has never been
outside of the US (and very few places inside of it) so I think
she would be thrilled if she did go. That’s some major airfare
for all of us though. Maybe I could talk the family into watching
the little ones for us.
bmxultra.com: Ok deal. You should know Jan to Feb is
perfect for racing here. In Jan there is a week of racing in Queensland
followed by a week of racing in Melbourne (My home town), which
includes both Knox and BSX. And other races through Feb.
Jess: Other than the semi-local indoor (4 hours away)
it is dead here during that time frame. We need to work on a BMX
exchange program or something!
bmxultra.com:
Do you think you would give Vet Pro/Vet Masters a go? Why(/why
not)?
Jess: When I started back in late 2004 I did the right
thing and let the NBL know I was previously a Superclass rider
and kept my old NBL number. I could have signed up for a new number
in any class and kept it quiet but that didn’t sit right
with me. I had to get Bob Tedesco to sign my license renewal stating
that it was o.k. with him that I race in Expert. I had been off
of a bike for 13 years at that time and there was no way I should
be in any pro class. At that point Expert was even a stretch but
I would not sign up for anything lower. I told Bob that I would
move to Masters if I got a top 10 plate, as the NBL rule was you
had to be top 10 to move up. I separated my shoulder twice last
summer a month apart and ended up finishing 11th nationally. That
rule was removed this year so it has been something to think about.
Staying injury free for one season has been my first priority
so that I can get my skill level up. I recently did some training
with Greg Hill and I have been working on my riding daily. Before
that I would just pick my bike up out of the garage when it was
race day and not train at all. I still made 95% of my mains that
way, but I did not win any. If I can finish top 10 in both NBL
and ABA I will donate some money to the Vet class next year. That
class is serious and it is getting faster every year. The recent
additions of Bittner and Loffredo show you how tough that class
is. I will be racing the Vet guys (Rupe, Carnes, Lyons, Domingos,
Strieby and non-U.S. vets) at the UCI Worlds next month in the
Masters Challenge class, I will have an idea of how much further
I have to go from that experience.
bmxultra.com: Will it be your first UCI worlds?
Jess: Yes it will.
bmxultra.com: Have you been to Rockford to see how you
would go in the BS stops race yet?
Jess: I went last year but that was just after I had
separated the shoulder for the second time. I still raced and
did well in the motos but did not make the main. If it were not
for the cost of the Worlds trip I would have been there again
this year. I will be there next year.
bmxultra.com: What does it mean to a 30 & Over rider
in the US to race at the BS stops?
Jess: It means you might have to back all the crap you
talked on the boards leading up to the race LOL. It also means
you get to see some of the fastest 30+ riders in the country all
in one class. Although the AA pros are not included there are
still some amazing riders. You also get the 30+ guys who finally
get a chance to be in the gate with the Pros they look up to and
would otherwise never get to gate up with them.
bmxultra.com: What do you think the concept does for
the riders in the 30 & Over class?
Jess: Mostly it is a big testosterone outlet. Chest thumping,
bragging rights, who’s who of the old farts race. ABA, NBL,
it doesn’t matter where you came from. You get in the gate
and put on a show.
bmxultra.com: Does it do anything more than any standard
30 & Over money open?
Jess: The BS Open makes a 30+ money open look like a
tricycle race. I’d take that motomag trophy over any 30+
money open purse out there. There are Money opens at every national.
There is only one Rockford BS Open and everyone knows who won
it.
bmxultra.com: What would you say to an Aussie (or any
other international rider) who is thinking of racing the BS Stops
race?
Jess: Don’t think about it, just do it. It is one
of those things you have to experience at least once in your life.
This years attendance was down due to cost of travel but last
year we had 70+ guys over 30 going for one trophy. Oh yeah, do
your sprints!
bmxultra.com:
What do you think are the biggest differences between NBL and
ABA?
Jess: NBL has money opens (they rock by the way), three
qualifying rounds and most of the points come from the motos.
You blow one moto and your points are shot for the day. If you
do not have a class you automatically get first when you are combined
with another class. I’ve seen people get capped out for
a season because they never have a class. Yet when they get to
the Grands they do not make it out of the motos but still get
a top 10 plate because they had so many points going in. Some
people tend to stay in the Rookie and Novice classes for extended
periods of time as they are awarded national rankings. If you
have been in the Rookie class for 4 years with a national ranking,
it was time to move up 3 years ago. Pros run one main.
ABA has only two qualifying rounds and no points from the motos. If you qualify the first moto you do not race the second moto. If you blow your first moto you have the second moto to qualify and it does not hurt your points. If you do not make the main, no main points as you are only scored on your main finish. No money opens (bummer). If you do not have a class you get combined with another and are scored how you finish. For example if my class (28-35 Expert) gets combined with 19-27 Expert I better be riding hard or I will not get any main points. There are no national plates specifically for the beginner and intermediate classes, which cuts down on the sandbagging (holding back from moving up, avoiding a win by hitting the brakes) a lot. Pros run three mains.
bmxultra.com: Which do you prefer? Why?
Jess: In the ABA there is less drama and sandbagging
at the races. You race the other riders more than you do the track.
The NBL tracks are more lipped out so you are concentrating more
on getting over the obstacles safe and with speed than you are
racing the other riders. A lot of the NBL tracks have a separator
jump. This is a hard, big jump that if you do not jump it, you
will not do well. South Park was like that last year, do or die
on the second straight. I rode it in practice and jumped everything
but this was during the shoulder injury so I decided not to risk
it and did not race. The ABA jumps you can usually either jump
or manual it and keep speed so they seem to flow better. Pull
manualling can be just as technical and difficult as jumping,
one is not necessarily easier than the other. In the ABA staging
they call your moto number, name and gate, which is nice. NBL
money opens are great as you get to mix it up with the pros and
try to get some of your entry fees back. The NBL has more races
on the East Coast. If the ABA had more races on the East Coast
I think the NBL would be in a bit of trouble. Vice versa, if the
NBL had a website like the ABA and changed a few things I think
the ABA could be in trouble. Right now I am leaning a bit towards
the ABA side of the house. For all my friends in the NBL office,
I am talking racing format and not people. I have known some of
you since I was just a kid. I just think that some of the format
needs to be tuned up. I have to say hi to my friends in the ABA
office to. (Shane is trying to put me in hard spot on this one!)
bmxultra.com: Do you think there is a benefit for BMX
in the US to have 2 sanctioning bodies?
Jess: Yes and no. I think there is a benefit as some
people are strictly aligned with one or the other. They have been
racing one format for so many years that they have become biased
towards the one they prefer. This gives them what they want, and
a choice if they do not like it. It also gives some variety if
you start getting burned out on one or the other. You get to race
different riders, tracks and a different format.
I also say no as there is a lot of scheduling conflicts that happen, and they seem to not happen randomly. Sometimes there are two nationals in the same area on the same weekend, one NBL and one ABA. It doesn’t make sense. Back in May there was an ABA Pro national, an NBL Elite national, two NBL Regional Nationals and the NBL Florida state championships all on the same weekend. Next weekend is the NBL Virginia national and the ABA Tennessee national. Our state ABA championships are on the same weekend as the NBL Grands. You can guess where a lot of our top riders are going to be that weekend. The Grands.
bmxultra.com: So if you had 2 races on the same weekend,
the same distance from your house, one NBL and one ABA how would
you chose which one you race at?
Jess: I would hit the ABA national, as there are few
on the east coast of the U.S. This year we have 6 ABA national
weekends on our coast. There are 27 national weekends in the NBL
so that is 54 qualifiers, not including the Regional races which
you can use two scores from them also in your national points.
With no points based on rider count it doesn’t matter which
national you get your points at in the NBL. They are all worth
the same amount if you have 24 riders or only 3 riders. 200 points
for winning your motos and the main. 5 scores count for a maximum
of 1000 points possible going into the Grands. I try to hit the
hardest NBL nationals that have the largest turnout for my class.
Woodward, Egg Harbor and the Christmas Classic are the big ones.
It gives you an idea of how you are riding against the rest of
the group. I would rather do well at the hard nationals and the
Grands than hit the easy ones and try to get the lowest number
plate the easy way. You will get people sitting high in the points
from hitting the easy races going into the Grands but cannot make
it out of the motos when they get there. Yes they still get the
low number plate, but that takes prestige away from the whole
NBL ranking system.
bmxultra.com:
What is your favourite ABA Track? Why?
Jess: Rockford. It flows like Niagara falls.
bmxultra.com: What is your favourite NBL Track? Why?
Jess: Egg Harbor, NJ. Good flow and I used to go there
back when I was a kid. Great racing for the 30+ crowd. Lots of
riders in the older 20 inch classes.
bmxultra.com: What is your favourite ABA race meeting?
Why?
Jess: Rockford. The mix of old school and new
school. The BMX celebrities who are just walking around in the
crowd. The atmosphere there is amazing. I will be hitting my first
ABA Grands this fall so I might have to revise that.
bmxultra.com: What is your favourite NBL race meeting?
Why?
Jess: That would have to be the Grands. The atmosphere
and tension is thick. Big classes and it is all on the line. You
either walk the walk or pack it up and head home. No second chances.
bmxultra.com: Who are your sponsors?
Jess: Bill Ryan at Supercross BMX (www.supercrossbmx.com),
Monster Energy Drink (www.monsterenergy.com) and 661 (www.sixsixone.com).
I also have to give a shout out to John Kovachi at Kovachi Wheels
(www.kovachiwheels.com) who always takes care of me.
bmxultra.com: Is there anyone you would like to thank
for getting you to this point?
Jess: My mom for getting me started in racing. My step-dad,
for all of his encouragement and reality checks. My family for
being there to pick me up when I jacked myself up out on the track
and standing by me when I did. My friend Bill Ryan at Supercross
for his kindness, believing in me, and his encouragement. Thank
you to you too Shane for giving me this opportunity to share my
story.
bmxultra.com: Good luck with everything. Let us know
when you are heading to Aus.
Jess: Thank you, and you will be the first to know.