Catching Up With…Larry Brooks
bayodome
- December 26 2009
- 30 comments
Larry Brooks has been on just about every side of the sport. Once a hot prospect from Southern California, the former test rider and journeyman pro, and now long time race team manager, Brooks has multiple perspectives on a sport that can reach such disparate highs and lows. Larry has been a part of more championship winning teams than most people can fathom, beginning with his first venture at Chaparral back in the late to mid-90s, to his current place as the San Manuel/L&M/Yamaha team that has captured the past two Monster Energy AMA Supercross titles. With James Stewart returning for another season aboard the Yamaha backed team, we sat down with Brooks to learn more about their recent acquisition of James’ teammate, the effect the economy has had on racing, and the upcoming Supercross season.
After what’s been called the “silliest silly season in history” for good reasons, San Manuel Yamaha seems to have come out in better shape than many other outfits. Winning the Supercross championship, the US Open, and becoming the main R&D guys for the new 450, you signed Josh Hill after Team Yamaha dissolved. With that said and done, what does 2010 hold for you guys?
In the big picture it was a roll over year for us; we already had the majority of our contracts already finished up before the mess really hit. James was signed for 2010, as were many of our sponsors and Yamaha themselves. The second rider was something we didn’t have secured until a month ago, and it was crazy with no one signing until the last minute. With the economy being in the downswing, it affected the sport more than some realize, because this is considered more of a luxury than a necessity as a sport. We waited it out to find the best fit for the team, and after lots of discussion we found who that is, and it has motivated Josh to do everything he can to succeed.
Josh is coming off a tough year that was hampered with back issues and other injuries that kept him on the sidelines. It was said that those problems were reflected in his contract which is now is more strict and performance based. Any truth to that?
He has been very open in learning and listening, and I’m very fortunate that he gained so much knowledge in the past year on how to overcome those problems. He is a young kid and I don’t think he has ever dealt with something like that, because with the amount of races that are as close together as they are, it can be overwhelming to some people. He has been at this for a few years, but he is still a young guy that has some growing to do and I think 2009 was a learning curve to him. When you have a good year you don’t need to change much, but when a bad season comes around you realize how much needs to happen to avoid more problems. He is more open minded of change and approaching things in a new way that has paid off for all of us. He will be a good fit for all of us, and just the little bit of testing we’ve done together has helped him click with the entire staff. I’m excited to see how it works out by January 9th, and with him just focusing on one season he won’t be flustered with the Nationals or anything else. James is our main guy, but Josh isn’t being overshadowed by much.
Josh has had his share of criticism in the past, be it weight issues, his entourage, or his commitment to riding, yet much of that was by Internet forums and not the people who truly knew what was happening. It seems like many forget that he is 19 years old and had only spent nine months when he was 16 in the Lites class before making the jump to the full size bike, so they don’t give him the leeway they would an older rider with the same struggles.
That’s exactly how we felt we started talking. When a rider makes the move to a 450 the public thinks they are instantly a veteran, and at the time Josh was only nineteen and was making mistakes like any teenage kid will do. If you think about it, a kid at that age will have some growing pains whether they are a professional athlete or just starting college. Nobody is perfect, but to be young and in the position he is in is the formula for the results we are hoping for.
Last year he spent a few weeks down at James’ place and trained with everyone and it paid immensely the next week when he finished on the podium at Toronto. So is the plan for him to go down to Florida and buckle down or will he stay here in California and do something more on his own?
Right now it is but he has been out here being the work horse that it takes to be on the level it takes to ride with James. James’ program is on another level and it takes a lot of work to get to that point, and now he has been down there for the last month doing lap after lap to be ready for 2010. When you get down there and take it in, it is like heaven for a racer. Josh took every advantage that he got there and he learned more than some expected. But for now he will be on his own working to get to a higher level until we all feel he is at the same level as James.
After working with James for one year, what do you think about the success that you as a group achieved this season?
I’m happy to have him on the team because he is a good person. Before he worked with us we heard all these rumors and hearsay about him, but you never really know how a person is until you meet him. All those pictures that some have painted aren’t even close to what the real James Stewart is. He has is family to hold him down and Aldon Baker to keep him in the best shape 
possible, and all of that has made him the best guy in the world on a dirt bike. He has a huge heart and is a real person, and his shyness has come off as cockiness, but it’s just because he wants to stay more reserved. He gets along with all of us so well and he fits right into the family that our team and sponsors all are.
With the recent demise of an official factory Yamaha team, much of the focus has now shifted to L&M as the premiere Yamaha team. Is there much more pressure now or have you guys just stuck to the traditional program that has been around since day one?
I think a lot of the focus is now on us that what was a split between us and the factory team was, and it seems like we have more people on our project than any other. We both as a group have raised the level and brand up, and because they have decided to fold the team it’s now upon us and a few others to show their products and image.
It’s been said time and time again, but shelving the in house team and working on the satellite teams looks to be the future of the sport, similar to NASCAR.
It is more common place in Europe and in numerous car racing divisions and I think that yes, it is something that will happen more and more over the next few years. The OEMs won’t leave completely because their knowledge of the bike is what is required to be successful and competitive. L&M is the benchmark for what a satellite team can be, our championships and recognition are what every team strives for and it proves that a factory can get the same exposure by just being there for technical support as they can for taking a full team cross country to every stop.
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December 27th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Larry brooks is a pile of dog s***
December 27th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Larry Brooks is a bum. Reed will make Brooks cry this year. Bubba is sick on a bike no doubt. he doesnt need to be corrupted by his bumbeater of a boss..
December 27th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Yeah, Larry Brooks is such a bum. Him being of the fastest riders in his day and running some of the most successful teams in MX, he is the meaning of a bum. Bubba is on the best team for him and it shows in his riding. Reed will get swallowed up by the sea of talent in this up and coming season then people will realize that Reed's success is only due to other rider's mistakes and not because he is the fastest.
December 27th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
how can u even say reeds success was due to others mistakes becuase he won the mx nationals by a good margin while he had a serious virus that made him not even be able to eat.
December 27th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Reed won the nationals because Stewart didnt race Villopoto Alessi and Grant all crashed out and maybe its just me but when nationals came around and stewart wasnt racing it seems like that virus "magicaly" went away. He was still cryin about how he hadnt raced nationals for 2 years until every one was out then it turned into oh yeah im ridin really well got tons of speed and the other bull s@$t he comes up with
December 27th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
You have to be in it to win period !Reedy is consistant ,all you people need to stop hacking all of these riders none of you could not even dream of beating these riders,so get over it Reed rocks!!!
December 27th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Reed is consistant ! You have to be in it to win it ! You people need to Quit hacking other riders ,unless you are willing to step up and challenge these riders ,.Get over it !!! Reed rocks!
December 28th, 2009 at 3:15 am
he said that l@m is the benchmark for what a satelite team can be are you high larry monster energy pro circuit kawasaki mitch payton get a clue larry brooks your a pot head. the standard has already been set.
December 28th, 2009 at 3:19 am
only because villopoto and alessi and grant and stewart and k-dub were not there the virus thing they all race through that stuff do you know what traveling all over the country does to peoples bodies it messes your S!&% up
December 28th, 2009 at 4:31 am
why does everyone hate larry brooks so much
what am i missin?
December 28th, 2009 at 4:37 am
his decision pulled stewart out of a handful of big serious races and let thousands of fans down! we should shin kick him indeed!
December 28th, 2009 at 4:38 am
Larry Brooks did this interview and told it the way it is, just like he always does and you bag on him? There's always going to jealous people out there that want to knock the best down because your NOT the best and I'm sure you wish you were.
Brooks was a heck of a racer back in the day and now he's leading the field in Championships. San Manuel Yamaha has won the Supercross Championship the past two years with 2 different riders. Wow, many team's wish they could say that.
You posers might want to take notes on how Brooks run's his team and live your life by it. You might pull yourself out of the gutter.
Go Team San Manuel Yamaha and Larry Brooks, win the Championship in 2010.
December 28th, 2009 at 6:18 am
Larry Brooks. HAHAHAHAHAHA. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA/ Such a douch!!! Its easy to say he is good at what he does when every year he manages he has one of the top dogs on his team. Send him to Honda this year and I bet you that team would still crap the bed!!!! Its the rider. not the manager. Think Ricky only did well on suzuki with decoster? or Mcgrath on Honda. Top riders win when they are in shape and stay healthy and have luck on their side for the season! Larry Brooks. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Hes just a meat head. He should just come out of the closet!!!
December 28th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Well said.
December 28th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Wow… someone finally pointed out the obvious. Larry Brooks isnt getting Stewart in shape. Now from stewarts website the comment was made that Hill was running faster laps. imagine that, putting together a team to build traffic for Villo? Cause outdoors things will be interesting.
December 29th, 2009 at 3:22 am
Do you guys live on the internet? You have no idea what your talking about. I see these are the same guys on all the other websights chatting crap. No way that was Jake Weimer. He has better things to do.
December 29th, 2009 at 5:10 am
Stewart did not race the nationals because stewart did not want to. Period. It has nothing to do with p.o.s. brooks
December 30th, 2009 at 12:01 am
seriously WHY CANT LM RACE THE FN NATIONALS…no excuse is good enough..until then they can all pi@% *F
December 30th, 2009 at 12:12 am
You know what the smart racer say…"Bob is a Moran."
December 30th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
i dont care for LB much, but his success cannot be denied. i just feel like he is an instigator..
managers aside, i hope to see some great racing this year. hopefully js7 doesnt run away with it.
December 31st, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Yah I can't beat Reedy but RV2, MA800, JG33 and the man himself JS7 or should I say JS1, all have left him in the dust!! Reed is very good no doubt, but he has only won championchips when the best aren't around. RC4 was out in '04, was that a councidence that CR22 won then, in '08 and MX '09 when JS7 was out?? Reed is good, very good. But he'll never be the fastest or the best EVER!!
January 1st, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Pro Circuit is about as factory as you can get bud without being full factory. They are both in the same boat.
January 1st, 2010 at 7:46 pm
the sponsors dont give the team the money to race the nationals. Is that a good enough excuse? Supercross is where the money is and thats all they want to get in to. Its simple business. Do I wish they would race outdoors? Yes, but dont blame it on stewart or brooks. They get paid good money and get to take half the year off. You mean to tell me you wouldnt do do that too if you could? Reed did that for two years. We are all glad he is back and when and if Bubba comes back to race the nationals when his SPONSORS permit it, we will all be glad then too.
January 1st, 2010 at 9:43 pm
ditto… I dont really mind seeing Stewart run away with it because he is that talented but I hope at least 2-5 is bar to bar. I really dont see anyone that is one stewarts level.
Larry Brooks is not liked that much but he is good at what he does. he builds a team of talented riders and sponsors and manages that team. Yeah he doesnt plan Bubbas workouts but he takes care of his riders in every other way. That is the point of a team manager. And obviously, his past success proves he isnt to bad at it.
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:17 pm
I heard that to, Bob is a Moron. Last I checked BNR "Bob Nobody Racing" team championships are yet to be recorded in any form of racing. Reed is a dirty racer and he owes all his championships to the unfortunate injuries of the true champions. Reed has yet to prove his is the best rider in the world, only the best of what is left when the real champions fall to injury. He is the vulture that flies in when the fight is over to falsely claim victory on it's prey. Who do I cheer for? Anyone but Reed, and whoever this Bob guy is. It actually makes a lot of sense Bob is a Reed fan if you think about it… Peace!)
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Again well said and much agreed.
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Larry Brooks has been fortunate to have worked with some of the most elite riders in the sport and that should count for something. Larry Brooks wasn't holding the handlebars for any of those races that became points for championships, that is true. However, he was there threw the whole process as part of a championship "Team" that is what really matters here. Larry Brooks didn't show Bubba how to ride a motorcycle to the edge of it's limitations and beyond. Bubba does that anyways. I think people forget about the extreme mental part of racing because it is so physically demanding. Which is a whole other argument in itself. back to my point. Larry Brooks would probably admit he has learned as much about this sport from these elite riders and he has from his own bar time. They have to work together to get results and they have. Chassis, Suspension, Motor, Training, Stamina, Diet, Strength, Focus, Determination, Motivation, Talent. Some are natural, some are physical, some are mechanical but they all have to come together every weekend to win championships. Larry Brooks isn't all those things but he has done something right to get to where he is.
January 6th, 2010 at 12:23 am
what do you know about him? ever met him? . Larry is the best Manager in a long time. Watch what he does with josh Hill.
January 6th, 2010 at 12:32 am
Rupert , I could not of said it better my self. Now watch larry clean up Josh Hill. Larry is the best manager out there.
January 6th, 2010 at 12:36 am
It seems like you have some issues, Don't blame Larry. If you had any brains you would know that it takes mental training as well, to perform to your max, in any sport.