Catching Up With Broc Hepler

swapmoto

• May 02 2009
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If not for bad luck, Team Yamaha’s Broc Hepler might not have any luck at all. The oft-injured Pennsylvanian is back in action at tonight’s Las Vegas Supercross and hopes to finish the night safely and turn his focus towards the Lucas Oil Motocross Nationals. We caught up with BHep just after the afternoon practice sessions came to an end.
Broc, this year seems filled with bad luck. What all has happened?

It’s not too bad, I mean I’m still in one piece (laughs).

What was the deal with press day up in Seattle? You sat out that weekend and had some people worried.

The track was rutted, and up the face of a triple it cross-rutted. I backed off the throttle because I knew I wasn’t going to triple, but I was still too fast to double. I took the handlebar to the stomach, and then got sent to the hospital. I was there for a few days, just as a precaution to make sure there was no bleeding or infection.

You’re running a chest protector tonight. Are you still feeling banged up or tender?

Yeah, I’m running it until I feel tough again. I don’t feel bad out there on the track, but I really don’t want to take a punch there, let alone a bike or the ground.

You’ve been running motos over at Glen Helen, is that for testing or just practice?

It’s been both. I’ll run two motos, then come in and work with the bike.

Last season you were hyped up by anyone who saw you on an outdoor style track. But then you weren’t able to show your speed. You have any leftover speed for this year?

I hope it’ll be good, because I plan on being up fronting running with Alessi and Villopoto, because they seem like the guys to beat, and I just need to stay healthy and give it my best.

The title is coming down to tonight, and after the incident last weekend with Chisholm and Reed, the talk is team tactics. Have you been given any team orders?
Not that I know of. James and Chad are on a different level, and we can’t really match it. It’s between those two, and we don’t need tactics.

What do you think about the track? It’s got a lot to it, so are you feeling comfortable on it?

I’m not sure. I was struggling after all the outdoor work, and now there’s sand and whoops to deal with. And getting two laps in first session doesn’t help. Davi (Millsaps) said the throttle stuck, but I think that Honda might be too fast. We hit the fly-away jump, and I set up for the left hander when I heard this bike screaming behind me. I thought “Okay, so this guy will just be hauling the mail around me”, but then I got nailed and my bike should have been in the bleachers. I’m just glad we didn’t get hurt.

Have you ever considered seeing a witch doctor to help you stay in one piece? Because we don’t know what you’re last full season was.

(Laughs) I think it was 2005. But yeah, I might have to.

You aren’t known for swapping sideways and riding over your head; we see you so in control and smooth…

Yeah, that’s why I wonder how it bites me so much. If someone is fast near me, I try to run the speed, but I’ll settle down and take a fifth before I crash out.

What goes through your head when you get injured? “Oh no, not again?”

(Laughs) Lately, I wreck and don’t even get hurt. But I still don’t like that kind of luck; I’d rather stay on two wheels.