Catching Up With…Josh Hill

elmo

• March 19 2008
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by Kyle Cowling

Coming into the 2008 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series factory Yamaha rider, Josh Hill, was ready to do battle in his first full-time season in the Supercross class. While Josh was clearly fast during the week, he was unable to translate that speed come race time until Anaheim 2, where he finished second place. After a confidence inspiring performance at A2, Hill was unsuccessful in repeating his second place performance as crashes and the flu hindered his endeavors. It seems now, half way through the season, that we’re watching a new Josh Hill emerge as he finished second place at Indianapolis and then went onto take his first professional win of his career this weekend inside the Minneapolis Metrodome. After Hill finished his celebration on the podium we caught up with the young Yamaha star to talk about his season thus far and, most immediately, winning his very first Supercross race…

What goals did you set for yourself coming into your first full season on a 450?

Coming into the season I just wanted a race win…really bad. That has been my goal and dream since I was a little kid riding 50’s. I finally put myself in a good position. I’ve only put myself in a couple good positions this year. For the most part it has worked out pretty well; expect when I crashed in Atlanta. I guess I need to keep getting good starts and putting myself up front in the beginning.

You had a second place at A2 and at Indianapolis. In between those races you seemed to struggle a little bit.

Well, San Francisco was the race after A2 and it was really muddy. After San Fran I kind of got the flu…actually, I did get the flu. I couldn’t train, I couldn’t ride, and I couldn’t do anything. I was showing up at the races with a scarf around my neck. I was looking like an old lady who was trying to stay warm. I really couldn’t ride too well. I mean I was riding decent. A3 went horrible! I went off the track three times just trying to find my way around the traffic. San Diego was decent. I finished sixth place, and I had a good battle with Kevin (Windham). That was all right, however, I didn’t have the stamina. At lap nine I just dropped off the pace. At Houston I was riding really well! Where was I? I wasn’t leading…I was battling with K-Dub for most of the race until Reed got by me half way into the race and then Tim Ferry got by me with only two laps to go. I was still lagging a little bit. What was after that? Oh, Atlanta…I crashed. I was doing well, though. I think I could of landed on the podium that weekend, too. There were only seven laps to go and Nate Digity…his new nickname (that’s Nate Dawg for Donn incase he doesn’t know. In case he isn’t hip with the lingo). Oh, and Andrew Short…I thought I was going to get around them, but I crashed. I went into the stands. Not quite the stands, but into the wall. Hmm…what else? Oh, and Indianapolis I got second place. At Daytona, my Jet Ski was broken, so I struggled at that race. Now I just won Minneapolis. So, it’s been a pretty decent season so far (laughs). I mean not really decent! I’ve had a few 17th place finishes, an 11th place finish here and there, but I don’t know. I’m fast at the test track!

Tell us a little bit about that Jet Ski race you competed in last weekend?

It wasn’t very good. Thankfully the gator that got loose didn’t get me, so that was a blessing for me.

There are not too many people in the world that can say they’ve won a 450 Supercross Main Event. How does that feel?

I don’t know. I can’t really put it into words. Ever since I was a five-year-old kid racing the World Mini’s and trying to chase the dream of being a pro motocross racer, this is what I’ve dreamed of. I had a litttle luck when Chad (Reed) crashed because he was coming on pretty strong and I’m not sure if I could have held him off. I can’t even put it into words. You are probably pretty smart if you can put into words how it feels to win your first Supercross race…I could make a Donn joke, but I’m not going to.

All right, Josh. Now that you have a Supercross win under your belt what do you expect from yourself for the rest of the season?

Continue what I’m doing! I’m going to keep working with Ryan Hughes and the entire Yamaha team. I want to try to make the bike even better. I want to thank Thor, Parts Unlimited, and Monster Energy. Scott Sepkovic, you threw me a bone with my deal and I’m pretty happy about that…hopefully he is as well! And I want to give a big thank you to everybody else who has helped me out! I’m starting to test for the Outdoor Nationals, so we’ll come into that swinging.