Chris and Bruce, thank you for being with us today! Well, I’m sure I’m not alone in the curiosity of who exactly the new Suzuki team is on Pit Row, so give us a little introduction to the team and yourselves…
CJ- Well I’m Chris Johnson and you can find me on the #354 MTH Enterprises SRH Suzuki RMZ450
BM- Well our team was put together by Chris and I just a couple weeks before the first round. We really didn’t have anything going for 2010 so we both used our resources and put them together and made a team. MTH stands for Making Things Happen. This is what we had to do to be able to get us to each race and give us a chance at racing in 2010. Making Things Happen!
Chris you have been riding Suzuki for a very long time, rumor was Suzuki pulled out of off-road for 2010, how did you manage to get them on your side?
CJ- Well rumors were pretty accurate and it took a little bit of persuading. About 8 months ago I started testing and doing R&D developement for Suzuki, it was really important for me to stay on the brand. I thought they needed to have a presence on the west coast and we were a perfect fit. I mention to Mike Webb that I was interested in them being apart of our team and he went to work. We were able to put together a solid program and build a good marketing piece for the company, therefore Suzuki was pumped to be apart of our program. We’re definitely excited to be on the best off road bike out there!
Bruce explain to us how you approached SRH and their initial response to your offer?
BM- SRH had asked me at the end of 2009 to help them find some motocross racers to sponsor and to help manage them for 2010, so once me and Chris decided to build a team I put them on board. They were stoked to be apart of a motocross team and we have huge plans for the season and the near future.
And this silent partner, have they been involved in racing before?
CJ-This “silent partner” has never been involved in a race team or anything like that before. It’s a family and they are stoked just to be able to help and build a solid program for Bruce and I. It’s the Fingerlin family and they have basically taken us under their wing. I couldn’t thank them enough, I’m like apart of the family and they have made a huge commitment and sacrificed a lot so we can be out there racing. Its a lifestyle and having them at the races makes it that much better.
BM- Bob fingerlin is the silent partner and he raced a little back in the day but just really started to get back into it. Him and his family just love the sport and want to help give us a “push”.
Since you both come from a strong motocross background, how and when did each of you take a liking to offroad racing?
CJ- I would do local offroad races here and there when I was little growing up. Riding in the mud at Washougal, banging bars in the trees. My first worcs race was in 2001 and the whole atmosphere was great. I ended up winning and we decided to do a few more, I was hooked from the start and we did as many as we could. In 2003 I recieved help from Team Green and that pretty much started my off road racing career. From then on it has been an up and down road, racing amateur motocross, Outdoor Nationals, and Supercross. I’m back where I belong, racing off road.
BM-I have always liked offroad racing, knowing how much of a challenge it is, and that is what I love….a challenge.
You guys had a great debut for the season at Speedworld MX in Surprise, AZ! How did that race go personally for you both?
CJ- Overall the first round went pretty well. I rode strong and charged to the end. I made a few big mistakes that cost me but thats racing. I had minimal time on the bike before the first round so I was happy with the result.
BM- Well I can’t complain due to to the fact that we finished safely and in the top 20 but I do have a lot more in me and the crash that I had 2 days before the race didn’t help but I’m looking forward to working up to being in the top 10 at the next races.
What are your goals this season personally and with the team?
CJ- Personally I want to be up front. My goal right now is to improve each race and get into the top 5. As far as the team, I want it to build and be a strong, respected team. I want to be able to go to companies and they know exactly who we are and want to be apart of it. Right now its at a personal level and were getting support based on who we are as individuals. Obviously its always going to work like that to a certain extent, but to be able to put a proposal together and go to companies based on the team efforts and what we were able to do as a whole is the main goal.
BM-My goals are to finish every race and have a safe season and to grow our team even more for next year.
Aside from WORCS, can we look forward to any other racing from the MTH/SRH/Suzuki team?
CJ- Of course. We are going to race as many outdoor nationals as we can and possibly a few Endurocross’s. I’m planning on racing a 250f in Lites class and Bruce will be on the 450 racing the motocross class. We will always be at misc local events around Southern California and we may do Mammoth.
BM-Yeah, I really want to try some of the outdoor nationals on the west coast in the 450 class, and I love doing random Grand Prix’s and whatever else comes up.
If all goes well, could this team become a long-term investment that we’ll see around or many years to come?
CJ- Yeah that’s the goal. I’m not just riding for the team. I’m also behind the scenes on the phone, doing emails, corresponding with different people trying to make this happen and grow. My goal is to build the team and create opportunities for not only myself but for others as well.
BM-Absolutely, we are looking to expand every year and hopefully some day have an amatuer program and some more pro riders. I am in this for the long haul, and am excited for the years to come.
Who would you boys like to thank?
CJ-A big thanks to my parents and everyone that has supported me in the past, the Fingerlin family, SRH, Suzuki, H2O Overdrive, Everyone at Dr D, Thor, The Schmoke family at Custom Decals, Scott Obrien at Jims Auto Sales, Race Tech, Sheehan Construction, Tagger Designs, Kicker, Bonic Evolution, Maxima, Leatt Brace, Flexx Handlebars, Zip Ty Racing, Devol, Dunlop, GPR Stabalizers, Smith Optics, Hot Cams, Vertex Pistons, IMS, San Diego Powder Coating, ODI, and One11 Ink.
BM- I would like to thank, SRH, Suzuki, MTH, H2O Overdrive, Thor, Dubach racing, Tagger Designs, ODI, Race Tech, Fasst Company, Maxima, Duvall Engineering, Custom Decals, Bionic Evolution, Hot cams, Vertex pistons, Escondido cycle center, OneOne1 ink,Ims,Hinson Cluth components, Leatte brace, and the Fingerlins for all there help to make this whole team possible. And my smokin hot fiance.
Well it’s great to see you boys out there and working hard. Goodluck and we’ll see you in Lake Havasu, AZ.
CJ-Thank youuu! Havasu should be good!
BM- Havasu is a race that im really looking forward to and it should be a good time. I enjoy racing the WORCS series, it is a great family fun event with great racing, and elements that seperate any other racing type apart. We have enduro sections with logs, rocks, tractor tires and whatever else they think of. The races are 2 hours long and very exciting |
