MARYLAND MOTOCROSS

Chances are you’ve had a chance to see Travis Pastrana in person, maybe even more than once.  If you have, then I know you’ve had the chance to talk with him or hang out with him. He’s just that approachable.  When we went to see his new movie, Travis was all about the fans.  We saw him go well above and beyond to sign autographs and talk with his fans.  He seemed concerned when a young boy didn’t have a pen for Travis to sign and kept looking till he found one.  Long after the movie was over he was signing autographs, and even doing this interview.  He makes you feel comfortable around him.  Travis has suffered some criticism in the past, but you have always been behind him and he voiced that he appreciates it on more than one occasion.  Already a legend at a young age,  whenever Travis gets on a bike, we all feel like we’re there with him, and he’s got a lot of riding left in him.  Travis’s new movie will be out on his website for sale soon, and you can find the first one and more cool merchandise at TravisPastrana.com.  

MM.com:  Okay.  Got any advice for people new to the sport?

TP:  Just go out there and, man, have fun every time.  If that’s your dream and that’s what you want:  you’ll get there.

MM.com:  Now some questions from adoring fans.  Gurt B. Frobe from Silvertown asks “Hey Travis, I’m a pretty good rider.  Whenever I go to the track it seems people always expect me to take first place.  When I don’t, they, and some times I, feel devastated.  I was just wondering how, or what do you do, when you feel the pressure?”

TP:  There’s always pressure.  People are always expecting more from you.  The better you do, the more people come to expect from you.  However, you have ta do it  because you love it and do it because you’re trying your best all of the time.  If you give it your best…that’s all you can do.

MM.com:  Bud Macintosh, from Pheonix asks “Hey Travis, do you think you could win a race against Captain M?”

MM.com:  Kevin Smith from New Jersey asks “Travis, when I ask for one word that describes Travis Pastrana as a person, what  word do you think of?”

TP:  (Laugh)  Ahhhhh…Describe myself.  (Laugh)  A lot of derogatory words come to mind that I can use to describe myself, but maybe, (Laugh)  Free-willed would be the best.

MM.com:  If you could change anything about motocross, what would you change?

TP:  (Deep breath, thoughtful)  Ummmm…  I love the sport.  People always say they want it to be bigger.  I love it how it is.  It’s good because everybody is reachable.  It’s almost getting too big.   I mean, it’s nice to make more money, but at the same time, it’s cool to be able to go to the track and be able to race and, you know, do what you love.

MM.com:  How do you feel about women racing in motocross?

TP:  I think it’s awesome.  Can’t wait for one to get up there (the podium).  I dunno though, if women start to beat me, they might take my job (laughing) but ummm… I’d love to see one up there with us. 

TP:  When I was an amateur, Pleasure Valley was probably my favorite.  Quasco, Budd’s Creek was close, but never went to Budd’s Creek that much as an amateur.

 MM.com:  Recently, I got to interview an old friend of yours, Nick Evennou.  Do you have any fond memories or stories about Nick?

*A group of fans has gathered up and Travis requests a few minutes to greet, sign autographs, and talk with them.

I recognize two guys from “Travis Pastrana and the Nitro Circus 2” movie we just go to preview and recognize one as the Street Bike Racer who completely misses the foam pit while attempting a backflip with his street bike.  It was one of the most daring and fan favorite stunts on the movie.  I go up to the two guys.

(They give each other a high five)

MM.com:  Whoa….  I just noticed your hand.  Can you tell us what happened.

TP:  (Exhale)  Yeahhh, Umm...  Well… a guy fell in front of me at a race over in Europe and I decided to stop, but the guy behind me didn’t.  Soooo… (Laugh)  That was it.

MM.com:  You are one of the most influential people in Motocross, in fact we have a shrine…errrr…. I mean a poster, (Travis starts laughing hard) of you in our office.  How does all of the attention make you feel?

TP:  It’s a means to do what I love to do.  The attention.  It’s funny.  A lot of people grow up and they want to be famous.  I grew up and all I wanted to do was ride a motorcycle.  I found out that the better you are with the press and the people, and can relate to them, the longer you can stay in the sport.  The last couple years have been really tough for me, and I’ve taken a lot of criticism, for decisions I’ve made along the way, which I’ve always felt was the right move at the time.  It makes you feel really good to know that there are people who still support you.  And it helps you keep doing what you love to do.

MM.com:  Now that you’re famous is there anyone else famous that you’d still like to meet that you haven’t yet?

TP:  (Joking, Sigh)  Ahhhhh…the Olsen twins…Britney Spears…Jessica Sim..I’m sorry whatttt??? Umm... (We both start laughing)  No, it’d been great.  I’ve met Evil Kenevel and a lot of people that have been really cool and inspirational.  I’ll tell you, one of the most inspirational people I’ve met has been Vanilla Ice.  Rob Van Winkle I believe his name is.  He really inspired me once.  I actually didn’t recognize him.  At the time I thought he was just a guy at the race.  I wrecked, I was hurting and I was like “If I go out there… I can’t win.”  And he said “You know what…These people don’t care.  They just want to see you out there.”  And then he left.  It’s one of the most inspirational speeches I’ve ever heard.    And later I was like “That guy was pretty cool.”  And someone said “Yeah, that was Vanilla Ice.”  It’s neat.  Danny DeVito came up at one of the races and Sean Penn was talking about me at an interview he was doing.  It’s really nice to meet them.  You come to realize that they’re people, just like you.  My biggest hero growing up was Robby Raynard, a racer.  I got to meet him and stay at his house and you realize he’s human and it’s like, not a letdown, but he gets hurt too and sick and puts his pants on one leg at a time too, so hopefully I’m like that to the kids out there.

MM.com:  So, now that you’re “Big Pimpin’” would you consider trading in your bike stand for the “Old Skool” crate to keep it real?

TP:  (Laugh)  Shoooot.  I lay my bike everywhere and wherever.  The more factory you become, the less you treat stuff with as much respect as you once did.  You can be completely broke and still have a nice stand, or you could be completely factory and we still use…whaaateever (laugh).

MM.com:  Is there a class you love more, Pro or Amateur,  above all others?

TP:  My favorite class growing up, had to be the 80s.  When I was 11, 12, that was just…the races meant a lot to me at the time.  If you’re on 50s, 60s, 80s, 125s, whether Pro, Amateur, or C class, everything is important.  You don’t care if there is a thousand people there, if you’re getting paid a million dollars, or if you’re not getting paid anything.  You race because you love it… the guys that go for the money will never make it.  Those who do it cause… it could be like a dollar bet and I’ll go all out just because the fact that it’s a bet or challenge. 

MM.com:  Got anything to say to all your fans and those Maryland Riders out there?

TP:  Lets get those Maryland riders out front!  All those people that are like “West Coast Rules”.  Shoot! Maryland Rules!  We got Kevin Crine, Jeff Slusher, Tommy Welch, guys I’ve always looked up to, Man, lets get some more guys like those out there.

MM.com:  Okay, Lastly, are you wearing socks?

TP:  Hell Yeah! DC.

MM.com:  Can I have them?

TP:  (Pause, Slow head shake) No.  (Hard Laugh)

MM.com:  Man, do you have any idea how much they would go for if I sold them on Ebay?

TP:  (Laugh) I dunno. 10 cents.

MM.com:  I could get more, but thanks a lot for your time Travis and sorry for holding you up.

TP:  Not a problem man, thanks for your time as well.