MY MOTOCROSS INSPIRATIONS BY GARY JONES

MY DAD
“My dad was a professional motorcycle racer in his day. He rode for the factory Harley-Davidson team in all kinds of races…before there was motocross. I wanted to race ever since I was a little kid, so he helped my brother Dewayne and I get into it.”

CHUCK MINERT & JOHN RICE
“When I was a young up-and-coming rider I lived to beat two riders. I wanted to beat Chuck “Feets” Minert and John Rice when I was a kid. Those were the top guys in TT and scrambles. When I turned Expert class and got to race against them, they pushed me around and showed me the ropes [laughter].”

Gary’s brother Dewayne raced for three different factory teams.

MY BROTHER
“I’ve had all kinds of teammates, from Marty Smith to Jimmy Weinert to Jimmy Ellis to Marty Tripes to Gaylon Mosier, but my best teammate was my brother Dewayne. We rode together everyday and pushed each other. Every teammate I had inspired me to push harder, so that I would be better than them.”

COUNTRY MUSIC
“I listen to country music. I like it most of all because nobody else that I know likes it! Racing and music are both mental. You have to find a groove and get into it. You don’t go faster by being like everyone else or listening to what everyone else listens to.”

Gary today.

TORSTEN HALLMAN
“Torsten Hallman was the first motocross guy that I really looked up to. He was the first true-to-life European racer I ever saw ride. Then, when Roger DeCoster and Joel Robert came onto the U.S. scene and kicked my butt, I wanted was inspired to be as good as them.”

JODY WEISEL
“This might sound strange, but when I was down-and-out with a broken leg, had lost my factory ride, was struggling to make a comeback and ignored by everyone else in the sport of motocross, Jody was the only guy to help me. He gave me bikes, ask for my advice and treated me well. I’ve probably been a MXA test rider longer than anyone but Jody!”