CHANCE HYMAS INTERVIEW: “IF I GET THE OPPORTUNITY, I AM ALWAYS GOING TO TAKE IT.”

I must admit that I am a fan of Chance Hymas. The recently turned nineteen-year-old Honda HRC rider has been a revelation this summer. Not only has he come back from injury, and held the points lead for a couple of rounds, but he also took his first overall win at Red Bud. The first moto at Unadilla saw Hymas take the lead, and begin gapping the field, at times two seconds faster a lap. A huge crash derailed his day in New York, but he came back to finish fourth (8-2 moto scores) at Budds Creek and maintain his fourth place in the championship standings. It was at Budds Creek where we caught up with Chance.

 

 BY JIM KIMBALL

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CHANCE, FIRST OF ALL, HOW ARE YOU FROM YOUR BIG CRASH AT UNADILLA? I am good.  I got all checked out this week and got to ride a little bit.  I feel good.  The burn on my arm is a little sore but overall, I am super blessed and happy to be able to walk away from that and be healthy.  I had to pull out of the second moto.  My body was pretty banged up and just that day was not meant to be for me.  Overall, I am happy to be here and finish fourth overall. Moto, one didn’t go great, but happy to finish second in Moto Two.

Chance Hymas was running away from the pack at Unadilla until a crash derailed his efforts.

CONTINUING WITH UNADILLA, THE GOOD STUFF WAS THAT YOU WERE DOMINATING MOTO ONE UNTIL YOUR CRASH. Thank you, honestly, I just felt like I rode like myself.  I just executed everything I needed to.  Honestly, all I can say was I was confident and good.  I did not do anything that I felt was out of the ordinary.  I just feel like I finally rode to my true potential and that was the first race that I executed that.  I tried to do it again this weekend.  I am still new to all of this.  I am still learning.  This is my first full pro season, and I missed a lot of experience last year, so it is hard to gain that confidence back when you have been out of it so long.  This is my first season being competitive again upfront.  I am just trying to take everything with a grain of salt and take the ups and downs of things.  It is just how it goes.  Overall, I just feel like I have more in the tank, and I have a lot more to show.  

Chance has been building each race and has a substantial turn around since Supercross.

YOU WERE THE RED PLATE HOLDER FOR A COUPLE ROUNDS EARLY IN THE SERIES. Yes, it felt good.  It was a little bit of a bummer during the second half.  I had ups and downs and had a couple of DNFs. But overall, I’ve started every race so far.  That is a big thing for me and just trying to be there like every race this year.  Being in the points earlier this year was good for sure.  I am a little bit bummed that I am as far back right now as I am, but it could be a heck of a lot worse.

I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING HOW YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THE SMX SERIES.  HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING TO FOCUS ON THAT YET?  Weekend to weekend, building confidence is what I need right now, and it is only getting better and better each weekend, especially after Unadilla, showing the speed that I have. I feel like my raw speed is the best of everybody right now.  It is getting later in the year, and I am learning more and trying to fine-tune my technique, my skill, and my fitness.  I am trying to come into every race weekend even more prepared than the previous, so coming into SMX, is a full restart. I’m now trying to climb up in the points a little bit.  I think I will be fourth at the end of the year.  I don’t think I can get much higher than that but starting off. I am getting the confidence back and no matter what people say, I am going to be there in the fight.  It is going to be good.

Chance hopes to be considered for the 250 position at the Motocross Des Nations.

LET’S FINISH UP WITH THE MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS.  I WOULD  SPECULATE THAT YOU WOULD BE ON THE SHORTLIST FOR 250 SLOT. HAIDEN DEEGAN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS WELL. It has been a race that I have dreamed of racing as a little kid. I think as any American to go on a world stage and show your skill, is the most pressure that you can have as a racer. If I get the opportunity, I am always going to take it.  I feel like it is one of those races that you just can’t turn down, you know?  Overall, I hope I get picked this year.  I think I am a good candidate right now.  I have been getting good starts, especially when it comes to starts against the 450s.  I am trying to fine-tune my skills right now through SMX and I think once Des Nations comes around, I will be good.  Hopefully, I have done enough to be on the list for the picks.

I THINK YOU ARE THE REVELATION OF THE 250 CLASS THIS SUMMER, AND YOU SHOULD BE PICKED. I appreciate that.  I am heckling these guys (AMA) a little bit and luckily, I have some good people on my side putting in a good word for me. But, if they choose elsewhere, I completely understand.  I am not going to hang my head on that.  There is always next year and the year after that.  If they give me the opportunity, I am taking it, running with it, and I am going to make the best of it, I will tell you that.