Stoppin-In: Jeremy Mcgrath

New team, new role, and 4 decades old.

By: Scott Hoffman | Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Jeremy McGrath & The New Team

Photos and Type-Os: Scott Hoffman

Jeremy McGrath is still considered the King of Supercross and his career is still legendary among fans young and old. Since his retirement he has dabbled in all sorts of things including racing supermoto, promoting his own race called Summercross, testing for Honda, random fun races, and truck racing. Now MC has a new venture along with his old friend and former team manager Larry Brooks. MC and LB formed a new team with rider Andrew Short with title sponsor Supercross.com and subsponsor Angry Bikes. Here are a few words from the King about his team.

How did your team come together?
I guess how it manifested is Larry (Brooks) had his own team and there was some drama there and he was sitting around for awhile with nothing to do and we were talking about it and it’s been a while since I had my own team and we were like, “Alright, do you want to do it? Alright, let’s do it!” So we started putting stuff together and it took us a while to get everything dialed in. It’s still a work in progress but I’m pretty proud to have my own team again. It’s pretty cool.

What’s it like owning a team but not being the rider anymore?
I thought that would kind of be one of the hard things but I think I’m old enough now where I accept the fact that I can’t do everything myself. We’re just psyched to have Andrew Short as our first rider. I couldn’t have a better guy or a nicer guy and someone who is going to give you 100%. I found myself at Anaheim 1 nervous like I was riding the bike. It was different.

Thinking back to when you were a rider, do you think you should have treated your managers differently or treated them with more respect especially since you are on the other side now?

This shot is from the MC Invitational right before he crashed and broke his neck during timed practice.

No, I still think of myself as a rider and what I do here on the team, besides my regular relationship kind of position, is I always think rider first, rider first, rider first. Andrew and I talk a lot about that. I want to make everything as comfortable as I can and give him the best opportunity I can to allow him to do the best he can. I think we’re doing good. Like I said, it is a work in progress. Obviously we are super happy to have supercross.com on the team. We’re excited to be working with Honda. I wouldn’t have done this without Honda, for sure. We have a lot of great sponsors lined up. We have a lot of great things planned for supercross.com that’s obviously new and innovative and that people haven’t done before so it’s exciting.

You had a birthday at the end of last year so now you are actually considered a senior rider.
Yeah, 40. I’ve managed to stay away from the Vet Nationals forever. I don’t think I’ve ever raced there. I’m 40 now but I don’t feel like I’m 40. I don’t feel like I ride like I’m 40 so that’s good but it’s crazy that 20 years ago we were here racing 125s.

X Games Supermoto

You said you jumped on a 250 two stroke a couple weeks ago.
Yeah, I enjoyed it. I really enjoyed riding a 250 two-stroke but I can tell you I was looking for more power. I was like, “Man, this thing is so slow.” But I can tell you that just the noise and the smell and bringing back the memories of riding a two-stroke was just so, so fun. I loved it.

Although you are an owner you are still riding and testing for Honda so you still have a pretty big part with handlebars as well as a pen under your hand.
Yeah, for sure. I’m actively involved in Honda testing still which is really cool. They’ve cut me a lot of slack to do the team part and still be involved with the development on their side. It’s pretty good. I’ve got my hands full with the team, with the testing, and then with the truck racing. I’ve got a pretty full plate and then you add the family on top of that.

Do you think that you’ll be testing for Honda in 2022?
I don’t think so. It’s safe to say probably not. What is it 2012 now? No, definitely not.

Comments

Lindsey Lovell
February 16, 2012 1:33 pm

Funny thing is that Scott doesn’t have a smart phone to play Angry Birds on. But thank you for pointing that out, it is fixed now.

Matt
February 16, 2012 12:48 pm

There associate sponsor is not ANGRY BIRDS….its ANGY BIKES….way to go

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