Off the Groove

Caught up with 2-time Singles champion and 2-time Grand National Champion, Jake Johnson. We talked about what brought him into the sport, his extensive resume (including his brief hiatus from flat track), and his transition to Estenson Racing for the 2018 season.

📸 Jodi Johnson

00:24 - Scottie Update

00:59 - Jake Johnson intro

01:41 - Jake talks moto

02:59 - Where were you born?

03:31 - How’d you get into motorcycles?

04:27 - Did you know you always wanted to race?

05:00 - Do you remember your first win?

06:02 - Was there a racer you looked up to growing up?

07:21 - Do you feel like one of the old guys?

08:55 - Talks about his two Grand National Championships

09:50 - Talks about why he briefly stepped away from the sport after championship seasons

12:18 - Talks about how he got back into racing after stepping away

13:47 - Talks about getting the call from the factory Harley-Davidson team

15:08 - What were your expectations coming into 2017 with Harley-Davidson?

17:03 - “Thats what keeps me going, those championships and those wins”

18:24 - Talks about his day at the 2017 Buffalo TT event

20:49 - What point did you know you weren’t coming back to ride for Harley-Davidson?

21:27 - Talks of how Estenson came into the picture for 2018

23:13 - When did you know for sure the Estenson deal was a real thing?

24:06 - “I hope to be with Estenson throughout the rest of my career”

27:00 - Talks of relationship with mechanic, Teddy McDermitt

28:03 - Are you guys focusing strictly on Yamahas for the 2018 season?

30:03 - Talks through his take on the 2018 Daytona TT

35:15 - Do you just stay focused on the National events?

37:07 - Talks of instructing at the Texas Tornado Boot Camp in Austin, TX

39:30 - Who gets the victory lap after your next win?

40:13 - Any riders coming up we should keep an eye on?

41:05 - What do you do with all your trophies?

41:42 - Do you have a favorite trophy?

42:13 - What track are you looking forward to the most in 2018?

42:21 - How cool would it be to win a grand national on a Yamaha?

This week we catch up with Dave and Rhonda Waters. A great conversation with two great people who have been supporting flat track for decades. We talked about how they met, why they became team owners, and the challenges that come with balancing a full-time business along with two race programs.

00:24 - Scottie Update

00:42 - Dave & Rhonda Water intro

02:21 - Dave’s flat motorcycle racing background

03:21 - When Rhonda met Dave

03:40 - “I was too good, so they made me race with the guys…”

05:03 - What drew Rhonda into motorcycle racing

06:04 - Dave talks of current state of the sport

07:06 - What made you want to start a race team?

09:19 - Talks of being the only team running a KTM program

10:25 - Is Wyatt going to be riding the Yamaha more than the KTM (in 2018)?

11:25 - Was the 2017 with Wyatt a successful one in your mind?

12:14 - “…I didn’t know what Wyatt really looked like until I met him in Daytona…”

14:38 - Talks of what led to Wyatt jumping to a the AFT Twins class

15:41 - Story behind Sandriana Shipman joining the Waters Auto Body team

18:32 - Talks about the teammates meeting each other in Salem, OR at the One Moto Show

19:19 - Scottie lists the past riders who have rode for Dave and Rhonda

20:06 - Talks about 2018 plans for the team

21:10 - Talks about goals/expectations for the first two races

22:17 - What is your favorite race track?

24:15 - Funny Ryan Wells story

25:45 - Chad Cose jumping like a spider monkey

26:35 - Thoughts on the podcast

28:27 - If you were put in charge of AFT, what would be the first thing you would change?

Caught up with Bronson Bauman this a week before the season opener in Daytona. We talked about what its like racing for legendary tuner Bill Werner, his girlfriend (who also races), and his expectations for the upcoming season.

📸 Jodi Johnson

00:24 - Scottie update

01: 52 - Bronson intro

02:15 - What have you been doing since winning Flat Out Friday?

04:12 - Talks of being a take-charge kinda guy

04:52 - What is it like to race for Bill Werner?

07:12 - How did you get into flat track racing?

08:46 - How is Illinois livin’ different from California

10:22 - Bronson walks us through his Flat Out Friday

14:18 - Talks about TT and woods riding

17:12 - Thoughts on 2017

22:19 - Talks about his offseason training

24:12 - If I win my 1st grand national, I’m taking 5-6 victory laps

24:45 - Talks of how he met his girlfriend, Allyx Camp

26:22 - Thoughts on the one bike qualifying from Flat Out Friday

27:15 - Who is your toughest competition in 2017?

27:47 - Do you have a favorite track?

28:24 - Why are you #37?

30:01 - What do you do with all your trophies?

30:56 - “Free candy, free puppies”

31:33 - Vanderkooi distraction and Bronson’s take on the new nickname

32:30 - Funniest moment from 2017

32:50 - If you were put in charge of the AFT series, what would be the first thing you’d change?

33:50 - Why we do, what we do…

This week, we put in a call to the man at the top, the CEO of American Flat Track, Michael Lock. We get to know the man behind the flat track resurgence, what drew him to the series and motorcycles in general, and expectations for the upcoming AFT season.

00:24 - Scottie update

00:47 - Michael Lock intro

01:30 - Talks of Flat Out Friday event

04:38 - Where are you from originally?

05:20 - How did you get into motorcycles?

09:05 - Talks of what inspired him to become a leader

10:55 - Talks of how his relationship with American Flat Track began

14:00 - What were your first impressions of the sport?

17:01 - Talks about changes to the sport over the past few years

19:39 - “…some things that are going to happen in the next 60-90 days are going to be game-changers…”

20:57 - Talks about changes to the race format in 2017

25:26 - Talks of the future of the Superprestigio

27:05 - What has Michael Lock and AFT been up to this off-season?

29:02 - Is there a reason behind why you have to ride one particular brand of motorcycle per event?

34:33 - “with no disrespect to the twins guys, my favorite three races (of 2017) were Singles races…”

36:17 - Teases a major AFT Singles announcement coming in the next week

37:04 - Michael talks of the advisory group and what it means to him and AFT

40:38 - Talks of new multi-year deal with NBC

44:15 - What else can we expect in 2018?

46:00 - “Grams gotta know…”

50:36 - “…I want the best riders in the world competing in American Flat Track…”

Caught up with THE Johnny Lewis last week. We talked about the inspiration behind JL10 Training, his supermoto days, and his passion for motorcycles and the sport that has had an enormous impact on his life. This man has his hands in just about every aspect of flat track racing and loves to share his knowledge.

00:24 - Scottie update

01:20 - Johnny Lewis intro

02:40 - what have you been up to since Perris?

03:32 - “it’s one of those roller coasters you don’t ant to get off of...”

04:42 - what is the story behind JL10 Training?

07:51 - Talks of Cole Zabala

09:21 - Talks of Dallas Daniels

10:23 - “flat track is a very secretive sport”

11:26 - how do you customize training programs?

13:55 - “the motorcycle is a tool”

14:38 - Talks of sponsoring Chase Saathoff

17:14 - Talks of supermoto day’s

19:39 - how did you get into motorcycles?

21:35 - how do you feel about riding the most brands of twins into main events?

23:35 - Talks about the opportunity to race an Indian in 2017

28:20 - talks about the race finish in Perris, CA

32:37 - talks about partnership with RMR for 2018

35:44 - Johnny Lewis on an Indian again in 2018???

37:45 - ever think about running a full season?

41:00 - Talks of vegan lifestyle on the road

42:18 - funniest moment of 2017

43:22 - if you were in charge, what would be the first thing you’d change?

45:45 - Who is your toughest competition?

46:42 - What do you do with your trophies?

49:14 - What is your favorite track?

Last week, while everyone else watched some other "flying tomato" capture gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics, I spent my time catching up with the 2017 AFT Singles Champion, Kolby Carlile. We got his take on last year's roller coaster season, talked about what he's done to build upon that success for 2018, and even discuss future plans of a possible twins ride for 2019.

00:24 - Scottie update

02:06 - Kolby Carlile intro

02:43 - What the heck were you doing in North Dakota?

03:46 - Talks about his move out to Phoenix

04:19 - Have you been riding a lot this off-season?

05:26 - How’d you get started in flat track?

06:19 - Talks of family supporting his racing

07:45 - Scottie’s helmet shop visit

08:54 - Thoughts on Lima race

11:11 - Talks of adversity in Calistoga

12:04 - Talks of tuner Andrew Butler

14:22 - who is going to be your stiffest competition this year?

16:04 -Talks of team dynamics and new teammate

17:28 - Talks of old teammate, Sammy Halbert

19:24 - Talks of future with Estenson (Twins?)

21:00 - Will you be racing non-nationals?

21:14 - “...I’m gonna be on an Indian...” w/ audible Scottie gasp

22:45 - talks about pressure to keep the #1 plate

24:08 - what’s your favorite race track?

24:58 - Buffalo Bill

25:55 - If you were put in charge of AFT, what’s one thing you would change?

26:51 - Supercross talk

27:32 - What do you do with all your trophies?

28:22 - Talks of that Tommy Duma Championship ring

29:05 - “Its such a dream come true…”

Caught up with Ryan Wells earlier this week during his drive home. We talked about the sequence of events that led him to Richie Morris Racing, his rookie season racing twins, his new home in Michigan, and his new love for ice racing.

00:24 - Scottie update

01:59 - Ryan Wells intro

02:49 - ice riding talk

05:39 - “I get my groove on”

07:42 - “ice riding is such a killer workout”

08:27 - how’d you get into flat track?

09:21 - talks about his bigger little brother

10:33 - “I love doing non-nationals...”

11:25 - talks about the timeline for his move to singles

13:26 - do you feel your 2017 was a success?

14:15 - what were your expectations heading into last season

15:10 - what’s the biggest difference between the singles/twins bikes?

16:22 - what was it like working with Jonny Gott?

19:12 - Wells’ Johnny Gott impression

19:40 - talks about decision to make the move from NY to Michigan

22:30 - “I ride with Jared, train with Bryan”

23:24 - what’s it going to take to win the 2017 Champion?

25:07 - any added pressure to win given Shayna’s success on the bike in 2017?

26:37 - “if I can bear Shayna Texter on a mile, that'd be the highlight of my year”

27:26 - who is your toughest competition in 2018?

27:56 - will changes to the singles class impact your chances to win a championship?

28:50 - Daytona talk

29:30 - rapid-fire questions

This week, we catch up with Mikey Rush. We talked about his privateer effort with G&G Racing, lessons learned from the 2017 season, and goals his for 2018.

00:24 - Scottie update

02:26 - Mikey Rush intro

03:44 - How’d ya get started in flat track?

04:35 - Why is flat track addicting?

05:41 - Rush talks about his team, G&G Racing

07:22 - Talks about preparation for the 2018 season

08:21 - Talks about privateer life

09:49 - Daytona 2017

11:30 - Is there one race that stands out to you?

12:08 - Talks of learning to ride miles on a twin

13:17 - Do riders help you with mile drafting or is it learn as you go?

13:33 - “If I was a fan, those are my favorite riders…”

14:41 - Talks about how having one bike benefits his program

16:06 - Thoughts on working with JD Beach in Perris

17:20 - How do you get your mind right to go racing?

18:53 - “…if it wasn’t for this guy, I wouldn’t be racing at all”

19:45 - Talks of NBCSN/FansChoice.tv broadcasts

20:50 - Do you have a favorite race track?

21:21 - Goals for 2018

22:35 - Talks of getting that first twins race

This week, we catch up with NBCSN pit reporter, Heather Debeaux. We talked about how she got involved in racing, working in television, and of course...flat track.

00:24 - Scottie update/Heather intro

01:35 - The “girl in the purple shirt”

02:38 - When Scottie met Heather…her intro to flat track

05:19 - Heather talks about her introduction to racing and on-air reporting

08:13 - talks about her first on-camera interview with Jimmie Johnson

12:18 - “…I could be a mechanic”

12:50 - Suggestions from the “King of Cool”

14:21 - “Shayner Texter”

15:44 - Kenny Roberts nuts

16:36 - Heather talks about her love for flat track

18:48 - What are your favorite racing tracks?

20:57 - Talks about training for a fitness competition

22:40 - “I really want a trophy”

25:21 - Take-aways from the 2017 season

26:53 - Jeffery Carver and hair ties

28:00 - Thoughts on racing in Daytona

29:30 - Buffalo Chip experience

32:46 - Expectations for the 2018 season

Caught up with this "California Kid" earlier this week. We talked briefly about his 2017 season, the big announcement he made during his "off-season," and his goals for the 2018 season.

00:24 - Scottie update/Cose intro

01:14 - What have you been up to since the end of the season?

02:27 - talks of signing 2018 deal with Indian Motorcycle Motorcycle of OKC

04:27 - Thoughts on the people involved with Indian Motorcycle of OKC

05:48 - Talks of Tom Englehart’s involvement in his program

08:52 - How did you get into motorcycles?

11:55 - Cose talks about announcing during Springfield ST in 2017

13:05 - Talks take-aways from 2017

14:24 - “It’s on my shoulders to get it done”

15:05 - Thoughts on Daytona TT

16:43 - Talks of racing in OKC in 2018 with “home-town” support

17:52 - Talk of struggles at Buffalo Chip

21:29 - What are you doing to prepare for the 2018 season?

22:33 - What are your goals for 2018?

23:34 - Ever thought about what you’d do after your first grand national win?

25:04 - “I think we’ll see some of the best racing we’ve seen in flat track…”

26:17 - Talks of racing Kenny Coolbeth on an XR750 in Savannah

29:57 - Thoughts on the FTR750 production bike

30:46 - Favorite AFT tracks

31:02 - Talks about love for Canadian cushion tracks