Insight: Jeff Stanton
Thursday, April 14, 2011 | 9:45 AM
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The 1990 AMA Supercross Championship was one of the most exciting ever, and it resembles this season’s dramatic chase in the unpredictability of the races and the title. With three races to go that season, the defending champ, Jeff Stanton, turned it up and won two in a row to take the points lead from Kawasaki’s Jeff Matiasevich. Stanton struck down the stretch and held it through the final round to claim back-to-back championships. We sat down with Stanton yesterday to get his take on the 2011 season and much much more—and as always, the six-time AMA National Champion didn’t hold back.
Racer X Online: Well Jeff, I come to you because 21 years ago you were in this position. Three races to go, battling for the title.
Jeff Stanton: Wow was it really that long ago? That sounds pretty bad doesn’t it?
I know! It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago. But here we are, three to go, again, and a bunch of riders can win it.
Well, I will say it shouldn’t be that close, but fortunately for the fans it is.
Stanton is a six-time AMA National Champion.
Photo: Jack Burnicle
What do you mean when you say it shouldn’t be this close?
Well, there boneheads out there that have made such huge mistakes. I mean, Villopoto should about have this thing wrapped up in two weeks, but then he goes out and doesn’t qualify. Just stupid stuff like that. And Bubba should have been a better rider, he honestly should have another 30 points on Villopoto, but the wheels have fallen off of his wagon. You’ve got Villopoto not even making the main and then riding terrible the week after that. From a fans point it has just been great. Those guys should have never screwed up. In my opinion Bubba should have won the title, but he’s got too much drama going on with losing Larry [Brooks] and all of that. And Villopoto has fallen apart.
What is causing these mistakes? Is it pressure? These guys have all been champions before, but is it different because it’s so close?
Well, anyone who is a past champion should be able to handle things better than that. To have won as many championships as both of those guys, you should not be missing a main event. That’s just unheard of. At that same race Trey Canard fell in the first turn and came back to make the main. You don’t blame it on someone else, you suck it up and get back on your bike and make it happen.
You were in a similar situation to Ryan Dungey with your career. You won the title in 1989 and a lot of the stars of the day, like Rick Johnson and Jeff Ward, got hurt. Were a lot of people wondering if you could do it straight up against them in 1990?
Yup. I faced the same adversity he did. I did much the same as he did, I didn’t win every race right off the bat. I didn’t struggle quite as badly as he did earlier this year, but if you can overcome all the smack talk by about mid-season, all of these people asking “what’s wrong?” and all of these people saying, “He’s way off, he’s way off,” now he’s putting a little run together and, man, he’s in it.
Right off the start in 1990, you were talking about consistency, not winning races. Was that the strategy all along?
Yeah but that’s everyone’s strategy. You don’t need to win every race, just finish near the podium or on the podium. Especially this year. You know on the pre season show we did on TV, everyone picked Dungey except me. A few weeks ago I was looking like the hero. But now between Jeremy, Ricky and Fro, they may end up being right. Villopoto has made a few stupid mistakes, and it could happen again.
Stanton would go on to win the 1990 SX title over Bradshaw.
Photo: Fran Kuhn
In 1990, a lot of different riders got hot at different times. Bradshaw had a run, Matiasevich had a run, Jean-Michele Bayle had a run. Were you watching that all along and worried about those guys, or just doing your own thing?
You know, that’s the hardest part. You have to do your own deal, and that’s also what those riders today will tell you. You have to ignore the trash talk, not worry about all of that, just do your homework and not go overboard. You don’t want to start working any harder. These guys all know what they’re supposed to do, so as long as you’re giving it your all, you stay mentally tough, stay physically tough, you create your own destiny and try to go on your own little run.
So when it’s close like this, you’ll have a tendency to work too hard?
For sure. You want to do more and more, and if you don’t have someone guiding you, you’ll just keep pushing harder, and by the time you get to the race, you’ll feel like a pile. You don’t have any energy and you don’t want to be there. It needs to be just the opposite. You need to want to be at the races, you need to want to shine on Saturday, not Thursday and be the practice king.
Late that year, we got to about this point, a bunch of riders were close in points with three races to go, and you just stepped up and won two straight. Was that a strategy, to stay in the hunt and then turn it up?
It actually just worked out like that. [Mechanic] Dan [Betley] and I stayed consistent, we improved our bike all year. When it came down to crunch time, Dan and I stayed together a lot that last month, we really got the bike dialed in, and all of that confidence kind of clicked. Like I said, you put the work in, you create your own luck and you put the destiny in your own hands.
Certainly when you have a close series like this, the pressure goes up. There is more hype, more pressure, more media. Is that a factor?
It is. You know at some point you have to block a lot of that out, and you have to realize why you’re there. You’re there to win races and win titles, and put that money in the bank. Yeah, you might piss some people off along the way but you have to stay true to the real reason you’re hired by a company—to win races and win titles. And yeah, you’re supposed to create good press, but if you win the title, all the good press will come with it.
So you were saying Stewart has all this drama around him. It’s hard to completely block that out?
He ain’t completely blocking that out. I don’t care what anyone is saying. To have as much bad press as that guy has been having, you’re going to go home and think about it. You don’t block that stuff out. That stuff stays with you forever. A couple of years ago I got thrown in jail. I was driving one of our family dump trucks down the road, and we don’t have any tags on any of them because they’re farm vehicles, so I went out and drove it down the road a mile to my house, and the darned cop came and put me in jail. And I hear about it all the time [laughs]! I made the mistake of using it to haul some firewood, and they hauled me off to jail. So that’s the running joke around here, and it stays with you forever.
After winning in ’89 against an injury-riddled field, when you won again against everyone in 1990, was it like saying “I told you so?”
Oh yeah, and that’s the best feeling in the world. The first year RJ got hurt, Wardy was on his last leg, whatever. So to back it up the next year, that felt even better. Winning the title the first year was great, but it was much, much sweeter the second time. 100 times sweeter. And let’s bump it up two years later when I won the title in the last race in ‘92. That’s when you know you’ve done something—to win the second or third, or the fifteenth like Ricky, I guarantee you he will tell you the last one was the best one.
Can you even pick a favorite for the title at this point?
No, but just because Villopoto has not showed me he’s mentally tough enough to put this all together right now. Halfway through the year when he had that win streak? Yeah, he was the favorite. But then, not qualifying, putting a couple of bad races together, he’s fortunate to have a five-point lead. If you had asked me before St. Louis, I would have said Chad Reed was the favorite, but he had a bad race and fell a few points behind—maybe too many points behind. So I’d say Dungey is in the best seat, unless Villopoto goes out in Seattle and wins by 10 seconds. Dungey’s been low key. But he got that win in Toronto to get a little confidence. He hasn’t been stellar but he’s just creeping up, and if he can win in Seattle, and Villopoto even gets second, he’s only a few points back with two races to go, and he’s in position.
Stanton had to make a late season charge to capture the 1990 SX Championship.
Photo: Moto Verte
What do you make of Reed’s season?
I’m super happy for Chad. For one, nobody wanted him, so he said “screw you guys.” He put it all together. He didn’t come out blazing, he kind of went into hiding during training and didn’t let everyone know what he was doing. Let’s back it up a little bit, a year and a half ago, he was involved in a whole bunch of crap. Or even before that, he had some things going, he was at the bottom of the barrel. He was out doing things he shouldn’t have been doing—partying, whatever. He makes a recovery, he’s back strong with his wife, they have a beautiful child. There was just so much adversity, and he’s overcome it all. If you put the whole picture together, yeah, it’s not nice to bring all that stuff up, but it’s harsh reality. He was at the bottom of the barrel, not financially because he has plenty of money, but at some point money doesn’t mean anything. It’s your own standard and own morals. He wanted to make amends for everything and put his life back in line. Between him and Hansen, those are my two feel good stories for the season. Quite honestly, they have taken a lot of heat, but they’ve rebuilt their lives. Hanny, I’ve never liked the kid because that wasn’t my lifestyle, but he’s made a recovery and he’s done good. And Chad’s in the same category. In my mind and I think a lot of people’s mind, weather Chad wins or loses, I think he’s done good, and I hope he and his team stick around a few more years.
Finally, what about Trey Canard?
I haven’t worked with him that much, but I know him. And you know, he’s not a feel good story in the same way Reed or Hansen are, but he’s a feel good story in his own way. He’s on the good side of life with Christ and all of that. I just know how he lives, I know he did good last year, and I figured it would play out just the way it has. If he had capitalized just a little bit more in a few races, he could be in the points lead. His season has played out exactly like I thought it would. You know, let those guys beat each other up, sneak in there and win a few races and you could possibly win the title. Well, unfortunately he had a few races where he lost too many points and finished just inside the top ten. But next year, those guys better watch out. And outdoors, too. He’s in shape, he loves his bike and he’ll be a contender outdoors as well.
So you’re following closely. You’re a fan of this.
Oh yeah! We watch it on TV every week, and I call Erik (Kehoe) three or four times a week. I still talk to a few of the guys. I’ll always be around.
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Stanton always tells it like it is. I love it!
i grew up watching Jeff here locally (he was couple classes up on me). He's a class act and down to earth guy....and his interviews are awesome. straight shooter.
Stanton.. A true champion!!! He never won a lot of races.. But he knew how to win championships!!! And he rode against the very best!
Honnest and to the point kind of rider!!! A shame he's no longer at Honda.. But I hope he will be back one day!!! Great rider.. I still have a honda cap he signed when he whooped everybody's arse during the MxdoN in Holland!! Hero forever!!!
I was never a big fan of Stanton cause I always pulled for RJ and Kiedrowski in those days... Funny, Stanton makes reference to Reeds behind the scenes mischif that so many Reed folks deny.. " doing things he shouldnt have been doing - partying....now he is back strong with his wife ".....aka cheating with moto-ho's?????
Good article ....Stanton does know his stuff and is a straight shooter.
is that #53 jojo keller behind stanton in the top photo???
Rick Melon.. I reckon Stanton is just mentioning that reed was a couple of yrs ago a real brat... Whether it be partying or asking way too much $$.. We will know when Reed brings out his book later this year.(If he mentioned any of it)
RJ was the best.. And a real shame he got injured and never was the same rider again.. But kuddos to Stanton to stepping up.. facing a highly talented but arrogant frenchie.. Beating a unpredictable Bradshaw... For me.. That's a true champion.
Saw the guy race in Holland and France several times.. Class act... Imagine an entire crowd booing him just because he won and their favorite rider did not? He still remained calm and signed autographs to those whp appreciated him!
As for MX Kied.. He was just way too nice for the sport.. Great rider as well!! Unfortunate to have a dickhead of Roy Turner as a manager, and a MC dominating..
I still don't know too much about JS (Jeff Stanton, haha) because we just don't get to hear too much from him, but based on this little interview i like what he has to say. No BS and tells it like it is, or to be fair, tells it how he sees it!! Good interview!! Who knew CR was going through "whatever" he was going through?? I wish they would check in with guys like Stanton and Bailey for their take on things a little more often!!
Rippin on RV, JS and Reed LOL.. Calm down Jeff!! LOl
Good stuff! No beating around the bush with Stanton. Very refreshing!
On a side note, Weigandt, you gotta edit your articles a little better... "there" & "they're" and "their" are not the same word! (See the answer to the 3rd question.)
Yeah when Stanton speaks everyone shoud listen he knows how to get it done. He was a true workhorse in his time and will never be forgotten. He had to ride smarter not just faster and make his luck work for him.
Much respect to Stanton. When a lot of other "Flashy" riders were getting the adulation & interest, Stanton kept it to the grindstone and quietly kicked azz. His MXdN heroics are stuff of legend and his Daytona streak is among the best ever. I really would've liked him to grab that 500 title (which I thought he was a shoe-in to win each season) but, Something about those Kawi 500's kept the trifecta out of Stanton's trophy mantle. A GREAT representitive of our sport.
Best interview I've read on here in a long time...
didierlotsyeng - Roger that. The funny part for me is however, I have stated a few things about Reeds character and the Reed lovers contest it and say he is a class act and all that and Stanton just backed it up for me....Its not that the factories didnt "want" Reed....they didnt want to "deal" with him...kind of a shame really...
Geez, does Stanton like anybody out there???
Haha, Stanton...Always there to be up and honest about how things are. Great interview.
I said before the season started, 3-4 wins may get the championship. Dungey, while not a big fan, has shown with podium consistencey, my theory might be right, kid has picked it up with courage. What I do like about RD, never flappin his jaws with arrogance, he leaves it on the track. I'm pushing 50 but if I remember right, Stanton broke his leg in several places when he was young, I think his mom even wanted him to quit, but dude became a legend afterwards, pretty sure it was Stanton. I still crack up thinking about him getting pissed watching JMB eat kit kat bars and beating him on the track. I remember making fun a a fat dude from KY that was supposed to be a fast B class rider, Fat SOB lapped me that night.......................
i love the honesty of that guy! reminds me of other guys like Weinert or Hannah, you asked and they'll give you their honest opinion...
Douche Bag! How can you judge RV for not qualifing when the program gave Jeff 3 chances to get in the show? The guy was in the hospital for a month after his crash last year! How many big injuries did stanton have??? He would't have won crap if RJ wouldn't have gotten hurt! RJ would have dominated in 89 and 90. JMB owned 1991 and probably wouldn't have went road racing if he didn't have such a dick head for a team mate! I lost all respect for this douche when he called Bobby Moore, Donnie Schmidt, Trampas Parker and Mike Healey "Has beens" for racing in europe. Do you ever hear this guy thank RJ for everything he did for him? Letting him train the champ changed his whole life!
Dang Jeff, Ouch !
Gotta agree with hin about RV though and I picked him to be the last man standing. Dont know what it is but he sure doesnt seem all that confident.
Waitng for mistakes at this point ........I don't know ?
Dirt
mxjoe99... Stanton just put down the european or world series.. And honnestly... Back in the 1990's... It was a very, very, very inferior series compared to what was in the US.
Even to today's standards... The world motorcross series is still inferior to the US nationals... Sorry man, he had a point then, and it would still be valid today.. Look at Albertyn.. He had a hard time adjusting himself in the US.. And he was dominating in the world series prior him coming to the US.
As for thanking RJ... Stanton has thanked on numerous occasions RJ for showing him what it took to be a champ. RJ was just very unfortunate to be injured and never became the RJ we knew.
I like Stanton as in the begin 90's, he made an effort based on the $$ he was given to race in numerous races in Europe.. And as a teenager back then... It was a golden opportunity to see how the americans kicked our sorry european butts.. It was cool.. As it at least gave a reality check to all the arrogant european sob's who still lived in the past, like the 70's, where the roles were turned around...
I think Stanton hit the nail on the head and was completly honest. These riders arent saints, they are young men just like you and I (was) that ride a motorcycle really fast. (most of us not that nearly that fast) They make mistakes, some learn and reedem themselves, others not so much. These kids are forced to grow up REAL fast and have to deal with a lot of mental pressure, danger, issues associated with having a lot of fame and fourtune and little or no parental direction out there on the road 30+ weeks a year. You see it in the other major sports NFL, MLB and those guys are 23-24. Motocross racers are in that boat when then are 15-16 still in the amatuers. Imagine the pressure on 13 yr old Adam C. from Pro Circuit when he looks around that semi and sees all that money invested in him to perform and win races.
I predict the final points to be RV342, RD 328, CR327, JS 324
Some people just can't handle the old school objectivity. I suppose if you're under the age of 30 and have only grown up listening to and being told PC "You're so great no matter what" BS then hearing a differing opinion must scald your ears....
Jeff has always been straight to the point, tell it like it is kinda guy. Glad to see he hasn't changed. Never worried about what anyone else thinks, a man true to himself.
In 1989 Bayle was world champ and came over here 2 times that year to spank Stanton in the nationals. In 1990 he came over here and was winning the 125 nationals when he got hurt.(he wanted to ride the big bikes but honda said no) In 1991 Full time big bikes he took everything away from Stanton. Not bad for a guy racing a bunch of "has beens" in the gp's!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RizD8DeaG8g
good interview. honest opinions are hard to find nowadays
mxjoe99......Soo.....You didnt say that stanton called JMB a has been. Like it or not He was a true class act and was a great role model for many young MX kids. Even though i also liked JMB the guy was always crying about something. Jeff Stanton was spot on. I have respect for anyone who can hang on to a 500cc 2 stroke for two motos.
For a guy who choked times 3 in 1991 he sure is hard on everybody else! Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones! By the way stanton never won the 500cc title.
well said Jeff!
http://www.wyantracing.com
no he didnt win a 500 championship, but as i said any of those guys that even finished have my respect. I would like to see todays top riders saddle up on one. I dont think he is being hard on anyone, just telling it the way it is.
That was agood point about Jeff having 3 shots to make the main. If Jeff ever raced a LCQ he really should not say that about RV because without the LCQ he would have been watching the race too.
RV2 didnt not make the main because of his first corner crash, he didnt make the main because he fliped over a tough block while entering the trake. That could be considered a bonehead mistake.
BillC- When Stanton raced, they also didn't take 9 riders out of the heats. Bad Billy is right-if he had successfully re-entered the track he would probably qualified. He would be a little bit more patient if did it over today.
In 1990 you had three chances to make the main.2 Heats 4 riders, semis 5 riders and then the last chance. They also up until 2008? Had a provisional where There was a spot for a top rider on the gate even if they didn't qualify in the heats. Idk if any champs ever used one? I think way back in the 80's Jeff Ward failed to qualify.
Ryan Villopoto crashed twice in Jacksonville, not making the main. [Shock] The LCQ crash would not have happened if Villopoto had not given up after his Heat race get-off. He wasn't injured -- he chose to sit on a tuffblock as his Heat competitors raced all the laps. He should have remounted and went for what he could muster; which probably would have gotten him in the main.
Ryan has nobody to blame for not making the Main but himself. A LCQ win is not a given, even at his skill level.
I disagree with Stanton about RV. I don't think RV lost any confidence at all. To me it looks like when that guy ran into his back and took him down, RV had rekindled an old leg injury of some sort and is still on the mend. You can bet when it comes down to it, RV will put the hammer down and take the championship.
mxjoe99 - Actually in 1990 they had 3 heats, top 5 advanced, 2 semis which took the top 2, and the LCQ which took 1 Rider.
Provisional was only around from about 2004 to 2008.
Hey Weege, "Weather" you like it or not, the "whether" could affect the racing on Saturday! haa haa
I've always been a fan of Stanton, typical midwestern farm boy, straight talking and hard working. To all the cry babies, go over to MXA and seek out Magoo, look at the picture of him racing with no left foot peg and his handlebar pointing vertically towards the ground! Then come back and redact your whiny b*tch comments about RV not finishing his heat race. When a boxer gets knocked down, does he go sulk in his corner or try his best to pop back up and get right back in it? How many times have you seen a line man in the NFL wearing casts during a game? Even the ladies in the WMA are tougher than you.
Go watch the race in question again, RV had enough energy and venom to scold the guy who took him out. He should have picked up his bike and made his way into the main.
In 1992 Bayle did everything he could to make sure that Stanton didn't win titles. At the LA finally he stayed behind Bradshaw in the main trying to push him forward and not take away any points from him. Then, later that summer he did everything he could to ensure Jeff didn't win the 500 National title and complete the 250/500 trifecta. Stanton won the last 2 motos going away so Bayle decided to pull over and let MXKied by to ensure that Stanton couldn't win the title. Stanton ened up losing the title to Kiedrowski that day by a 3 point margin. The bummer is that Stanton was best known for his open class prowess, yet he never won that title. He contested the 500 championship in his rookie season on a YZ490 and came in second! You don't see rookies with stones like those anymore.
mxjoe99....your right...and your wrong...yea back in the day the format was three shots...but today its two...every rider plays the same field dog...RV gave up dude!! ..and thats exactly what Stantons talking about...get back on your stinkin bike and make somethin happen .... you only have to make top nine ...RV is a freakin primadonna ... so he got knocked down in a heat...so what...get back on your bike and go for it...he chose to go back to his luxury rig and blame someone else, and its going to cost him... just sit back and watch
1990 mech. I forgot about the 3 heats. I liked that system and the 2 heats, 2 semis,last chance better then what they have now.
Stanton will be the first to tell you he was not the most talented rider out there, but what he lacked in talent, he more than made up for in effort & determination. Everyone has their opinions and if you want an honest one, ask Jeff Stanton. He wasn't knocking, judging or putting anyone down, but he was asked questions and he told it the way he sees it. There is a reason he is called "6 Time" and I will tell you it isn't because that is how many times he choked, it's how many Championships he has won!
I think RV is trying not to make any big mistakes and get hurt before the outdoors starts. He has a lot of pressure on him to make it thru the Supercross season without an injury. Remember he has been on 450's for 3 years and has yet to make it a full year in the Nationals. Stantons was a great rider in his day but he has always been an A**. If you ask me I think he is part of the reason Honda has not won a Championship in the 450 class since RC.
I would love to hear some of today's riders spit the truth like Stanton did on the podium. I get tired of hearing how good the energy drinks are and how well the tires hook up. I want to hear someone say they won because they knew how to turn the throttle on!
Stanton fue mi primer ido!o! Que bueno es volver a ver esas fotos junto a Bradshaw o Rick Johnson! Todavía tengo mi Motocross Inside Mag #1 con el en la tapa! Aguante JS Jeff Stanton! En 1993 tuve mi primer Arai replica Stanton!
Patricio desde Argentina
http://Www.bloggerx.com.ar
I am old school and just love the workman attitude Jeff always had and still has. It is refreshing to hear someone just lay it out there. I have always loved his tell it like it is demeanor.
Everyone knows Reedy was hittin' it with that fine JP$. ROFLMAO
JR.. In 1992... Stanton and Bayle had 2 get together.. And Bayle firmly believed he was taken out in San Jose race.. Which was clearly not the case... Stanton tried to pass him and he did.. Bayle grabbed a handfull of throttle and went into the hay bales... Then they came together in the heat races in LA..
Bayle did not like the race antics Honda was doing.. But from Honda, they made sense putting their effort behind Stanton as Bayle was further down the points then Stanton vs Bradshaw, and Bayle was leaving anyway.
The infamous race where Bayle stayed behind Bradshaw was just Bayle ignoring the team orders set by Honda to pass ~Bradshaw... But we all knew.. It wasn't necessary as that was the race where Bradshaw succombed to pressure, and lost the title.
But RV is a different person than a Bradshaw.. he shud wrap up the title.. Watch out for RV in Seattle.. he will be on fire!!!! Just like in 09'!!!
GO RV!!!
How refreshing to hear a great rider tell it like he sees it. All you fragile dweebs getting defensive about "your favorite rider here" are too funny. Pretty sure Stanton knows what he's talking about, man has credentials. All you posters and bloggers, not so much.
With so much political correctness among those in the industry, what a refreshing and insightful interview. Seeing Stanton at the races, he looks like he could still put in some pretty fast lap times.
yes this article is about Stanon and the interview I always have and will have the utmost respect for Stanton. I had sevearal YZ 490,465.426, and 400's and the *% 490 I built was good although it would have not passed the production rules lol. Bayle was maybe the most fluid and talented racer ever just my opion. Yes I said Stanton was a workhorse. He had the talent or you never make it to that level.
Man, you guys. RV didn't finish his Heat Race in J-ville due to the damage to the bike. I thought that was common knowledge.