Recovery Report: Josh Hill
Thursday, December 8, 2011 | 4:45 PM
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One rider that may have slipped away from your memory banks is Dodge/Sycuan Casino/Hart & Huntington Kawasaki’s Josh Hill. The “hill billy” is almost all the way back from a bad accident suffered in the summer of 2010 and looking to get back to where he once was a couple of years ago. Which, if you remember, was tied for the supercross points lead with James Stewart and Ryan Dungey early in the 2010 season. Hill struggled with injuries the rest of that season before he crashed hard and his career, and life, was put on hold indefinitely.
Looking to put the #75 up front again, I caught up to Josh to find out how his recovery was going.
Racer X: Josh, how’s the comeback going?
Josh Hill: It’s going pretty good, I’m back on the bike and feeling solid. Every day I ride I feel like I get better and better and I have some spots where I’m really improving and getting better. I’m excited for the season.
I’m also guessing that with your long layoff, the grind isn’t really a grind for you. How’s the recovery coming?
Not really, every time I’m on the bike I’m having fun and even if I’m a little sore or whatever to start the day, by the end I’m usually feeling pretty good. As far as my recovery, my ankle still has some progress to make, it was paralyzed for eight months. I don’t have the full range of motion with it right now. We got some work to do on it. I have a little bit of a drop-foot is what they call it. But that’s coming back and I can flex it up and down now. The range could be better for sure but we’re working on it. It only bothers me when shifting, I have to shift with my leg a little bit more and if I have to quick-shift, I have to think about it a bit. I have a little bit of numbness in my foot as well in some areas. Foot placement on the peg is important and I have to make sure I’m planted solid. I fixed that a lot with grip tape and thinking about it more.
A lot of people that watch me say they can’t even tell I was hurt. Every day it’s getting better and better and I’m getting ready to get back racing and fight for a top ten position.
Hill throwning down some laps at the recent DC Shoes Ride Day.
Photo: Ryne Swanberg // Vurbmoto
When we last saw you at your full speed, you were killing it out there. Can you get back to that level? And what’s it going to take to get there?
It’s hard to say because of where I’m at and how long I was off the bike. I don’t think I can run with the top five guys right now, maybe for a few laps, but I’m not ready to go there yet. It’s going to take a little bit longer to get there and be gnarly for twenty laps. I’ve got about ten laps in me right now but I’m going to keep working, keep my nose to the grindstone and each day I’ll get a few more laps in me and run with those guys. For me, for Anaheim 1, my goal is top ten and that’s a great starting point from where I was at.
Normally a guy in the full-race mode coming back from injury might be frustrated at where you’re at. But with you, your career was almost over. Does what you’ve been through make it more of "happy-you’re-just-out-there mode?"
A little bit of both honestly. I’m really excited to be back and be at the track, it’s a lot of fun and it’s new for me. I feel like a little kid again. But at the same time, I’m extremely critical of myself. I was battling for a championship at one point. So I’m not looking to come back and struggle at the back of the pack. I’m critical of myself and making sure that I’m getting better. I want to come back and do well, I don’t want to coast through the series and use the excuse I’m hurt. I want to be a threat when I come back at some point.
I think it’s cool that Hart & Huntington signed you to a two-year deal even though last year, they knew they weren’t going to get much out of you while you recovered.
Those guys have been great, everything is awesome with the guys. I couldn’t be happier with them and they’re all so cool. Everyone gets along, Kenny Watson is a great team manager and does a great job of making everyone happy and making sure we’re all good. It’s perfect for me, there’s a balance of working and also keeping it light. My mechanic Shawn Bell is the hardest working mechanic I’ve ever seen and he’s an all-around nice guy. Hopefully I can be back up there, I just have to keep working on getting stronger and stronger.
Hill is getting adjusted to the Kawasaki after years on a Yamaha.
Photo: Ryne Swanberg // Vurbmoto
How do you like the switch to Kawasaki?
I like the Kawasaki, it’s great. It’s a fun bike to ride right when I first got on it. There wasn’t much of a transition period for me. I haven’t changed much on the bike since they got it to me, some suspension changes and I fooled around with some brake stuff but that’s really it. It’s not that bad to be a privateer team like we are compared to the factory guys, or whatever we are. We’re not getting full-factory parts but I’m not sure that matters all that much.
Yeah, maybe a bit of pounds lighter on the bike and the transmission, that’s about all you’re missing.
Yeah, I’d like a transmission I guess. But that’s the only thing those guys have that I could use. I can get over that though. But hey, if we go out there and start riding good then the parts will come. We have to prove to everyone that we deserve the special parts and hopefully we will.
We had a guy who called into the Pulpmx Show asking about you the other night and he was a fan of yours. I asked him this question and he agreed with me. Does it not seem that in the Pacific Northwest, you’re either a Josh Hill “guy” or a Ryan Villopoto “guy?" You can’t be both, it’s like Lennon and McCartney!
(Laughs) Yeah I think you’re right. It’s kind of funny because I’m a Portland kid and Villopoto is a Seattle kid. We would meet up at the local races and battle hard. That’s where the sides come from. We came from different areas in the state and had different groups. I don’t want to say you can’t be both but people do have their sides. I think Ryan’s got more fans now though.
That is funny, I knew it was like that growing up and it’s funny to see it’s the same way now. I got to bring it home for my fans now!
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Scrubs not backflips!!!
So are all for the the hunnington boys ride black kawi's? or are two riding black and two green? anybody know?
There you have it from a guy who has ridden factory bikes and now a privateer bike, not much difference, but he would like a works tranny.
Cut my racing teath on Kawi back in 80'. Been a Kawi guy my whole life. After years off the baike I had not choice but the YZF426 in 200 and 02, and the YZF450 in 03. Honda CRF 450 in 04 and 05, and then back on Kawi in 06 for their first 450. 07, 08. 09, 10 (skipped 11), and now the 12.
It is a good year to be a kawi guy! Bike is the best in the class and truly amazing. Got multiple teams running the kawi and lot's of good riders.
More importantly, I got my two favorite NW guys on Kawi (yup I'm a NW dude), Vill and Hill.
Kawi riders this year:
Villo
Weimer
Hill
Grant
Chisholm
Tadesco
Hanni (who knows, it may work)
Partridge
Tickle
That could be 9 of 20 possible gates pick going to Kawi :-)
Anyone know if the Motosport team will switch to Kawi? If they grabbed Wey again he really really likes his Kawi.
So true what Josh said about the Portland,Seattle thing. I grew up in Portland.Go Josh Hill.
If I were to bet on 9 it would be from honda.
Brayton
Canard
Windham
Reed
Short
T. Hahn
Regal
Seeley (Rode a few last year)
Barcia (I'd be surprised if you doesn't ride at least 1 450 sx)
Craig ( Better on the 450)
Sorry, That's ten.
Top 10 all season for #75, easily.
Can't wait to see Josh back in action again. His goals are realistic for now. Can't wait to see him crack the top 5. You can do it Josh. Just don't do any X-Games antics anymore and you will be just fine!!!
Can't wait to see you back to speed. I shattered my hip in 2007, I know its a big injury and took alot of guts for Josh to push through the injury and ride again. Keep working you'll be pushing the top guys in no time
super pumped to see #75 back in the mix!
Steve,
What's the difference in the transmissions ?
There is definitely a strong rivalry between Portland and Seattle. Most of the country isn't aware since the upper left hand corner of the lower 48 states is ignored. With the departure of the Sonics to the City That Shall Not Be Named the rivalry with Portland has actually softened a little. However, the popularity of Soccer up here is bringing it back.
Before Hill's crash I rooted against him. But now after all he has been through and the attitude he has handled it with, I have softened. I hope he does well, but that RV still spanks him! Go RV!
Count me as slowly becoming a H & H convert for sticking with Josh Hill
Pala 374
Count me as slowly becoming a H & H convert for sticking with Josh Hill
Pala 374
" I want to come back and do well, I don’t want to coast through the series and use the excuse I’m hurt. I want to be a threat when I come back at some point."
That right there is refreshing to see. Seems Josh has come a long way from stealing cars with JLaw and wadding himself up. I hope the kid kills it this year...
" I want to come back and do well, I don’t want to coast through the series and use the excuse I’m hurt. I want to be a threat when I come back at some point."
That statement above from Josh Hill above sure doesn't sound like Josh Grants recent interview now does it?
Was not really a Josh Hill fan when he was starting to get caught up with the J- Law crap and did not appear to take his career seriously, but the injury may have knocked some sense into him and perhaps the speed of his younger brother further inspired him- Hope he gets to the front as more to battle for a win, the better!
good to see josh back and riding i saw the sreck on youtube and it looked like it suuuuuuuucccked. kawi has the best bike rite now and at A1 RV is the man that everyone will want to beat. I hope racerx gets a video of him up soon. havent been able to find anything:(
Matthes brought up an important topic. My view on it... McCartney sucks. Why is it the two living Beatles are McCartney and Ringo?!?!?!?!
I hope he just keeps it calm and rides. Surprised to hear he thinks he can run top 5 in speed and has a goal of top 10 at A1. Please don't overdo it and end up in a heap again. Want to see Hill out there all year.
I can't believe Hill is back out there. He looks good on green. Good luck Josh!
I like Villopoto and Hill both, but in 2010 I was rooting for Villo' to win. Good luck Josh I can you see getting top ten anywhere and some top fives and maybe a top 3?
Looks like H&H is running the green plastics......as they should if they want any help from team green...Last year, you couldnt tell what bike they were riding if you were an average joe looking from the stands.......Hill looks a lot leaner and its always good to see guys overcome injuries....This type of team atmosphere that Hart ripped off from Moto XXX is something the riders like....but if your looking for race wins or championships, I dont think it will come from this team
The drop foot stuff is now being mentioned in sports. The Dallas Cowboy kiker and I think a few others and now Johs Hill. I had trouble with that after I crushed my leg in 86. I think it made me a better rider in some ways because I learned to corner and ride more with my left foot still on the peg. Yes I did have to think about shifting a bit more but still got plenty of holeshots. I made my shifter 1 inch longer so it was easier to catch with anypart of my boot.Even now 20 years later my foot deos not alway do what my mind tells it to do.
I too have had a recent bout with the "Drop Foot", also on my left side. I had a "routine" scope clean out of my left knee ( # 5, had 9 on my right before my total knee replacement). There was some nerve damage done during the surgery but it took a week to appear, right in middle of Bum FK Eygpt on a Elk hunt. Couldn't shift my ATV by foot, had to use my hand for a week. It took MONTHS of P.T. and use of a AFO brace to get better but at least it did. Scared the crap outta me for a while. Welker, I too have to watch it climbing stairs cause my clutch slips a little between the brain and the foot. It does get better with time. MX has been Hell on the body, but I'd do it all again in a heartbeat !