by Eric Johnson
5 Minutes with... Josh Hansen
Friday, January 6, 2012 | 6:00 PM
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PrintOn Saturday evening, April 30, 2011 and with light snow flurries blowing around Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, Josh Hansen sat alone, head in his hands, in shadowy rear recesses of the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki trailer. A few minutes earlier, after attempting an aggressive block pass on Eli Tomac for the lead, Hansen hit the dirt. And when he did - and after winning three races and leading the most laps (34) during the 2011 AMA Supercross Lites West Series – a championship he appeared to be destined to win went right into the ground with him. It was a devastating blow to Hansen, who after a star crossed career and after working so very hard to take his prodigious talent and skill and harness it all for the good, appeared to be on the fast track to fulfilling the great promise so many saw in him.
After Salt Lake, Hansen, admittedly, lost his way putting in poor (if not miserable) performances at races such as Mammoth Mountain, the Zwarte Cross (in Holland) and the Monster Cup. Moreover, there was a lot of turbulence and conjecture about just who he would be racing for in 2012. Finally, word came down that Hansen has signed-on to ride the 450 class with the upstart Dodge Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing Team. Hansen went quiet during the off-season, spending weeks upon weeks riding and training at the team’s Las Vegas-based test track. Not much was heard from the flamboyant rider, which to a certain extent, may have been a good thing because as with any of us as the old English proverb proclaims, idle hands can be the devil’s workshop.
So, having bestowed upon you all the above, on Friday morning, we rang up Josh Hansen. Normally in good spirits - and never at a loss for words – we found out that his 2012 campaign – set for tomorrow night – was off to a bit of a rough start as he was sick as a dog.
Still, Josh being Josh, he was more than up for telling us just what he has been up to and how he sees his all-important ’12 season shaking out.
Okay Josh, it’s the Friday morning before tomorrow’s 2012 Monster Energy Supercross Series opener at Angel Stadium. What are you up to?
I’ve been lying in bed and puking my ass off at the moment.
You’re sick?
Yeah, it’s kind of a weird deal. I went to Fox yesterday to pick up my gear and ended up going to the bathroom and I blacked out and hit the deck. Then I started puking my ass off. I threw up all over myself in the car. Then I had mom and dad come pick me up and take me to the hospital last night. Now I’m just laid out. I can’t stop puking. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
Hansen will make the switch from PC to H&H for his debut at Anaheim on Saturday.
Photo: Simon Cudby
At the hospital, did the doctors know what was wrong with you or give you an IV or anything?
Yeah, they gave me an IV and some stuff to help my stomach, but even now, everything I put in me just goes right back out.
Are you drinking a lot of liquids and all that?
Yeah, that’s all I’ve been doing. I have to try and keep it alive for tomorrow. It’s not the coolest way to start off 2012.
Yeah, I can understand that… Speaking of 2012, and as a broad stroke question, you’re a 450 rider again. If I have it right, I don’t think you’ve been in the class since you rode for the Rockstar Hart & Huntington team in 2009. Is that right?
Yeah, that’s right. I only did a couple of rounds for them and then I quit racing. So it’s kind of like I’m really stoked on my team and I’m just ready to get started. I want to have a good, solid year and, more or less, just stay positive and work out all the kinks. I feel really fortunate to have a lot of good people around me. And I’m back on Monster as well. That’s really exciting for me because I didn’t know which way that was going to go there for a little bit. I’m really excited to be with Monster and that makes me feel a little bit better heading to the line. Now it’s all just up to me.
Before the 2011 racing season was even over, I know Mitch Payton wanted you to stay with him and the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team and ride a 250 in 2012. However, you were pretty adamant about moving up to the 450 class, correct?
I wanted to go to the 450 class because I really felt like I was going to win the [Lites] championship last year and obviously that didn’t happen with me getting hurt. That really put a twist on everything. Mitch had asked me to ride the 250 and at the end of the day I wanted a championship really bad. But then at the same time I kind of used last year as my year to go ahead and get that done. It didn’t happen. I don’t know… I kind of feel like I’m selling out if I stay back in the Lites class. That’s not taking anything away from the class because these kids are fast, but at the end of the day they’re kids. I mean, looking back, my career kind of took a weird turn in the middle and took me back to the Lites class, but I just didn’t feel like it would be a respectful championship if I would win it in 2012, you know? It’s like I’m beating the kids. I just really want to start heading up to the 450s and see however that’s going to go and keep building. I want to do that and keep a positive attitude and just keep moving forward. I ride a 450 really well and I feel I can do stuff on a 450 that I can’t do on the Lites bike. I’m just excited to start a new adventure.
Due to the fact that he pointed out of the Lites class and still had a year left on his Kawasaki contract, Broc Tickle now has a 450 ride with Mitch. Would you have liked to have been given a Kawasaki/Pro Circuit 450, too?
I mean absolutely! I had talked to Mitch about it, but yeah, it didn’t work out. I wish I had the same bikes as Tickle, but it’s one of those things that it is what it is. It’ll make it all that much sweeter. I would rather see that guy on that bike than me for the moment because all the pressure rides on his shoulders. I’m a full privateer. I mean I guess we have it a little bit better than a full privateer situation with our semi truck and we have great mechanics and stuff, so that’s good. However, we have no factory parts and we have not done any testing or anything, so we are basically on everybody else’s time and that’s what has been the hard part. We’re not able to ride the Kawasaki track and that’s been a little bit rough on us, but at the end of the day, well what do you do? At the end of the day it’s mind over matter. They make the tacks so easy now that I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. It just comes down to cardio and clicking off laps and doing what you do best.
Hansen is back in the Supercross class after spending the past few years in the Lites class.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Your last 450 ride was at the Monster Cup last October. You and Broc Tickle tangled in the first race and you hit the dirt. I went to go see you in the pits after that race and you were livid. The evening just kept going downhill for you from there. Just a bad night?
It was a pretty last minute deal for me to go because of my whole face issue and stuff. I was able to only ride a few days before the race. I just hopped on the 450 and was getting after it. No excuses. It is what it is. The race just didn’t go good.
Oaky, people will crucify me if I don’t ask the question: Just what happened with your face? Was it really a BMX deal?
Yeah, it was a BMX deal. I’m still sticking with the BMX deal. I don’t want to scare the industry. The industry wouldn’t be ready for this. They would automatically ban me from racing, so I’m just going to keep it as is – it was from a BMX crash.
As far as your new team - The Dodge Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing Team - do you feel like you have good equipment as well as a good staff of mechanics and technicians behind you?
Yeah, we have not tested at all, but I have good bikes in the sense that I’ve got Pro Circuit parts and stuff and you can’t go wrong with Mitch Payton because he makes the best there is. I have that, I have super-good mechanics. I love my team. My team is awesome. The only thing that is hard about our team is that we don’t have the factory support, so that kind of stuff makes it hard. That’s not my team’s fault. That’s where what we are sitting on and where we are at with our sponsors. I think [Carey] Hart has really put together a really good program this year. With Tony Berluti, and the rest of the mechanics on the team, I think we have awesome people. I think that the more the season will go on, we’ll get our bikes and ourselves better. I think there is a lot to look forward to this season.
I was in at Pro Circuit talking with Mitch last week and some of your team guys swung by. Mitch asked them how you were doing and they told him you have really been working hard and putting in the laps. They all sounded really positive and optimistic about you and your preparation for 2012. How do you feel about your training? Do you have 20 good laps in you?
I think so. I think things have been going good and I’ve actually been riding really good. I think everything has been going good. I’m trying to see where my body stands tomorrow night after all this bullshit I’ve been going through. I’ve definitely been working hard. I’ve been putting my head down and trying to make the best of my situation.
Okay, I was at the press conference yesterday and there was certainly a lot of focus placed upon Villopoto, Reed, Dungey, Stewart and Canard. Having said that, how do you see yourself running in 2012?
I would definitely like to get into that top five and I would love to get a podium like Canard did last year. I hope that’s not out of the question. All the guys are really fast and very dedicated to the sport. I feel like I’m a dark horse going into it. One thing I have on my side is that I’m not scared to piss people off. I’m not afraid to get in there and mix it up and make it happen.
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My goodness. I don't even know where to start. The contradicitions that come out of that guys mouth (and his actions) make me wonder if he even has a clue what's going on. I mean, puzzling doesn't even begin to explain the dumb-luck (and dumb events) that make up his life. I hope it all comes together for him someday.
Perhaps we as spectators are the ones who are messed up imposing our expectations on his life and he's actually peaked out on his potential meter.....
One never knows about such things.
Sometimes I really do wonder myself...A talent on the bike for sure, but is he just trying too hard to play cool guy or what? I said before that I am sure H&H is looking at Ivan and Josh Hill for the "results" and Hansen is there for the occasional "good ride" but mostly for the side show that is Josh Hansen....People who don't give a crap about who wins races but are more interested in the you can't handle the truth about my scarred up face ....
Josh is living the dream, only a hand full of riders get to enjoy. The rest are just haters and can suck it !
"I don't want to scare the industry."???? WTF
So he's admitting the BMX story is b.s. Suddently sick. The day before the opener? He would rather have Tickle's bike?
It's f-ed up to me to see a guy like this with teammates who have all been through so much more. If I were one of the other three, "Lil Hanny" would be my personal punching bag.
Hill's gonna come outta the hospital and smoke him. Maybe Hanny should train with Alessi.
I'd like to know more about this "bmx deal" that would ban him from racing. Sounds like a great story!
I wish Josh would do us all a favor and just stay home. The only thing he'll be able to do in this 450 class is ruin races and maybe the championship for guys who are capable of winning. If I thought he would go out and ride to the position that he earned, fine, no problem, but this dude is just a ticking time bomb on the track.
What does Watson see in this guy?? I really hope for the sake of the H&H team that he does well, but I won't be surprised when he doesn't make the full season...
The full season???
Looks like he won't even make the opener.
"I’m a full privateer. I mean I guess we have it a little bit better than a full privateer situation with our semi truck and we have great mechanics and stuff, so that’s good. However, we have no factory parts and we have not done any testing or anything, so we are basically on everybody else’s time and that’s what has been the hard part".
>
Wow, I feel for you dude.................what a douche.
You don't know what he's been through....brahaha crazy junkie josh hansen!!
I once ate a shitload of ecstasy and mushrooms, smoked a bunch of weed and drank a bunch and was SUPER sick the next day. like barfing all day sick. Now I'm no doctor, but I think Joshy has a case of this. And I did that in Maine. i can't imagine how those OC guys party.
I would love to see hanny kill it but he is just not wired/focused like the top guys. It would be awesome to see him on the podium but 10-15 is where I think he'll be.
Hope I'm wrong
dood musta had two mutch cronnick talkos.
At least J-Law was man enough to admit what happened when he got into trouble. LiL Hanny would get smoked in the Lites class by the KIDS just like he did last year and he'll do in the 450's.
I've started a mental list of his sponsors so i know who NOT to buy my moto gear from. Whoever wastes their time, resources and money on this loser is not worthy of my hard earned money.
Look up "class" in the dictionary...then, never think of Josh Hansen.
I like him. He's different, he's not a robot, he doesn't fit the mold, and he's very talented on a dirtbike. Everyone who hates on the guy never take the time to realize that maybe he's human and allowed to live and do whatever he wants regardless of what the online bench racing community says. Do I think he's focused enough to break things up, I have no idea, but I do know that he will be completely his own person and probably cause some kind of drama, who cares, it's racing.
@ beavis.......I could not agree more. I refuse to buy anything that puts thier name behind this kid. He is a punk, and has no respect for anyone around him.
stuff the haters, just because he's not perfect like you all want doesn't mean he can't ride. i hope he comes out and proves you all wrong.
like he's obviously doing something right, he's got a ride and well, all you haters are still reading about him.
"the haters made him famous"
stuff the haters, just because he's not perfect like you all want doesn't mean he can't ride. i hope he comes out and proves you all wrong.
like he's obviously doing something right, he's got a ride and well, all you haters are still reading about him.
"the haters made him famous"
Privateer? You have got to be kidding. Josh you need to have a long sit down with K-Dub and let him relive stories on what it's like to be a real privateer. Gill, you say this guy is different and not a robot. I agree. The problem is the guy is an arrogant douchebag. I've been wondering for years why anyone gives this guy the time of day. Why Monster keeps sticking with this idiot is just bewildering to me. I also like how he says he's not afraid to piss people off. Well good luck with that buddy. RV2, Reedy or Stewart wont take too kindly to that I imagine. I know, I know. We don't know what this guy has been through right? That is correct but being a huge fan of MX and SX for over 20 years Josh just comes off as an ass. Stay sick and stay on the couch.
You've had some issues Hanny, but keep your shit together and shut everyone up man, you got it in ya....especially where ya are right now. You got this bro.
we all know, and the industry knows he will punt someone whether he needs to or not, there are some guys in the 450 class that can and will do that if pushed, or if even slightly irritated by that type of riding.
I'm sure whatever he can accomplish this season, or fail to accomplish, its bound to be interesting to watch and wont be without controversy. His whole racing life has been this way. I talked to him at Orlando MX world years ago before he turned pro, and I could not believe how "spicoly" from fast times at ridgemont high he sounded....
So far its been one never ending slow motion train wreck, its a bummer, guy has got more talent than most of the world on a bike.
@Brian, I don't think that it matters what he has been through to get to this point the fact is is that he is here at least for the time being, and regardless of what mold people try to put him in he's going to continue doing what he sees fit, like he has up until this point. It's conflicting for someone to have to put aside their own jealousy and just let this guy ride, yes he has been given a lot in the MX and SX world, and yes at times he has squandered those gifts, but you can't dislike a guy for going his own way and not what you perceive should be the way he conducts himself.
None of you tools who chimmed in here will ever be paid to ride a motorcycle. Hell, 3/4 of you are probably grown men and still live in your parents basement.
Josh Hansen is no role model, he is just your basic uneducated american dude from so cal. All he knows is bikes and chicks. Blame his parents..
josh hansen is my idol!!!
Life goes where you point it Josh
Jim M
Pala 374
He wont be paid to ride a motorcycle much longer, then WTF is he going to do? He's an unrespected douche bag that wont finish half the races and will have an excuse as to why he finished outside the top ten in the ones he did finish. I completely agree with warrior462, he has the potential to f&ck; up the real "men" out there racing for race wins and championships. Anyone that supports this guy in this blog is as dumb as he is and is still chasing "the dream" of being paid to ride a motorcycle. It isnt going to happen losers so quit supporting an idiot, get an education and go get yourself a real job. Within 3 years you will see Hanny at the local SoCal Mcdonald's getting high with the "kids" that work there. And for Hanny to imply he would have just beaten the "kids" this year and that wasn't fair tells me he is pathological much like Charlie Sheen. He would have gotten smoked and he would have gotten smoked last year in many races had he not deliberately taken out anyone that showed him a wheel. That sh&t wont fly in the big boy class so I look forward to Hanny getting his.
i went to fox 2 get some gear..blacked out and hit the deckk... hes funny
This dude is weird.
He'll be lucky to crack top 15, this class is stacked.
Hanny definitely has the skill to run with some of the top dogs, but it is a matter if he decided to train and focus and not chase tail the entire off season.
I'll be glad he's racng until he takes out a real contender, then I''ll be a hater too. Other than that he's drama that fills out a races storylne. Hate the cool guy image he tries ot project though.
snakeybyte186 hansen has sick style.. havent u seen his ads for shift in glamis??? enough said the guys the real deal...zwarte cross is in the past.2012 sx champion
His life is one big trainwreck. Everyone tunes in to see whats going to happen next. You cant have a good movie without a bad guy. Even all the Bubba haters love to watch him ride. I love Andrew Short but I don't want to watch 20 of him in the main.
Hanny threw Mitch under the bus at MEC, I can't believe Mitch would do anything for him now. Now he throws HH under the bus by saying the team has done zero testing for 2012. I don't believe that for a second! If HH has done zero testing then Watson should be fired a long time ago. The things that come out of his mouth make you wonder if he is on Heroin. Everytime he speaks he hurts the image of the sport.
Douchetard. I hope he does not manage to take out a real professional racer on his way to his next implosion.
I dont know who is a bigger waste, Hansen or Watson.
I predict 12th place at best. That's if he gets the hole shot.
give hanny a break. He's faster on a bike than all of us on this post put together. I enjoy laughing at the guy. He brings excitment to our sport. how boring would it be if they all showed up to A1 in tuxedos and shook hands at the gate and apologized in the middle of the track if they unintentionally made someoone upset. GET REAL!! its's dirt bikes. The dude does what he does. Shake it up Josh. I'm a fan!!
As far as "proving the haters wrong", if Hansen came out and won A1, or any supercross for that matter, I'd say, "It's about time."
This guy is nothing more than night show filler. He won't stand a chance of running with the top guys. His has a sh*tty attitude about every team that gives this creep a chance to race, and is full of more excuses than a porta jon at Woodstock. Hansen should get his rake and pruning shears ready for his future career in landscape maintenance.
It's interesting how the perception of the masses change over such a short time. Last year around this time, you all hated him for still racing lites. Then, mid season last year, most of you were all nominating him for the rock hard award for racing (and doing well) with a broken hand. Then he tried to take out tomac at Vegas and the hatred reared it's head again (yeah mine too I admit). Fact is, the guy is still around and trying to make it work. We as fans (or not) have no idea what this guy is like behind closed doors and for whatever reason, people in the industry still see something in him. As far as I'm concerned, if he makes the main, he's still working his ass off, and that's more than could be said for a lot of the keyboard tough guys on here.
@pizzacorner spot on!
dude JH100 is 2 things a liar and a talented racer, i dont believe any of that BS he just said but what i do believe is he has had his head down and off the radar and he is my pick to shock the world this season! He can go head to head with the best and beat em
................Hes like in the lost and found department of the world................
30% of the KIDS* would rip his a** at least.
See if he makes main with THE BIG BOYS*
Pretty Stupid MF
hahah he is very women like ...... hell have an altercation with some one..i could see him filling in for dungey if he gets hurt at ktm
@Overgrip are you serious? Hanny had a championship handed to him for 2 years at PC and couldn't do it. He resorted to fighting with his teamates and taking out anyone who was faster than him to try to win. Everytime he speaks he makes an ass of himself and blames his bad results on everyone that has busted there ass for him. I would take a 100.00 bet with anyone that he is not in the top 15 in the final. Thats if he is lucky enough to qualify. He is already making excuses that he has been in the hospital deathly sick the day before the race.So many people have helped this guy and he shits on them everytime.He just threw H/H under the bus and said they have done zero testing! Then you have guys like Regal who can't get a ride?
So here's an idea for a dream team: Hanson, J-Law, Josh Grant, and Mike Alessi. They would be like the Oakland Raiders of motoX! Ha!!! zero expectations of a win so when one of those clowns does pull out a top 10 it's a P-A-R-TAAAAY!!!! You gotta hire a film crew to follow those a$$-hats around the whole season. That would be the the best documentary EVER!
When one of them implodes- replace 'em with Millsaps. It would be hilarious to see that over-paid turd get thrown in with them. If Millsaps trains and works as hard as he says he does, when he gets beat by his teammates, and Hot Sauce, and Nick Wey, and Jason Thomas- I wanna see that!!! (I like Hot Sauce, Wey and JT$, but we all know, including them that they are not top 5 guys unless there is a sniper involved. The field is too deep. they do deserve mad props for their dedication to the sport and for having the balls to live their dream- so shutup I'm just making a point)
Josh rips, everyone knows it, and I wish I had 20% of his talet. I love watching him ride. Dude flows. I met his Mom and Dad once at a private track in San Diego last year. His Dad was really nice, to me. I don't get emotionally involved with what Josh says, how he plays, what he does, who he is as a person, how he parties, what team he rides for, past mistakes he's made, etc. Raise your hand if you haven't made stoopid decisions in life that you look back and regret. Josh is no different. He's a human being like the rest of us. Lighten up a little people. Bottom line in my opinion: When all those guys line up at the starting gate, Hanson is FAST and everyone knows it. I don't know his training program, but if he is training as hard as RV2 and RD, then he will surely be at the front of the pack. Stay safe this year Josh. It will be no suprise to anyone when you get the podium.
Put Regal on his bike!!
JDSD1974..........Cocane is one hell of a drug!
Guys.... He has one of the best styles in the motocross sport! I think that's why Mitch did choose him, because of his talent. He kicked ass at the races until he did all these crashes. He just want to live his life I guess. He don't worry about his fans and the other guys in the in the sport. Many people will may say that it was stupid to leave the PC Team.. but if he feels more confident and comfortabel on the 450 which I guess, then let him do it. Don't call him a douche just because he's sitting out the races... A rider can't race to the fullest if he don't feel the power to race his bike. Btw, Mitch wants Josh on his team for 2012. You can ask yourself; why? CR22, J-Law, JH100, IT9, RV2 makes the sport much more exiting!
I've known Josh my whole life and the stuff that comes out of his mouth never ceases to amaze me haha having said that most of it is a front. He's a completely different guy when you know him on a personal level however looks like everyone on here does not. If I didn't know better and had just read his interviews I too would think he's an idiot. In my opinion, he has as much raw talent as K-dub. His style is like no one elses and he's as smooth an almost anyone who has ever ridden a supercross track. He definitely has trouble focusing and staying on track, probably caused by his ADHD that he's fought since childhood. I know everyone has battles and demonds to fight and Josh is no exception. I just hope he can take advantage of the talent he's been given and make the most of what's left of his career in racing.
Josh is the opposite of having ADHD.
And don't you ever compare him to Kevin Windham again.
@JohnnyWhad THANK YOU !! K-Dub is everything that Hanny is nottttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
Josh Hansen is a great rider w heart. You can all suck it cuz he'd smoke you in a race. All u haters will eat your words!!!!!