Insight: Justin Barcia
Monday, April 16, 2012 | 11:30 AM
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Justin Barcia always carries the rep of a gnarly dude, but the pressure of locking up the East Region Lites Championship sapped him of some gnarly-ness. After his fourth-place finish—which was enough for him to clinch the title—he told us he was actually really nervous in the main event, and, as a result, couldn’t get very gnarly. Here is the, now, two-time Lites East Champion for this edition of Insight.
Racer X: You’re champ again.
Justin Barcia: It’s crazy man. Worked real hard. Another championship for the team and for me is awesome. We worked really hard for this and, it wasn’t easy, that’s for sure. There were definitely some ups and downs.
Well, what about tonight? Were you thinking about the title? You had good laps and bad laps.
Dude, it was terrible! It was a terrible race. Honestly it was the worst race, ever!
Well, what happened?
I had a good start. I think it would’ve been a different story if I’d have gotten that holeshot and was able to ride my own race but I wasn’t because there were guys close to me. The guys were gnarly tonight. They were putting it in super hard. And it’s like you have to watch your insides and then you’ll have a guy block pass you and a guy go around the outside. So it was like the way this track was, it was so tough to protect your inside lines. So it was just a really gnarly race. I was going for it, but at the same time, I was thinking about the championship. So it was tough.
Justin Barcia finished fourth in New Orleans, but it was enough to capture his second straight East Region Lites title.
Carl Stone photo
So you were thinking about the title a little bit? You weren’t nervous, but you were a little conservative, maybe?
No, I was pretty nervous about it!
You were? Even with the big points lead?
Yeah, because it’s tough to have a lot of pressure on you to bring home a championship this weekend.
Well, you do not want to have four weeks to go to Vegas and all that.
No, you do not want that. So I was pretty lucky to get it all out of the way this weekend and go away safe and healthy.
Speaking of healthy, last year in the outdoors, you were really in a bad spot because you had the broken wrist and stuff. How much better do you think your situation is now? You’ve got your title wrapped up, you’re not hurt. It has to be much better.
Well what’s awesome about wrapping this championship up is that I have plenty of time to get ready for the outdoor series. I go to California Monday, start testing and getting ready. We’re still getting ready for outdoors for sure. I have plenty of time to get ready now.
Having wrapped up the title early, Barcia and the GEICO Honda squad can now concentrate on outdoors.
Carl Stone photo
Last year it wasn’t the ideal situation to get ready. You had a bad wrist throughout supercross, for starters, and you had to go to Vegas to wrap the title.
No, it wasn’t a good situation at all. I was sick and hurt and had mono, it was just disgusting, and I had injuries. This year, I think it’s going to be a new story, you know? I’ve got another championship, so that’s awesome, and now we’ll focus on outdoors I think we’re going to be strong this year. The bike’s come a long way and so have I.
One more thing: Did I really hear Justin Barcia saying the guys were riding gnarly tonight? You enjoy that, don’t you?
Yeah, I do enjoy that, but tonight I definitely did not enjoy that with all the pressure to get the championship. I wanted to ride aggressive back, but I had arm pump so bad that I would have gotten whiskey throttle! I was so tight tonight, and it sucked.
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CONGRATULATIONS!!! Tough to win one title and harder to back it up...alot of talent to go with your hard work!!! Bammer will be a player in the Supercross class next year, sure he will have his ups and downs, but I bet he finds the podium a few times. Wonder who he will ride for...stay with Honda or will he see some big money thrown at him from another team... could arch rivial Wilson and Barcia end up on the same team...going to be an interesting silly season following a wonderful outdoor series....
With Townley out, I would not be suprised to see him on a 450 outdoors...
"Justin Barcia always carries the rep of a gnarly dude"
I think he carries the rep of a runaway cry-baby.
Congrats to Justin on his win. It appeared to me that Justin was using his head to get where he needed to be nail down the championship on Saturday night, smart thinking. Good to see double D get a win. I thought the racing in the lites class was great. The pack was tight with lots of energy. The sand on the track made it very intersting and techincal. Despite hammering on Barcia in the past, it will be good to see him bring it on with the 450 riders. The kid has speed and talent, so lets see if he can step it up to Poto warp speed.
Hes so annoying. I cant look past his crying. haha sorry not sorry.
I am so happy for Justin. It seemed like everyone else was against him. Ricky was rooting for Roczen or any PC guy. Many don't like his style, but I enjoy it.
Any way, he got it done.
With JB the champ and Phil Nicolletti doing well, D34 rules!
Congrats to Barcia, he was easliy the fastest guy on the East Coast. Dont really care about the haters, cause they all had nothing for him. Second title he has clinched. He smoked them, lets hope that Stanton has him ready for the outdoors too, it will be a war in the 250 class.
@throttle , tooth...check the scoreboard ..bangin , crying , emotional , fast ,sci-fi like porn stache whatever hes a champ your not. Congrats JB now go bang into some more people outdoors...some of us like it. It will be tougher outdoors this year and should make for excellent racing. Right now Honda will pay him what he wants for 2013...he'll sell bikes...
Barcia has accomplished a rare feat. It's not often you see someone with a pure loser attitude on and off the track win a title, let alone two in a row. Keep in mind it's just 250 regional. His nationals record is piss poor (for a "top" guy), one overall in three years of competition. We'll see what he can do in Supercross 2013 with the big boys, my guess is either nothing much, or hurt himself.
Sooooo, Dum Dum got himself another 250 title. Keep it polished and treat it right, it will be your last. Dum Dum's goin' down down when he has to spend a full year on 450. No, but really, I think he's an awesome, respectful stand up guy for the sport. HA!
warrior, what were you watching? I saw a rider completely dominate some excellent East coast riders and hold his own last year on the 450
I love how guys who don't like someone just start making up anything (warrior462) just to keep there lips flapping ...how does a guy win two championships (and if there "just regional" why don't YOU go get one) with a loser attitude?. I think his attitude is win at all costs and maybe he made some mistakes doing it... but he STILL WON. And I think hes ALREADY proven hes more than capable on the 450. Don't try to make him out to not be a very good rider and a threat outdoors , he is. If you don't like the guy why read the article ....oh thats right just to bag on someone actually accomplishing his goal...@nightrain why do you guys think he OWES anything to anybody except his employer and as for respectful why does he have to live up to anybody elses idea of correctness. For the most part (don't know him personally so we can't say ) but hes seems pretty decent , he made some mistakes , looked like a fool and he paid ..some of us like guys who aren't PC correct and a little out of the box ..Keeps it interesting and in his case exciting. None of you can predict his future so give the hate or jealousy or sourgrapes a rest or spend your time practicing so you can show the "just regional" guys how to do it.
Based on what I saw from JB this year and the few glimpses I have seen of a HEALTHY JB outdoors......
The guy has a very LEGIT shot at winning the outdoor lites title this year.
PC boys will be strong as always, KTM boys will be strong. You can match Barcia in with any of them. If he pulls holeshots like he has throughout his career he is going to be as hard to beat as ANYONE outdoors.
I remember when my friends toald me long time ago! Come down to District 34 to see a little boy his last name is Barcia and you have to see this boy!!! Well like a Mx lover and around me I show up and as soon I so this little kid I told to all my friend he's for real... this guy will kick a** at the pro level. So right now I'm sorry for all the haters but Justing Barcia is doing what I predicted kicking a**. I don't think he's that good in the 250 class for the Nationals, in my own opinion Barcia it's much better on the 450 for the outdoors but for now we have to wait till 2013... Anyway Let's go Barcia see you at Mt. Morris, PA,,,
Every discusting hater on here that makes fun of Barcia's emotion's is far worse than the one they are mocking. Every one also that thinks he rides too rough need to go back to their ballet classes.
I have seen almost every champion in the last twenty years in this sport shed tears, lose control of emotion, and throw tantrums.This includes MC, RC, CR, RJ, DV, RV, JE, and MANY more. These men are real men and have real and strong passion and are NOT p#ssies like you mockers. They have ALL block passed, brake checked, put others in the blocks and pushed others out. They are ALL true sportsmen and warrior's. They are also clean racers- NOT dirty. They have ALL made mistakes and all learned from them.
Justin Barcia is for real and rode clean and well this year, I love his riding style and he is AWESOME for this great sport. He is a competitor with great heart and will go a LONG way in this sport. He has proven he has the speed to leave everyone he has passed this year, and still the ballet boys whine !
The reason some can't relate to him is they have never worked as hard with the passion he and ALL the greats have. Mockers and haters are tough dudes when they hide behind the keyboard and spew their sh#t.
I really enjoy 95% of the racers we all watch with all their different personalities and riding styles.
I hope you ballet boys have learned something when Barcia (maybe) represents us well at MXON
Hey davidl,......."lightn' up Francis"
You do realize that 90% of the "HATERS" are based on bike a rider is on. Its the chevy vs. ford thing you know.
The fact that he's on a RED bike is all they need to find anything else not to appreciate his talent. (However shallow)
I used to race with guys just like him though, (Bradshaw, Turpin, ect) they show great skill and awsome speed but they are simply A$$_HOLES in their youth. As I was I suppose. But most of us don't see a..."CHAMPION"....until they act like a champion. Win or lose.
Now I'm not saying his plates,hard work, talent don't make him the champ because he "IS". I'm saying he'll be a better champ in the future when he learns from his mistakes. A'little more humble and alot less ..."I'm goin'a roost you and rev the pizz out of my bike to show everybody that I'm upset".
Its nice to see they hooked him up with Stanton, because I think that has been what help him the most this year. Mental maturity. Others in history didn't last very long that continued to act as BB has.
Oh yah,.......J Law.....need I say more.
Wah Wah sniffle sniffle. Far greater riders than Barcia have cried before. Sniffle.
Congrats and well done, Barcia. See you on the 450 starting line soon.
I used to like Barcia a lot, now I'm not so sure. He has no respect for other riders, and he rides dirty to get what he wants. There are tough riders, and there are dirty riders. Everyone used to say Barcia is tough, nope don't think so. Ricky Carmichael was tough and respectful too, Jeff Stanton very tough, Mike LaRocco, enough said. I hope he gets a huge ego check when he comes to the 450s next year. He needs to learn some humility and get humbled and then maybe he'll be a better rider for it. Sorry Justin you don't always get your way, so deal with it.
I used to dislike Justin Barge-in-on-ya a whole lot, now just a whole lot more. Whatta joke it is to see a thug like him get a championship in a sport that is 99% full of decent people. My hat's off to him for getting the plate early, but my middle finger's up to him for the aggressive way he rides, and his overall attitude/lack of respect for the sport and the rest of his fellow riders. In retrospect, I guess if one thug can be elected President of the United States, another is entitled to win a lites east sx championship. As always: That's the way I see it; blind in one eye and can't see outta the other. Moto on Bros! (and stay off my lawn, you whipper-snappers!)