The 250 main event at the Daytona Supercross by Honda was amazing. Jeremy Martin, Justin Hill, Martin Davalos and Malcolm Stewart went at it hard all night, with Martin pulling through for the win on his Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha. We found him in the pits after the race for a chat.
Racer X: I know winning is cool, but that was just an awesome race to watch. Was it exciting to be in?
Jeremy Martin: Yeah, it was exciting to be in it. It always sweetens the deal when you get the win. I tell you what, the fans were really into it tonight. I heard them cheering but I don’t think I’ve heard them cheer that loud in a long time.
So during the race you’re hearing that?
Yeah, when we were to hit the triples and stuff or when you’re off the gas, I could hear them yelling. Their voices are going to be sore tomorrow!
Start actually with last week. How did you feel with last week’s run? The result was okay, fourth, but did you feel you rode the way you wanted?
No, I didn’t ride the way I wanted. It’s the first round. I got fourth and if that’s what I get on a bad day it’s pretty good. As people say, the same old, same old, you can lose a championship in the first race, and I got fourth. I knew Daytona’s a good one for me. It’s as little more outdoors. Got the win tonight. I’m maturing every year I do supercross and I’m just getting better.
I know that O’Show [Johnny O’Mara] told me that there were big changes this year—riding style, or maybe even bike setup-wise. Talk about the difference for you in supercross this year. Do you feel different?
Yeah, I feel different. Like I said, I think it also helps being another year older and being a little more mature. But I’ve learned that the way I set my bike up for outdoors works great for outdoors but it doesn’t quite always work for supercross. If you always look in the past you see a lot of the good guys that have been able to figure out supercross make the same transition I’m changing. I’m moving the bars up a little more. Can’t have that sag [with the rear suspension] quite as low.
Getting over the front a little more?
Yes.
So for outdoors what happens? Switch back or is this your deal now?
I think it’s going to evolve into outdoors too and I’ll just be that much better.
So take us through the race. Twelve laps of just trying and trying and trying to get the lead.
Yeah. Mookie [Malcolm Stewart] was fast and he was on it tonight. I just had a feeling in the main we were going to be battling. It was good. He was really strong. I tried to pass him and then I kind of had to be patient because I’m like, Man, I can’t get him. He was protecting his lines and doing what he needed to do. I was fortunate enough to be able to make the move a little later. I was running out of tear-offs. I could hear Justin Hill breathing down my neck and Martin [Davalos]. I’m like, Dude, we’ve got to go. Now’s the time. I can’t wait any longer. And I made the move.
You got close sometimes. How hard is it to make an aggressive pass? You’re like, I’m going to run it in. You could have gone down. Has to be tough.
Yeah, it was tough. I didn’t want to bump him. I came in there and I was trying to do something so I showed him my wheel. Mookie, he’s a strong kid and he stayed strong and just right there. I didn’t want to bump him, he’s strong!
How good does it feel? Is it anything extra special to get Daytona?
Yeah, Daytona’s one of a kind for any event and it’s very special. I’ve gotten third a lot of years and I got the win finally, so it’s good.
So give us the sales pitch: you won at Daytona, but you’re an outdoor guy. The stadium races coming up, you’ve won those before, but will you be even better this year?
Yeah, that’s the goal, get the stadium races, win those. We go to Toronto next weekend. I like that place. It’s a great place. Looking forward to it.