Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News

Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • One Click Sign-In

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    OR

    Sign in with your username and password

    • Sign In
  • Features
    • 10 Things
    • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers
    • 3 on 3
    • 250 Words
    • 450 Words
    • Between the Motos
    • Breakdown
    • Deals of the Week
    • GNCC Report
    • Great Battles
    • How to Watch
    • Injury Report
    • Insight
    • In the Mag, On the Web
    • Lockdown Diaries
    • Longform
    • MXGP Race Reports
    • My Favorite Loretta Lynn's Moto
    • Next
    • Observations
    • On This Day in Moto
    • Open Mic
    • Privateer Profile
    • Race Day Feed
    • Racerhead
    • Racer X Awards
    • Racer X Redux
    • Rapid Reaxtion
    • RX Exhaust
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Staging Area
    • The Conversation
    • The List
    • The Moment
    • Things We Learned at the Ranch
    • Unphiltered
    • Wake-Up Call
    • Where Are They Now
    • 50 Years of Pro Motocross
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • The Weege Show
    • Racer X Films
    • Video
    • SX Preview Shows
    • Factory Tech Tip
    • MX Preview Shows
    • Behind The Bars
    • Racer X Rapid News
  • Races
    • Series Schedules
    • TV Schedules
    • Results
    • Champions
    • Teams
    • 2022 Numbers
  • Results
    • Points Standings
    • Race Results
    • Riders
    • The Vault
    • Loretta Lynn's Vault
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • The Mag
    • Digital Magazine Bookstand
    • Customer Care
    • Current Issue
    • Newsletter
    • Store Locator
    • Subscribe
    • Free Stickers
    • Sell Racer X
  • Table of Contents
  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News
Results Archive
GNCC
Snowshoe
Articles
Overall Results
  1. Jordan Ashburn
  2. Ricky Russell
  3. Jonathan Girroir
Full Results
XC2 Pro Results
  1. Jonathan Girroir
  2. Ruy Barbosa
  3. Cody J Barnes
Full Results
MXGP of
Indonesia
Articles
MXGP Results
  1. Tim Gajser
  2. Jorge Prado
  3. Ruben Fernandez
Full Results
MX2 Results
  1. Tom Vialle
  2. Simon Laengenfelder
  3. Thibault Benistant
Full Results
Australian MX
Maitland
Articles
Motocross
RedBud
Articles
450 Results
  1. Eli Tomac
  2. Chase Sexton
  3. Justin Barcia
Full Results
250 Results
  1. Jo Shimoda
  2. Hunter Lawrence
  3. Stilez Robertson
Full Results
Upcoming
Motocross
Southwick
Sat Jul 9
Articles
Upcoming
Motocross
Spring Creek
Sat Jul 16
Articles
Upcoming
MXGP of
Czech Republic
Sun Jul 17
Articles
Full Schedule

Privateer Profile: Jeff Gibson

November 20, 2008 4:59pm
  • Home
  • Racing
  • Interviews
  • Privateer Profile
  • Privateer Profile: Jeff Gibson

SHOEI combines state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and the most advanced materials known with over 50 years of experience to deliver the finest handcrafted motorcycle helmets available. Recognizing that the privateer is the heart and soul of motocross, SHOEI is proud to present to you the Privateer Profile.

Advertisement | Advertise with Us

For last weekend’s Sponsorhouse.com Privateer Profile, we talked to Jake Saylor, who took the SX2-class win at the Zurich Supercross in Switzerland. This week, we got in touch with Ohio’s Jeff Gibson, who used consistency to take the “King of Stuttgart” honors this past weekend in Germany. What’s next for Gibson: A full-on assault to become the first Ohio rider to win the AMA Arenacross championship. Read on for more...

Racer X: Is this the King of Stuttgart?
Jeff Gibson: Yeah, I guess so!

  • Jeff Gibson (right) was named King of the Stuttgart Supercross
  • Jeff at the Zurich Supercross
  • At Stuttgart
What goes along with that distinction?
Well, just a little extra purse money, that’s about it.

Good job. It looks like consistency paid off for you over there.
Yeah, I know. Like, the first weekend in Zurich, I didn’t even make a main! The way the qualifying system is over there, it’s way different than ours. You have a heat race, and you qualify out of that to get into the half finals. And then you have to qualify out of the half final to get into the main. Well, in Zurich, I won both my heat races, but when I got to the half final I’d either crash or get taken out or crash in the first corner and just had bad luck.

Is there an LCQ after the half final?
There is, but same deal – I’d either get taken out or crash or something. I mean, I was riding good in Zurich. Really good. I thought I was riding better there than Stuttgart. I just got into the mains at Stuttgart, had some good finishes and I was the only guy on the podium for both nights, so that paid off.

Who got second and third overall in Stuttgart?
Overall, I think second was Matt Boni and third was Saylor. They won both of the mains, but the first night Boni didn’t qualify for the main, and the second night Saylor didn’t qualify. There was a ton of Americans over there and the Euros were going real fast, too. Everything was just really intense and everyone was going the same speed. In practice, I had like the 20th-fastest lap time and I was only a second off of the leader’s pace!

How was the track?
It was all right. It was just a big arenacross track. It was pretty good. At Stuttgart, the dirt was real tacky and soft. Zurich was like riding in a rock quarry almost, so it was a little different.

Did you just stay over there all week between Zurich and Stuttgart?
Yeah. Zurich is in Switzerland and it’s right on the border of Germany. I think it’s maybe a two-hour drive between the races. I just stayed over with the Pfeil Kawasaki team. That’s who brought me over and took care of me all week. Brad Ripple also rode for them, so we hung out all week.

How does a deal like that come together?
Um, just talking with people. I got a phone number through Derek Sorenson with one of the Pfeil guys, and I got in touch with them and everything just came together. Right after the season was done, I let them know I was interested in coming over and doing a couple races. They were interested but weren’t quite sure about me because they knew I had Epstein-Barr and they weren’t sure if I was over that. I told them I was good to go, and it all came together.

Winning in Stuttgart must be a big help for future deals.
Well, right before I went over I signed a deal with Tuf Honda for Arenacross, so I’m pretty pumped about that.

Back up a second; you had Epstein-Barr? I don’t think I heard anything about that.
Yeah, it was weird, because I think it was bothering me all year, honestly. Finally, throughout the Canadian Nationals, my results were just getting worse and worse. I’d come home and I’d train and do motos, and on the weekends I’d just get worse. With like two weeks to go in the Canadian Nationals, I went and saw a doctor, and they told me I had Epstein-Barr. So I got another doctor to put me on this really crazy detox program, so I’m all good now.

  • After a bout with Epstein-Barr, Jeff Gibson is back on track and looking forward to a successful season racing AMA Arenacross.
  • Jeff finished 20th overall in the 2008 AMA Monster Energy Supercross series
You feel better?
Honestly, this past weekend I haven’t felt that good on a motorcycle in a long time. All year, I was dealing with arm pump and fatigue and everything, but the whole time in Europe I felt really good. It’s kind of a relief for me, because it’s like a turning point.

So, did you miss racing the AMA Nationals this past year?
Yeah, I always miss racing the U.S. Nationals.

You have any more overseas races on the schedule?
Nope, that’s it. I got my deal done with Dave Antolak and Tuf, so I’m looking forward to that.

Back on a Honda 250F...
Yep. I haven’t ridden a 250F since 2004 in supercross! I’m excited about it, for sure.

After arenacross, do you have anything lined up? Maybe some supercross?
I’d like to ride some supercross, for sure. I think Toronto is after the Arenacross series ends.

How about the Nationals?
Same thing. I don’t really have any deals for the summer, so hopefully arenacross goes good and I can put something together or do some local money races and make a summer out of it.

What’s the best you’ve ever finished overall in the Arenacross series?
Fifth overall, and that was in 2001.

Ohio has produced some very talented arenacross racers, but I don’t think an Ohio native has ever won the championship.
Yeah, I know Jeromy Buehl finished second a bunch. It’d be nice if I could change that this year!

Who you want to thank?
It was a rough year this year, and I didn’t do what I expected of myself, or what my team expected of me. I’m just really looking forward to working with Dave Antolak and Tuf Honda, so hopefully things turn around this year.

  • Racer X Films: Kevin Windham Racer X Films: Kevin Windham 10:20am
Presented by:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Website
Read Now
August 2022 Issue Now Available
Get Racer X on your iPhone
Check out all the exclusive content this month on any device!
Read Now
The August 2022 Digital Issue Availalbe Now

Motocross & Supercross News - Racer X

122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 | Contact Us
©1999 - 2022 Filter Publications LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
designed at: Website DesignImpulse Studios