GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle begins his 250SX title defense this weekend at the 2015 Monster Energy Supercross 250SX East Region opener in Arlington. Recently, Justin sat down with Bill Disney for a quick chat.

Racer X: Justin, you started last season coming back from a serious back injury. Are you healthy going into the start of the East Coast?
Justin Bogle: Well, I am as healthy as you can be in this sport. Every one has issues they are dealing with, so as long as I’m on the gate I am healthy.

Arlington will be the beginning of your title defense; does that big #1 on your bike cause you to feel any additional pressure?
As far as the pressure goes, I welcome that. I thrive on it. It makes me better. That #1 plate does not add any more pressure than I already put on my self every year. My goal is the same and I don’t work as hard as I do to not be up front. 

The East Coast is definitely a stacked class again this year. Who do you see as your toughest competitor?
Like you said, the class is stacked, but it is stacked every year. My goal is to follow the process laid out for me and not stress on the others. There are more than a handful of guys who are capable of being up front, so I will focus only on what I can control.

Your old riding buddy from Muskogee, Colt Nichols will be making his supercross debut in Arlington. What are your thoughts on that?
I am really pumped for him. Colt and I are really good friends, we grew up racing against each other, pushing each other to the next higher level, so I am curious to see how he does now that we are both professionals.