Last summer was a breakout season of sorts for New England’s own Jason Brooks. In the 2015 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Brooks finished within the top twenty overall at several rounds and earned enough points for national number 81 this year.
As Brooks was gearing up to get his SX endorsement through AMSOIL Arenacross this season he ran into a major problem—his truck broke down. He had two options: he could either buy a new bike or buy another truck. Of course, one is a necessity for getting around everyday, while the other is just a privilege.
(He went with the truck in case you were wondering.)
Now Brooks, who is just 24-years-old, has enough support to make it to all of the nationals this summer as part of 3D Racing with team owner Bill Dill and teammate Justin Rando. We caught up with Brooks on Monday to see how preparations are coming for this weekend’s opener.
Racer X: What’s going on Jason?
Jason Brooks: Not much, man. I just got home from work a little while ago.
We talked a couple of months ago about how you work full-time and have your own business with your father. We’ll get into that later, but first let’s talk about the outdoors. You’re coming into the season very under the radar.
Yeah, not too many people know about me. I’ve been racing locally in the NESC every weekend. I’ve been traveling around. Up here they do 20-minute motos plus two laps every race. I’ve been doing the 250 and 450 classes, so I’ve been getting four motos in every time I race. It’s a great district to run. I just did my last one and I’ll be flying out to Hangtown on Wednesday. I’m with 3D Racing again and Bill Dill started driving two days ago. He’s taking my bikes out for me.
You had said that you were going to race the first few rounds of AMSOIL Arenacross to get your SX endorsement. Then you were going to race the races on the East Coast. What happened with that?
That was the plan, but unfortunately I had to buy a new truck. That was the money that I had to buy a new bike with. I just had to keep plugging away at work just so that I could get ready for the outdoors. I figured if I tried to do the original plan that it would have set me back even farther. It’s an every year struggle for me. I have to work during the winter months to race in the summer.
It’s one of those things where you’re excited and ready to go and then your truck goes out and that’s that. You can’t do anything without a vehicle.
I figured I could buy a new bike, but then how am I going to get around? How am I going to ride and train? My best bet was to buy a new truck and sit out the supercross season. If you can’t get to work, then you can’t make the money, and you can’t go to the races.
What kind of truck did you buy?
It’s a pre-owned 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. I bought it on leftover with 24,000 miles on it. I got a killer deal on it. Rather than buying one brand new for 50 grand I paid 30 for this one. It was a pretty good deal.
That is a good deal! You mentioned you’d be flying out to Hangtown. How many races do you get to fly to this summer?
I’m actually going to try to fly out to three or four of them. I got a little more help this year. My girlfriend’s grandfather owns a big company. They make airplane parts and things like that. It’s called Precision Aerospace and he’s helping me with some flights this year. I want to give him a big thanks for that. It’s going to make a huge difference to fly to a couple of rounds.
It seems like every year that privateers do the circuit that they get more support as they go.
Every year something else comes along and every year I’m learning more. Whether it’s with the support or riding. This year I also created my own sponsorship proposal. I just gave potential sponsors a breakdown of what this is going to cost me and anything they want to help with is greatly appreciated. I’ve sent it to a couple people and have had them step up.
Everything still isn’t covered of course and it mostly comes out of my pocket, but I’ve still got my proposal! I’m trying to get my name out there more. As the results come I’m hoping the help will follow.
It just seems like the New England area is very loyal to its riders.
As you can see we don’t have too many guys that have made it. We’ve got a lot of guys that are trying to make it. When the local small businesses see that we don’t have the funds they are willing to put their stuff on the line to help us out. It’s a great atmosphere around here. People are always trying to help out others up here.
You’ve got the legends up there still like Doug Henry, Keith Johnson, John Dowd, and company. Have you seen Dowd at the track lately?
Yeah, Dowdy came out to the first race and I’m pretty sure he got hit by a rock. He broke a knuckle in his hand, so he’s sidelined right now. His son Ryan has been racing. Keith Johnson has been out as well and he’s the new promoter of the Southwick National this year. I think it’s great. We have another local national back on the circuit.
Yeah, Southwick is back! How excited are you for that round this summer?
I’m so pumped for Southwick. We’ve got all the local fans here. I’ve been racing that track since I was on a 50. I think this year is the best it has ever been. Johnson is a great promoter and he’s going to put on a great race. Hopefully we can get as many spectators as we can. It’s one of the tracks that needs to stay on the circuit. As you can see we’ve lost Gillett Stadium in supercross for 2017, so if we can just keep Southwick that would be great.
It’s an advantage for us local guys. You go to the other tracks and it’s just ruts and when you go to Southwick the track forms completely different. You’ve got big berms and you’ve got to ride the edges a bit more rather than try to jump over bumps or skim through them.
"The biggest accomplishment is getting to travel and making the memories. Last year earning a two-digit number was an accomplishment in itself."
-Brooks
Last year was your breakout summer and you earned a national number for this season. What are your expectations this summer?
Last year I consistently scored points and this year I want to improve on that. I don’t want to set goals that are too high, but I just want to consistently score points. Everybody in the 450 class is healthy, other than a few riders, and those who went to Canada. The top twenty-five guys are on factory or factory supported bikes. When we get back to the East Coast I want to perform well and hopefully I’ll be in the top fifteen.
It’s got to make you feel good that you performed well last season on a stacked gate. It’s not like a bunch of factory riders were hurt last year. You’ve shown that you can run that pace and we’re maybe adding two or three new guys to the class.
Exactly, it’s going to be the same as last year. You never know what to expect at the first round. We’re just aiming for the top twenty right now. That’s the main goal.
You’re your own boss, right? You can afford to take off for the races and be okay?
It’s my father and I in the business. It’s Brook’s Carpentry and we’ve been killing it right now with that. I usually work Monday through Friday and that pays for my bills and bikes. It gets me to the races. I can take the time off that I need to go ride. It’s just my dad and I though, so if I’m not there it’s up to him. I can’t leave him hanging all of the time.
When your company is busy during the national season how does that work out?
Oh man, I know! We’re getting really busy with that right now too. I’m leaving to go do the California rounds until Colorado. I’m pretty much going to be gone a month. My dad has one other guy that is going to be helping him out when I’m gone. As soon as I get back and start racing on the East Coast I’ll still have to ride during the week, but I’ll have to work a couple days too. I can’t take the whole week off. I feel like it makes me a better all-around rider. It’s a busy schedule and it makes me want it that much more.
You’re a busy man.
I’d rather be a busy man than wait around for someone to help me. Whatever needs to be done on bike maintenance I’m getting it all finished myself. There is never any downtime.
You don’t have a mechanic then?
Oh, that’s a touchy subject right now. I’m not really sure how it’s going to work out right now. We’ve got two riders on the team and just the team owner Bill heading out with us. We don’t have any mechanics right now. I might be down on the gate for the first round by myself. I hope not because the AMA has a rule about no starting blocks, so I’ve got to build two dirt mounds because I’m a little shorter on the bike. If I’m down there by myself it is what it is. I’m out there doing it for myself anyway.
That’s what stinks about being in a business with your dad. He can’t come out and help!
Yeah, he can’t make it to these far races, but as soon as we make it to the East Coast he’ll be there to help out. I’m winging it for Hangtown.
Do you do anything else besides working and riding?
I stay pretty busy, but I’m 24 years old, which isn’t too old. Motocross is still here and it’s a hobby, but I still have to think about the real world as well. I want to set my career up in case my father passes away or something. I want to make sure I’m straight with that, so I’ve been really focused on business.
When you look back on your career in motocross what would you be happy to have accomplished?
To me I know that I’m not one of the front-runners. I wasn’t one of the best amateurs and I didn’t get the GEICO Honda ride. Looking back on it I want to just feel like I worked really hard at it and I did it all myself. I paid for it myself, trained myself, and got to the race myself and it’s that much more rewarding to yourself when you do well.
The biggest accomplishment is getting to travel and making the memories. Last year earning a two-digit number was an accomplishment in itself. A big accomplishment would be to land a satellite ride where someone was paying me to race. That’s my biggest goal right now. I want someone to pick me up and support me. If I have that I can actually do supercross. Right now with the cards that I’m dealt it’s a little tough.
It just seems like you’re very content with how everything is going. It’s not all about being on a factory team. You’re going to chase your dreams regardless.
I go to the local races and so many people ask me bike setup questions. I just think to myself like I just sent my suspension off and I don’t even touch it after that. It feels good to me so I run it. I just run with what I’ve got. I’m just happy with the way everything is going in life right now.
Thanks, Jason. Who would you like to thank for helping you out this week?
3D Racing, Motorsports Nation, Dunlop, FXR, Mika Metals, Decal Works, DT1 Filters, Sunstar, Rocket Exhaust, Galfer Brakes, Hot Cams, Hot Rods, Pivot Works, Vertex Pistons, VP Racing Fuels. Cycra, Novik Gloves, Rekluse, Enzo, Moto Tassinari, Cylinder Worls, Northeast Financial Group, Precision Aerospace, Finkledey Septic Services, Air Time Clothing, and Von Zipper.
