It's a new year and a new season is fast approaching with the entire AMA ATV Motocross community buzzing about what is, what if and what the questions that may soon be answered. One young AMA ATV Pro racer with questions of his own on his mind took a moment from building his new quad to let us know what has really been going on. Had the 2010 AMA ATV Motocross Pro Am Champ traded his four wheels for two? Chase Snapp tells it like it is.
ATVMotocross.com: How are things today?
Chase Snapp: Good. We just got the first Can Am together last night actually and I am about
Photo By: Chase Snapp
New Can Am, New Number, New Program, New Life!
So I guess this New Year brings a lot of new things with it for you?
Yeah there definitely is a lot of new. It's going to be a whole new program and we have pretty much started from scratch and we are just kind of learning as we go. We are just trying to get going on this first bike and see what we can make work.
Do you like what you are seeing so far with this machine?
It's definitely a great bike and it has come a long ways. We have a lot of people helping us out giving us information on what to do here and there. It's looking really good right now and I am just pumped to get on it.
No doubt! So what kind of a deal do you have with Can Am?
I am on the X-Team Support Program. I will be pitting out of my own rig but it is great support from Can Am for next year.
That has to be exciting for you being a rookie in the AMA ATV Motocross championship?
Yes it is. It is just great to have anything this year.
Photo By: Snapp Family
Oh Snapp! This boys got game!
Yeah I actually was considering moving on. We didn't have anything going for this year and we didn't feel it was really worth putting all the money into the program to do it another year on our own. So we were going to sit the year out and see what happens. I was just going to have fun for a year and ride dirt bikes and just stay racing in some way. Then we got the call from Jimmy O'Dell and he said that Can Am wanted to help us out. So we took the opportunity and it looks like it is going to be a good year.
Had you ever really ridden bikes much before or have you always been a quad guy?
I rode dirt bikes about two years ago and I got hurt. I broke my back in a race and once I got healed up I raced the quads the following season. As soon as that was over I got another bike and kind of rode for a couple of months and then I got hurt again on the dirt bike. That's when I lost my finger and I hung the bike up again and just began focusing on the AMA ATV Motocross series. Then this year after Dirt Days at Loretta Lynn's I started to get back into bikes for what reason I don't know. People think I am crazy but I like to do different things. It worked better for me this year; at least I didn't get hurt. (Snickers) I have parked the bike now and am focusing on the AMA ATV Pro Motocross championship till the end of the season.
I saw you racing in Florida at the Winter National Olympics, how was that?
It was definitely a lot of fun. That's what I went for was try to get a break, take a vacation and to just have fun. And that's exactly what I did. I had a decent week with one moto win and I crashed in others and had bike problems in some others but over all it was a good week. I don't know, I may go back another year and do it again.
You seem pretty relaxed. Do you feel any pressure heading into the new season as a rookie?
Yes, I definitely feel the pressure. I know it's going to be a lot tougher and a lot different but I am just trying to step my game up training twice as hard and trying to put twice as many laps in as I did last year and start out with a positive attitude.
What is your goal for your rookie season?
Photo By: ATVRiders.com
Chase almost let all end here. But thanks to great support Snapp is back!
My goal is to finish top 5 at the end of the season. I definitely want to get a few podiums and be up on the box as much as possible and try to stay consistent all year.
What are plans till Round 1at Aonia Pass in Washington Georgia coming up February 26th?
I plan on just riding every day. I have been working out pretty hard everyday and I am going to continue to do that. The weather is still pretty good here so I plan on just staying home and riding at my track here. I also have a couple of other tracks close to home I will be hitting and that's about it.
One last thing before I let you go. What about the new #48, you have always ridden #22, why the change?
That is still kind of a sore subject for me. The #22 has always been my number and I didn't really want to change it but Cody Miller has the #22 so I had to pick something different. I had in mind #122 because a long time ago that was my number but I wanted to stay with a two digit number so I just picked a number at random that sounded good and went with that. I am excited about it though because it's a new year and new program so why not a new number.
Thanks for taking some time out of building the new quad and good luck to you this season!
No problem! Thank you. I would also like to say thanks to Can Am and Motoworks and Jimmy O'Dell for believing in me. I have to say thanks to my mechanic Darin, I couldn't without him. I want to say thanks to all the new sponsors with the new program. And big thanks to my family for helping me get to where I am. I could not have done it without them. Plus I would like to say thanks to all my sponsors that have been helping along the way.
