Friday Sight Lap: Joel Hetrick

In a mere two weeks the 2011 ATV Motocross National Championship presented by DWT will kick off at a brand new venue at Aonia Pass in Washington Georgia.  Amateur racers to the pro racers feel the excitement in the air and everyone is anxious with all the new of 2011.  An earlier starting date, a new facility, a new race format, new pro riders and a new look on racing in general. This week Friday Sight Lap talks to another rookie AMA Pro ATV racer and "The One" that many have said is destined to be one of the best, meet Rookie Joel Hetrick.

ATVMotocross.com: Good Morning Joel, how are things going?

Joel Hetrick: Things are going good. I just got back from the gym and I am getting ready to go look at the track and see if it is ride able.  It rained yesterday and I am going to try and get some riding in and run a couple of motos.

That sounds like a good way to spend a Friday.  Where are you training this year?

I am in Texas at the Rage ATV track.  Dee lets me come down and train in the winters at his track.  It's a really nice facility and track.  It' a really good place to train.

It's getting a little cold right now but the weather has been great.   It's been in the 60s and the rain has for the most part stayed away from us.  I have been able to run two motos a day at least twice a week since I have been down here.  As long as I can keep doing that I should be good.

I know that you have always performed at the top level as an amateur working your way through the ranks to the pro class.  There seems to be a lot of people expecting a lot from you.  Have you felt any pressure?

Not so much right now but I am sure it will all come to me.  I probably get really nervous at the first round.  Everyone wants me to do well and I want to do well and show myself to them.  I am just going out there and do the best that I can.

Do you feel that because of whom you are that there may be people expecting a little more out of you than other rookies this year?

(Short Pause) Yeah...yeah I do a little bit.  I'm going to give them what they want and try going out there and getting a top 3 or top 5.  Hopefully get podiums.  Podiums are what I want and hopefully I can get that done.

Have you been talking to any of the Pros?  Has anyone given you any advice or mentored you in any way?

Oh yeah!  Chad Weinen recently helped me out with his new program.  It's a performance training program that really works.  It's a great workout and it has helped me out tremendously.  My cardio is just amazing now.  Nick Denoble is down here with me and that has helped having someone to train with and ride with.  It's better to have more people down here to train with.

Nick has been training the same as me doing Chad's program and he will be there at every race too looking for podiums.

Has your program changed much from last year?

Actually no, I am still on a Kawi' with most of the same sponsors as before. I am using the same components and everything.

I know I am excited to see that ATV racing returns in a huge way to Racer TV on Versus network and I ask everyone I talk to about what they think, so what do you feel about it?

I think that is great.  That is what we need to give a chance to get other sponsors.  It should help out a lot we need the exposure and we need other bigger sponsors to get in the sport.  The TV package should help out tremendously. That's what we have wanted forever and hopefully it is good for everyone.

How do you feel with things the way they are with the top two guys stepping out for whatever reasons and the racing this season?

I wish they would have stayed.  I mean it would have been good from the TV stand point with everyone trying to beat the champions may have been more interesting for the fans but it should all still work out.   It should be good racing and everyone should be interested in it.  Hopefully we get a couple bigger sponsors and help the industry grow.

What are your plans between now and round 1 in two weeks?

I am just going to keep doing my same program and ride as much as I can.  Practice some hole shots and tune my race bike and try to get everything ready.

What's your goal for the first race?

I don't want to have too much confidence or too high of expectations but I really would like a top 5.

What is the best piece of advice you have gotten since you have made the step up into the pro class?

I haven't really gotten too much advice.  Everyone tells me though make sure you don't get tired and don't be nervous.

Thanks for your time today Joel and good luck this season!

Thanks for calling and I do really want to say thanks to all my sponsor and those that support me like: MAKSON CONSTRUCTION / HETRICK RACING / JB RACING / MOTO WORKS / DWT / PRECISION STABILIZERS / WASLH RACECRAFT / RATH RACING / OURY GRIPS / PRO GRAPHIX / MAXIMUM RPM / FLY RACING / EASTON / ELKA SUSPENSION / MAXXIS TIRES / LONESTAR / TIGER RACING / POWERMADD / FUEL CUSTOMS / DP BRAKE PADS / RAGE ATV / CP PISTONS / OUTERWEARS / REBEL GEARS / HINSON / INTENSE FAB / KALGARD OILS / QUAD TECH / LUKE NIXON RACING / PAFFORD EMS and everyone that helped along the way.