Strong rookie Jon Ames has to look for a new team!
Many will think of the name “Jon Ames”, Jon Who?! But you may have already seen Jon Ames in action during the Junior World Championship in Lierneux. There the young man played for Team America. The Arizona man's career then continued to evolve with strong amateur results and two Loretta Lynn titles.
This year's Anaheim was the time for his professional debut. A professional debut in which the main event was immediately reached. Making it to the main event suddenly became a habit. Something that caught the attention of the Barn Pro's Racing team when they were looking for a replacement for the injured Chris Alldredge. Reason enough to ask this young man a few questions.
MxM: Jon how did your rookie season go?
Jon: It went fine. I'm extremely happy that, with one exception, I was able to make it to every main event. With an outlier of 11th place.
You started the season as a private pilot and did everything on your own. How much easier it was during this visit to the Barns Pro Racing team.
It was much easier. Now I only had to fly to the races and I could concentrate on the driving itself. The bikes were brought by the team, something that was done by myself and my brother Jake.
With the US Amateur team system, there seem to be a lot of high-quality youth pilots ready for very few places in the professional ranks. How do you deal with that?
The competition for a seat on a team is fierce. But if you have a goal and you continue to work hard for it and you can produce results, then that opportunity will come. Then you will be picked up by some team.
What are your goals this season?
The Barns Pro team only rides supercross (we now know that Jon's substitute role has ended today). That is why we are considering participating in the nearest 450 outdoors as a private pilot. Of course, something can always fall out of the sky. For example, I wouldn't immediately say no to competing in the EMX250 or MX2 World Championship. Even MXGP would be a possibility just as of course the AMA 250 and AMA 450 are too.
On the Barns Pro team you worked with the legendary Ricky Johnson, what was that experience like?
The collaboration was great. He operates as the team's trainer and helps a lot with things like setting up the motorcycle. I also work with my personal trainer Nick Wey.
Would you like to add anything else?
Yes, I would like to thank everyone on the team for the opportunity. I also cannot thank my brother Jake, who is my regular mechanic, enough for everything he does for me. He and my parents are my rock.
Interview: Aertgeerts Kevin
Text: Matthias Van Eeckhoven
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