The Racer X Podcast Network

Justin Bogle deals with the same ups and downs as others—but it's the way he expresses himself that sticks out. Bogle is articulate and thoughtful to a degree beyond many of his peers, and perhaps that's why he works on a budding rap music career way off to the side and forges deep relationships with those who have been down in the same racing trenches. In this episode of the Racer X Exhaust Podcast, Jason Weigandt goes to lunch with Bogle and his best friend, Brad Frace—once a top amateur prospect himself before a crash left him paralyzed—to talk about life, racing, music, and how it all blends together. As Justin Bogle would say himself, it's a beautiful thing. The Racer X Exhaust Podcast is sponsored by Yoshimura.

There was a time when Cole Seely didn't want to race anymore—and we're not talking about his February crash, which resulted in a broken pelvis and sacrum and a damaged abdominal wall. He did consider calling it a career for a moment then, but he's since regained his mobility and overcome pain and fear. Now he's planning to be 100 percent ready come Anaheim 1 2019. Before that, though, he actually did quit the sport once, back in his amateur years. He returned as a relatively unknown prospect, then surprised even himself by getting a fill-in ride, taking it all the way to a podium, and beginning the journey toward a career as a 450 factory rider. This is Cole Seely's story—and gladly, it's one that's not over yet. The Racer X Exhaust Podcast is sponsored by the good folks over at Yoshimura.

Post-race interviews from the Thunder Valley National: 250 Class Alex Martin, Jeremy Martin, Justin Cooper 450 Class (12:09) Eli Tomac, Ken Roczen, Blake Baggett

Christian Craig has lived a life well beyond his years: the son of a top pro, his amateur recruit didn't quite work out, so left the sport to get a real job, only to return stronger than before. He's also a dad who brings his wife and son to most of the races, and there's a reason for that: Christian has battled through the mental game of racing and says his son helps keep his mind off of the pressure and danger of racing motorcycles for a living. Before his unfortunate exit from the series due to a torn ACL, he opened up in a very revealing episode of the Racer X Exhaust podcast, presented by Yoshimura.

Hear from the 450 podium at round two of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross.

Hear from the 250 podium at round two of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross.

The 450 podium from Hangtown.

The 250 podium from Hangtown.

The 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship kicks off Saturday at Hangtown. On Thursday, Eli Tomac, Marvin Musquin, Jason Anderson, Weston Peick, Justin Barcia, and Ken Roczen from 450s and Zach Osborne, Jeremy Martin, Aaron Plessinger, Alex Martin, Justin Hill and Joey Savatgy from 250s spoke to the media.

On the eve of the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, MX Sports Pro Racing President (and Racer X editor-in-chief) Davey Coombs explains how the AMA National Motocross Championship actually started. It's not what you'd think. When the series started in 1972, several other big series and races were already rooted into America. Because of this, many of the top names didn't even compete in the Nationals except when the events were combined with others, including some big-money races promoted by Evel Knievel! The same year, the Japanese brands began making their push to the top of the sport, what we know now as supercross kicked off with the 1972 Superbowl of Motocross in Los Angeles, and one visiting European saw his title chances dashed when his van (and works bikes) were stolen. Enjoy this lighthearted trip to the past, including some laughs over the race reports and win ads of the day. The Nationals started with humble roots—learn all about it here before the 50th Hangtown Classic kicks off another season on Saturday. The Racer X Exhaust podcast is presented by Yoshimura.

Arenacross riders are animals. They ride hard, they bang bars, they take each other out, then they smile, shake hands and move on. As an amateur, Jacob Hayes was a top Kawasaki Team Green prospect but didn't get the big factory ride he hoped for when he turned pro, so he took a chance on arenacross and found a home. He fits right in because he's a little wild, a little crazy, and really fun to hang out with and talk to. But he's always had the dream of racing supercross, and now he will have to make it a reality, because Feld Motor Sports announced that Amsoil Arenacross is no more. Can Jacob prove himself at the top level? He thinks so, as he explains here. We also talk poking The Bear (Tyler Bowers), taking girls on dates in a windowless moto van, and why arenacross rides don't even flinch at the type of riding that gets supercross riders super angry. Jacob Hayes is one heck of a personality, and he could be coming to a supercross near you. The Racer X Exhaust Podcast is sponsored by Yoshimura.

The 250SX and 450SX podium finishers—and the 2018 Monster Energy Supercross Champions—discuss their night in Las Vegas.

Jason Weigandt is joined by Davey Coombs and Roy Janson for a history lesson on how both the FIM and AMA ended up co-sanctioning the supercross championship. In 2001, the AMA announced it would split with the existing supercross promoters, thus setting off a business battle that ended up in the courtroom—and also led the existing promoters to a masterstroke move of turning supercross into an FIM World Championship. Janson was a vice-president at Clear Channel Entertainment, the supercross promoters at the time, and Coombs was an AMA board member as well as the pit reporter for the SX TV broadcasts (and of course the founder and editor-in-chief of Racer X Illustrated). They provide key insider stories and analysis of the moves that led supercross to the AMA and FIM sanction that it still uses today. They also shed light on WADA drug testing in supercross and USADA drug testing in pro motocross, in light of the recent suspension of Broc Tickle. The Racer X Exhaust Podcast is sponsored by Yoshimura.

Bobby Hewitt is the only professional team manager Jason Anderson has ever known. Hewitt started a racing team to support his son Hunter, once an up-and-coming amateur prospect. It became a top amateur outfit, then a professional team, and then went through the ringer by gaining and losing factory support. Hunter eventually moved on from racing, yet the team continued to grow, slaying giants in both classes until Husqvarna factory support strengthened its core. If Anderson is able to clinch the Monster Energy Supercross Championship, it will complete arguably the most remarkable evolution of a team in this sport's history. And it was all spearheaded by Hewitt, a smart, straight-shooting Texas businessman who just wants the best for his kids—his own children, as well as the rest of the riders on the team, whom he's come to love. The Racer X Exhaust Podcast is sponsored by Yoshimura.

Marvin Musquin and Eli Tomac argue about the big one on Saturday.

250 podium men Zach Osborne, Jordon Smith, and Kyle Peters discuss their nights in Massachusetts.

When Jon-Erik Burleson announced he would step down as the head of KTM North America at the end of 2016, it was a shocker in the industry, as the brand was in the midst of meteoric growth, and JEB (pronounced "Jeb"), as he is known, certainly had reason to enjoy life near the top of that chain. As you'll learn in this week's Racer X Exhaust Podcast, though, Jon-Erik is someone who wants to be comfortable being uncomfortable and wants the challenge of being unsettled. Post-KTM, he's settled into philanthropic roles in the industry, including the United States Motorcycle Coaching Association and the Kurt Caselli Foundation. Why does he identify better coaching as a way to grow this industry? Why did he leave KTM at the top? What other plans does he have for business? What were the challenges involved with running KTM's North American business? JEB, one of the sharpest and most articulate businessmen in this industry, explains plenty in this interview with Jason Weigandt. The Racer X Exhaust Podcast is sponsored by Yoshimura.

Jason Weigandt dials up Ryan Dungey and gets a solid hour of candid conversation with the four-time Monster Energy Supercross Champion. Dungey reveals much, explaining his struggles with the mental side—including hiring a sports psychologist—to Eli Tomac's charge last season, the 2017 Vegas finale, and the burnout that he feels led to his injury in 2016, and consequently considering retirement. He even explains how he and Ken Roczen, rivals at the time, ended up living across the street from each other! He also addresses the rumors that have him returning for Lucas Oil Pro Motocross this summer. He's moved back to Minnesota and is figuring out what's next for his life post-racing, but for now, there are still many racing stories to tell. The Racer X Exhaust Podcast is sponsored by Yoshimura.

Jason Weigandt rings up seven-time AMA National Champion Rick Johnson to talk about the legendary 1990 Atlanta Supercross, where the crowd and his own will pushed him back toward the front—even while his ailing right wrist was telling him not to. It's a look into the spirit of a championship-level athlete who was not willing to let go of his time at the top. The Racer X Exhaust Podcast is presented by Yoshimura.

Jason Weigandt gets a tour of Aldon Baker's Florida facility and also goes in depth to explain what he's learned watching Aldon and his athletes operate through the years. Aldon's record is amazing: he's trained 13 supercross champions during his 17 years in the sport. Yet he still believes he's only as good as his last race, and he operates as if he's still trying to prove himself, not one of the most accomplished trainers in the sport's history. Perhaps it's that power—the power of paranoia—that allows him to stay motivated and transfer that effort into his athletes. Enjoy this conversation with Jason and Aldon, episode 4 of the Racer X Exhaust Podcast, brought to you by Yoshimura.

During a week spent stalking the top riders in Florida, Jason Weigandt hooked up with Ken Roczen and trainer Blake Savage for afternoon run near Ken's house in Clermont, Florida. Once Weege realized he wasn't going to have a heart attack, he turned on the recorder to ask Ken about his recovery and his philosophies on training, then spoke with Savage to learn more about his background. Savage carries out a fitness program prescribed by trainer Peter Park, and using his own experience as a racer and his personal connections with Roczen (his sister is Kenny's fiancée), he's become quite a secret weapon to several top riders, including Adam Cianciarulo, Cole Seely, Christian Craig, and Chase Sexton. Episode 3 of the Racer X Exhaust podcast gets you right in the middle of a training day to get a feel for how it all goes down. The Racer X Exhaust Podcast is sponsored by Yoshimura.

Straight from the infield at Daytona International Speedway, Jason Weigandt is joined by Davey Coombs to discuss the roots of the Daytona Supercross, which started before supercross actually even existed. From three-minute laps and riding over the pit walls to the invention of the term supercross to Ricky Ryan's 1987 shocker, Weege and DC discuss everything about the longest-running race on the SX calendar. The Racer X Exhaust podcast is presented by Yoshimura.

Jason Weigandt introduces you to the newest Racer X podcast.