If you’ve been checking the Dirt blogs recently you’ll have seen a new face, James Stock. He’s going to be travelling round Europe pretty soon, doing a bit of racing, a bit of riding, a bit of hanging out, a bit of partying, all on a shoe string budget and documenting the subsequent adventures on his Dirt blog.
Anyway James told me about a mate of his called Jamie who is pretty handy on a bike and could be one to watch in 09. So I told him to ask some questions take some photos and send it my way.
Here’s the story:
I first met Jamie after the season had finished, he was riding at my local park in Stockport and ruled the place. He was the guy that was going higher, faster and bossing whips and flips off everything! After talking with Jamie he told me of how he was starting dh and wanted to do the qashqai and other mountain bike comps, personally after seeing him at the skate park and knowing he has some history in MX I can’t wait to see what happens in 2009. I asked him a few questions, here’s what he had to say…
Who is Jamie Johnson…Name, age, where you live?
I am Jamie Johnson and I am 20 and I come from Manchester, I love to ride my hard tail on park and dirt, I also ride downhill as much as I can.
What’s your history on 2 wheels, what level did you get to in MX?Well I started when I was 6 years old and stopped racing when I was 17, I was ranked in the top 5 in the nationals, then I had to give up racing because it was getting expensive that is the reason why I stopped “not good”, so I got my BMX and rode that for two years and won two comps at my local skate park (UK skate), but I always wanted to ride hard tail so me and my friends swapped bikes, he had a DMR transition I felt at home on the bike.
What can we expect to see from you in ’09, tricks, comps, races?
You can be expected to see me flipping, fairing, 3 whips I am also doing my foot plants, hand plants, super flips and I am working on flair whips. I am hoping to be entering the qashqai challenge but struggling to get the money together to ride but I reckon if I do get the money I will have a good chance against my competitors. I am also expecting to be racing my downhill bike as much as I can and will be racing the NPS; I reckon I will be in the top five.
What goes through your mind when you’re trying a big line or trick for the first time?
I think every line or trick I choose to do can be done and will be done.
Most inspirational rider/person?
The most inspirational person I have seen is Andrew Lacondeguy and mango
Not many people know I am addicted to Jammy dodgers
Exclusive Interview: Jamie Johnson
