INSPIRATIONS: GARY JONES
THE PEOPLE AND THINGS THAT INSPIRED THE FOUR-TIME 250 NATIONAL CHAMPION
MY DAD
“My dad was a professional motorcycle racer in his day. He rode for the factory Harley Davidson team in all kinds of races...before there was motocross. I wanted to race ever since I was a little kid, so he helped my brother Dewayne and me get into it.”
JODY WEISEL
“This might
sound strange, but when I was down-and-out with a broken leg, had lost
my factory ride, was struggling to make a comeback and was totally ignored by
everyone else in the sport, Jody was the only guy who would help me. He gave
me bikes to race, asked for my advice on machinery and treated me well. I’ve probably been
an MXA test rider longer than anyone but Jody!”
CHUCK MINERT & JOHN RICE
“When I was a young up-and-coming rider, I lived to beat two riders. I wanted to beat Chuck “Feets” Minert and John Rice when I was a kid. Those were the top guys in TT and scrambles. When I turned Expert and got to race against them, they pushed me around and showed me the ropes.” [laughter].
MY BROTHER
“I’ve had all kinds of teammates, from Marty Smith to Jimmy Weinert to Jimmy Ellis to Marty Tripes to Gaylon Mosier, but my best teammate was my brother DeWayne. We rode together every day and pushed each other. Every teammate inspired me to push harder so that I would be better than they were.”
COUNTRY MUSIC
“I listen to country music. I like it most of all because nobody else that I know likes it! Racing and music are both mental. You have to find a groove and get into it. You don’t go faster by being like everyone else or listening to what everyone else listens to.”
TORSTEN HALLMAN
“Torsten Hallman was the first motocross guy that I really looked up to. He was the first true-to-life European racer I ever saw ride. Then when Roger DeCoster and Joel Robert came onto the U.S. scene and kicked my tail, I was inspired to be as good as they were.”
I INSPIRE
“I want to inspire young kids. I try to help kids as much as possible. I get a lot of practice dealing with kids by working with my own two sons, Greg and Justin. Nothing makes me feel better than seeing kids having fun on bikes.”
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