Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128387
Ever wonder how the top riders at the
National motocrosses always look so good,
week after week, mato after moto! It's
because of guys like jackson Esselman, of
Fly Racing, whose job it is to makes sure all
of his Fly-sponsored riders always have the
cleanest and the newest gear out there. We
recently hooked up with Esselman and
talked with him about what it's like keeping
his guys looking good every week.
co: So, what are your
responsibilities at Ay Racing?
~ : My job duties consist of
taking care of the riders on a weekly basis.
Basically, going to the races making sure
that all the riders have all the gear that they
need. Also, I handle all of the media relations and make sure all of the press has all
of the information that they need regarding
Fly Racing, our new products and changes
in our products.
cn: What's a typical day at the
Nationals like for you?
jacksonesselman: Basically, at the race, I
will hand out gear on Saturday's practice.
Before practice Iwill talk to all of the riders,
go around and make sure that: (a) they are
happy with their gear during the week; (b)
making sure if they need anything and
whatnot - just making sure that they have
everything that they need. Also, I make
sure that they are wearing all of the proper
gear, because each team has set color gear,
and sometimes they [the riders] like to
wear different color gear. But if it's like
team mandated that they have to wear a
certain color, I have to make sure that they
are following the inspections on that.
Basically, I go around and make sure that
everyone is happy with what they got and
make the rounds, talking with team managers to make sure they are happy with the
contracts that we have. That pretty much
sums up my weekend.
co: Are you involved with the
designing of the gear?
jacksonesselman: Well, I don't design the
cloths. We do have a designer, his name is
Jerry Lathrop, he's from Troy Lee Designs he spent 17 years there. But I do have an
influence on things that I see based off of
the races. Like, hey, this part wears faster,
we need to use a different material here. I
i'~I!!'!~.!!!~II~'zines,
cn: What are your job duties at
Fox Racing?
warrenjohnson: I am the motocross
media relations manager. That encompasses everything to deal with the media,
from providing products to the maga-
co: How much gear does a toplevel racer like Andrew Short
receive?
jacksonesselman: At the beginning of the
season, we stock them all up - quantities
differ per rider. lYPicaJly, Andrew Short will
receive, per weekend, four pairs of pants
and either four to six jerseys, depending on
the weekend.
cn: What happens to the gear
after the race?
jacksonesselman: I encourage them to
wash the gear and use it for practice - or
use it for practice at home, or the following
week's practice, or use it for a lot of promotional merchandise or whatnot. It's
incredible how many people ask for this
and that. There are different auctions, or
there are all sorts of different programs
going on. So, definitely. Iencourage them to
use it for that as well.
cn: Do any of the riders have any
spedal needs for the gear?
jacksonesseIman: Oh yeah, for sure. It
depends. Some of the riders are pickier
than the others. You go from Ryan Clark
who will run anything and everything, to
Danny Smith, Kelly Smith, Brock Sellards [Bret] Metcalfe isn't as picky - but those guys
are super picky about their gloo;es and whatnot. So, you really have to be on top of what
they want as far as their gloves and such.
8rend