VOL. 51 ISSUE 33 AUGUST 19, 2014 P23
JEREMY MARTIN:
THE NEW 250 MX
CHAMP
J
eremy Martin just might go down in history as
one of the most unexpected champions in AMA
motocross history. The 21-year-old younger brother
of racer Alex Martin and the son of Spring Creek
(Minnesota) track owners John and Greta Martin,
Jeremy's been surrounded by racing his whole life.
Martin amassed numerous titles and awards dur-
ing his amateur career, including championship-
winning results and accolades at the prestigious
Mini O's, Ponca City and Loretta Lynn's. In 2012, he
signed with Star Valli Yamaha and made the jump
to the pros.
Last year Martin scored podium finishes at Red
Bud and Unadilla, but there was nothing to indicate
he would experience the breakout season he's had
in 2014.
En route to this year's 250 Motocross title Martin
has scored a class leading four 250cc National vic-
tories. He clinched the title after finishing second in
the first 250 moto. He was so relaxed he had time
to joke about his sub-par second moto.
"I was struggling there for a little while," Martin
said of moto two. "My brother passed me and was
blowing my doors off, pulling away from me. And
I was like, 'you know what? I am not going to let
my brother beat me.' So it was a good brother ri-
valry right there. Unfortunately I went down and I
couldn't get the bike started. My foot kept slipping
off because it was so muddy. And then I had to pull
in the mechanics area to get new goggles. After that
I felt like a new man. I almost got lapped, but kept
in front of them so I didn't look like quite as big of a
spode."
In spite of very few people pegging Martin as the pre-
season favorite, he says he had faith in his own abilities.
"I knew I could be in contention for the outdoors,"
Martin explained. "I knew that it was going to be a
fight. [Blake] Baggett was very strong. He wasn't
quite there at the first two rounds, but from then
on he was tough. My teammate Cooper Webb was
there, too. We battled and we were under the same
tent. We both want to win and I think it made us both
excel. I'm just happy to be able to win my first cham-
pionship. It was a really good day."
He goes to Utah next week with nothing but win-
ning on his mind. "I don't have to worry about points
anymore," Martin said. "I can just go out and have
fun and race for the overall."
Martin went on to say he plans on coming back
with Star Racing Yamaha again next year and plans
on trying to defend his 250 championship.
Larry Lawrence
Briefly...
Helping Oceana
Kawasaki announced
that they will donate a
Ninja 650 sportbike for
auction at the Oceana
SeaChange Summer
Party, attended by some
of the largest supporters
of Ocean Conservation in
Hollywood, including Ted
Danson, Sheryl Crow and
this year's special guest,
Leonardo DiCaprio. Pro-
ceeds from the auction
of the Ninja 650 will go
to Oceana's mission of
ocean conservation, a
shared goal by Kawasaki
who's global mission is
"working as one for the
good of the planet."
Flat Track Banquet
AMA Pro Racing has an-
nounced that the Pomo-
na Mining Company, in
Pomona, California, will
be the host venue for the
AMA Pro Flat Track 2014
Awards Celebration. Fol-
lowing the Flat Track Fi-
nals, set to take place on
October 11, at the L.A.
County Fairplex, the se-
ries will meet just a few
miles away in Pomona on
Sunday afternoon, Octo-
ber 12.
Jeremy Martin
seemingly
came out of
nowhere to win
the 2014 AMA
250 Motocross
Championship.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
HOPPENWORLD.COM
