Of course, with the Supercross season just wrapping up, there are lots of moves in the moto industry, and one of them is with Eric Sorby, who'd spent the Supercross season with Team Tamer/Hooters/Moto XXX, where he'd finished the season in 15th overall in the big-bore class. Sorballs just landed a new gig with the JGR MX squad, and was happy to check in with us...
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Hey bud, I am a JGR employee now.
Nice! Does that mean you get a time card?
Not really, but that means I work for them full-time now.
How'd you get hooked up with that deal?
Well, I came here to stay with Hansen, and since then I was training and riding with those guys all the time, and they were looking for a test rider. That's something I am good at and something I like to do, plus I get along pretty good with everyone in the team. J-Bone, Coy, and David Evans are really good friends. That's why I got the job.
I will start my first day testing tomorrow. I do like testing, it will keep me riding and in really good condition because I will ride full factory bikes all the time. That's something I haven't had since I left PC.
Have you had a chance to ride their bikes yet, and if so, how are they?
I've ridden the bike twice already and it's really good.
We hear you have some Bobcat skills, too.
Yeah, I will take are of the MX and Supercross tracks, and I will help everyone do whatever they need during the week and on some weekend at the race too, especially the riders. I know I can help those guy a lot. I learned a lot when I was in Florida with Bubba, and I am a rider so I know what to do to make stuff better and harder when we need to.
Hey, how is their outdoor track?
You know what? Those guys they have everything you need to win a championship. Between the team, the trainer, the gym, and SX, and the MX track, it's really good. Of course, I work on it all the time.
So do we see you at the nationals this summer?
I will be at few but not for riding. Like I say, I am here to help the team as test rider and taking care of the track, I will be on the side of the track and get Summey and Double G motivated!
So how about racing in the future? Is that still in your plans? Supermoto? Supercross? What's next for you?
Supermoto, it was just for fun last year, that's it. Supercross, yeah, I would love to race of course because I think I had a pretty good year, and being here with JGR all summer I will train and get in shape for '09. If I find a good deal I will race next year, and if I don't and if they are happy about what I am doing, I would like to do that full-time and maybe do few races during the year. But not a full series...who knows? But I will see step-by-step for now. But I am super-super happy to work for JGR Racing. Those guys and this team are the best for sure.
Have they turned you into a NASCAR fan?
Man, now I am big fan of NASCAR. They call me Tony Stewart because we look alike. I don’t know if it's good or not, but I take it. I am always with all those guys everyday at the NASCAR shop, with Tony's crew or Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin. I actually see Denny a lot because we all go to the same restaurant every week, called Red Rocks. Now they're getting to be fans about motocross. They're cool people in North Carolina for sure!
In the restaurant all the menu items are named after NASCAR people. I hope soon they're gonna have Sorballs Penne Pasta. (Laughs)
Hmm...I'm not sure that sounds too appetizing.
(Laughs) Okay, Sorby Penne Pasta then.
That'll probably be a much better seller. Thanks, and good luck with the new gig.
Thanks!
