Catching up with Blake Wharton

By Shane Doyle

It’s been a while since we’ve really seen you on a race track. What have you been up to?


Blake Wharton: Oh, just been trying to keep busy. I’ve been doing some online schooling and, you know, working out and doing some supermoto just to keep on a bike and to be something different as well. You know, it’s not just the same, but trying to learn something else while I have the time. It is kind of the off season for me right now because of my injury and then because of not being outdoors. I have been trying to do that and staying busy and learning some things while I’ve got the time.


Talk a little bit about the supercross season and how it went for you and about your injury.


The supercross season was going pretty well. I got a bit of a late start before supercross last year, so I felt like the more the season as it went the closer I would get to where I was wanting to be, so things were looking up. But, at Indy I had a crash, and I tore my meniscus, and I didn’t really know it. Then I went to Daytona, had a pretty good weekend, and so I’m trying to keep things going up, but that week after Daytona, I was practicing and tore it again. Not tore it again, but tore it worse. So before, it was a half tear, then there it goes. So I tore my meniscus and pretty much from there I knew my knee was pretty jacked, pretty messed up, so I had to get that repaired. I don’t know how long ago it’s been, but I started my rehab, fixing it, getting it stronger, getting it back to where it needs to be. But yeah, so supercross was up and down. Definitely not where I wanted it. Of course, no one wants to get hurt. That’s no good. But, it is what it is.




So what got you into the whole supermoto thing? I know your Geico contract was obviously just for supercross and you had a rough outdoor season last year as well, so what were your plans really after supercross?


I’ve always wanted to ride supermoto, but I’ve never had much time. You know, with the motocross and supercross season it keeps you busy and then when the off season comes around, you’ve got to do other things, too. But I’ve always thought it would be fun to ride and I’ve known some guys who’ve actually raced it and used to compete doing it and know a little more about the sport, so I’m like, yeah, I want to get involved. I want to try it out. I felt like it would be good cross training and get to meet some people who do it and learn something new. We’ve all logged so many hours on riding motocross and supercross, it kind of changes a little versus like starting over again, like whoa. It’s not starting over again, but it is kind of new stuff, so there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with learning. And I do enjoy it. I’ve raced a few races and I practice when I can. I’ve got another racing this coming month, next month, so I’m looking forward to that. You know, just keep busy and doing what I’ve been doing.


Do you plan on coming back to supercross?


Yeah, that’s the plan—to be back at supercross next year. I definitely didn’t have the year I wanted this year, so I want to come back. There is definitely a little extra motivation when you don’t get to finish a season and show people what you were capable of or where you should have been.


Is there anything in the talks right now with any teams? I know it’s a little early.


Yes, it’s early, but you know, it is and it isn’t. I guess it just depends. Each year it seems like there’s a different flow for that kind of thing. I’ve seen it be really early some years and later some years. There are some talks going on. I’m talking with people and some of that, but nothing really concrete on paper just yet. So it’s all up in the air still.


How is the supermoto scene different from the pro motocross or supercross series? Is there a big difference?


Well, it’s definitely making a big comeback. A few years ago, it was a really, really strong series and was doing well. And then it kind of took a bit of a dive for whatever reason. The racers were still there, the fans and the sport were still there. They’re still there, still riding, but when the events go away, it’s like what the heck do we do? So there are a lot of good people now that are basically building it back up and pouring a lot of time into it to do it. So it’s on the way back. It’s on the rebound. But, racing’s racing, right? There’s a track, there’s a bike, and there’s competition. It does vary from sport to sport, I think, and from country to country and from state to state, with tradition, and all that. Some people are a little more friendly in some sports than others and some it’s just cutthroat, you know what I mean? There’s that vibe, so with racing motocross and supercross, it’s pretty intense and has been for a long time. The amateur races, when I was younger, they got pretty intense where when a sport is young still, you get along with everyone a little more, like a family, you know what I mean? So it has its differences, but I think it’s been good for me to see.


Is that the whole scene out in southern California as well or is it kind of everywhere?


It’s a little bit of everywhere. There is some racing on the west coast, but there is also some racing on the east coast. I actually raced in Canada, Montreal, just recently. So it is spread out. It’s kind one of those things where you think of it being on the west, but there’s a lot of guys that race it on the east. There’s supermoto east coast series. There’s a series on the east coast, and I’m going to do another round this next month in Delaware. So, it’s everywhere. But, people have got to go where the industry is or where the races are at. For supercross and moto, we know it’s in California. There’s a lot of guys that race everywhere—in Texas or Florida, but the industry’s there.


Are you living in Texas now?


I’m a little all over the place, but I am in Texas predominantly right now. This is where my family lives, so I spend most of my time here when I’m not in California. I spend a good part of the year in California as you know where everyone else is.


When you go back to supercross, are you going to aim for a 450 ride or a 250 ride?


Options are still open right now. It depends. I’d like to race the lites class because I feel I have more to prove in that class. Still, because I haven’t, you want to go for that championship. Again, 450s are different and sometimes it’s good to have a kind of fresh start. I’ve always enjoyed riding a 450, but I know it takes a lot for both, but you’ve got to be ready, basically. So I don’t think it matters sometimes what you’re doing so long as you’re ready and you’ve been preparing for it for a long time. That helps.