J Mart return to racing on Kawasaki

3/18/2025 9:27pm
Bow977 wrote:

One last ride for J-Mart. 450 class, Millville.

If he gets a bike he likes he should hit the Pro ams too, where it all started.  I saw a older vid of him racing 250,450 RMZ at sunset ridge pro am.  He looked pretty good on the 450.  His brothers 1st pro am was in d16 Wi. At Crystall falls in the UP. Another great hilly sand track. 

2
ohh_454
Posts
2699
Joined
6/24/2023
Location
Nuevo, CA US
Fantasy
3/18/2025 9:43pm

He should race in Canada 🇨🇦 

I second this. 

1
Adam43
Posts
3305
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
WF
3/18/2025 9:46pm

Wild to think he may go his entire career without racing a single 450 national - it should have happened 10 years ago.

17
downard254
Posts
4069
Joined
12/10/2012
Location
Bremen, OH US
3/19/2025 1:47am

Had to check my calendar first, but it isn’t 4/1/25 so, no! He’ll not be coming back.  His day in the sun has come and gone.  And it was a good run, but Father Time waits for no one.  It would be awesome to see him ride again like his championship years but I think, as someone mentioned above, too much damage has occurred in subsequent years so it would likely just be a dream. Sorry my friend.

 

2
11

The Shop

truck
Posts
3492
Joined
6/10/2015
Location
Louisville, KY US
Fantasy
3/19/2025 4:57am

Crazy to me that people don't think he'd have a chance at being successful, top 10s or so at least. Go look at some of the names in top 15 in points last year. You really think he can't hang with savatgy outdoors? 

10
1
CrGuy2T
Posts
4503
Joined
3/11/2015
Location
Santa Fe, TX US
3/19/2025 5:15am

Gonna get a lot of down votes but the ship has sailed..

3
12
tahoefd
Posts
498
Joined
12/29/2020
Location
Minden, NV US
3/19/2025 8:11am

While I certainly don't have "that dog in me" at 66 years old, I dread hearing these guys continue after big brain hits. We only have one brain and they can only take so many hits. I think that a career-victory/retirement lap at Millville before the first moto would be cool. Though I'm sure that wouldn't satisfy the dog. His choice, his life.

8
3/19/2025 12:17pm
Spooner wrote:

That would be strange to see him on a green bike considering he works for STAR.

Imagine him doing the VIP tour in the morning,  then walking over to the PC truck in his Star uniform and going into the rig and...

Imagine him doing the VIP tour in the morning,  then walking over to the PC truck in his Star uniform and going into the rig and coming out in the Fox PC gear , race his moto ,go back to Star between his moto's to help the VIP's .   I know timeline wise it doesn't work. I just pictured it in my mind , like it was being shown on the race coverage .  

Sully wrote:

Does Star do the VIP Experience outdoors?

I was just joking around. But I checked their website and Yes they do have a VIP program for the Outdoors.  They are showing 2024 race dates though so who knows. 

image 1377

1
McG194
Posts
4111
Joined
9/7/2017
Location
Palm Coast, FL US
3/19/2025 12:33pm

At the Tampa Supercross I was standing in the tunnel by the podium and as J Mart was walking by I asked him "Are we going to see you in the summer?" He stopped dead in his tracks, smiled and said: "You never know." 

17
Flatliner
Posts
4066
Joined
11/3/2009
Location
CA
3/19/2025 1:19pm

450 would be his safest bet.  The 250 class is young, and all throttle... bigger bike would be safer at this point.

1
McG194
Posts
4111
Joined
9/7/2017
Location
Palm Coast, FL US
3/19/2025 2:26pm
TheMilkman wrote:
Looking forward to the interview about how he had to become a UPS delivery driver to make ends meet. It will be the updated version on...

Looking forward to the interview about how he had to become a UPS delivery driver to make ends meet. It will be the updated version on working the counter at the dealership. 

Can someone tell me when he said that he worked at a dealership to make ends meet? People hear Matthes do a bit and actually think that J-Mart is acting like he is struggling. Maybe he just needed to feel productive and not sit around like a bump on a log. 

8
1
shortty761
Posts
678
Joined
4/2/2024
Location
Newport News, VA US
3/19/2025 2:51pm
TheMilkman wrote:
Looking forward to the interview about how he had to become a UPS delivery driver to make ends meet. It will be the updated version on...

Looking forward to the interview about how he had to become a UPS delivery driver to make ends meet. It will be the updated version on working the counter at the dealership. 

McG194 wrote:
Can someone tell me when he said that he worked at a dealership to make ends meet? People hear Matthes do a bit and actually think...

Can someone tell me when he said that he worked at a dealership to make ends meet? People hear Matthes do a bit and actually think that J-Mart is acting like he is struggling. Maybe he just needed to feel productive and not sit around like a bump on a log. 

I’m not sure why Milkman is talking about him struggling.


From what I heard on Pulp, JMart was bored and was like screw it I’ll go make money delivering packages at UPS as a driver helper during the holidays.


JMart busted ass and then realized they don’t pay jack shit to the helper that rides with the UPS man lol.


And apparently he also was working at some shop because he was bored.

6
3/22/2025 3:00pm
truck wrote:
Crazy to me that people don't think he'd have a chance at being successful, top 10s or so at least. Go look at some of the...

Crazy to me that people don't think he'd have a chance at being successful, top 10s or so at least. Go look at some of the names in top 15 in points last year. You really think he can't hang with savatgy outdoors? 

I agree with this 100%

kawasa84
Posts
1717
Joined
6/7/2008
Location
Flower Mound, TX US
3/27/2025 11:43am

J Marts stayed in excellent shape. Not sure if he's been a bike at all though. If he started riding even immediately, it would take 4 to 8 weeks minimum to get back necessary speed. Can he do that? Absolutely, but he would have to be doing that like right now. No time to waste. Otherwise, he just wouldn't be ready unless it was the July race at Spring Creek. 

Who knows? I do believe if he did start bike training, built up properly, he could easily crack top 10 in the 250f class. He hasn't been out as long as Dungey was.   Must be something in that Minnesota water

2
1
toomanykaws
Posts
505
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Henderson, NV US
3/27/2025 12:14pm
So many say he is too old to race anymore. How many in the 450 class are older than Jmart? Half a dozen or more.
1
stewie94
Posts
4638
Joined
2/25/2013
Location
La Plata, MD US
3/27/2025 12:22pm
Adam43 wrote:

Wild to think he may go his entire career without racing a single 450 national - it should have happened 10 years ago.

wht im been saying for the longest! he should’ve been part of the baggett , ando & seely 450 draft class my personal opinion 

2
1
grunkster
Posts
442
Joined
12/2/2014
Location
Rochester, MN US
3/29/2025 4:46am

I follow him on strava, and he had a little teaser video unboxing some twin air product yesterday! I think he is riding...a good sign.

1
dirtcan
Posts
150
Joined
2/17/2022
Location
Sherbrooke, QC CA
3/29/2025 7:22am
Flatliner wrote:

450 would be his safest bet.  The 250 class is young, and all throttle... bigger bike would be safer at this point.

That's a way of thinking I have a hard time understanding...how can a 450 be safer than a 250. Especially considering that J-Mart is a relatively short guy and he's had is fair share of injury on the 250. Every weird kick and mistake is amplified on a 450. I remember hearing Rj Hampshire saying something similar, like he is excited to move up because the 450 suits him better, and I just don't see how that can be.

Nairb#70
Posts
3573
Joined
2/25/2020
Location
Ivoryton, CT US
3/29/2025 7:30am

What about the "stop sale" on the KX 450?

1
soggy
Posts
8439
Joined
12/3/2018
Location
UT US
3/29/2025 7:52am
Flatliner wrote:

450 would be his safest bet.  The 250 class is young, and all throttle... bigger bike would be safer at this point.

dirtcan wrote:
That's a way of thinking I have a hard time understanding...how can a 450 be safer than a 250. Especially considering that J-Mart is a relatively...

That's a way of thinking I have a hard time understanding...how can a 450 be safer than a 250. Especially considering that J-Mart is a relatively short guy and he's had is fair share of injury on the 250. Every weird kick and mistake is amplified on a 450. I remember hearing Rj Hampshire saying something similar, like he is excited to move up because the 450 suits him better, and I just don't see how that can be.

Just spitballing here so don’t rip my head off. 

What RJ lacks in talent to go fast on a 250 he makes up for with aggression.  RJ goes fast on a 250 by giving max effort all the time. A rider like Jett went fast on a 250 by maintaining momentum and being a technician/ line choice.

the 450 will go just as fast without having to be as aggressive because of the power. 

It goes the other way as well because the 450 is heavier and more inertia it’s harder to control when it gets kicked or bent out of shape. 

theres so much grey area here as it comes down to rider style, track, etc but I think that could be an explanation for why RJ said he’ll be well suited to the 450. 
 

1
4/17/2025 12:12pm

Looks like A Mart just posted a picture to social, i bet you he ain;t riding that Kawi, and it is a 450!

3
4/17/2025 12:28pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2025 12:33pm

Saw Jmart last night at the FXR practice track absolutely on rails.  This quad is massive.  Had to get some videos.  Dude is an animal and nice as they come  IMG 1286 0.jpeg?VersionId=LNJgb2A1GxC EIeP Kgbh 

34
ohh_454
Posts
2699
Joined
6/24/2023
Location
Nuevo, CA US
Fantasy
4/17/2025 1:56pm
Adam43 wrote:

Wild to think he may go his entire career without racing a single 450 national - it should have happened 10 years ago.

stewie94 wrote:

wht im been saying for the longest! he should’ve been part of the baggett , ando & seely 450 draft class my personal opinion 

His back injury screwed him from moving up or he should’ve tried moving up in 2017 instead of staying on 250s and signing with Geico. He won his 2nd outdoor title and failed to qualify for a sx or 2 in 2015, the year Anderson and Baggett moved up. 2015 would’ve been too early imo. When he signed with Geico I’m pretty sure it had a path to the 450s, but yaa his back injury messed that up. 

10
1
4/17/2025 1:57pm
Adam43 wrote:

Wild to think he may go his entire career without racing a single 450 national - it should have happened 10 years ago.

stewie94 wrote:

wht im been saying for the longest! he should’ve been part of the baggett , ando & seely 450 draft class my personal opinion 

ohh_454 wrote:
His back injury screwed him from moving up or he should’ve tried moving up in 2017 instead of staying on 250s and signing with Geico. He...

His back injury screwed him from moving up or he should’ve tried moving up in 2017 instead of staying on 250s and signing with Geico. He won his 2nd outdoor title and failed to qualify for a sx or 2 in 2015, the year Anderson and Baggett moved up. 2015 would’ve been too early imo. When he signed with Geico I’m pretty sure it had a path to the 450s, but yaa his back injury messed that up. 

I can’t recall the exact year but didn’t he do a one off race on a 450 at Daytona and podium? Maybe I’ve got some details scrambled there 

1
4/17/2025 2:17pm
stewie94 wrote:

wht im been saying for the longest! he should’ve been part of the baggett , ando & seely 450 draft class my personal opinion 

ohh_454 wrote:
His back injury screwed him from moving up or he should’ve tried moving up in 2017 instead of staying on 250s and signing with Geico. He...

His back injury screwed him from moving up or he should’ve tried moving up in 2017 instead of staying on 250s and signing with Geico. He won his 2nd outdoor title and failed to qualify for a sx or 2 in 2015, the year Anderson and Baggett moved up. 2015 would’ve been too early imo. When he signed with Geico I’m pretty sure it had a path to the 450s, but yaa his back injury messed that up. 

I can’t recall the exact year but didn’t he do a one off race on a 450 at Daytona and podium? Maybe I’ve got some details...

I can’t recall the exact year but didn’t he do a one off race on a 450 at Daytona and podium? Maybe I’ve got some details scrambled there 

2017 Daytona. Led Tomac for 10 laps, then Tomac led the last 10. Got 2nd. Pretty impressive for first Pro 450 Supercross.

14
1
4/17/2025 2:38pm
Flatliner wrote:

450 would be his safest bet.  The 250 class is young, and all throttle... bigger bike would be safer at this point.

dirtcan wrote:
That's a way of thinking I have a hard time understanding...how can a 450 be safer than a 250. Especially considering that J-Mart is a relatively...

That's a way of thinking I have a hard time understanding...how can a 450 be safer than a 250. Especially considering that J-Mart is a relatively short guy and he's had is fair share of injury on the 250. Every weird kick and mistake is amplified on a 450. I remember hearing Rj Hampshire saying something similar, like he is excited to move up because the 450 suits him better, and I just don't see how that can be.

soggy wrote:
Just spitballing here so don’t rip my head off. What RJ lacks in talent to go fast on a 250 he makes up for with aggression.  RJ...

Just spitballing here so don’t rip my head off. 

What RJ lacks in talent to go fast on a 250 he makes up for with aggression.  RJ goes fast on a 250 by giving max effort all the time. A rider like Jett went fast on a 250 by maintaining momentum and being a technician/ line choice.

the 450 will go just as fast without having to be as aggressive because of the power. 

It goes the other way as well because the 450 is heavier and more inertia it’s harder to control when it gets kicked or bent out of shape. 

theres so much grey area here as it comes down to rider style, track, etc but I think that could be an explanation for why RJ said he’ll be well suited to the 450. 
 

I’d be a rich man if I received a dollar for all riders who’ve stayed to long in the 250 class then move up stating the 450:suits there style.
1

Post a reply to: J Mart return to racing on Kawasaki

The Latest