INTERVIEW: Jeremy McGrath

It's been a busy couple of months for Jeremy McGrath: He was inducted into the ABA BMX Hall of Fame in September, stopped by Las Vegas to pick up the 1st Annual TWMX Legend Award at the TransWorld Motocross Awards in October in recognition of his seven AMA Supercross championship titles and a long career in all things moto, and has been racing trucks for the Monster/Toyota team on the Traxxas TORC Off-Road Championship series. 

Several years after "retirement," he's still got motocross in his blood, too: We caught up with him on his way to catch a plane to Canberra, Australia to race in the 250cc Triple Challenge against Australia's two-time World Champ Chad Reed as part of the Monster Energy Super X series this weekend.  

Congratulations on the TWMX Legend Award last month! What does that kind of recognition mean to you at this point in your career?

It's sort of funny because I have a hard time thinking of myself as a legend and even being up for such an award. I'm the sort of guy who lives in today's environment and lives for the moment and the next day, so I'm not really one to dwell on previous accolades and the achievements from my past, but in this case it worked out, and it's cool. It's a huge honor.

In September you were also inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame. Those BMX roots have obviously taken you pretty far in life.

The thing is I didn't get inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame for the stuff that I actually did on a bicycle so much as for never shying away from my background and always representing for BMX as a sport that I loved and that has always been a part of me. But again, it was a huge honor and it was really cool: I'll always have a soft spot for BMX because that's what I did for years and it's always been a huge part of who am I am and the other things I've gotten into. Troy Lee was there for the ceremony too, and got inducted for a lifetime achievement award for helping the sport of BMX progress, and it was cool to get to celebrate with him as well. I still have a lot of friends in BMX.

Would you suggest the BMX racing route to a young kid today who has supercross dreams? What do you think a young person might get if they came up through a BMX racing background that they might not if they went up through the usual mini-bike circuit?

I think for younger riders it definitely makes a certain kind of sense to race on a bicycle first. I think what you get in BMX racing is a stronger sense of the physicality of racing, of the sprint, and of really fighting for every inch and learning to power through. And of course BMX racing isn't just a stepping stone, especially now that it's an Olympic medal sport. BMX racing is one of the coolest things happening right now. What I'd say to any young kid is to do the thing you have a passion for, whatever it is, and try to achieve your goals. When you're doing what you love and following your passion, you'll end up getting into whatever is right for you. So many people never even find that thing they're passionate about, or they find it and don't follow up on it, and it's sad. For me, riding a bike and getting into racing ultimately opened up a lot of other doors.

Your BMX background obviously carried over to motocross in other ways. There's even a statue of you doing a Nac Nac out in front of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. As someone who was there from the beginning of what we now know as freestyle motocross and threw down some of the first tricks, what do you make of the whole FMX scene as it stands today?

You know, I'm a huge fan of freestyle motocross and I don't want any credit for pioneering the freestyle stuff. In the beginning I was just trying to set myself apart from the other racers and put on a little show for the fans now and then, and it sort of turned into something thanks to the work of a lot of other riders. The tricks that they're doing these days are awesome, and these guys pushing it are really crazy. I have a whole lot of respect for it. It's impossible to think that I could ever do anything like what those guys are doing. It's a great sport, but I'm not taking any credit for it personally.

Why do you think the Nac Nac in particular became such an iconic trick and became so associated with you and your riding?

It's a good question! Who knows? I guess back in its day it was kind of a wild trick, especially for a motocross guy. It was just sort of a stolen trick from BMX, but on a motocross bike it was pretty wild, especially for someone who was pretty serious about racing and winning a lot. It just became sort of a signature move for me and it got all tied up in my reputation with all the races I won.

As someone who has been successful in BMX racing, motocross and supercross, and now in the TORC off-road truck racing as well, what is it that drives you to racing and fuels your competitive spirit?

I'd done all the team sports: I played baseball until high school, I played football... but for me I like the win versus failure thing, and racing is just the purest form of that. When I win I want it to be all on me, and when I lose I want it to be all on me. It's a personal challenge thing. I always strive to push myself, and for me it was never about beating the other competitors as much as it was about pushing myself to be better, race smarter, go faster, and be the best I could be. I just got a taste for being the first one across the line. 

What's going on with the whole TORC racing thing?

I'm racing off-road trucks now for Monster/Toyota, driving a 2WD Toyota Tundra with the Greeves Motorsports team, and it's been an amazing transition. Throughout my career I've tried to experience driving any and everything I could get my hands on, but to actually be racing these off-road trucks is amazing. The way I've been describing it to people is it's sort of like racing supercross in a truck. It's right up my alley, and I'm fortunate enough to have a career that allows me to have my own work schedule and get into some different things. I've got two daughters now, 2 and 4, and they keep me plenty busy. I'm definitely not bored, ever! For me the TORC racing is just a great outlet and a way to get to race and keep that spirit going in a relatively safe way.

And you're back to racing some supercross again, too? So much for retirement.

It's too much a part of me to walk all the way away from it. This week I'm heading down to Australia to race in the Monster Energy Super X Australasian Championships. Chad Reed is a partner in the series and tries to bring down some American guys. I went down last year, too, and it's a lot of fun: A lot of great riders, no real pressure. I'll give it my best, for an old guy.

Best wishes to you, and congrats again on all the recent honors.

Thanks. The ABA and Transworld ones were really cool. When you get awards and accolades regarding your sport it's something you can hang your hat on, I guess, but what I'm most proud of is my whole career and the relationship I've had with fans and sponsors just by being myself, respecting others, living my life the way I do. I'm proud above all to have just been myself and done my thing, so the real honor is in being recognized for staying true to myself. It's flattering to have had some important people take notice.