The two-stroke highlight of this years Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Championship was the performance put in by 42 year old David Jones in the Vet B/C 30 Plus class. The Cleveland, Ohio resident rode the wheels off of his 2004 Kawasaki KX125 to take the overall, winning the coveted National Championship.
David has participated at Loretta Lynn’s for more than ten years! His previous best finish was in 1999 with a 5th place. Over the past few years he had some bad luck with crashes, sometimes not making it past the third turn before going down.
The heat index at Loretta Lynn’s was over 120 degrees! Add racing gear and the heat from the bikes and you are talking about brutal heat!
David Jones
We tracked down David to ask some questions about his racing career, job, two strokes and more.
David, could you tell us how you got involved in racing motocross?
My cousin had a RM 50 and he taught me how to ride and I fell in love with it, plus it was a group of guys who had a race team called the Yellow Jacks . I use to sit and watch them ride and do there motocross thing and that started me with motocross.
I hear you are pretty good shape, what do you do for a living and what kind of fitness program do you follow?
I do concrete construction for the city of Cleveland; repair street holes, cave in etc. curbs, sidewalks, driveways, and so on. My fitness program goes like this, run 5 miles every other day 300 pushups 300 sit ups 150 dips 150 pull ups I ride 3 -30 min. motos Tuesday & Thursday, but my job is physical so that keeps me in shape too.
What do you when you are not shredding up the MX track?
I enjoy my family play with my dogs or sometimes I help people remodel their homes; kitchens, bathrooms, basements. But most of all I enjoy just relaxing.
When did you start racing motocross & how did you do in your first race?
Man I started racing late, I was 20yrs old at a track called Malvern. I didn’t do that well but I had fun being last and I’ve been racing ever since that 1st day
I see you are a rider after my own heart, a KX fan. Have you always ridden Kawasaki’s?
Oh yeah big KX fan, it’s a marriage of perfect harmony and we go together and work just fine.
Have you always raced two strokes?
Yep for sure, I’ve always been on two stokes. These bikes are like life, all about choices we make and this is what I choose to ride and I have fun doing it.
How did it feel taking the win at Loretta Lynn’s?
Oh my god, it feels so good, it’s the greatest feeling ever and standing on the podium holding up that #1 plate is an awesome feeling to describe. Even to this day I wake up and still say I did it. I can honestly say I know how Ricky, James, McGrath & Ryan feel, especially when people still give you congrats.
Why did you decide to run the 125 in the Vet B/C 30 plus class?
I choose the 125 because it’s light, it can go anywhere I want it to go without breaking. It won’t get me tired as fast so I can ride longer, I can rail corners, but most of all because of the 1986 De Nations race. Johnny O’Mara rode a 125 against 500’s and he did well*. I think he beat most of the field and I always wanted to do a task but most of all to let the world know that there is nothing wrong with these two stoke machines, you don’t take away something that started it all.
*Note: Johnny O’Mara beat every other 125/500 in the field on his 125 except David Bailey’s 500. (Source: www.mxlarge.com)
Did you feel like you were at disadvantage racing your 125?
Oh yeah I know I’m at a disadvantage, but I never cared about it. The start, big hilly tracks, stuff were they might pull me at. But I have advantages also, Every place they get me I can come right back and make up for it just knowing I don’t have to stop or brake as hard, I can keep my momentum up and once I get going I’m going
Were the fans supportive of your choice to race a two stroke?
The fans loved it, people I didn’t know hanging over the fence in the stands just was thrilled to see a guy on a two stroke let alone a 125. With them waving and cheering me on made me ride that much harder. They give me motivation, the fuel that feed my drive, and I thanked them for it! Great people
What did you do afterwords/when you got home to celebrate?
Man when I got home it was great. My phone never stopped ringing and everyone knew. My family and friends lined up parties that we had, some track owners had a David Jones day at their track, man newspapers had articles telling what I had done. So yes people I pretty much did party like a rock star and it was great. I had really good time, I will cherish this forever.
David Jones – photo by Matt Ware
In your opinion David, what do you feel are the big differences between the two-stroke and the four-stroke for the racer?
I my opinion; I think when you’re a racer you’re a racer no matter what you’re on, but the only thing between them is the two can be wild and aggressive, compared to lazy and laid back. Someone once said to me it takes a talented two stroke rider to make a two stroke go extra fast and a four stroke ride just turn the throttle, even if he doesn’t know ride or better yet race.
Who was your MX hero growing up?
My hero’s would have to be Johnny O’Mara and Jeff Ward
Any parting words to live by you want to share?
Yes, always do what you like and what makes you feel good, and most of all have fun doing it because you love doing it.
David would like to thank his sponsors; Pro-Action, Fox, Carb Parts, Kames, PDR, Wiseco , Cometic, Xoto-x , and Moto Tech.
Vet B/C 30 Plus – Overall
David Jones, Cleveland, Ohio, Kawasaki
Robert Novak, Bridgehampton, N.Y., Honda
Randy Salamon, Brunswick, Ohio, Honda
A video interview with David Jones on the podium at Lorretta Lynn’s;
