[ M. LaRocco | K. Windham | J. Grant | B. Laninovich | T. Hahn | J. Rodrigues | J. Weimer ]

Born: Dec. 17, 1985, Grant Bend, KS Residence: Belpre, KS National #: 42 Began riding: 1989, age 4 First race: 1990, age 5 Training: Cardio and weight lifting Hobbies: Pit bikes, racing 50s and hanging with friends Height/Weight: 5’11/170 Marital status: Single Current race bike: CRF250R Mechanic: Tony Lester

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Profile: TOMMY HAHN

The native of Belpre, Kansas, joined the Factory Connection Honda team late in 2004 after winning the 125 A class title at Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Motocross Championship and immediately posted top-10 moto results in Steel City and Glen Helen. Then in October at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas he won his heat race and took third in the main event, good enough for third overall in the two-night competition--and his first-ever Supercross. Not bad, considering he was still training for his rookie season.

With the bit firmly in his teeth for 2005, Hahn dove headfirst into the AMA 125 West Region Supercross Series aboard Honda’s awesome CRF250R, finishing 4-6-5 in the first three rounds at Anaheim 1, Phoenix and Anaheim 2, respectively. At the San Diego round he carded fifth, securing another strong finish before the series went on hiatus and headed east. Unfortunately, Hahn had a break as well.

“My season was going pretty good and then, when we went on break for the Eastern rounds, I broke my leg in practice. I wasn’t able to ride the rest of the West Series and I just watched my top-five points lead disappear.”

For many rookies, a season-ending setback can be demoralizing. But Hahn has a history of turning adversity into motivation. “It was at Loretta Lynn’s in 2003, the first moto of the 125 A class. I was out front, with about a 30-second lead on the last half lap, when my bike decided to blow up. I could see the checkered flag. It was really heartbreaking.” But Hahn’s steely determination enabled him to come back a year later to take the 125 A amateur class title.

Similarly, his rehabilitation from last season’s leg fracture became what he describes as “a good learning experience.” After finishing the 125 West Series on the sidelines--which dropped him to 10th place overall--Hahn returned to action to compete in his first professional outdoor motocross series. Although not without its ups and downs, he collected four top-10 finishes and ended the 125 outdoor nationals in a respectable 17th place.

“It was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be,” he reflects. “I had great races and I had horrible races, and you know, it was just hard. But I am going to work that much harder in 2006 and not let it get the best of me.”

Race, regress, regroup, rebound, redeem--it’s a pattern that defines Hahn’s competitive style. Which means he is on the verge of another breakthrough.

“I was way too inconsistent last year; I made way too many rookie mistakes. I want to get up in the top three in every race and stay consistent. 2006 will be a good year because I know a little bit of what is going to happen.”

To prepare, Hahn has left no stone unturned. “I’ve doubled everything on my training and riding. Everything. Everything I do during the day I write down--all my workouts and riding sessions. I keep logs and files. I just make every day count.”

With the SoBe/Samsung Mobile/Honda Racing Team backing him, Hahn has top-caliber support. “I have such a great team and I really want to bring a championship to them. I’m going to work harder to prove to them I can ride and that all of their hard work will pay off at the end of the weekend.”

He is also quick to credit his family, including a younger brother who also races. “They support me 100 percent, just like when I was racing in the amateurs. Everything I am today is because of them. My brother and I help each other out a lot. He’ll watch me ride and tell me where someone is taking time off of me and vice versa. It might not always be what we want to hear, but we are real honest with each other.”

In the course of his off-season training in October 2005, Hahn suffered another setback, tearing ligaments in his knee. Although reconstructive surgery is completed and rehabilitation well underway, it appears he will miss the 2006 Supercross Lites (the AMA’s new class name for 125cc two-stroke and 250cc four-stroke equipment) West Series. No matter; Hahn is planning to suit up for the East Series that begins in Atlanta in late February, followed by the Motocross Lites series in the summer.

Could this be another chance for Hahn to regroup and rebound? “My goal is to have a permanent number next year. You have to finish in the top three in both series to get that. I guarantee it will be an awesome year.”

Statistics

2005
-10th AMA 125 West Region Supercross Series
-17th AMA 125 National Motocross Series

2004
-3rd U.S. Open 125 Supercross
-27th AMA/Chevy Trucks National Motocross Series (rode 2 of 12 rounds)
-125 A Champion, Loretta Lynn's Amateur Motocross Championship