[ K. Windham | T. Canard | B. Metcalfe | B. Wharton | J. Barcia | E. Tomac ]

Born: July 31, 1991, Houston, Texas Residence: Pilot Point, Texas National #: 61 Began riding: 1998, age 7 First race: 1998, age 7 Training: Gym, weights, running, bicycle, biometrics, riding Hobbies: Drums, guitar, music Height/weight: 5’9”/142 pounds Marital status: Single Current racebike: Honda CRF250R Mechanic: Jeremy Hoyer

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Profile: BLAKE WHARTON

Off the track, Blake Wharton presents himself as an extraordinarily nice young man. But the minute he straddles a CRF250R motocrosser, he transforms into a very serious competitor—one that even some pros several years his senior are keeping a close eye on.

The 17-year-old was a newcomer to pro competition in 2008, joining the GEICO Powersports Honda team for the final three races of the 2008 outdoor motocross season. His performance in all three events was impressive, exemplified by his fifth overall finish in his debut ride at the Spring Creek round.

“It was a new experience because we never raced the outdoor nationals before,” he says. “We had done amateur races, but this was totally different in the way that the track is run. I just looked at it as just another race, and in any race you want to get a good start; the basics are the same. So I was in good shape, my bike was great and the team was great. The whole experience was good because I got some positive pro experience to prepare me for the full Supercross season.”

Wharton’s stellar pro debut came on the heels of a rough finish at the Loretta Lynn amateurs several weeks earlier. He credits Factory Connection principals Rick “Ziggy” Zielfelder and Jeff Majkrzak with making the step up a smooth one.

“I went to Loretta’s and I did not do very well; I was a little rusty. I was ‘off’ that week and it was a couple weeks before the nationals. But Ziggy and Jeff were great. When I went to the nationals, they kept the pressure off me so I could just stay calm and ride my best. It wasn’t much different than me riding a local race. Those guys really made it easy for me.”

In some ways, becoming a pro rider was not all that unfamiliar to Wharton.

“Most of the guys that are racing pro were guys I had raced at some point in amateurs, so it really wasn’t that much different. So I just looked at it that way.”

He is also very aware of the advantages of being a member of the GEICO Powersports Honda team and riding a Honda CRF250R.

“A lot of riders would love to be on the GEICO team, and I have two years to do basically what I have always wanted to do: to be a pro racer and be a success. I have two years to show that I can do that. You can’t ask for much more on a team—all the mechanics, all the sponsors, everything is top quality. And I know I am on the best bike out there. Some riders have to worry about their bike breaking down. Not me.”

His superb athletic talent aside, perhaps Wharton’s biggest asset is his ability to see the “bigger picture” when it comes winning.

“My goal is to be consistent. That is probably the biggest thing, to be consistently in the top five—even the top three—have good starts and stay off the ground. That’s what it’s all about. It’s a whole season, not just one race. You’ve got to look at it that way.”

Questions & Answers:

Q: You made your professional racing debut riding the GEICO Powersports Honda prepared CRF250R at the final few rounds of the 2008 Motocross Championship. What was that experience like for you?
A: It was a new experience because we never raced the outdoor nationals before. We had done amateur races, but this was totally different in the way that the track is run. I just looked at it as just another race, and in any race you want to get a good start; the basics are the same. So I was in good shape, my bike was great and the team was great. I just rode. I ended up with a couple of fourths (in motos). And then I had two holeshots, and I ran up front on a couple of occasions. The whole experience was good because I got some positive pro experience to prepare me for the full Supercross season.

Q: What role did Ziggy and Jeff and the Factory Connection program play in helping you make the transition from amateur to professional? What kinds of things does the program stress?
A: I went to Loretta’s and I did not do very well; I was a little rusty. I was “off” that week and it was a couple weeks before the nationals. But Ziggy and Jeff were great. When I went to the nationals, they kept the pressure off me so I could just stay calm and ride my best. It wasn’t much different than me riding a local race. Those guys really made it easy for me.

Q: What it was like to ride against riders that you have looked up to throughout your career for the first time? Any moments where you had to pinch yourself?
A: It was different, but it was not that much different because I had raced a lot of those guys before—the guys that are two or three years older than me, I raced them on 80s. In fact, most of the guys that are racing pro were guys I had raced at some point in amateurs, so it really wasn’t that much different. So I just looked at it that way.

Q: Trey Canard was the first graduate of the Factory Connection Racing amateur program and was successful in winning in his debut professional season for GEICO Powersports Honda. Knowing you have taken the same steps and are following in his footsteps, how much confidence do you have going into your first pro season?
A: I’m confident because I know if I get a good start, I ride my best and put myself in a position to do well—plus keep up my training, and do everything that I am supposed to be doing—it will go smoothly. This next year Supercross will be something new, but I am going to look at it the same way. It’s racing. I need to do the same things, even though I need to prepare differently. I am just going to try to go out there and be consistent, where I can finish out the whole season as high in the standings as I can get.

Q: How important to be a part of the GEICO Powersports Honda team and to have the full support of Honda, the GEICO Powersports team, sponsors and your family behind you at every race?
A: Most guys don’t know what they’re doing until maybe a month before the Supercross season starts, so it’s extra peace of mind for me, knowing that I’m with Honda and a part of the best team out there. It’s a good feeling because a lot of riders would love to be on the GEICO team, and I have two years to do basically what I have always wanted to do: to be a pro racer and be a success. I have two years to show that I can do that. You can’t ask for much more on a team—all the mechanics, all the sponsors, everything is top quality. I can’t point anything out that I would do differently. It’s first class, and I just need to do what I know how to do and it will be good for all of us.

Q: You’ve been riding the Honda CRF250R for a while now. What are your thoughts on the bike?
A: It’s a great bike, it’s an easy bike to ride because you don’t have to get used to it. It’s reliable and I know I am on the best bike out there. Some riders have to worry about their bike breaking down. Not me.

Q: Racing in front of 50,000 screaming Supercross fans is not something you are accustomed to. When you line up on the Supercross Lites start line for the first time, what do you think will be running through your head?
A: 50,000 people will be something new. It’s going to be good, because I have never really done that, and to ride well in front of them will be even better. The better I do, the better the showing for the fans!

Q: What goals have you set for yourself in 2009?
A: My goal is to be consistent. That is probably the biggest thing, to be consistently in the top five—even the top three—have good starts and stay off the ground. That’s what it’s all about. It’s a whole season, not just one race. You’ve got to look at it that way.

Statistics

2008

1st Lake Whitney AMA Spring Classic - Collegeboy 17-24
1st GNC International Finals - 125 Pro, 250A Mod, 250 Pro
1st NMA World Mini Grand Prix - 250 Mod Pro

2007

1st Lake Whitney AMA Spring Classic - 125 B Stock, 125 Youth (12-15) Stock, 125 Youth (12-15) Mod, Supermini
1st GNC International Finals - 125 Open Amateur, Schoolboy (12-15) Mod 2-stroke, Schoolboy (12-15) Mod 4-stroke, Schoolboy (12-15) Stock 4-stroke
1st NMA World Mini Grand Prix - 125/250 Schoolboy, 250 Stock Intermediate, 450 Stock Intermediate, 450 Mod Intermediate
1st AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships – Schoolboy (12-15)
1st NMA Ponca City Grand National Championship - 125 2-Stroke Non-Pro, 125/250 Schoolboy Thru 16 Non Pro, 250 4-Stroke Non-Pro
1st FIM Junior Motocross World Championships - 125cc
2007 AMA Amateur Rider of the Year

2006

1st Lake Whitney Spring Classic - 85 Mod 12-13
1st AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships – 85cc Modified (14-15)
1st NMA Ponca City Grand National Championship - 85 Open thru 16 Div 1, 85 Stock 14-16, 85/150 Mod 14-16, SuperMini thru 16 Div 2
1st Winter National Olympics – 85cc 14-15 Motocross, 85cc 14-15 Olympiad, 125cc 12-15 Olympiad, Super Mini

2005

6th AMA 125 West Supercross Series
18th AMA 125 National Motocross Series
1st U.S. Open

2003

1st AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships - 65cc Stock 10-11
1st Winter National Olympics, 85cc 7-11 Motocross, 85cc 7-11 Olympiad