MXP Goes One on One With Jarrett May

Last  week we had the opportunity to sit down with CMS Ten Four Husqvarna Racing’s Jarrett May. We learnt a lot about him and the team. We asked him 10 in depth questions and we ended up receiving some intriguing answers in return. Here they are, you better hold on tight!

MXP: Hello Jarrett, it’s great to sit down with you and talk motorcycles. Let’s get to know you better as a person. Where do you live? How old are you?  how long have you been racing motorcycles? what’s your occupation? what’s your personal life like?

Jarrett104 : Hey MXP, thanks for reaching out to myself and the team,  we are very thankful and appreciative of this opportunity to be working with you! Here we go; I live in the small & quaint town of Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, I am 30 years old ( I know , I’m almost over the hill, “laughs”) , I have been racing Motorcycles for over 10 years now and all Cross Country, Hare Scramble, or Enduro events, I have been a custom home builder for the past 10 years, and I am happily married with a very healthy 8 month old baby , two dogs, and my wifes horses ( we love animals).

MXP: You have been racing motorcycles since you were 20 then. Most riders start racing at a young age, why did you wait until then? and what made you really enjoy it from the start?

Jarrett104 : I was all into team sports when I was a kid and until I was 18. I was also a little scared of Motorcycles until I was 14-15. They always intimidated me with their power, sound and acceleration. I played competitive sports  A LOT and it consumed all of my spare time. I very seldom had to time to rip on the dirt squirt. But, at around 18-19 I was enjoying the individual sports more, not because I didn’t like having teammates, but more because there was much less politics within the sport and at that time I could just go out and ride and enjoy every moment. I was also a cross Country runner in my teens, I loved the individual competition of it all, but the running aspect was quite boring, to be honest ,”laughs”. It did , however, show me how great individual sports were.  Right when I started racing motorcycles I knew I was going to enjoy it, it’s the greatest sport I have ever played.

MXP: Even though you haven’t been around  the sport forever you know a good amount. Who inspires you on the bike and off the bike?

Jarrett104: I could have a MEGA answer for this question, but I will narrow it down……. and give you the good stuff! As for an Off Road Enduro racer that inspires me, I would say Taddy Blaszuziak. He is one amazing rider (he is the best in the world in my eyes for Enduro) but it’s his personality that wins me over. Every thing he does there is always a crazy amount of excitement and charisma around him. He has a huge factor of why Endurocross and Enduro’s have gained popularity around the world.

 I look up to Ryan Dungey as well. He has true passion and drive, he loves racing, he is very humble at heart and he always keeps coming back for more. It’s his job, but you can tell he really enjoys it. So, let’s go Taddy 3rd, Dungey 2nd, and 1st is,,,,,,,,,, Travis Prastrana! The guy is a true inspiration to any rider or any athlete. I look up that guy so much because of what he can do on a bike yes, but mostly his persona and all the other things he does for the sport. The whole Nitro Circus thing is pretty amazing in my eyes and he and his colleagues  keep pushing for more and holding different events and pushing the limits of the sport. As an event organizer myself I truly respect everything he has done and still does. You the man TP199!

MXP: Great to here! all those men are solid riders and people. Next,  what has been your most memorable race in your racing career ?

Jarrett104: Favorite race would have to be the 2011 Canadian Enduro Championship round in Blairmore, Alberta. We raced all day Saturday for day 1, my times were right there with the top 4 in Canada. I was riding awesome, but ended up damaging my bike in a transfer section. I made it through but I was penallized. That day was a right off by day end, but Sunday, Day 2 I came back and rode just as well. I was oh so close to placing 4th in Canada that day. I was very thrilled on my placement that day and that I came back from some adversity.  But, Ohh how much I wanted to be up on the podium in the E2 Pro class with Canada’s top 2 riders. Super fun terrain to race on, the riding was epic. Unfortunately I have not raced any international or AMA events, yet.

MXP: Which race in North America would you like to compete in? One that you have never entered.

Jarrett104: I would say the X games Endurocross or a GNCC in Eastern U.S.A. I would get schooled if I tried to race in motocross type event. I cannot  jump, I need to work on my air time!

MXP:  In the past 5 years you have been a racer yes, you have also created a whole Vancouver Island racing Series (VIHSS) correct? What was the most rewarding part of starting and continuing such a venture?

Jarrett104: Yes, that is correct. The most rewarding aspect of creating the VIHSS has been seeing so many riders start out at more of a grass roots level but then really pick it up quite quickly and progress their skills through our racing series. Over the past 5 years we have seen kids ages of 10-12 that barely knew how to ride a bike develop their riding and racing skills and now are competing in the top classes. I could even say the same about 90% of the other racers we have on the island. It’s been very rewarding in that sense. I love racing on Vancouver Island, but it’s all about the other racers and  giving  them something to look forward to and compete within. Let’s call the VIHSS a development series.

MXP: Very cool. We don’t hear much about what’s going on out in the the Pacific Northwest. It’s good to know racing is alive and thriving. So, now, you started a race team in 2015; TEN FOUR Racing. What was the most difficult part of starting and managing a team of this manner?

Jarrett104:  It’s funny because what I thought would be the easiest turned out be very difficult and much work and what I thought would be hard turned out to be very enjoyable and right up my alley. Dealing with companies and our Team sponsors has proven to be very enjoyable and  I quite like talking to all of these people and getting to know their companies  and products better. Everyone I deal with is very Professional to me ( even if they don’t come on board as a team sponsor). I thoroughly enjoy talking with everyone if it’s through email, phone, in person and so on.

The most difficult aspect of the team was the Team Riders. Trying to get 4 or 5 riders on the same page as me was very difficult. I am in this to make a difference for a few team riders yes, but the team is in place to make a difference for the sport and hopefully take it to new levels here in Canada. We hope our racing program and passion to the sport pushes others to start teams or to get more involved than they are. If the Team Riders don’t buy into the Tenfour program, then it’s not going to work out. Unfortunately I did not see the passion last year other than from Fraser Stewart, whom is still on the team. Our new addition for 2016 of John Stevenson is a perfect fit. Fraser and John have a very good understanding now why this team has been started, what our initiative is and what I expect out of them and myself.  2015 was a learning year for myself, this is all very new to me, it was great to learn from everything in 2015, good and bad.

MXP: It looks to us like Off- Road Motorcycle racing is doing quite well in the U.S.A. and even in Europe, what do you think needs to change here in Canada to get more interest and involvement?

Jarrett104: As most people in the industry know Off-Road Motorcycle trail racing is not nearly as main stream as Motocross, Let alone Hockey here in Canada, everyone watches hockey. In our sport we need more exposure than what we have. Endurocross is doing very well in the U.S.A. and there is a one off Endurocross event in Alberta that is doing well and gets good exposure. We now need to see that progress into something bigger in Canada. British Columbia is in need of some more exposure, there is no doubt. We have the rider talent here, our terrain is like no other in the world, and we have some venues that could hold true to having events with great exposure and media coverage.  I think 3 things need to change. Our racers here need to try harder to push the sport forward, the companies within our industry need to help bring the progression to life, and event organizers need to work hard to ensure that the events are going to cater to the media, spectators, sponsors, racers and so on.

MXP: If you could give us one short sentence to try and explain who are you are, what would it be.

Jarrett104:  I am a dreamer, I am also a doer, work hard and appreciate life and your dreams will come true, I am here to inspire and motivate anyone who is willing. OR, I’m a lover not a fighter, lol just Kidding.

MXP: What motorcycle will you be racing for 2016? and why so?

Jarrett104: I will be racing the great Husqvarna TE 250 TWO STROKE! For almost my whole racing career I have raced a 250 two stroke and this 2016 Husqvarna TE 250 is really something special.  The Husqvarna is by far the best turning motorcycle I have ever ridden. With it’s power to weight ratio, technology within the motorcycle, I feel I can do anything on the bike. I have thought of trying a 300 two stroke or a four stroke in the past but I am in dirt bike love with the 250, “laughs”. It really is a great machine. I very much cannot wait for the 2016 race season to commence!

MXP: Thanks very much for your time Jarrett, let’s do this again before the race season begins and see where you and the team are at. One last fun question; Anaheim 1 Supercross is this weekend, what’s your top 5 prediction?

Jarrett104: It was my pleasure MXP! You all are great people and really enjoy seeing what you do for the sport. I very much look forward to sitting down with you again soon!

Here is my top 5 list for Anaheim Supercross, both 250 and 450:

250 class:

1. Cooper Webb

2. Zach Osbourne

3. Joey Savatgy

4. Jordan Smith

5. Jesse Nelson

450 Class:

1. Ken Roczen

2. Jason Anderson

3. Eli Tomac

4. Ryan Dungey

5. Justin Barcia