For this week’s edition of the Wednesday Amateur Profile presented by Yamaha Motor Canada, we have a look at 85cc rider and Parts Canada TransCan Champion Jake Tricco. This young phenom loves to race dirt bikes and hang out with his friends at the track. During the summer Jake spends a lot of time at the Moto Park Training Academy training with a few other top Ontario riders, training hard to be the best. This season he’s looking to continue his success on the race track and take home a few more titles. Here is a look at Jake Tricco.
MXP: Hey Jake, how are you today?
JT: Excellent, thanks for asking.
Can we start off by you giving us your age and where your hometown is located?
I am 12-years-old and I live in Collingwood, Ontario.
How long have you lived there?
I’ve lived here my entire life, so 12 years.
This season I will be riding 85cc 12-16, Super Mini and Schoolboy classes. Also, I’ve been riding since I was three-years-old when my Dad put training wheels on my PW50.
Wow! You started young Jake. These days everyone is training hard, what did you do during the off-season to prepare for the 2015 racing season?
I did some indoor riding, skiing and working out, and I just got back from training in Florida for a month of. I guess you could say that I did a bit of everything.
Well it’s definitely good to do a few different things when it comes to training. What are some of your past racing highlights?
Participating at Loretta Lynn’s in 2013 & 2014 definitely stands out in my career so far. In 2013 I finished 17th & 22nd overall, and last year I ended up 7th & 9th so I was very happy with the improvement. Another amazing highlight was winning three championships at the Parts Canada TransCan.
Those are great finishes Jake. You’ve obviously ridden on a lot of tracks, do you have a favourite?
My favourite track is definitely Moto Park.
I should’ve known that one. The 2015 season is almost upon us – what are some of your goals for this year?
My goal this year is to podium in the 85cc & Super Mini class at Walton and to make it to Loretta’s again this year. I’m moving up age groups in the 85cc class so it’s going to be tough, but I’ve been working hard so hopefully I can have a good year.
I know you have a few good people helping you out with your riding, what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given so far in racing and who gave it to you?
My Dad is always giving me good advice and I also learn a lot at Moto Park. Zeb Dennis once told me to not look right in front of you and to always look to the end of the rut, this is something I always remember.
Do you like music? What is your favourite music?
Yes, I love music. My favourite music is rap, for sure, it gets me pumped up
What are you usually thinking about while the thirty second board is up?
I’m normally thinking to try to stay up and hold it wide open.
What is your video game of choice?
It’s definitely MXGP and Reflex.
Does everyone at your school know you race dirt bikes?
Yeah, most people know and they’re pretty cool about it.
Here Jake checks out the starting line at Loretta Lynn’s last summer. Jake considers his trip to the Ranch one of the highlights of his 2014 season.
What is your favourite subject at school other than Gym class?
It would have to be science because I enjoy doing experiments.
That’s cool, science is a great subject. What is your favourite thing to do other than ride a dirt bike?
I like to hang out with my buddies at the track and train in the summer with the MP crew. I guess that’s still moto related (laughs).
Yes it is, however I did say other than riding. Okay Jake, thanks for doing this and here is your final question. Who would you like to thank for making all of this possible?
No problem Chris, thanks for thinking of me. I would like to thank my parents, Moto Park, Iain Hayden and his dad Tom Hayden for building the fastest bikes, Forma Boots and MD Distribution, Scott, Everything Sports Wash, Clear Lite, Core Motosports, Ryan at Atlas, Subway, Derek from Flybyu, Rod at Fox Suspension, Ryno Power, FMF, Shore Power Services, Motovan, DP brakes & clutches, Klotz fuels & Ryno Tech, JRTF