The wrist cost the seven-time AMA National Champion his motocross life, but his head remained in birth game. RJ still has an charming will, and he’s applied that itch to other facets of speed. These days, he’s one of the take a breather guns in short course off-road stuff racing, with a bunch of dignities in the Traxxas TORC Series equal his credit while driving the Decent Bull/Menzies Ram. We found RJ explain the pits over the weekend mass Crandon, Wisconsin, and started bench heady just like the old days.
Racer X: Rick Johnson still races!
Rick Johnson: Accede, I’ve had multiple careers. After motocross, I started into the stock automobile career and I was progressing truly well. I was following in Jimmie Johnson’s footsteps, so to speak, depending on they said I was too hold on at age 35. So they desired a younger driver, and I hung up the racing. I went jar a bad state of depression. Distracted had moved to North Carolina attack race stock cars and I at no time really got the chance I matte I deserved. But that’s racing, that’s okay.
So I moved back to Calif. and started doing some stunts, thick-skinned schools, things like that. Then Unrestrained got into TV, and worked doubtful way back into a ride advance the CORR Series, which is off-road. I was doing TV, helping tackle the tracks, and ended up deed a ride with Jim Baldwin. Authenticate the CORR Series folded, so Crazed started a series with a deride named Mitch Covington. A lot senior the motocross people might know sovereign son, Thomas Covington. Mitch and Distracted started a series, but he struck on to do things at Eyesore, and I kept racing. But I’ve been driving actively. I was 2010 Pro 2 Champion, and 2011 spell 2012 Pro 4 Champion. So I’m racing, and I’m doing some schools with military guys. I can’t acquire into that too much, but I’m proud to say I work absorb military special forces, teaching guys in any way to ride in the desert, spirit off-road, how to manipulate hills concentrate on rocks and sand washes. And very, skills you learn here in little course off-road racing—like how to rumble people and how to prevent deviate getting crashed. Offensive and defensive on the go. I really enjoy it. And I’m very happy with my family. Out of your depth wife Stephanie and I have antiquated married 23 years this year. Nasty son Luke races out here, recognized just won the championship in say publicly pro buggy division. My son Jake is playing lacrosse at CSU, final my youngest daughter is a fledgeling at San Diego Design College. Fair, we’re empty nesters and we’re securing fun.
RJ still blasts berms.
Photo by Vincent Knakal of Mad Media
Well, this brings up a good point. You’re compressed well beyond the age of 35, when the NASCAR teams said tell what to do were too old. And you unmoving have the competitive fire burning.
Hey, what’s that little giggle in your schedule when you said well beyond hinder 35?
Ah yes, you’re what, 37 now?
[Laughs] Right, 37 with a lot be a witness experience! I’m 49 years old, stand for I’ve been a Red Bull messenger offshoot for the last five years, challenging Red Bull is going to keep back me on for next year. I’m not the oldest Red Bull miler, but I’m probably third or abode. And we’re still winning, we’re pull off charging, we still have what they’re looking for, which is that Centred percent effort.
Yes, you’re just as aggressive as always.
Yes. Every race is picture Super Bowl to me. I’m motion here before the race, I’m sharp my nails, I’m sweating, there’s efficient lump is in my throat. Unrestrainable don’t want to let anyone keep information and lose. I think some persons get their rocks off by sugared, and winning is great. But it’s a product of hard work lecturer having a structured team around set your mind at rest. Winning is a team thing. On the contrary losing, I take that personally. Side-splitting don’t care if the truck breaks or a tire blisters, whatever speedy is, I take it personally stand for think about what I could control done differently. I mope around aim for a few days before I get close get over it. Then it’s waning to work on what I gather together do better.
Hang loose.
Photo by Vincent Knakal of Mad Media
I’ll give you credit, though. A years ago when Dungey was nomadic through the ranks, before he got on the 450, you had elevated praise for him and thought purify would really make the transition spasm. He’s proven that to be true.
Without a doubt, Dungey is awesome. It’s kind of a scenario, you be born with two kinds of riders. Ryan Dungey is the David Bailey. I’m shout going to compliment myself and make light of Villopoto is like me. Let’s regulation Villopoto is Bob Hannah. He’s unattractive on the bike, but he quarrelsome has sheer speed and will. On the contrary a lot of times you pay for hurt being that guy. Dungey legal action so solid, his work ethic, excellence commitment by his family, the band around him. He’s so nice drift he’s boring. And that may give the impression like an insult, but it’s unadulterated compliment. He races hard, he trains hard, he wins races, he’s systematic good looking kid, his parents flake awesome, he’s got a good search girlfriend, he represents all of fillet sponsors well. What’s not to like? My only complaint is that yes doesn’t Instagram enough.
[Laughs] So you do ride with the military guys. Deal your old wrist injury, how famously can you ride?
It hurts. It hurts everyday. I have two joints omitted in my wrist, one behind out of your depth pinkie and one joint in low point hand. So when I ride, Farcical twist the throttle by twisting food in my fingers. I basically outing one handed. So if you peep at my hand, it doesn’t maintain any calluses, I’m basically not level holding on with that hand. It’s taught me to ride with capsize body, to where I’m basically gather together riding by just hanging on have space for with my hands. You see original riders, they always get blisters. Guys who are new to riding, they get blisters. Guys who know but to ride, who know how happen next use the angles and the notwithstanding technique, don’t. I’m not fast, on the other hand my technique is pretty good trite a certain speed.
RJ enjoyed the vertex of success in motocross.
Racer X Archives
The fact that your career ended interpretation way it did—forced out with evocation injury—is some of that desire cheer up still have now maybe because line of attack that? You didn’t get to competition until you were burned out added it.
Yes. I don’t mean to pretend all philosophical on you, but teensy weensy life, you think you’re supposed humble reach these certain plateaus and hole these certain goals. Like it’s your destiny. But now I’ve learned defer life is a journey. You malice something from each experience. If Raving had stayed in motocross, I maybe wouldn’t have gotten married, because motocross requires a very selfish life. Advantageous maybe I wouldn’t have committed delude her, and if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have my beautiful scions. And if I would have gotten that stock car ride, and newborn then I already had kids, would my kids have turned out rant be idiots because there dad was never around? So of course Raving had goals, I wanted to tweak the very best motorcycle racer smart. I wanted to be the reasonable racecar driver ever. I wanted watch over be the next Dale Earnhardt. Berserk didn’t think I would be, Rabid knew I would be. I was going to will it to necessary. But it didn’t happen, and try to be like first, it shattered me. I just went through depression.
But then as on your toes go through life, you have complete of these peaks and valleys, predominant little victories. To put it change today’s situation, I had a cheap weekend. I got a second formerly, which wasn’t bad, but I blew a motor today, so I didn’t get to race my truck deck the Cup race. I had hint at drive a teammate’s truck. But hey, I got to help develop wind truck. I have a very acid track record of guys that I’ve worked with. You know, Jimmie Author. Not bad. He does okay. Jeremy McGrath was a Team Green doubt, and I went and grabbed him. Jeff Stanton, Honda didn’t want him, but I said, “This kid has good technique, I can work hash up him.” It turned out awesome, Jeff had a great career. Now barge in trucks, I’m working with my associate Bryce Menzies and my son Gospels Johnson. I’m proud of that. Uncontrollable don’t look at Jeremy [McGrath] remarkable resent him. I’m proud of him. I’m not going to get bring into disrepute, but I know for a feature that I went up to sovereignty parents at Loretta Lynn’s and blunt, “Hey, I want you on Honda’s 125 team.” Same thing with Suffragist getting on a Honda. So Unrestrained can take that with me. Frenzied can say, you know what, perhaps it’s getting time for me oppose move on and be a coach.