Dirt Bike Rider’s US Editor talks with Josh Hill at East Rutherford following his first podium since injury hit the rider 2010…
DBR: Late in the race, the battle for fourth place started catching up to you. What was going on?
Josh Hill: There were like four laps there, where I started to look back, and that’s when those dudes started to catch me. I had to just tell myself to knock it off and start thinking about racing forward again.
DBR: You’ve said pretty good things about the team even though we know you guys are parting ways, but you’ve been very cordial about that.
Josh Hill: No, there’s absolutely no hard feelings with these guys. If it wasn’t for these guys, I would not be standing right here in front of you guys on the podium. The RCH/Soaring Eagle Suzuki Team – Carey Hart, Kenny Watson, those guys have been behind me since day one and there won’t be any hard feelings at all. There definitely is none.
DBR: Ok, four years ago, when you’re mangled, getting a podium had to seem like it was a long way off…
Josh Hill: No, I mean, I was told I wasn’t going to ever be normal again. It was pretty much get used to being handicapped, but I found great people. I still can’t feel my toes or move them, the bottom of my foot. But I found people that just gave me the faith in myself that if I worked hard and tried to go through the motions, that things could get better. And that was Dr. G. He was the main guy. Dr. Alexander and Dr. G were the two biggest inspirations to me to keep working.
DBR: So how good does it feel?
Josh Hill: It feels great. It really does, I don’t want to say this, but it feels deserved. As much hard work as I put in, it’s great that I finally rode semi-decent and was able to show you guys how I really ride, on a main event.
DBR: Well you win a heat race, and it seems like every time you had one of those strong performances, you’re down off the start in the tough blocks or something crazy happens. Was any of that going through your head on the start line?
Josh Hill: That was the last thing on my mind. I got out front, and once I came to that first turn in first, it was just nothing but a grin. Villopoto slipped up the inside and took my $1,500, but I’ll forgive him for that, and congratulations to him on the Championship.
DBR: Do you know where you’re going after this? Do you have any plans set?
Josh Hill: Well, there’s talks of me going to Canada right now. We’ll see how that works out. I don’t know. Hopefully this performance will get me a ride back here next year in the Supercross series, because I just want to keep climbing that ladder. I feel like I can get back up there and battle with these guys for wins.
As it is Thursday we thought it would be good to give you all a Josh Hill #tbt. Enjoy watching Josh Hill and Josh Hansen in this 2013 raw SX practice edit…
