Riding high off his Saturday night Toyota AMA Arenacross Series main
event win in Grand Rapids (Mich.), FiberWise Pasta/Rock River
Powersports / Fly’s Keith Johnson was rolling back to his home in
Albuquerque, N.M., catching call after call congratulating him on his
win.
The veteran of many Toyota AMA Arenacross Series and Monster Energy®
Supercross battles, Johnson is actually on a double high in that his
wife, Jennifer, is just a couple short months away from giving birth to
their first child.
If the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series had a stand-up comedy division,
Keith Johnson would be on the podium every night. Given that, it’s no
funny matter that he’s also got the speed to smoke the world’s
fastest arenacross racers – especially now that his knee (MCL) is
pretty much healed up.
After a bit of a slow start coming out of the 2007-’08 Toyota AMA
Arenacross Series gate in Des Moines (Iowa), Johnson is now hitting on
all cylinders. Johnson took some time out of his busy schedule to do an
interview for arenacross.com.
Arenacross.com: Keith, first off, congrats on your win in Grand
Rapids. That’s got to have you pumped considering how the first
portion of the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series went for you.
Keith Johnson: “Yeah, no doubt. What’s it been, since Reno or
Charlotte last year, since I’ve won? That holeshot definitely
helped.”
Arenacross.com: Not many people are aware of the extent you injured
your knee. Tell us what happened.
Keith Johnson: “Well, I’d been riding a bunch. Wait. Rewind that.
In 2006 I broke my lower leg and I’m pretty sure that weakened my MCL.
So towards the end of September (2007) I crashed right before the U.S.
Open and that’s when I really hurt it. Ended up getting an MRI and the
doc said ‘No riding for six to eight weeks.’”
Arenacross.com: Yeah, but wasn’t Des Moines three weeks later?
Keith Johnson: “It was. And I pretty much sucked. I went 8/11
which, after all the time I put in riding this summer, was really
disappointing. But I knew that in the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series all
the rounds are important, so I got what points I could and just dealt
with the pain.”
Arenacross.com: You picked it up and did better at Albany with a 6th,
then dipped at Reno (12th/15th) before almost making the podium at
Rockford (4th/5th). At that point you had to be one of the racers loving
the holiday break for the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series.
Keith Johnson: “The break gave me a good opportunity to recover and
come back strong. Kevin and I would ride every day, no matter if it was
cold, raining or what. We did that last summer, too. Just went out and
ran‘er hard, and I’d work hard to not let Kevin pull me. So riding
with him helped a lot.”
Arenacross.com: So what clicked for you then in Grand Rapids?
Keith Johnson: “In Grand Rapids I had a feeling that I was faster
than I was in Rockford – and I had raced pretty well in
Rockford. Not spectacular, but I was riding better than I had earlier in
the year. So all I thought about was the holeshot and making the
Triple/Triple – which I was able to do on about 20 of the 25 laps. It
was definitely a good win. Reminds me I can win on a 250F with somebody
like Brock (Sellards) pressuring me the whole race. That showed my
endurance is up and I’m definitely expecting to be up on the podium
more now.”
Arenacross.com: Did you put away a lot of FiberWise pasta over the
holidays to help with your endurance?
Keith Johnson: “Yeah, that and a lot of holiday cookies (laughter).
For real, though, the FiberWise pasta is good stuff. I buy it at the
store all the time. Keeps my endurance up.”
Arenacross.com: So is the knee 100-percent?
Keith Johnson: “It hasn’t been bothering me as much, but I
didn’t have surgery or anything. I had an MRI and it showed a 3rd
degree tear. I wasn’t released to race until Reno and the doc said
it’d heal up on its own if I didn’t re-injure it training. So I’d
say it’s about 90-percent good-to-go now.”
Arenacross.com: Keith, good luck in Baltimore this weekend.
Keith Johnson: “Thanks, man. Look forward to seeing everybody at
the races.”
2007-’08 Toyota AMA Arenacross Point Standings
1. Chad Johnson, Hon, 163
2. Brock Sellards, Kaw, 158
3. Kelly Smith, Kaw, 155
4. Jim Neese, Suz, 135
5. Kevin Johnson, Yam, 132
Tickets for the Jan. 11-12 Toyota AMA Arenacross at Baltimore’s 1st
Mariner Arena are available through www.arenacross.com,
at the 1st Mariner Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets including
Baltimore Tickets on Lake Street, Hechts at Security Square Mall, Hechts
at White Marsh Mall, Record and Tape Traders, Sound Garden, online at www.ticketmaster.com
or charge by phone at (800) 551-7328. Fees and handling may apply.
Show time is Friday at Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Sunday (amateurs) at
12:00. Doors open Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m.
Friday and Saturday advance tickets are $18 to $20 for adults, $8 for
kids ages 2-12. Sunday’s tickets are $18 for adults, $5 for kids. All
tickets $2 more day of show.