Five Minutes with Jesse Dobson

JCMX Films

JCMX Films

At the 2011 Junior Motocross Nationals, young Aussie Jesse Dobson dislocated his shoulder in a racing incident, and would later require a shoulder reconstruction. After being back on a bike for less than one week, Dobson was taken out by another rider during a race, and broke his leg in three places. Injured for eleven months, he forced to rehab and train intensely to make it back in time for the 2012 Junior Motocross Nationals. Although he struggled at the start, Dobson was able to put together a solid week of racing and claimed the 13/15yrs 250cc Championship. With impressive results already starting to shine through in 2013, Dobson looks to be on the right path as he moves forward. JCMX Films’ Josh Cassidy checks in with the shredder to have a top-line chat about the season ahead.

First up Jesse, which bike will you be riding this year, and who do you have supporting you in season 2013?
This year I’ll be on board a Kawasaki, like I was last year, and I’ve also resigned with Fox and Oakley. SkullCandy, Ipone Oils and Dunlop have come on board to support me this year, too. I’m super excited to be receiving so much support from such awesome brands in 2013.

Where will you be competing throughout the year, and at which events?
I’ll be racing the Motocross Nationals and the Australian Supercross Championships in the Under 19s class. I’ve also been racing recently at the New Zealand National Motocross Championships in the MX2 class, just to get some racing experience in before this year’s MX Nats.

Tell us about the injuries you sufffered in 2011, and the recovery process you went through.
Unfortunately, I had a race mis-hap at the 2011 Australian Junior Motocross Nationals and needed surgery on my left shoulder. After five months of recovery, my first week back on the bike I went to a club event and collided with another racer on the track in one of the turns. I ended up breaking my leg in three places… We treated the rehab fiercely, and got the all clear to ride after spending another five and half months off the bike, which left me with only five weeks on the bike to prepare for the 2012 Australian Junior Motocross Nationals.

How did your final season as a junior go coming back from your injuries, and what are your plans for season 2013?
In my final year as a junior I only raced one race – the AJMX – which wasn’t the greatest, although finishing on the top step was awesome. I could still race juniors for another year in 2013, but I feel as though I am ready for the pro ranks. My results in Timaru at the first round of the New Zealand National Motocross Championships in the MX2 class show that, with fifth Overall.

There are rumours floating around that you want to skip Under 19s completely and go straight to the MX2 class. Any truth behind that?
Yep! (Laughs) There’s a possibility I could be jumping straight into the MX2 class, as that’s where I’d like to be, but we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Best of luck for the season ahead, mate.
Cheers!