Getting to know Josh Hansen

Eric Johnson

Steve Cox

Transmoto’s Eric Johnson checks in with 2013 X Games LA Best Whip Gold Medalist, Josh Hansen.

As it’s been well documented throughout his fabled career, trouble never sits far behind the #100 jersey of Josh “Little Hanny” Hansen. By the way, the nickname “Little Hanny” comes from the fact that his father, Donnie, was crowned the 1982 AMA Supercoss Champion. Now known as the “Silver Fox”, Donnie “Holeshot” Hansen would have won a number of other titles, as well, if not for being taken down by a bad injury in ’82 while preparing for the Trophee des Nations in Germany. But back to the task at hand…

Certainly no stranger to the skin-knuckled, boot-stomping, elbow-throwing crowd that may like to mix it on up at, say, a Misfits gig, Hansen is not your average smooth-talking sponsor-soothing operator. From high-dollar racing fines laid on him by the SX organizers to last-gasp takeout moves (not a “last chance qualifier” move on a girl in a bar at closing time), Hansen’s emotions can get the best of him at times. Yep, Little Hanny can get so heated and revved-up at times that his head – his human head, not the head on his 450cc engine – can literally detonate like a grenade. Good stuff! It’s not all 18,000 revolutions per minute and thrown cam blow-ups, though. The stone-cold truth of the matter is that Little Hanny procured some of Big Hanny’s riding and racing ability, and on any given day (or night) can ride a motocross bike as good – or even better – than anybody in the world. And this includes the likes of Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey.

While talking with him at some big “sometime around Midnight” party thrown in downtown Los Angeles the night after his X Games Gold Rush, we asked Hansen how he felt about his miracle whips. Hansen mused “I went into the event not knowing what I was going to do but I just kept playing it in my head that I was going to ride good, get that feeling in my head of hitting the ramp, getting under it (my whip). It was kind of hard to put in motion since I was off the bike for so long – but it all worked out.”

Why are some riders gifted with more natural, God-given (or Dad-given) talent than others? That’s a 12-beer-deep conversation. But when it all boils down to things, Josh Hansen, whether he’s freeriding or racing supercross or throwing down the dirtiest whips conceivable or hanging out partying with the finest ladies in town or discussing whether John Steinbeck or Ernest Hemingway was a better journalist, Josh Hansen is, in his own special way, a renaissance man. A two-wheeled renaissance man, but a renaissance man, no doubt. Got all that? Good, let’s let Josh prove it to you with his certain “taste” in certain contexts.

LA or OC?
Los Angeles. It’s where I was born!

If you could be a Pro in any other sport, what would it be?
Formula 1.

Any rituals you partake in before a race or X Games?
I pray!

Sushi or BBQ?
Uhh man, that’s a toss-up. I’d say it’s a clean-tie.

Punk or Hip Hop?
I mean, I’d like to say punk music, you know? But I also like Hip Hop. I guess I’m still true to punk rock – not new punk rock, though. That shit’s terrible.

Jessica Alba or Jessica Biel?
Alba!

Lamborghini or Ferrari?
Ferrari.

Gucci or Louis Vuitton?
Neither.

Vodka or Tequila?
Neither.

Penthouse or Playboy?
Penthouse.

Motorsports or Traditional Sports?
Motorsports.

What has more holes – a pepper shaker or a salt shaker?
Wow (_laughs_). That’s all I’ve got there – wow.

What’s your favorite track to ride during the week?
Favorite track during the week? I’d have to say Milestone or Fitzland.

Motocross or Supercross?
I like them both.

Craziest place you’ve been to?
Zwartecross, Sweden. (Writer’s Note: Zwartecross actually takes place in Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands).

Do you have a white-picket-fence dream. And if so, what’s behind that fence?
A bad bitch (laughs)! That’s all I got.

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Want more? We’ve got a full-length profile piece on Hansen in our August Issue (#34). You can pick up any of our back issues from our online store, or using the free Zinio App or iTunes.