TravisPastrana.com - Travis Pastrana Chats

Travis Pastrana Chats

EXPN.com
Apr. 25, 2001

On April 25, Motocross star Travis Pastrana dropped by to take your questions in chat.

The 17-year-old Annapolis, Md., native has won more than 12 Amateur National Championships, including the 2001 125cc East Regional and the Las Vegas Freestyle Motocross Championship.

Pastrana is the man responsible for a variety of the aerial acrobats that have taken the sport by storm. Included on the list are the rodeo, cliffhanger and lazy boy. Every day, new tricks evolve, leaving endless possibilities for those with an innovative nature.

Travis Pastrana at 8:02pm ET
Hi! Thanks for logging in tonight to chat with me!

Blake Benedetto from proxy.aol.com at 8:03pm ET
hi travis i was just wondering how you ever got into the sport of motocross.thanks BLAKE BENEDETTO

Travis Pastrana at 8:04pm ET
My parents got me a 50cc motorcycle when I was four years old -- and it pretty much took off from there.

Brian from [165.34.67.7] at 8:05pm ET
As a relatively new fan of Motocross and someone who has never tried it, I have to ask how your body feels after an event? It looks very taxing and quite painful.

Travis Pastrana at 8:05pm ET
After a national event, you wake up, take six Advil, roll out of bed and into the hot tub and then start your day!

Prairie Chicken from [208.158.239.221], at 8:07pm ET
Travis: I have been a fan since I saw you tearing it up on the Demons of Dirt video. I have two boys (ages 3 and 4) who love motorcycles- especially climbing all over mine. I plan to get
them bikes in the next couple of years. Any advise on breaking them into riding? By the way... nice cameo appearance in "Motocrossed."

Travis Pastrana at 8:08pm ET
Most of the top racers now start between the ages of three and five -- find a place to ride, like local trails or something before you go to a racetrack for the first time. I would recommend a JR 50 for anyone between the ages of four and six for anyone just starting out. And keep it fun!

Bryce Farr from proxy.aol.com at 8:09pm ET
Hey Travis, whats going on? I just wanted to congratulate you on your movie Revelation 199, it was really awsome. I was wondering how you got all of your sponsors, did you go to them, or did they come to you?

Travis Pastrana at 8:11pm ET
When I started out my parents played a big role in promoting me -- with resumes. For the most part they documented everything that I did. When I was eight, I was picked up by American Suzuki and after winning a national championship at Loretta Lynn's, I've been fortunate enough to have most sponsors come to me rather than me approaching them.

Jim Harris from dsl.gtei.net at 8:12pm ET
Have you heard about one of the northern states making it a crime to ride a bike on a track if your under 16? Are your friends helping get
the word out how stupid this law is?

Travis Pastrana at 8:12pm ET
This is the first I've heard of it -- but if it is true, it is something I will definately investigate!

Jessica from valkyrie.net at 8:13pm ET
I was just wondering if you hang out with all the other riders, and how you all get
along. Is there a lot of tension between you?

Travis Pastrana at 8:14pm ET
There is very little tension between most of the riders. Obviously some are very good friends -- like Robbie Reynard, Kevin Windham and Kenny Bartram -- but there are some riders I don't get
along well with.

Sara from clt.bellsouth.net at 8:15pm ET
Do you think your drive and attitude would be different if you weren't so dang good at what you do?

Travis Pastrana at 8:15pm ET
I think when you are winning that you have a lot more motivation to keep going, but it really doesn't matter what I'm doing -- even if I'm playing golf or ping-pong -- I always want to win really bad!

Josh from ne.mediaone.net at 8:16pm ET
What do you like most about the RMs?

Travis Pastrana at 8:17pm ET
This year a lot of changes were made to make the bike lighter and have better manaueverability -- the RM 125 is, in my opinion, the best freestyle motorcycle.

Danieldodd from [218.95.111.83] at 8:18pm ET
How did you feel about ESPN after the First Summer X Games you were in, when you dumped your bike in the bay? I heard they wanted to arrest you or something.

Travis Pastrana at 8:19pm ET
Luckly I was still a minor, so they didn't arrest me. But they did have a long meeting with myself and my parents -- and they fined my $10,000 (even though I drained most of the gas and all of the oil in the bike before the jump.) But, I have never had any animosity toward ESPN ...

Bryce Farr from proxy.aol.com at 8:20pm ET
What do you think about Brian Deegan and the whole metal mulisha?

Travis Pastrana at 8:21pm ET
Deegan is actually a really cool guy -- but I don't really agree with the image that he is going for. His image is making him a lot of money!

Carley from [63.172.252.75] at 8:21pm ET
Travis, are you going to be racing this year at the US open in Vegas?

Travis Pastrana at 8:22pm ET
Yes, this year I plan to race at the US Open. Last year I would have but I was hurt.

Ted Bishop from [218.95.111.83] at 8:22pm ET
How did you feel about getting an Action Sports and Music Awards?

Travis Pastrana at 8:24pm ET
I was really thrilled once I found out how big and event it was. I am on the road all the time and I don't watch TV or listen to the radio much. When I found out how big an award it was, I was shocked and so thankful.

Ben Epperson from koyote.net at 8:25pm ET
do you plan to race the 125's the 250's or both at the US Open?

Travis Pastrana at 8:26pm ET
The US Open is a 250cc only event -- so 250s!

MOTOJAX199 from mia.bellsouth.net at 8:27pm ET
i was wondering if you would ever consider doing the backflip again and if you were going to attend this summers games?

Travis Pastrana at 8:28pm ET
Even though the backflip is a very ... dumb -- I guess that's the best way to put it -- trick ... yes, I plan to attempt it again -- and I do plan to attend the summer games.

Carley from [63.172.252.75] at 8:29pm ET
How do you think you'll do against the other competetion from the 125 West racers like Fonseca or Langston?

Travis Pastrana at 8:30pm ET
Fonseca, Langston, and Buckelew are going to be really tough, but I still think that Nathan Ramsey is going to be the toughest 125 competition.

Matt Clemetson from [216.235.174.38] at 8:31pm ET
Travis, what did Mike Larocco say to you when you guys bumped over that triple??

Travis Pastrana at 8:33pm ET
It was scarier when Mike LaRocco came up to me at the end of the race than it was when we made contact in the air -- he's a big guy! He was really good about it. I apologized, and he said, "you gotta do what you gotta do, but make sure you think about safety."

tom morgan from [152.163.197.66], at 8:34pm ET
what kind of mental preperation do you think you need to achieve before jumping up to the 250class?

Travis Pastrana at 8:35pm ET
Hey, Tom ... I feel I need to go out into the 250cc class without feeling that I need to win. I need to settle for a top-five finish if I am going as fast I can. I need to make sure that if I'm not the fastest one on the track 'cause sometimes you just can't go any faster.

Sara from clt.bellsouth.net at 8:36pm ET
Do you want to come back next year to defend your 125 East title, or move ahead to the 250 class?

Travis Pastrana at 8:37pm ET
Next year, unless something goes really wrong with the rest of my season, move up to the 250cc class and hopefully challenge Carmichael in a few races.

Travis Pastrana at 8:37pm ET
Next year: I hope to place top three in 250cc supercross, win Daytona, and take the Outdoor National Championship

Tim Sheridan from rasserver.net at 8:38pm ET
I know that you practice with K-Dub(Kevin Windham)...have you ever ridden with RC(Ricky Carmichael) at his place? From the looks of it on RonRon's site...it's pretty cool...come to think of it..how's that 20 acres you bought coming along?

Travis Pastrana at 8:40pm ET
No, I have never been invited to practice with Ricky. But, my 20 acres is coming along really well. I have a freestyle park, a motocross track, I am building a supercross track, bmx course is up and skatepark is going up when the shop gets built next month.

Carley from [63.172.252.75] at 8:41pm ET
How do you cope with all the attention that is derived from your fame (action figures, movies, television shows) do you ever wish you were just a plain every day guy agian?

Travis Pastrana at 8:43pm ET
It's hard to just get a supercross and enjoy the sport that I have always loved as a spectator. But I stay away from the "public eye" as much as possible -- riding and training with my friends like I always have. I really enjoy riding my motorcycle -- and everything else that comes with it -- well, it's all the same as long as I get
to ride. (Although I do enjoy showing off on the bike!)

Tim Sheridan from rasserver.net at 8:45pm ET
Travis, Are you really going on the TONIGHT SHOW again with Jeremy? Is it fun?

Travis Pastrana at 8:46pm ET
Yes, I am definitley going on the Tonight Show again. This time Carmichael and McGrath will race -- I will commentate the race and do some freestyle.

Travis Pastrana at 8:46pm ET
In closing -- thanks a lot for all of the great questions! See you at the races -- or the X-Games!

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