Five Minutes with … Johnny Montes
JULY 30, 2008

Johnny Montes makes his debut in the Monster Energy MX Nationals this Sunday at River Glade in Moncton, New Brunswick.

photo: James Lissimore

By Danny Brault

Give Johnny Montes credit: it has been a good run—and it’s still going. It’s been some time since we talked with “The Spanish Fly,” and with the Moncton national upon us, we figured it was a good opportunity to see how he’s doing. As it turns out, things are going better than ever! Montes is enjoying his first summer at home in seven years and having a great time following the local scene. He’s also working his way into the boil-maker’s union, to start, as he says, “the second chapter of his life.” Look for the Team 33 Atlantic Motoplex Yamaha rider to pull a holeshot at his hometown—and only—national of 2008 at The Glade.


RXC: Johnny Montes! Where have you been?
Johnny Montes: Well, I went through some political BS and decided I wasn’t going to race, but then Atlantic Motoplex stepped up and offered me a bike. Now I’m racing, just for fun, and, lately, I’ve been trying to get into this boil-maker union.

Boil-maker union?
Yeah, it’s like welding and pipe fitting. It’s a trade and I’ve been trying to get into that. I wrote my test on Thursday and did really well. So that’s the road I’m going to take. I’m at that age where I’ve either got to poop or get off the pot [laughs]. This is the first time in a long time that I’ve enjoyed a summer at home. I love it!

You’ve been going west for a few years now, haven’t you?
I’ve been living out of a suitcase for the last seven years! I never really can call one place home; I’m always all over the map.

I was expecting to see you stronger and faster than ever this summer after spending the winter at Jeff Northrop’s place in California.
I was ready. All of the boys down there said I was riding better than ever. I trained with Northrop and was taking Spencer [Knowles] to the track with me everyday. We were into it; we were riding and going to the gym everyday.

Have you been racing local events regularly?
Yeah, I’ve been racing all of the local stuff. It’s been really good. With [Ryan] Lockhart, Mitch [Cooke] and Davey [Fraser] not there, it’s been a little easier, but the guys are still trying hard.

So you're winning everything?
Pretty much. I’ve lost a couple of motos with crashes and bike problems, but I’ve basically won everything. Charlie Smith is riding well and there’s a like group of guys together who have made it interesting for spectators. I’m just having a lot of fun at the races. We go up on Saturday, have a campfire with the Atlantic Motoplex team, and all of the parents are hanging out joking around and then we get up Sunday morning and go racing. It’s a blast!

I bet it is. What’s amateur racing like out East? Are rider entries up? Down?
I feel that rider entries are way up. I’m not sure how it is in the rest of the country, but we have a major problem here right now. We have 45 juniors, and, maybe six intermediates and six pros. I don’t know why we’re running into that problem. I think the top five juniors are fast enough to run the intermediate pace. I don’t know why they don’t move up and race for money.

Other than racing, what’s keeping you busy?
I did a week-school last week and there was a big arenacross here that paid huge. I was fortunate enough to win that and hold that school.

Was that the arenacross on Prince Edward Island?
Yep, PEI. It was great! The promoters did a really good job. There weren’t a lot of spectators because there was so much going on in PEI that week. The track was decent, the dirt was perfect, and the prize money was perfect—let’s have some more of them [laughs]!

Have you been keeping track of the nationals?
Yeah, I’ve been reading all of the write-ups and watching the shows. I can’t wait for the Moto Show—you guys do a good job! I’m really surprised on a couple of guys and disappointed with others.

Atlantic Motoplex is helping out Montes this year. Monty says, despite a lack of "serious" racing, he can run in the top-10 until the halfway. We'll find out shortly!

photo: Mark Goodwin

What’s your take on the story thus far?
I’m not surprised with Colton [Facciotti]. With the backing he has and the people he has in his corner, I knew that was going to happen. I’m surprised Northrop hasn’t won a race yet, but he’s been close. I’m really surprised with the Medaglia brothers. I know they’re fast but I didn’t think they would be podium fast. I’m a little disappointed with Lockhart and I know he’s had bad starts, but I pictured him as a top five guy every weekend. Plus, with those bikes I don’t how he’s getting bad starts.

He’s going to be reading this, Montes!
[Laughs] I know. I can’t wait for him to read it; it’ll get him all fired up. In these last three rounds he needs to get some holeshots. He’s a holeshot guy; I’ve seen him holeshot 450 motos so I know he has it in him. I’m not surprised about Keaster. I’m pumped to see guys like that up front. I’m a little disappointed that Johnny Roy isn’t racing.

He’s going to be racing Sand Del Lee and Walton, I believe, on a 280 two-stroke.
He’ll be on the podium. He’s too smart and too fast. It’s not like the guy is sitting at home being lazy. He’s a workhorse no matter what he does.

Are we going to see the return of Johnny Montes this weekend at River Glade, or are you going to the Eagles concert?
[Laughs] Nope, you’re going to see the return of Team 33. I’m not too worried; I have the speed but those guys have seven rounds of racing in and this is my first. I’m pumped because this is the first year that I don’t have any pressure. I want to do good, but whatever I get is what I get. At the end of the day, I want to leave the track with a smile on my face.

How many times have you raced the Moncton national?  27 ?
[Laughs] I turned pro in `93 and I’ve raced it almost every year.

What is your best memory or best race you’ve ever had at Moncton?
Back in `98, I think, I rode both classes and I got fifth overall in 125 and a sixth overall in 250. I charged hard every moto, worked my way through the pack and was catching guys that I didn’t think I could catch. I was riding Hondas for Toys for Big Boys.

What about Sand Del Lee or Walton?
I was planning to do the last two, but I have a huge opportunity to get into this union. I have these safety courses to attend and they are only offered the week of Walton and the Friday of Sand Del Lee so I can’t make it.

That’s responsible thinking, Johnny. Who do you want to thank for support this year, Johnny?
Atlantic Motoplex, my father, Troy Lee Designs Canada, Ogio, Etnies, Dragon, Dave and Michelle, Kristi, Factory Connection, and everyone else that’s been helping me.