5 minutes with ... the Burke brothers

April 28 , 2005

By Danny Brault

The Burke brothers: Jason (left) and Tim. | Photo: Brett Dailey

The surprise rider of the provincial series last year had to be Jason Burke. In just his first season as a pro, Burke didn’t take much time to get comfortable running with the big boys. Instead, he came out at round one at Gopher Dunes and grabbed the first 125 moto win and second overall in his first pro race. As the series wrapped up in Paisley, Burke clinched second in the 125 class and fifth in the 250 series. In his national debut, he suffered a back injury at RJ Motosport but toughed it out and finished top 20 in both the 125 and 250 classes. The Machine Racing / Label It rider’s best national effort came in Quebec, where he went 18-8 to secure 11th overall in the 125 class. After spending countless hours and dollars training in Florida with his brother Tim, Jason Burke will be gunning for the top spot at the provincials and #33 is looking forward to earning an even lower national number in 2005.

Jason Burke:

What did you do for the winter?
We spent too much money down south but we did a lot of good training and worked hard. During the first week, we just rode but for the second week we got up early, went running and then rode all day. We broke down riding by doing an hour of corners, then a 35-minute moto. By the end we were trying to do four 40-minute motos a day.

You broke your leg badly at Walton. How was the recovery?
I took a lot of time off. I could have been back riding for the Toronto supercross, but just stayed off it for a while. By the time I got back on the back I didn’t notice it. I took enough time off and it was good recovery time.

What happened when you injured it?
I broke the tibia and fibia, and had two screws put in it.

Where did it happen?
At Walton … right before the pro step-up in the back on the s-bend. My foot got caught in a tire [used as a course marker] and snap! Once it happened I thought I had better pull off because it was pretty mangled.

How did the nationals go for you last year?
Considering that I missed quite a few [motos], it went good. I hurt my back at RJ’s but still rode and raced the next weekend like that. Overall it was good with Brad [Coles] and the Label It team.

What were your highlights?
Deschambault and Walton. Even though I broke my leg on a tire at Walton, I felt like I was on it. I got a ninth or eighth in Quebec in the second moto and I think a tenth in the 250 class. At Walton I went to the LCQ after there was no oil in my bike and I got in. I was way on the outside on the start of the first moto and still got a top ten start. On the last lap, DeHaan caught Pierce [Chamberlain] and myself and passed us both. I was like, “Whoa, where did he come from?” [Laughs].

Were you surprised to get such a low number? [33]
Yeah I was, I thought maybe I would get a 50.

What are your expectations for the provincials and nationals this year?
For the provincials, I’m not sure. I might go west by myself [and do some 250 rounds]. I’ll do the first race and see where I stand, hopefully it’s up front; I should be. If I do well at the first round, I’ll probably stay and finish the series. If I don’t, then I’ll go out west and try to get a better number.

Who was down south with you, and where did you stay?
Just my brother and I. We rode every single track in the state of Florida except Dade City. I think we spent something like $30,000! I was kind of angry about that, but it was worth it.

How did the Loretta Lynn’s qualifier at Southwick go for you?
Southwick was good. I had a new sand tire so I didn’t want to chew it up on the start—no I’m kidding. I had bad starts and fell down a few times. I had new bikes from Machine Racing—that was a benefit not having to use my bikes from Florida.

Are you excited for the national coming to Gopher Dunes this year?
I can’t wait, I’m pumped! I’m going for top ten in 250 and top five in the 125. That’s my goal and if I’m not in there, something is wrong. I’ll be riding at Gopher Dunes every day until that day. I’m looking forward to it.

Who are your sponsors for this year?
I’m really happy this year. I will be riding for Machine Racing, but Brad Coles [from Label It] is our manager and we worked together last year so it should be good. Now I’m with Brad and Machine, so it’s the next level and I’m looking forward to it.

You mentioned you lost a bunch of weight from last year to this year, what was it again?
I went from 210 pounds to 170 pounds. That has played a big factor … it’s from Rob [McCullough] working my ass off! It took a lot of hard work and lots of cardio. It was easy to gain and a lot harder to get rid of! [Laughs]

Do you feel different on the bike?
I’m so much lighter! I’m not hanging off the back of the bike like a little tubby,--my shirt isn’t blowing out and I guess it looks more professional; that’s what I’ve been told lately. And I’m getting up over the front of the bike more too. It’s good for my confidence, knowing my riding style looks better and more professional.

We also had the opportunity to interview Jason’s brother Tim Burke. Although he is 19 and one year older than Jason, he is racing the Junior class. He did race a few years ago as a Junior but quit due to injury and has not raced since. After seeing him ride at Gopher Dunes, the Junior class can be scared. He has obviously gained some speed over the winter training every day with a top pro rider. Rob McCullough tells us that he smoked the Junior class so badly at the Southwick Loretta’s qualifier that they now affectionately call him Timmy “Snow” Burke in reference to the Attack MX scandal. By the way, check out the new (June 2005) Racer X Illustrated for a complete story on the Attack MX deal.

Timmy “Snow” Burke:

How did the Loretta qualifier at Southwick go for you?
It went not too badly. The first day wasn’t a qualifier; it was just a local race. I won my qualifiers though [every moto], and pulled some holeshots.

What was the track like?
On Saturday it was rough, but on Sunday they groomed all the straightaways so the breaking bumps weren’t as bad. Saturday was unbelievably rough, but Sunday was really good.

How old are you?
I’m 19-years-old, a year older than Jay.

How are you able to ride the junior class?
I rode five years ago, but kept getting hurt—breaking bones—and I stopped riding. Then I did some martial arts for a few years. When Jay went to Florida, I went with him and just started riding again. When I quit I was a mid-pack junior rider.

How did you come back so fast, you ride like a fast Intermediate.
Just riding with my brother, I got more confidence. He was teaching me for two months in Florida. I just listened and did what he told me.

Are you pretty impressed with your younger brother?
Hell yeah! He’s riding really well right now. I think he could have done better at Southwick but he had stock bikes and a smashed pipe on the 450.

Are you going to ride any CMRC races before Loretta's?
Yeah I’m going to ride the provincials and Walton qualifiers so I can go to the national at Walton. I plan to race Loretta’s before Walton, too.

Jay says you guys spent a lot of money in Florida, what did your dad say?
He didn’t like it, but there’s not much he can do. He knew that sending us away like that would cost us a lot, but he didn’t think it would be that much money.

Good luck to both of you at Gopher Dunes this weekend.
Thanks.

Burke will don #33 in 2005, and judging from his riding at Gopher Dunes and his time spent down south, he may be the man to beat in this year's provincials. | Photo: Brett Dailey

Timmy Burke railing a corner on his brother's CRF250 at Gopher Dunes last week. | Photo: Dailey