Double Trouble with Shane Lusk and Paul Perebijnos

By Bruno Menard

Derrick Fisher and Matt Barnes, who were Blackfoot Honda’s riders for the 125 East championship, were injured prior to the season opener in Barrie this past weekend. The team then started to seek replacement riders. Shane Lusk, 18, from Georgia, and Paul Perebijnos, 21, from Florida, were the chosen riders. Both riders had good amateur careers and were waiting for an opportunity like this one to put their names on the MX map. Some of you may have heard about Shane Lusk as he is Ezra’s younger brother but this feature should help the Canadian fans to get acquainted with our most recent American title contenders.

Both riders are really disappointed with their results from Barrie but they are looking forward to bouncing back this weekend in Moncton.


Shane Lusk	Paul Perebijnos

How was your weekend in Barrie?

Shane-This weekend was going pretty good until the second moto when I went down and could not get my bike started. [Ed note: Shane started in the back of the pack and moved up to 11th in the first moto. In the second moto he was running in 5th when he crashed.]

Paul-It wasn’t great, but I left healthy so things could be worse. The first moto went fine, 6th was decent for my first race on the bike and in the Canadian series, but I definitely was confident between motos that I could better my result. As it turns out I changed my approach to the start for the 2nd moto in hopes of a holeshot but I ended up getting a worse start. 2 crashes later, all I could manage was 18th. Just going to have to change things next weekend.

What are your goals for the rest of the season?

S-To win the motos and if something interferes with that I will get top three. I have to - I have everything I need to do it right in front of me.

P-I want to win races. I know I can, and I know my bike can. The Blackfoot team is the premier team in Canada and everyone knows it. After last weekend all I can do is win races and give it my best, what happens in the championship from here happens. I just need to be consistent and be on the podium from here on out.

What did you know about Canada before coming up here?

S-Pretty much whatever my buddy Derrick Fisher told me, and man he talks a lot.

P-I've always seen Canadian races on TV here in the states for the past 2 years or so, and I was very interested to know how I would fare up here. It’s a great series with a great format and I really enjoyed the race this weekend. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the racing and the announcing was really intense, it was a nice change from the states. It just feels a little more laid back up there.

What is the best thing about riding for the Blackfoot team?

S-The best thing is that even though I have never ridden for a factory team, these guys made it feel like I had been riding for them for years – from the bike to the staff to the truck driver – Blackfoot has to have the best combination on this planet.

P-The people on the team for sure. Everyone on the team is a professional and is passionate about their job. It makes for a really smooth running team on the weekend. Jason Mitchell is a great guy and I have all the respect in the world for him after seeing what a professional operation he's put together. All the mechanics are very knowledgeable and super helpful and I just want to do anything I can to make them happy. Not to mention they have the best bikes I’ve ever ridden. I’m truly honoured to be part of such a great team.

Tell us about your racing background.

S-I have raced since I was 9 years old, and every race I entered from then on up I was racing against Stewart, Bryan Johnson, Millsaps, Gracyk, McGourty and guys like that, so I knew what competition was from an early start. I have placed top three in many of the amateur nationals like Mosier Valley, World Minis and Loretta’s, but I am still looking for that top podium finish - number one.

P-I’ve been racing my whole life, since I was 5. I absolutely love this sport and I am really happy with myself to have reached the level I’m at. My whole racing career has been made possible because of my Mom and Dad. Motocross has given me a great relationship with both of my parents and I love going to races and spending time with my family. Racing has always been fun for me and it still is. There isn’t anything else I would rather be doing with my time.

What were you up to before you got the Blackfoot ride? (So far this year: supercross, US MX, just training…)

S-I was trying a few supercrosses on a completely stock bike because injuries stopped my preseason testing. After that, I have just been training and working toward next year.

P-Well in the beginning I was going to ride amateur stuff because I got help from Mike Guerra at Yamaha. Then a deal to race some SX came up for the BSY guys and it also fit with my current Yamaha contract. I then went to Hangtown to start at the nationals this year and the team truck had an accident on the way back to Florida and the truck got ruined. So because BSY wasn’t able to take my bike anymore I just kind of laid low and saved money and kept training and doing my usual routine. So when this Blackfoot deal came about the timing was perfect, and everything fell together nicely.

What are your plans for the next couple of years?

S-To race as much as I can, I love to race. But I ultimately want to be competing in the U.S. supercrosses for a title.

P-Well right now I’m just concentrating on the Canadian Series for Blackfoot. I want to prove my worth because I really love this team and the Canadian National scene. This is where I want to be next year as well.

What makes you a good rider?

S-I feel like I have a really smooth style and this style helps me to adapt to a racer’s speed that is maybe going faster than me on race day.

P-I’m a good rider because I’m a really steady, strong rider. I consistently get better and am pretty successful at staying healthy. I’m also a great starter and you have to get starts to win races. I’m not a hot and cold, banzai, crash all the time kind of guy and I think that’s key in being a good rider.

Are you a supercross or motocross kind of guy?

S-Supercross, although I like the tough physical aspect of motocross.

P-It doesn’t really matter to me, I like both. I’m a smooth and technical rider so I wouldn’t say I’m better at one or the other.

Which event would you like to win the most?

S-The 2nd round of the East Canadian Series.I have a lot to prove.

P-I want to win the Canadian Championship. After that I still would like to get a title at Loretta Lynn’s in the future sometime and beyond that I think winning a supercross main event in my hometown would be awesome.

Do you have any nicknames? (where do they come from?)

S-Rocky: comes from me loving and having the whole Rocky Balboa collection and me always training super hard. Also, Fabulusk and Booboo, don’t really prefer the latter.

P-No not really. People always just kinda make my last name into something funny. Some friends of mine back home call me Double P, and that’s kind of cool I guess though. But I don’t have any solid nicknames really.

Who are your heroes?

S-My family, very close friends, and Ricky Carmichael.

P-My Dad, Lance Armstrong, Jeremy McGrath and Shaun Palmer…Palmer is good at everything!

What's your biggest accomplishment?

S-Scoring a ride with Blackfoot.

P-I guess it would have to be my title at Ponca City in 2000.

Describe to us your best day ever.

S-Besides the day I threw my leg over a Blackfoot bike, it was probably at my track when we had night races and I beat Bubba Stewart 3 of 4 motos.

P-The day Blackfoot called me! I also found $10 bucks that day. It was for sure the best ever.

What was your first job?

S-Teaching some local skids how to ride dirt bikes.

P-Working with my Dad at his machine shop.

Who would play you in a movie?

S-Ashton Kutcher, Will Smith, Tom Cruise, anybody that’s real cool and funny. [laughs]

P-Anything Jim Carrey - that guy is funny.

What is your greatest fear?

S-Not being able to race or not having my family and close friends.

P-Losing someone I love and not being able to ride a motorcycle.

Whose ass would you like to kick?

S-Paul Perebijnos’: he beat me in rock-paper-scissors to see who takes a shower first and so I was like late every time we went somewhere. I am bringing a real rock this time and I’m gonna knock him out. [evil laughs]

P-If I don’t podium this weekend I might kick my own ass.

What is the funniest prank you ever played on someone?

S-I don’t play pranks, they always backfire.

P-Geez I don't know. I once put a Gay Pride sticker on the bumper of my buddy’s car before a high school parade though our town.

If you had to go to jail, what would miss you the most?

S-Jail is for kids. But customs in Canada was kind of like jail, and I know my parents and best friends were missing me while I was in there!

P-My parents, my girlfriend and my pets.

Which question goes through your mind most often?

S-How bad of a start am I going to get this time? But that is all going to change this weekend at the second round.

P-When am I going to win the lottery?

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