I’ve had the privilege of knowing AMSOIL/Factory Connection/Chaparral/Honda rider Joaquim Rodrigues for a few years now – ever since he first left Portugal to come to America with the Red Bull KTM team.   Leaving family and friends behind, the now 24 year old lived in a small apartment with then teammate Brett Metcalfe – both hoping to make their mark in American motocross.  After his breakthrough 250 class rides in the summer of 2004, the red riders picked him for 2005.  Getting up to speed with his first supercross podium at the 125 East Coast finale at Pontiac, J-ROD established himself as a contender, until a serious crash in Las Vegas and first turn crash at Hangtown sidelined him.  I was able to catch up with national number 42 during Saturday’s practice at Red Bud.  

Starting out Joaquim, how are your injuries right now?

From my big crash at Vegas, I didn’t remember anything – other than that my wrist and ankle hurt a lot.  I then decided to race Hangtown even though I hadn’t been able to ride at all before it.  My foot was still hurting a lot, but I just wanted to try to get some points.  After the first moto I was in a lot of pain, but I didn’t want to tell the team that I didn’t want to race the second moto, because I didn’t want to be a wimp; so I lined up for moto two.   Unfortunately a big crash happened right at the start, and I was right in the middle of it – under everyone!  I re-hurt my foot again, only this time it was worse than at Vegas.  I shouldn’t have raced that second moto, but that’s just the lick I’ve been having.  Now I’ve been riding for a few weeks, and I’m starting to feel better.  Still, I have some limitations on my foot, and my wrist occasionally hurts a little bit in flat landings; but overall I’m getting better everyday and training hard.

You rode great at Pontiac, and took third overall;
and were looking good at Las Vegas too, until your crash.

Yeah Pontiac was the best feeling in my life so far; I’ve worked so hard and dreamt about that podium since I was a little kid – so that was a dream come true!  After that race, I started thinking that since I got a podium, getting to the very top is not impossible.  Then at Vegas I don’t know what happened at the start, I just remember being at the Asterisk Mobile Medical Center, and my girlfriend telling me that I was in a big crash at the start, and was unconscious for a long time.  So, after my podium at Pontiac my bad luck returned, but I have my dream to be Supercross Champion – and I’m going to work hard everyday to realize that dream!

Coming into Red Bud, are you 100%?

Well, not really 100%, but I am sure I can do my motos with no problem, and my fitness is still not too bad.  I’m sick of being at home, with everyone racing, so I think the conditions are good for me to come back.  I’m just going to try to do my own race, and not worry about any others.

Of course as a professional racer, you want to always win;
but realistically what do you expect this weekend?

Everyone knows that I want to win badly, but I’m going g to try to take it slowly and get better every race – and give my team some good results.

Being that its contract time J-Rod, can you talk about what you may have going on in 2006?

I don’t really know yet; the Factory Connection AMSOIL is a great team, and has the greatest bikes I’ve ever ridden; I really appreciate riding for this team.   The guys there have always supported me and believed that I could do it, so I would love to stay here and give them the championship that I have always dreamt about!  I hope I can sign soon; but wherever my future takes me, my goal will always be the same – to claim the number 1 plate!

Reprinted from www.amamotocross.com