If you’ve followed the amateur motocross racing scene in the past four or five years, then you’ve likely heard of Joey Crown. And if you haven’t paid much attention to the amateur scene, then Joey Crown is a name you’ll want to put on your radar.
The 18-year old Crown hails from Metamora, Michigan, and has been surrounded by dirt bikes and racing for practically his whole life. He caught the moto bug at only 3 years old and began riding at the age of 5. The young buck followed a fairly traditional amateur racing path, racing for amateur national titles at events such as the Mammoth Motocross, RCSX at Daytona International Speedway, and the crown jewel of all amateur nationals, the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s. Crown won his first Loretta Lynn’s championship during his 2013 trip to “the Ranch” when he was still on 85s in the Mini Senior Class. He ultimately won two national championships during Loretta Lynn’s that year, and has racked up a collection of impressive accolades in the time since.
Prior to making the jump to the pro ranks, Crown had also been working diligently to earn the required “Road to Supercross” points out of the AMSOIL Arenacross Series in order to make his Monster Energy AMA Supercross debut when the gate drops on the 2018 season. He is a dedicated and passionate rider who has earned his opportunity to move up to the true elite of motocross racing, the coveted pro class. He knows what it means to overcome the trials and tribulations that accompany a racer’s journey from amateur elite to professional rookie, and will settle for nothing less than his best effort and the best results possible, regardless of his circumstances.
Crown made his official professional racing debut during Round 10 of the 2017 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Series at Unadilla MX, where so many young riders choose to make the big transition from ending their amateur career at “The Ranch” and beginning their new chapter as a professional racer. His illustrious amateur career is reason enough for Joey Crown to be the next rider to be featured in our three-part “New Kids on the Block” three-part series.
Joey Crown: The past few years they have been helping me out a little bit. This last year they took my bikes to the Arenacross rounds that I was doing. I was planning to ride the West Coast Lites, but then I ended up getting hurt, so that didn’t happen. This year they stepped up, and since I wasn’t on “Team Green” they helped out a little bit with some bike stuff, and I was able to pit under their rig for Loretta’s. So basically it’s been pretty much a year with them.
DirtBikes.Com: How does having the support you had during your amateur career prepare you for your professional racing debut?
Joey Crown: I’ve been pretty fortunate. The past few years, I think since 2014, I’ve had support from Kawi. Last year was nice. Kawi was bringing my bikes to the races, and I was able to fly in and get a taste, I guess, of what the factory life would be like when you turn pro–when you just show up and race and fly home. Unfortunately last year I kind of struggled with things with results and injuries in the beginning of the year. I kind of struggled all year. My results weren’t very good. I still got some support from Kawi, and then Babbitt’s helped me out a little bit, but we were pretty much privateering it this year. It definitely helped having Kawi behind me–you know, being around the semi and working out of the semi. Hopefully, next year, I’ll be doing the same thing when I’m pro.
DirtBikes.Com: How long have you been racing?
Joey Crown: I’ve been racing since I was 5 years old.
DirtBikes.Com: In addition to racing for amateur national titles, and earning your “Road to Supercross” points, you also had a chance to race professionally in Canada before trying your hand at the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
Joey Crown: In 2015 I was, as an Intermediate. I raced Loretta’s in the B class, and then I went to Walton for the TransCan, which is basically the last Canadian round. I did that and ended up doing way better than I thought I was going to do. I qualified fastest in practice. First moto, I had some issues and ended up seventh. But second moto I ended up winning it, which got me second overall. It was a pretty awesome experience and kind of gave me a little bit of an idea about racing Pro up there. The motos aren’t quite as long, but there are still fast guys and it’s longer (than amateur races). Last year I wasn’t able to race any of the Pro Nationals there, but I raced Walton–they had a pretty big race I did last year and had some pro riders show up. That definitely helped give me an insight to what the pros are like in the states, I guess.
DirtBikes.Com: Do you have a favorite racing moment as an amateur? Or a most memorable race?
Joey Crown: Probably it would have to be Loretta Lynn’s 2013. That was my first title there. I ended up winning both my classes that year in the 85 mini senior classes. That’s probably my biggest moment. I was so close so many years up until that point and then finally, finally I won. I ended up having a broken wrist, too, when I won those titles. That made it even more gratifying, so to speak, getting through that adversity and then winning. A pretty big moment this year would have to be winning Daytona, winning both of my titles there. That was pretty big because last year was pretty rough for me. I referred to it as a train wreck. I got hurt in the spring, and then Loretta’s was not good, and then I got hurt in the fall. To come back at Daytona and win both of those titles, and then I had a pretty decent year after that, was a good moment as well.
DirtBikes.Com: With all the traveling and racing you’ve done growing up, did you go the public school or home school route?
Joey Crown: I went to, actually, private school kindergarten through eighth grade. Did that, and then when I got to high school I started doing online schooling through my local high school. I still had all the classes and had to get all the credits the same as if I were going to a regular public high school. Then I had to go in for exams and for account days. Pretty similar to school, except I’m doing it on a computer. I’m still doing that right now. I’m supposed to graduate in two weeks, I’ll finish up all my classes and then I’ll be done with high school.
DirtBikes.Com: Congratulations! That’s a great accomplishment. Do you plan on doing any college courses? Or for now do you plan on focusing on racing for 2018?
Joey Crown: For now, just focus on racing and see how that goes. Hopefully I will be able to get some sort of good support. I guess making a living is my goal, just racing motocross. If it doesn’t work out, then at least I’ve got my high school diploma and I’ll be able to go to a college and take some classes in the future.
Joey Crown: It’s changed over the years, but I guess probably Kevin Windham was my favorite rider. I always liked his style. He always seemed like a pretty good guy to the fans and everyone. And then later, once Trey Canard turned pro, I really liked Trey too. He’s a pretty good guy. So they are my favorite riders I guess.
DirtBikes.Com: Who has influenced you most on your racing journey, whether that is a trainer, or coach, or pro rider, or family member?
Joey Crown: I probably have to say my dad. My dad influenced me the most. He raced for several years. He started kind of late–he didn’t start racing until he turned 13–but he was able to turn pro and race pro and was able to score points and get a pro number every year he raced. He was just privateering it, but I always looked up to him. That’s how I got into racing was my dad. He’s always been pretty knowledgeable and helpful in my career, helping me with my riding and everything. Definitely my dad.
DirtBikes.Com: When did you know that racing professionally would be the goal?
Joey Crown: Let’s see, probably pretty young when I started toward that goal. When you’re a little kid and you’re watching the pros, you see them and look up to them. I started riding at three, and I always looked up to the pros and always wanted to do it, so I guess pretty young.
DirtBikes.Com: What do you think will be most different about previously racing for amateur national titles versus now racing professionally?
Joey Crown: I think probably the biggest difference will be the season schedule. Just racing every weekend is a lot different. The amateur racing, you’ve got five or six big events that are spread out throughout the year, and they are all week-long events. Now you show up on the weekends and do your job and then go back to train during the week.
DirtBikes.Com: What are your goals for the remaining races of the 2017 season? What about for 2018?
Joey Crown: Goals for the rest of the year, probably get in the top 10 and be towards the front and hopefully get good enough results to land myself some sort of ride for next year, hopefully with one of the premier teams. Then kind of set my goals after that. Ideally next year I’ll be racing Supercross and hopefully be toward making mains and be around the top 10. I believe I can do it, and hopefully I’ll be able to get more support in order to do so.
DirtBikes.Com: Do you plan to race Supercross in 2018 regardless of where you land on a deal?
Joey Crown: I’m definitely going to be racing Supercross 2018. Last year I was able to get my “Road to Supercross” points out of the way. I struggled with that a bit. Arenacross is a lot different than Supercross. The second round I went to, I ended up breaking my arm. It took me out of Spring Nationals last year, but I came back and did the last round in Vegas and was able to get my last point out of the way. Most likely, it will be East Coast [for 2018], but we’ll see. If I were to get support enough that they want me on the West or whatever, we’ll do that. Definitely lining up for Supercross next year, though.
DirtBikes.Com: What was the most challenging part about making your pro debut right after Loretta’s?
Joey Crown: Probably the biggest challenge is all the, in the back of your head, “are you really ready?” knowing if you’re ready. And you don’t really know until it’s the race. It took me a while before I actually made my decision. That week [of Unadilla] I was debating all week if I should go pro now or if I should wait. But I’m happy I made the decision I did because I felt like I did alright. That’s it right there, just making that decision because it’s a big decision and once you go up you can’t really go back.
DirtBikes.Com: What does a typical training week look like for you?
Joey Crown: It kind of varies from where I’m at or what time of year it is. Before Loretta’s, I was traveling a lot. I did Mammoth, and I was out west for a little bit. During the week I’m riding a lot. Lately it’s been at Club MX. I think that’s going to be my home base from here on out. That’s where I’m staying at now. Definitely riding a lot, lots of road biking, and trying to get in as much mountain biking as I can. I enjoy that.
DirtBikes.Com: What is your favorite part of moto that isn’t racing?
Joey Crown: That’s probably… My favorite part would have to be having my family and friends come to the races. I’ve met a lot of people around the country, and I love the places you get to see. Traveling is taxing at times, but you do get to go to places that you never think you would have. In 2010, on 65s, I got to go to France to represent the United States, so that was pretty cool. I never ever would’ve thought that I would get to go to France, especially to be racing my dirtbike.
DirtBikes.Com: You mentioned that you really enjoy mountain biking. When you’re not racing, how else do you like to spend your time?
Joey Crown: Yeah I like to mountain bike, that’s one of them. I also like BMX and then RC car driving. I go racing with that, and then snowboarding. I do those whenever I have time, which isn’t much, but I try to keep up with it.
DirtBikes.Com: What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given about making the transition from amateur star to professional rookie?
Joey Crown: Believe in yourself and believe in the work that you’ve done. The hardest part is believing, and a lot of it is mental for making that racing transition. So believing in myself and if you have a bad moto, don’t be upset because you’ve got another one to go. Try not to let first moto affect the second moto if it’s bad or not what you hoped for.
DirtBikes.Com: And finally, to tie it all together, how did your weekend at Unadilla go for you and what was your favorite moment of your pro debut?
Joey Crown: Unadilla, I have to say, pretty solid debut. I was pretty happy with it. I qualified 13th and I thought that was pretty good. I was bummed in a way because I felt like I could’ve laid a better time in practice, but it was hard getting a clear track. Still, qualifying 13th, I was happy with that. Just being in the top 20 in both motos–the second moto being as gnarly as it was, I was able to get a 15th and keep it on two wheels and come out of it safely and score some points. So I think it was a pretty good starting point for the next few rounds.
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