MEET THE NEW GUY
Author: Brent Stallo	Features | Wednesday, 14 October 2009 09:53

Photography: Ryne Swanberg

It happens every year. Or at least it seems to. And oddly enough it happened to us while at our own race last Sunday. As Ryne Swanberg and I sat on the infield at Bremen Race Park for the Vurb Classic awaiting the start of the pro race the topic of conversation was whether or not anyone would be able to hang with local favorite Jase Lewis. Then on the second lap of the moto the topic changed when Ryne asked, "who the heck is #504 on the Honda running behind Lewis?" To which I replied, "I have no clue? I guess some local fast guy."

Well, I was wrong. He was a local fast guy, not from Georgia though, but rather Iowa. Instead of jumping the gun and introducing ourselves right off the bat we waited to see how consistent he would be throughout the day. He ended up going 3-3-3 for 3rd in MX Lites A behind Jase Lewis and Derek Rogers and 2-2-2 for 2nd in MX A behind only Lewis. We then introduced ourselves to Jeremy Kress, a tall, polite kid from the mid-west with a knack for twisting the throttle.

We then wanted to know more. Where did he come from? How did he get here? The answers came from Honda of Houston's Shaun Martin, who noticed Kress at the Pro Am in Freestone a few weeks before. Kress, now a fully backed Honda of Houston rider, is gearing up for what he hopes will be a surprise showing at Mini Os. Learn all this and more about Kress by reading the interview below and watching the video we put together on him from the Vurb Classic.

Give us some background into Jeremy Kress? Something to help introduce you to our readers.

I am 19 years old and in 2008 graduated from Center Point-Urbana High School in eastern Iowa. Up until August I worked installing flooring: carpet, wood, vinyl and tile.  I have been racing since I was four.  The first time I climbed on a dirt bike was a PW50. I jumped on and pinned the gas and headed directly at our house. That day I quickly realized I had no clue how to stop. I froze full throttle. My dad grabbed me off the bike just as it hit the house, bending both front forks and locking the front tire against the motor.  After that I waited a year before I decided to race and have been wide open with it ever since.   I have raced mainly in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. My home track is Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a great stadium style track which my dad helped run.  My brother and I raced locally and never did the Loretta’s scene, qualified a few times but never actually went. Both sides of my family grew up with dirt bikes, my dads family had a couple bikes they rode around on the farm. My mom's side was more city kids, but grew up racing each other down the railroad tracks which lead them to racing. Both of my uncles were top local riders.  My dad never raced, settling on promoting and running races instead. My mom, however, did race a little.  I have been lucky in that respect, one of my uncles even owned a local Honda/Yamaha dealership. So bikes have always been apart of my life.

You mentioned that you have ridden some pro nationals. When, where and how has that experience helped you get where you are today?

This spring I decided to go after my pro license with the goal of getting my minimum points in as few races as possible, three Pro Am races. I got my license five days before Redbud. My first pro race just being on the same track with guys you watch every weekend was a dream come true. I also raced Millville, Unadilla, and Steel City, I only made the main event at Millville with a 27th overall. I was pretty excited.  Racing these races has helped me realize that my goal is achievable, but the Pro Am at Freestone played a huge roll in where I am now with Honda of Houston. That is where they noticed my potential.

 

 

You are one of Honda of Houston’s new guys, talk about Shaun and the team a little bit and what you hope to accomplish for them in 2010?

Shaun, Naveen, Dave, Nick, Mike and the rest of the Honda of Houston team has been great to work with. They’ve taken me under their wing and helping me improve my skills and conditioning. A little tough in the cold winters of Iowa. I am learning a lot and can't express my appreciation to them for taking a chance on a kid from Iowa who they had never heard of and only seen once at Freestone.  They have made me feel like a part of their family from day one.  We are all excited about the possibilities of the up coming 2010 session with current focus laying on the up coming Mini Os and after that taking Loretta's and Ponca City.

Mini Os will be your first amateur national. You will undoubtedly be one of the biggest sleepers heading into the event. Where would you like to see yourself after the race is over?

It's going to take a lot of hard work, there are a lot of great riders out there competing for the top, but I believe I have the skills and support from my family, friends and of course Honda of Houston to make it to the top.  I can’t wait for the Mini Os to show everyone that I can run up front. I don't know a lot of the top amateur circuit riders so I won’t be intimidated by any big names. Being the sleeper and hearing people say "whose that guy, were did he come from? " is awesome and drives me to work even harder.  My goal is to be on the podium.

 

Plans following 2010? Will the pro nationals be in your future following the amateur season?

After  the 2010 amateur series my goal is to jump into the last few races of the pro nationals and then prepare for the supercross season.

Everywhere I have gone over the last couple months has been great making tons of new friends and hopefully a few fans. This sport has given me so much, giving me a place to focus my energy in a positive way and keeping me out of trouble.  There are so many things pressuring and pulling kids in the wrong direction but motocross has been the thing that has been constant for me and keeps me heading in the right direction.

 

I am excited and can't wait for the 2010 session to start.