Blake Baggett has been following the amateur race circuit for over a decade. Although only 16 years of age, Blake has definitely achieved great success throughout his amateur career. He has been one of Team Green Kawasaki's hotshots for numerous years. Blake took home the Schoolboy 2 (14-16) title at Loretta's this past August, and since then has moved up to the highly competitive A class. Going into The 2008 Thor Mini Olympics this past November, everyone put the spot light on long time rivals, Westcoast's, Blake Bagget and Eastcoast's, Justin Barcia. Mini O's has come and gone and it marked the first race that the two had met since Loretta's. The hype was quickly looked over when Bagget struggled to produce the results the crowd had antisipated. We sat down with Blake to get the answers behind his performance in Florida, and his current plans for 2009.

Enter Blake Baggett:

Blake, first, reflect on how you felt overall at Mini O's?Mini O's didn't go as planned. I started off the week as the Blake Baggett that everybody knew. By the end of the week I really wasn't riding like myself. I didn't get the best of starts, which hindered my finishes.

Going into Florida, everybody built up this tremendous hype on the showdown between you and rival Justin Barcia. Did all of the extra hype put unneeded pressure on you?
I tried not to pay attention to it and just let everybody talk and say what they wanted. In a way, it added extra pressure just from hearing all of the nagging about it.

You put in a couple of good showings at the Mini O's, but it didn't seem like you were riding like the Blake Baggett that we all know. Explain.
I didn't have 100% focus on myself. With the little focus that I had, my week wasn't the best.

There were a couple of instances throughout the week where you and Barcia were bar-to-bar, but we didn't see as much battling between the two of you throughout the week as we were expecting.
Due to mistakes, the battles between the two of us were short lived. There's 40 riders on the gate that have the potential to win, it's not just about him or any one rider in particular. Everybody in the A class is close and on top of their game.

What are you going to do to make sure that you run in the front of the pack come time for Texas and Vegas? New program? Step up your training?
My main concern is that I need to focus on myself. I need to bring back the Blake Baggett that everybody remembers. I have made some minor changes with my program and training efforts.

We have heard that Justin Barcia is on the pathway to Glen Helen in 2009. What are your plans for 2009? Do you stay in the amateur ranks until after Loretta Lynn's?
I will be riding the amateur ranks throughout Loretta's. I don't have a ride as of now, but hopefully by the time Loretta's comes around, I will get a ride. If not, I will be riding the amateur ranks for another year.

You are definitely at a point in your career where you need to come out swinging now, more than ever. All of the teams are scouting out potential riders to pick up for the big show. Do you feel that you have already made your mark on the industry?
I don't think that I have made a big enough impression yet to get a ride. Everybody says your A year is your year to shine. So far, my A year hasn't been what I'm looking for.