Behind the bright lights of Sin City sits a rider who has been MIA for quite some time, about two years as a matter of fact. At the top of his career, he sustained one of the worst injuries at the worst possible time. A former Honda of Houston rider and motocross-off-road-motocross crossover, Jared Partridge has tested the waters, learned some tough lessons, proved himself to be a talented rider and is in full swing for the 2010 season. Coming out from under shadows of his older brothers, Partridge is back and means business. I had a sit down with the Vegas-native and found out what he's been up to, his current health status and what his plans are for 2010. Scroll on down!

Hey Jared! Word on the street is your training for the 2010 World Minis...Any truth to that?
JP-Yeah, that's the plan as of now. I broke my arm a few months back training for off-road out in the desert, and after a lot of hard thinking decided I needed to go back to where I started. Amateur motocross.

We haven't seen you race the Mini's since then! 2007 was also your last year on Honda of Houston. Tell us about riding for them and why we saw you on on KX250F wtih Carter Powersports graphics in 2008?
JP-Riding for Shaun and being supported by Honda of Houston was probably the greatest thing to happen to me and my amateur racing back then. After Ponca in 2004, I guess he saw something in me and decided I was worth being on the team going into the Intermediate class. Luckily, after the first year of ups and downs, he decided to keep me on the team for 2006 and 2007 where everything went for the better. As Far as the Kawi situation goes, I was just at work one day (Carter Powersports) and decided after I was done with Honda I  would need a ride to race in '08. So I talked to Craig Kennelly and he decided to let me go out and do a WORCS race on my Honda. I was doing pretty good until some bike problems ended my weekend, but he saw the potential and had me on the bikes the next week.

At the top of your game in 2006 you had a seriously unfortunate injury blowing out your knee coming out of a corner. Take us back to the incident and what went through your mind coming out of the corner?
JP-It was actually during a practice session up at StarWest in California. As most people know, it's pretty slick there. It was maybe four laps into my first practice, and I landed off the finish line sitting down with my leg out going into a right hander. My front wheel started sliding and instinct kicked in. I just put my leg out, and my knee bent so far back and came up so far it hit me in the helmet. As soon as it happened it was just a crazy sharp, swelling sensation that's the worst pain in the world. I knew something was wrong with it right away, and just rode straight to the truck. After a few weeks I started riding and hurt it again, and decided it was time for surgery.

After surgery and recovery, you hurt the same knee again on the track. At this point what were your thoughts as far as where your racing career was going?
JP-Yeah, pretty much right away I tore it again. It was actually my first race back at a Loretta qualifier. First turn even! (laughs) I can't really say I was thinking too positively after it happened again. I was very worried about getting it fixed and sitting out the rest of the year. Mainly because of my contract with Honda, and letting all my sponsors down. Needless to say, I didn't get it fixed. I went two more years before getting it fixed again.

After Mammoth of 2007 it seemed like you were having a rough time catching a break in amateur motocross. So you moved to WORCS after you got picked up by Carter Powersports for the full time off-road gig. How did you like the off-road scene compared to amateur moto?
JP-I think Off-road is amazing. When I went to my first race it was so calm compared to amateur stuff. Not a thousand cars, tons of people and golf-carts. Just families walking around the pits. Couple hundred people at each race. And the racing itself was so much more...relaxing I wanna' say. In amateurs you have maybe 5-10 laps to make a move. Those races only last 15 minutes max. I race for an hour on Saturday, and two hours on Sunday. I have all the time in the world to just relax, and work on a comfortable pace.


So why have you decided to go back to your amateur roots at this point in your career? And what are your goals for next season?
JP-Just to go out and show people that my training and riding is all paying off and that I can still go out there and run up front. I think that if I continue to ride and train, everything will fall into place and I'll have a good year. I don't wanna' set any crazy goals saying I'm going to win everywhere, but I'd at least like to get a top five or top ten here and there.

With your brother Kyle coming back stronger than ever for the 2010 Supercross season, have you two been training and keeping on each other about sticking to your program?
JP-Well he started training more and riding when I broke my elbow and needed surgery. So I wasn't able to do much on the training set up for a few months. I just got released two weeks ago to at least work out. So I've been doing that as much as possible. We don't really train together too much. He does his thing and I do mine. He's actually been riding my bike since I broke my arm so I'm gonna have to steal that back pretty soon!

What do you feel will be the biggest challenge coming back into amateur motocross?
JP-Finding support. No one that I was sponsored by when I raced amateur has really heard from me in two years. So I really think that will be the hardest, seeing how expensive it is, and I really just do it all on my own. From entries to gear, gas, bikes, and hotels, everything. After my dad passed away I didn't really have anyone to help me get to the races so I started goin' at it alone.

Do you have any sponsors lined up for 2010?
JP-Not yet! (laughs) Really just my mom will probably help me out a little bit. I think I'd just want to earn everything again to be honest. I think it'd give me more to work for, knowing that if I do good in this race or that race, I might get a little more support than before.

Anyone you would like to thank?
JP-My mom for helping me all this time. Fox, Spy, Pirelli, Carter Powersports. My mechanic Ryan. You and the people at Vurb. And everyone else who ever helped me during my racing career.

Thank you for your time and we look forward to seeing big things from you next year!
JP-No, No, No, Thank you!