T-Dog’s Takes: RJ Hampshire on MXoN “I’m Going to be Hurting Pretty Bad, but I’ll Suffer Through it to Get Picked”

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Richard James Hampshire is built differently, there is no doubt about that. He’s one of a kind. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider has had a very up and down summer that has included race wins and as of a few weeks ago a shot at the 250MX title. Of course for RJ, he expects to win races and championships, so by not winning more this season he feels like he left a lot on the table.

The truth is, since Hangtown, Hampshire has struggled with his health. An ongoing stomach issue that occurs on race day is the culprit and it leaves him feeling dehydrated when he’s not. Hampshire said that he’s even had times where the issue causes him to throw up uncontrollably as well. This health issue is something that he’s never dealt with in his career and it has led him to several doctors and specialists to try and figure out the issue. 

On top of that problem, Hampshire knocked himself out at Unadilla, in which he stated that he hadn’t been knocked out that hard in a long time. It was a big setback and Hampshire was forced to sit out Budds Creek and at the moment is figuring out whether or not racing at Ironman will be the right choice for the team, but most importantly, himself. 

However, with Team USA being announced later than usual this year, I had to ask Hampshire if he was on the right track to being named a member of the team. After all, I’m pretty sure he has the event circled on the calendar from the moment it’s announced. The guy absolutely lives for this event and will do anything it takes to get picked for the good ol’ US of A. 

“I don’t want to say I’m out of it, but they talked to me right before Unadilla,” Hampshire said. “It sounded like I was in. I was stoked, of course. I had struggles in the beginning of the day at Unadilla.. during the week so I knew it was going to be a tough day. Then I talked to [Mike] Pelletier and everything was looking good, then I went and knocked myself out.”

Even with the health issues Hampshire has been having he still wants to do whatever it takes to be on the team.

“I really haven’t heard much since then,” Hampshire said. “It’s for the country. I’ll suffer through a couple days, it doesn’t matter if i get picked or if they want me to be there, I will be there. I promise I’ll be competitive. I know I can go out there and give you my best. I truly feel like my best can put us at a really good chance at an overall win. So yeah,I don’t know we’ll see. I feel like if i do take this weekend off, my health will for sure be better for the last three [playoff races] and then des Nations is two weekends after that. So yeah, I’d love to, but I haven’t really heard much.”

The conundrum for Hampshire in the next day or two is to sort out his health. He practiced on Tuesday and his heart is into the racing, but will racing Ironman truly be the best decision in the long run?

“That’s the thing, it’s like man if they don’t have a team for this weekend that’s why i really wanted to go race too,” Hampshire said. “Yeah, I’m going to be hurting pretty bad but I’ll suffer through it to get picked. I feel like I could be even better this weekend. Looking at the whole grand scheme of things I’d rather be feeling great these last three then still come in limping at North Carolina if I do want to go race this weekend, which would probably be the case.”

Do I think that we will see Hampshire race Ironman? I’m not counting the man out, but judging by the situation he is currently faced with I don’t think we will see him line up. It’s the last national and he’s got his sights set on entering the playoff races as healthy as possible. As far as Team USA goes, it sounds like the decision has not been made yet, but Hampshire is ready to give it his all if given the chance to race his favorite event of the year.   

Main image: Husqvarna