Troy Dog
It’s always a great conversation when I get the chance to chat with former GEICO Honda rider/current freelance journalist/all-around good guy Blake Wharton. Over the years I’ve made sure to keep in touch with him and it made sense to catch up with him to fill you in on what he’s been up to in his life lately. He’s helping put on the Vintage XR200 class and racing at the Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amatuer Supercross next week. In this part of the interview we get into what he’s been doing in life as well as dip into a small bit of his amateur career. Stay tuned for part two of this interview in the coming weeks because Wharton told me some things that not too many people know about himself.
Vurbmoto: I’ve been keeping up with you via Instagram these days and I know that you’re with Racer X doing some freelance work these days. Why don’t you start off by telling people what you’re up to now.
Wharton: Well, I’m nine to fiving in the family business and that takes up a pretty big chunk of time. I still have my moto related projects very much alive. We’re looking to do more stuff for 2023. When I stepped away the first time I took some time away from the sport. I wasn’t doing a whole lot for a year or two. Now I’m just combining my passions with motorcycle projects. We got to work with some cool companies last year and did a couple of trips that were fascinating. You know, going to test the Stark in Spain and going to Israel to do their version of the Olympics. This year we had a cool opportunity with MX vs. ATV and then we have the King of Daytona event coming up and that’s our next deal. It’s a lot of different things like that. We’re trying on as many hats as possible, but I like to write and I’m passionate about film, so anything that has to do with film and motorcycle companies I try to blend them all in. Of course music as well, I’ll always be passionate about that. Always try to add that when we can. As far as what we’re doing, it’s a touch of everything and we’re going to see what sticks in 2023.
It seems like you’re always willing to travel for your passion projects.
Well, we have in the past and we still will. The farthest was East Africa and the Middle East. The motorcycle abroad stuff was one of the first things I got into after racing. I still really like that and would still like to do it. Those trips are a little harder to get scheduled on the books. Motorcycles in the least likely of places is essentially what it is. There is a big story there and not a lot of people know that people around the world are pursuing bike racing of some kind. Or by culture. So yeah, I’m willing to travel wherever the story takes us. My personal favorites are the least likely of places that no one has heard of. I like the big events and going to supercross and all that, but there is a much broader story outside of the mainstream as well.
What part of the world were you most shocked to find motocross in?
There are still some regions that I have yet to see, but I guess it would be the Middle East. We’ve only been to Israel, but we’re looking to go to other areas soon. That was a shocker for most people that it even existed there. I know Racer X was surprised when we went over there and did that. They have the means and the will to do it. They love it. In other parts of the world there is a similar story. Really everywhere, it’s high taxes and lower economic regions that people can’t afford a $14,000 bike, especially if the tariffs are double the price. You see that a lot. Who knows what we’ll see. I’ve heard stories about the Middle East that are crazy as well. There is a lot more to tell in that region of the world.
You were at the Houston Supercross. What did you think about it and who did you see? How was it?
Well, we didn’t go to be with the riders or anything like that. We didn’t go in the pits. It was more of a spectator’s weekend. It’s been good racing. Nothing really surprising because I’ve been looking at the rookies coming into it and some of the veterans as well. It’s the same stadium that I’ve been to many times and done well at a time or two. It’s interesting and a different perspective being up in the stands the whole time. The sport is changing, but a lot of the stuff is staying the same. It’s good to see some of the veteran guys doing well, some of the guys I grew up with and raced with for a good amount of time.
You raced and beat them too. Did any fans come up to you? I mean they’ve got to remember, right?
They should, I mean, it’s hard to say though. This next generation of young people aren’t going to know much about me when I was racing because it’s been a long time. The folks who are 30 and older, which is what we found, are who came up to see me. The fans are getting older and I think I stay the same age.
You had several wins in your career. Do you have a favorite out of those?
Probably the first win (St. Louis 2009) as far as the pros go. The US Open in the amateurs, the amateur MXoN in Bulgaria, and Loretta’s. Those were special also. The pros weren’t any more special than those other ones because when you’re an amateur racing is your whole world anyways. It’s not much different really. You think that you go to the big leagues and that it it, well no, it’s always a big show because we’re at the top. That Loretta’s race or that US Open race is the biggest race that you’ve had at the time.
Who was your favorite teammate?
Hunter Hewitt. We grew up together and we have a long history together when he was just starting out riding. We both started riding at the same time. We were only teammates for a year but he was definitely my favorite because we were good friends growing up.
