Eric, how’s the season been going?
It’s been pretty good, actually—pretty consistent. I mean, no complaints really. The season has gone as planned really. I wanted to get some victories but the first three rounds, Dean Wilson was up and he’s going really fast. The first round I stayed fairly close to him, well the first moto I crashed but for the most part I was happy with my speed. The next two rounds, I had bike problems at Calgary. My spark plug cap fell off so that was kind of a bummer but Edmonton was just an average day. We just finished up with Morden [Manitoba, CA] and I took second overall. So, now we have a couple-week break—which is nice—so I’d say I’m pretty happy with the way things are going. I’m leading the points, which is nice.

Are you where you thought you’d be at this point in the season?
For sure. For the most part, I just wanted to be in the championship hunt after the first four rounds out here in the West. Believe it or not, I like most of the tracks, but I prefer the tracks on the East Coast. So, I’m really looking forward to when it [the series] goes east—the next five rounds. I really like the tracks. I feel like I ride them really well so I’m feeling real confident for trying to defend the Championship.

What is it about the East Coast rounds that you like so much? Do they remind you of what you have in Northern California?
I really like rutty tracks and rough tracks. It seems like on the East Coast, there’s some sand tracks—which is cool—and the soil seems a little more loamy where they rut up, so that’s just what I prefer. In Northern California, the dirt’s pretty good up here, especially in the winter time. It gets good ruts and that’s just what I think I excel at.

What are your plans for your little break here?
I’m going to take a full week off of riding. I’m still going to do cardio and stuff but just take a week off of riding and, actually, I think go to the lake for the Fourth of July and hang out. Then the next week, get back on my program—just hit it up hard, you know. I’ll be back riding and then I’m going to fly to the East Coast a week early to get some sand riding in. Our next round is a sand race and I don’t have any sand up here in Northern California. I’m going to fly back there about a week early to get prepared and that’s about it.

Talk about what it’s been like having that big number one plate on your bike this season.
It’s been cool, man. It’s just awesome. People said it’d be like added pressure but, honestly, I don’t see it that way. I just look at it and I’m like, “Man, that’s cool.” I look at my jersey when I’m putting it on with the big number one on the back, it just keeps me motivated to get another one, you know. I was pumped I won it last year and like seeing it on my bike so it’s cool racing with it, I think. I don’t really see it as added pressure or anything like that. I just enjoy it.

How would you say this year is staking up against 2008?
It’s going good. In 2008, I caught a lot of people off guard. I was not a favorite to win at all and I won three out of the first four motos. Then I just rode consistent and smart from there on out. I had a pretty good cushion throughout the whole series. Whereas this year, I came out a lot more prepared than last year and my speed is way better than last year, but a lot of other people stepped up this year too. I was really impressed with Tedday Maier. He stepped up his game a lot from last year. I think, really, just everyone got a little bit faster from last year, which is good. It makes for good racing. I would have liked to have had some moto wins by now, but I’ve been right there so I can’t complain too much. My speed’s been right there for the most part.

What’s it going to take to pull off a second straight championship?
Good starts and just staying out of trouble. I’m confident in my speed so it’s just getting out of the gate and staying out of trouble and getting moto wins. That’s what’s going to help me get another championship.

Thanks, Eric. Who do you want to thank?
I’d like to thank everyone at KTM Canada, Royal Distributing, Pirelli, Factory Connection Canada, FMF, Thor, Parts Canada, Von Zipper, DVS shoes, TruckerDelux.com and my girlfriend and my parents. Thanks a lot.