Jon Hornbeck

This month we caught up with PanicRev's newest team member, Jon Hornbeck. Jon is a 17 year old (a recently turned 17 he would add) racer residing in Canyon Lake, California. He is currently competing in the 125 intermediate class. Jon recently turned intermediate after a fairly successful 2006 season in the novice class.

PRev: Are you normally a punctual person [editor's note: Jon was late for this interview]?
JH: I am almost always on time, but this time I was not driving, so I was trapped.

PRev: [laughter] So, how did you get into motocross?
JH: Well now, that's an interesting question Scott [sarcastic tone]. My dad was an expert desert racer and I always used to ride around the desert with him on the weekends. When I started getting a little older, probably around 11, my dad was racing a few Grand Prixs and I started racing those. The motocross part of the track was always the part of the track I liked best so we started going to the motocross track more. I guess you could say that is where it all began
.
PRev: What was it like growing up with a father that was into motocross and racing?
JH: It was pretty cool. I had fun hanging out around the pits. At the time, I was pretty young. I never really thought about me racing seriously until my dad kind of stopped focusing on his racing and went on to concentrate on my racing—from there on he has been backing me and focusing on my racing 110%.

PRev: That is rad that your dad is supporting you like that. You are a lucky young man.
JH: I agree I am very lucky and grateful for what he is doing for me and could never expect anything more out of him!

PRev: When did you get introduced to PanicRev?
JH: I would have to say it was last year at Perris. The Hot Summer Nights Series was going on and I did the whole series. PanicRev was out there every round taking photos.

PRev: What were your initial thoughts about the ministry?
JH: Hmm, at first I didn't know that PanicRev was a ministry/religious organization. I just thought you guys were at the track taking photos. Shortly after, I found out what PanicRev is really all about and I was excited because there aren't many people doing what you guys do in the motocross community.

PRev: What exactly excites you about PanicRev?
JH: I would have to say, the fact that there are people combining motocross and God. It gives people that can't exactly go to church on Sunday a chance to still connect and honor God while at the track.

PRev: That is a good lead into my next questions. How are you able to balance and integrate motocross into your spiritual life?
JH: Before I was introduced to PanicRev I was basically doing my spiritual life on my own and kind of just by myself because realisticlly in this world of motocross it's hard to make it to church on Sundays which are the days of the races. Now with PanicRev I can still have my schedrule of riding/racing and then also have  my spiritual life at the track which is awsome because it brings two very important things to me together at the track

PRev: So what is the deal with you and the Amateur Open?  
JH: Oh man. Well, that's pretty interesting. It all started the first year the race was held. In my first moto I holeshoted, came around this sweeping turn, and lost my front end. I ended up getting run over by at least half the field. I ended up with a lacerated liver in half. The main artery was the only thing holding it together. Because of the injury and the pain I was in while laying there on the track, they hela-vacked me. They didn't know the extent of my injury, so they thought the helicopter flight was a good step of precaution. Fortunately for me they chose to take that step of precaution as the helicopter ride ended up saving my life. If it wasn't for the fast trip in the helicopter, I would have bleed to death internally. My time at the hospital was a very scary time for me. The doctors told my dad and I that there was a chance I was not going to making it. I ended up being ok, but had to stay in Arizona [that is where the Amateur Open is held] for two weeks in the hospital.

The very next year we were planning on skipping the Amateur Open, but at the time I was riding my 125 pretty good and at the last minute my dad and I decided to pack up and head out to the race. When we got to the track everything was going really good! I was riding good and had great qualifiers. In my two stroke race I was running behind Michael Hall, in second, for the majority of the race. On the second to last lap, I hit a kicker on the lip of a triple, which was hard to see because of the sun, and it sent me over the bars. The bike landed on me, breaking my collarbone and knocking me out for a couple minutes. Oddly enough, this resulted in another helicopter ride as the paramedics thought I might have had some bleeding in my brain—I was pretty out of it, and they didn't want to take a chance. Gratefully, there ended up being nothing major wrong with my head.

PRev: Both those crashes sound pretty gnarly. Did God speak to you at all while you were going through that?
JH: It was mainly in my first crash where I really felt like I had a connection to God. The fact that I almost didn't make it really got to me. After I did end up healing and being ok I felt as though I got help from Him through my prayers. Ever since I have been really connected with Him.

PRev: So was that the first time God was really real to you?
JH: Those two weeks I spent in the hospital really got me thinking. I felt as though I really got help from God and He was there for me—God became not just something I believed in, but also someone I know is really there.

PRev: Is that the only time you have experienced God like that?
JH: Well, I would say that it was the first time that I truly felt God with me, but after that experience I have felt God with me, pulling me through some tough times. He has also pulled me through some times when I have had some doubt.

PRev: That is rad Jon. So let's talk a little about the future. What are your plans and goals for 2007?
JH: My plan for 07, hmm. Well, I am hoping to be a top 10 rider in the 125 intermediate class. I also want to go qualify for Loretta's in the 125 B mod and stock classes. I know it's gonna be tough, but I feel as though I have the resources and backing to do it.

PRev: When you look toward to your future, what excites you?
JH: The thing that excites me the most is the fact that if I start doing good in the intermediate class I will have a better chance and a more realistic shot at making it to the big time—going Pro and doing something with it.

PRev: Ok Jon, last questions. Do you agree with everyone that you kinda look like Sid [the toy destroying cartoon character in Toy Story ]?
JH: [laughter] Well, I guess I have those stunning looks of a cartoon character, but hey I can't help it [laughter]. Yeah, I have gotten that for a while so I just go with it.

PRev: Is there a Sid butt patch in the near future?
JH: I would totally go for it and get one made, but right now it's not one of my concerns; maybe there is one in the near future [laughter].

PRev: Well Jon, who are the people you would like to thank?
JH: First, I would like to thank Jesus Christ for keeping me safe. Most of all I would like to thank my dad for doing everything he has done for me. Also my mom, my motocross trainer, Mike Healey Mx School, my physical trainer Rob Styron from X-Factor, Brandon Jeffries from Fox, 661, Sunline, PanicRev, FMF, 909, LA Honda, Ready Filter, CycleGear, Amsoil, and Spider Grips.