As we’ve seen in years past in Canadian motocross, it’s not uncommon for top teams to hire imported riders to come up and take a shot at the championship series here in the Great White North. With Canada seeing some great riders such as, Sean Hambiln, Gavin Gracyk, Damon Huffman and John Dowd, just to name a few, Blackfoot has once again brought in a hired gun for the MX2 class for ‘09 by the name of Aron Harvey. Harvey had much success in the ‘08 CMRC Monster Energy MX Nationals winning overalls and motos until he broke his leg in Moncton at the Riverglade National. For ’09, Harvey is back with the Blackfoot team and is ready to start finishing where he left off. Read more to find out about Aron’s racing background, his Canadian experience and much more!

Kyle: Hey Aron. How’s it going, and what have you been up to lately?

Aron: Just riding, training, and trying to get faster. That’s pretty much it. That’s all I do.

Kyle: Most of us fans in Canada don’t really know much about your motocross career in the States and how you got into the sport. Can you tell us what got you into it and your racing background?

Aron: I rode dirt bikes when I was little, like when I was three years old. My Dad got me started. I used to race dirt track. I always wanted to race motocross, but he would never let me race. It was a rough crowd when he did it, and he didn’t want me growing up like that. He didn’t realize it turned into such a family thing, you know? I played baseball, soccer and basketball pretty much my whole life. I was actually pretty set on being a pro baseball player at one time, all the way up until I was in high school.

Kyle: Really? What made you get out of that?

Aron: The politics are really heavy in that so my Dad gave me a shot at racing. He was like “Alright, we’ll let you do what you want to do”. So when I was 14 I started racing on a YZ 250. When I got better, we got a 125 two stroke. We just kind of did it the opposite way your supposed to you know? I never raced 80s or anything like that. I just came up through the ranks - Beginner, Junior, Intermediate, and did all the big amateur national races. I went to Loretta’s a couple years, all the Texas amateur nationals, World Minis and all that. Now I’m up here racing on a team, so it’s pretty cool!

Kyle: Can you take us through your weekend at Calgary and how it went for you?

Aron: Yeah, I made a couple adjustments on my bike that I think it will be better for next weekend too. I didn’t get the greatest starts, so that kind of hurt me, but I got up through the pack pretty good. I went 3-3 and was pretty consistent and made up some points so I was pretty happy.

Kyle: Everyone saw you win overalls last year and we all know you’re capable of doing it again. What do you think it’s going to take to get your first overall win this season?

Aron: My starts are really what are hurting me. Also the tracks up here are pretty hard to pass on so that doesn’t help at all. I’ll work on that and try to get my bike figured out better for me. That’s all I can do.

Kyle: Where do you train during the week? Do you stay up in Canada or do you fly home to Nevada?

Aron: I’ve been up here in Canada since Kamloops, but I normally fly home and do my stuff during the week. I’ve just been staying up here because the bikes are kind of messed up so it’s just easier for me to stay up and do some testing. I’ll be riding here in Calgary and doing my normal stuff here.

Kyle: You’ve been racing in Canada now since last year. What are your thoughts on racing in Canada compared to the big amateur scene down south?

Aron: It’s awesome! Racing amateur stuff is good, you get fast and what not, but it’s hard when you don’t have any help. We had a little bit of help, but my dream was to get on a factory team and do what I love to do for a living and that’s what I’m doing up here In Canada. I really couldn’t ask for anything more. Hopefully, I can get on a team for supercross and maybe just do the outdoors in Canada. That would be pretty cool.

Kyle: If I’m correct, you race a few supercrosses in ‘08 right?

Aron: Yeah, I had never even been to a Supercross, but I just went and raced. It was kind of weird.

Kyle: So you had never gone to a supercross just as a fan to watch or anything?

Aron: No, we were always so busy racing. We didn’t really have time to go watch or anything.

Kyle: Wow, you guys really do stuff the opposite of most people!

Aron: Yeah, we really just jumped into it.

Kyle: How did you hook up with the Blackfoot team in the first place, and how do you like riding for them?

Aron: Well, I knew about racing up in Canada because I know Jimmy Nelson. He lives in Nevada a few hours from me. We kind of followed him a little bit on the local scene. I met him at a race one time and he actually asked his cousin who I was friends with and if I would be interested in going up to Canada to race. I was like “Yeah, for sure”. He called Dean from Blackfoot then Dean called me and asked me to come and try out up here in Calgary against a bunch of kids. I got the job, which was cool. I definitely earned it.

Kyle: If you had one goal for the season’s end, what would it be?

Aron: For sure, to win the championship. It will be even better because I’ll be coming from behind.

Kyle: Thanks for your time Aron. Anyone you want to thank?

Aron: I want to thank Toyota, Yamaha, Blackfoot, Fox, Red Bull, my Mechanic Ken, Joe, Andrew and all the guys on the team who have been working really hard. My Dad, my Grandpa, my Mom, and everyone back home cheering me on!

Kyle: Thanks again Aron, and good luck this weekend.

Aron: Thanks!