I know it was a difficult decision, what was the determining factor?
I guess theres a bunch, But my sponsors are gonna stick with me and
support me, all of them knew I wanted to turn so I guess they saw it coming. Amateur racing is fun, but I wasnt getting motivated anymore, maybe pro will give me more motivation to train and stuff like that, But I was very fortunate to have all of my sponsors still support me, I want thank them very much.
 
Do you feel like you have accomplished everything you can as an
amateur?
Umm... I dont know, its hard to say. I've given it my best and thats
all I can do, right?...  there are more titles like the cruiser title and
winning the NAG 5 challenge,  but I think my amateur career was a good one.

How did your support group respond – family, sponsors, friends?  Did
they have any words of wisdom?
My family is 110% behind me on whatever I do. Sponsors are behind me and my friends will be cheering me on...  with my family and friends behind there's not much more you can ask for.  I thank them all the time for being there for me when I need them.

You and your dad Gary are close, how did he approach the fact that you
were thinking of turning pro?
I was on the phone with him one day and I said "Dad, I'm thinkin about going pro", and his response was something like "oh ok, when do you plan on it?"...So he doesnt add any pressure towards me decision... Like I said earlier he will support me on any desicion I make.  Without him I dont think I would have accomplished what I have in bmx...

What was Toby’s advice to you if any?
Toby was kinda up in the air with it, but hes cool about it... he knew
I wanted to turn... so hes doing whatever he could to give me the best he can...

It seems to be a trend these days for amateurs to turn pro earlier –
15,16,17 years old. A couple of examples recently include Danny Caluag and Mikey Moeller. Did they inspire you at all?
Yeah, Mikey and I rode and traveled a lot together when we were
younger, but then he moved.  So watching him race pro is a big influence because it will push me more to be competitive in pro... and Danny I've known him for awhile and we have a good friendship also, so racing against these guys in the future will be really exciting.

How do you think it will affect you going up against older, more
experienced pro riders?
It will take awhile to get used to, when I practice here at home I
practice with Meadows, Robinson, Fay, Bellew, Hughes, and a lot of the top pro's and I like practicing with these guys cause it pushes me more to keep up with them. Its going to take a little bit to get used to the fact I might be racing guys almost twice my age and have been racing for a lot longer then I have...

What does it mean to make your pro debut at Roseville, basically your
home track?
Uhh, yeah I guess... to tell you the truth my plan was to go pro next
year in Reno, but I just said the heck with it and turn earlier. So after utah, I was talking to some people and decided to turn in Roseville.... Why not?...Its my one of my local tracks, friends and family will be able to watch, and its in Nor Cal where I'm from... so it will make the racing more exciting I think.

How do you think the current pros will respond to the attention you
will get there?
I dont know, I dont think its anything different. When an amateur turns pro for the first time its a big deal to everyone. So all the  pros have been through it ...its just my turn to go through it I guess...

It takes good sponsors for a racer to survive their first few years as
a pro.  Mikey Day had it with Staats, Paulie Lange had it with Felt.  Is
Intense committed to you for your first few years as a pro?
Yeah, Intense is taking care of me...

Is there anyone in A Pro right now that you really want to race?  
Anyone you're intimidated to race? Anyone youre looking forward to turning pro to compete against?
No not really. There are a lot of fast guys in A pro right now... its a
tough class.  I'm just gonna go out and do the best I can, if I dont do good at all then its ok cause I know I did MY best and thats all I can do...

What do you think you need to work on to make it BIG as a pro?
Training on and off the track. eating healthy, training right and
committing yourself to bmx...

You’ve been a top amateur for so long now.  What year did you start
racing?
I think I started summer time in 1998... or 97' I dont know i forget.

Were you dominant right from the start?
Nope. I sucked for a LONG time.

You admit yourself youre not much for training.  What makes you so fast
and dominant, especially in 16 Expert, one of, if not THE hardest class in
BMX?
I'm not sure... I was riding everyday of the week at the track for
awhile ...I know that helped me a bunch ... just being on my bike
helped me, I never really did the gym or sprints or plyos... but I know I need to start... so things are gonna change.

A lot of kids race for a few years and quit.  What does it take to be
dedicated to the sport for so long?  Does it just come down to winning?  
By that I mean, if you werent winning would you have quit a long time ago?
No, I've ALWAYS loved to ride my bike... thats pretty much all I think about is riding, if I wasnt winning I would still be racing because I always want to be on my bike.. I have fun with it, if you not out there having fun then why do it?

There's a lot of kids looking at you right now, imagining they were you.  
Any advice to young racers?
Be patient. I see a lot of kids out there that quit because they dont
win races... it takes time. I didnt win first national race until my 3rd or 4th year racing... and always, always have fun.

What are you going to do with your first pro paycheck?
If I get one. I think I will hang the check up in the living room, and
put the money in the bank and save it!! (yeah, right)

Alright man, throw the shout outs:
My family and friends for sticking with me through everything.  All of my sponsors for sticking with me through everything. everyone I ride with, MOM, DAD, team-manager Pete.  thank you all.