Tuesday Conversation: Jake Gagne

Fifteen-year-old Jake Gagne’s ’09 season appeared it would start with a fizzle instead of a bang when the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup was cancelled, but racing works in mysterious ways. A switch to the European version of the series has netted the kid from Ramona, California, fantastic third-place finishes in each of the last two rounds (Assen and Sachsenring). We spoke with him at this year’s Red Bull USGP, prior to his latter podium finish.

RRX: What went through your head when the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup was canceled?
Jake Gagne: I was planning on doing the AMA U.S. Rookies Cup over here. We were all getting ready for the pre-season test and everything, and then we heard it was canceled. It was definitely a bummer, and I didn’t really know what I was going to do or anything. Then they made some calls for me and talked to the guys over at the MotoGP Rookies Cup, and were able to get me in. I was really, really happy, and I was really looking forward to it after that.

It almost turned out better for you than it was originally.
Yeah, it was definitely a bummer, and then it ended up turning out better for me, being able to race in Europe with the MotoGP guys, so it was really good.

How much preparation did you get for the MotoGP Cup?
We had two tests—one at Jerez and one at Estoril. It took me a while to get back into it. I hadn’t ridden a 125 since the previous year in the Rookies Cup, so it took a little bit to get the bike set up for me. But it’s starting to come around now—it’s getting better.

How does the level compare to the U.S. Cup?
There’s definitely a lot higher competition level over there. It’s the best kids from all over the world. Everybody’s really, really close—there’s a bunch of guys that can podium every single weekend. There’s a lot of battling—everybody’s really aggressive.

Have you had to step up your game?
Yeah, I think I definitely stepped my game since last year. I’m still learning and trying to improve and all that. Having to race over there, the level’s a little bit higher that it was [in the U.S.] last year. Everyone’s really close. I think it’s definitely opened my eyes, and I really have learned a lot more and been able to improve my riding a lot.

How are your results going?
The first two races at Jerez, I had a ninth and an eleventh, and I was pretty disappointed with that. Mugello, I was running third and everything was feeling good, and I ended up crashing out with I think five laps to go, so that was a bummer. At Assen, I finally got my first podium—I got third. So everything just felt really good, so I think that now I’m able to run with the front guys—I’m going to look for some more podiums.

How do you handle it logistically?
I’ve been coming back to America between races, except for Germany, we stay until the weekend after that for Donington. We’ll hang out and just see some stuff.

Had you ever been overseas before?
My first time was last year for the Riders Cup at Valencia.

Have you gotten a chance to do much sightseeing over there, or experience the culture?
Not a whole lot, because we’re at the track most of the time, and we’re there to race. But we’ve been able to go out and just check the sites—see the other countries, which is really cool. As far as language, I don’t really know anything, but it’s cool just to eat all the new foods and check out all the new cultures. There’s some parts that I really like and some parts that I’m not really anxious to get to, but it’s all fun.

What’s your favorite country so far?
I’d say I like Italy and the Netherlands. Those two are probably my favorite.

What are you doing besides the Rookies Cup?
I’m trying to get to as many track days as I can, but mostly, just doing a lot of motocross. That’s where I grew up, so I really love motocross. I do that just about every weekend at a lot of places around SoCal and Temecula—Perris and Pala; Corona’s right over the hill from me.

Have you made any friends over there?
Everyone’s really cool. I’ve made friends with a few of the Australian kids, the South Africans—mostly the English-speaking people. But quite a few kids over there speak pretty good English.

What are your goals over the next few years?
I’d like to just finish out this year strong and see how it goes from there. I’d like to get into the 125 world championship and get a ride there—that’d be like the ultimate goal and just try to go up from there and end up in MotoGP one day. We’ll see how it goes.