Progressive AFT - News - Jake Johnson on the Harley-Davidson vs. Indian battle: “This is definitely a spark that I needed in my career…”

Jake Johnson on the Harley-Davidson vs. Indian battle: “This is definitely a spark that I needed in my career…”

January 30, 2017

Two-time Grand National Champion Jake Johnson went through a bit of a rough patch in recent years, but after breaking his win drought in 2016, the Pennsylvania-native feels that he’s back on track. And now that he has his first-ever factory gig with Harley-Davidson, Johnson is hungrier than ever to go out and grab some wins and another Grand National title.

So how does it feel to finally get that factory contract you’ve been waiting for?

I'm really excited to be a part of the Harley-Davidson Factory Flat Track Team. It's always been a dream of mine to ride for the ‘Factory,’ and I'm looking forward to starting a new chapter of H-D racing with the new XG750R.

That is really the big storyline right now, the revival of the Harley and Indian rivalry, how does it feel to be in the middle of that?

It just kind of amplifies everything – the excitement, the prestige of it, the bragging rights, everything. I’m looking forward to it. This is definitely a spark that I needed in my career, I think. The last season I was pretty happy with. Kind of got back on track to where I felt like I should be. But I had a few rough years before that. Went winless for four, almost five years. So to be back on track on a good team, great support, I’m really looking forward to it.

There really are a whole lot of “unknowns” going into this season. What goals and expectations do you have for yourself?

My goals and expectations have always been the same. I want to win races and win a championship – that’s the goal. It’s going to be tough. There’s a lot of guys out there that have the same goal and the same capabilities and the same resources. It’s going to be hard work but I think we have a really good shot at it. really excited with the team we have and the crew and the resources. Harley Davidson and Vance & Hines, and everything that they’re putting into it. My motto has always been “failure is not an option.” It happens but we’re going to give it everything we’ve got and that’s the goal, is to win. That is what we’re going to try to do.