AMAP: Where are you from?
JL: I’m from a small town in Washington called Snohomish. I’ve lived there my whole life. There are a lot of fast riders that came from there, like JD Beach, Brad Baker, Scott Baker, Joe Kopp, Bailey Fox, Mickey Fay Jr., Sammy Halbert, etc.

AMAP: What type of motorcycle riding do you do when you’re not at an AMA Pro race?
JL: Pretty much, there’s not much motocross. There’s a local motocross track a short ways away from my house, but I don’t get to do much riding there. There’s a lot of trail riding if you want to drive half an hour. We flat track just about every weekend.

AMAP: How did you get into flat track riding?
JL: One of my dad’s good buddies, Dave Anderson, used to have a national number. He talked my dad into getting me a bike for my fourth birthday. Of course, I liked it right off the bat. We weren’t planning on racing, but just to go down and try it out. After that, it hooked, and after that, it’s been every weekend.

AMAP: Tell us about your supermoto background.
JL: I’ve been doing flat track since I was four. In the year 2000, supermoto started getting bigger. I had a CR85.. so I tried that. For a while, we were doing flat track and supermoto. I got into supermoto more than flat track for a few years. I got eighth my first year and third my second year in the AMA Supermoto Lites. Then, the economy went downhill, and so did supermoto. I got back into flat track racing afterwards and have been doing it since.

AMAP: You got your Pro Singles license right before the Castle Rock TT and then go out and win the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles main event. Talk us through that weekend.
JL: I knew Castle Rock was coming up, I had just been so busy with everything, I totally wasn’t prepared for my license. I called up AMA Pro, got it all sorted out and picked up my license from registration at the track. I scrounged together everything I needed. My expectation was to at least make it into the main. I won my heat race, which made me want to get top-10 in the main. I definitely didn’t expect my results would come out the way they did.

AMAP: What are your thoughts on the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Class?
JL: I think it’s a cool deal. There are a lot of fast riders. You go to a local race, and there’ll be a couple fast riders that will give a run for your money. Everyone else is mid pack. But in this class, everyone’s in the same level and going hard. You never know who’s going to win or get last.

AMAP: What are your thoughts on competing in AMA Pro Flat Track?
JL: From what I’ve seen so far, everyone’s really professional and friendly. They run a good program and run on time.

AMAP: You did a TT in Castle Rock and Peoria. What type of track fits you best?
JL: I’d have to say TT would be my strongest tracks, short track would be my weakest, and half-mile/mile tracks would be my strongest tracks too. I’ve always liked the bigger tracks. I’m going to like TT tracks because they have a right-hand turn and jump. With my supermoto background, I think it benefits me.

AMAP: What goals are you setting for yourself in regards to the rest of the season?
JL: I want to get top-five in the rest of the races I do. That’d be really cool. I’m not really going for points.. I’m not doing it for a job, but more for the sport. I’m not here to make money off anyone, but to just have fun. I always wanted to race Peoria. I think it’s the coolest track you could ride. So, I’m happy I got to race there. I’ve got a full-time job working 60 hours a week. It’s hard to work that much and live the racer life. I’ve wanted to come to Peoria and race, but I haven’t either because I’ve been busy or couldn’t afford it. This year, Vince and Denise Holt have helped me out a lot to get me here. I have my license and had some vacation time, so I used it!

AMAP: Who is your racing hero?
JL: Definitely Joe Kopp. Ever since I was a little kid, he’s always remembered me, talked with me and has been incredibly friendly to my family. I’ve always looked up to him as a racer. He’s always inspired me to do well.

AMAP: Who would you like to thank?
JL: Gary Davis, my girlfriend Brittany, my mom and dad, little brother Jeremy, Cole and Jeff Frederickson, the Beach family, the Gillims, SPY Optics, Rice Motorsports, Stuck on Racing and everyone that’s helped me out!

Click here to view photos of Jacob on AMA Pro Flat Track's facebook page