Osiris Blog

Josh Betley and David Gamble recently took a trip from Phoenix to Seattle. They mostly just partied, but got some riding done along the way. Check out the edit to get a taste of what went down.

OX, what have you been up to lately?

Well, I’ll tell you what I haven’t been enjoying lately, I haven’t been enjoying my summer, I haven’t been kicking up my feet, I haven’t been down at the beach, I have been working it’s been a tough summer man.

Lots of traveling?
Oh yeah lots! I have been traveling all over the United States on the Boost Mobile Tour, all the NASCAR shows, uh lots of freestyle there, got to ride at X Games which was pretty cool, followed that up with Dew Tour stuff and been staying on my dirt bike doing freestyle, just doing what I do.

So when you are home what do you do in your free time?
Well, I travel the United States all summer long and sometimes in other places around the world. San Clemente is my hometown and I grew up surfing and just happened to start riding dirt bikes for a living, but I love to surf and that’s what I grew up doing. I had some time to myself today so I had to get into the water and refresh the mind a little bit and do what I like to do and have some fun and live the beach life… guy.

What is your take on surfing to moto? That’s a huge difference in sports?I think the difference between surfing and moto is huge… obviously. With freestyle moto you are dealing with a ramp, dealing with a landing, and a dirt bike you know. Those things never change and it’s consistent. What makes it difficult is changing up the tricks, or manipulate the bike a bit differently. Terrain can mix it up again but it’s still consistent.

Surfing to me, I shouldn’t really say this, but is way more of a challenge. You’re not dealing with a certain set of circumstances. Your dealing with a wave that is constantly changing, the ocean is so unpredictable and I think that is what makes me so interested in it because it’s never the same. It can be two feet one day or twenty feet the next, offshore winds, tides, currents you never know. But this is why I ride dirt bikes because the conditions are always that great for surf and it’s pretty cool to load up and charge to Deegan’s house and crank out some backflips.

Anything else, besides Freestyle Moto?

Yeah, in the meantime I have been riding quite a bit in the Baja races. The Baja 1000 is coming up and I have been racing for the Johnny Campbell Racing, Honda team which is cool because we are leading in points right now for the championship so I am really excited about that.

Where does the Baja 1000 start and end? This year the Baja 1000 starts in Ensenada Mexico and is ending all the way down in La Paz Mexico, well over 1000 miles and a few hours North of Cabo San Lucas. We split the map between three people, myself, Colton Udall, who I raced and won the San Felipe 250 with and 2nd at the Baja 500, and this young kid Justin Imhof who is only 16 years old, first time in Baja and will be riding the night section during the 1000. My part alone is halfway down the Mexican Peninsula about 380 miles.
Last year Baja almost took your life… how is that coming back taking on the 1000?
It’s going to be tough man, I hurt myself really bad and had to get an emergency Life Flight back to the states but with the help of the AFMXA… man they saved my life! They set me up with this Life Flight insurance and everyone racing should have this. The AFMXA really came threw and made me relax a bit more when I was in the worst condition I have ever been in my life.

Mexico is a Mecca for moto but also has some sick spots for surfing. I am sure you find some hidden breaks when you’re out pre-running… any energy left to surf after the Baja 1000?

Well, one of the cool parts about my section is Scorpion Bay, which is a world-class right hand point break. It’s going to be hard when I am pre-running before the race to not stop and get out into the water. I got to keep my head in the game but after the race maybe I can find some time.

What are some things you hate about traveling?
Leaving the beach
Leaving my house
Airplanes
People
Delays
Crowds and People
Other than that Traveling is awesome

Word on the dirt is you have been seen on the track racing trucks too… what’s that about?

Yep it is true. This summer I started my career in Lucas Oil Offroad Racing for General Tires. After getting involved in Baja and racing on bikes you are constantly around a lot of motor sports. That only makes you want to get involved even more. I started to take a lot of notes on Brian’s program and thought hey, how can I do this. General Tire took notice on how well I have done in Baja and helped me put together a program for LOORS in my General Tire #2 Superlite Truck. My first race was at Glen Helen and I loved every minute of it. It turned out not to be as bad as I thought. It’s so much like riding a dirt bike on a motocross track except you’re in a cage and harness. I have been wanting to stuff Twitch, but he’ll get his. It’s coming.

From left to right: Twitch, Garland, Potter, OX & Lusk

Head over to the SBC site as Corey Duffel and Mitch Barrette play a little “Name That Canadian.”