Matiasevich Just Keeps Jumping Over His Motocross Competition

There were few obstacles Jeff Matiasevich couldn’t jump with his skateboard or bicycle while growing up in La Habra.

“We’d build a ramp and Jeff would jump the highest on his skateboard,” said his father, Jim. “He’d ride his bike and jump over every curb in the neighborhood. He seemed to have this talent for jumping over things ever since he was very small.”

These days, Matiasevich is making a living jumping over obstacles as a professional motocross rider. Matiasevich is a factory 125cc rider for Kawasaki. He is the two-time defending Western Division champion entering tonight’s season finale, the Coors Extra Gold Super Challenge at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Matiasevich, a 20-year-old graduate of Sonora High School, is one of the favorites to win the $25,000 Camel Supercross Shootout, a 125cc race that pays the winner $10,000.

“I’ve never won that much money for one race,” Matiasevich said. “The purse is a great incentive for all the young riders on the circuit. It’s about time we started getting some recognition.”

The 125cc riders generally compete in the support race to the sport’s more established stars, such as Jeff Ward, Rick Johnson, Ron Lechein, Johnny O’Mara and Jeff Stanton, all of whom compete in the 250cc class. The top 10 riders in the 125cc class from the American Motorcycle Assn.’s Eastern and Western divisions will race for 15 laps for the richest prize ever offered to the younger riders.

“The 125cc races are usually more exciting than the 250cc races anyway,” Matiasevich said. “There are usually five or six riders who are capable of winning. There’s only three or four who can win in the 250cc class, and it seems like one of them is always hurt.”

Matiasevich clinched his second Western Division 125cc championship last weekend at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City despite falling and finishing 17th overall. He had a 40-point lead going into the race and holds a 26-point lead over Mike LaRocco of LaPorte, Ind. coming into tonight’s race, which awards the winner 25 points.

Matiasevich’s chief competition should come from Eastern Division champion Damon Bradshaw of Charlotte, N.C. and Mike Kiedrowski of Canyon Country. Kiedrowski won last week’s race in Oklahoma City.

“I’d like to win in Los Angeles in my final 125cc race,” Matiasevich said. “I plan on moving up to the 250s next year. I was going to move up this year, but Kawasaki asked me if I would defend my title and I agreed.”

Matiasevich was slowed earlier this year when he suffered a separated shoulder in Miami on Feb. 18 at a supercross race in Joe Robbie Stadium. It was only the second major injury of his eight-year career. He broke his leg in a practice session early last summer.

“I plan to ride all the outdoor 125cc races this summer, and one of my goals this year is to win the outdoor series,” he said. “Racing has become a year-round job for me. I’ll go to Europe in early December for a couple of stadium races and then start the season all over again at Anaheim.”

Matiasevich has ridden for Kawasaki for two years and found that scheduling homework and racing during his senior at Sonora was difficult, so he graduated in the school-within-a-school program which allows a student to work at his own pace.

“I traveled to Africa, Italy and Switzerland my senior year to race,” Matiasevich said. “I told my history teacher, I wanted to experience those places, not read about them.

“Racing motorcycles is something I’ve always wanted to do, but my dad never would allow my brother and I to race until we finally talked him into it. We went out to Orange County International Raceway and I finished fourth. I haven’t stopped racing since.”

Jim Matiasevich, who owns a vegetable brokerage warehouse in La Habra, said he had reservations about his sons, Jeff and Jim Jr., competing in motocross.

“The first time you watch a race, you start thinking to yourself, ‘Geez, this is really a dangerous sport,”’ the elder Matiasevich said. “But as the boys got better and better, I got a little more comfortable watching them race.

“At first, they were just out having fun. Then, they got pretty good and the racing got more competitive. Now, Jeff has gotten to a point where he could make a lot of money if he pushes hard. He’s reached a goal of becoming a professional rider, now he can make a livelihood from racing.

“Our family follows Jeff all over the country. Everyone is involved in one way or another and it’s great. Jeff is very fortunate to be earning a living doing something he loves.”

Supercross Notes

Early-entry gates open at 1 p.m. with a free Motorsports Expo that features manufacturers’ displays and a rider autograph session. The first 125cc heat race is scheduled to begin at 4:30 with the opening 250cc heat race scheduled to begin at 7:30. . . . Jeff Stanton has clinched the 250cc title and defending champion Rick Johnson will not compete while recuperating from injury.