Last season was a monumental one for Wisconsin’s ATV Motocross racing phenom, Cody Janssen. After winning a National Championship in 2013, the Team FSI/Janssen Motorsports #40 rider was making his long awaited full time move up to the Pro Class. After spending the majority of the last two months training with legend Jeremiah Jones in Kentucky, he was primed for a good showing at the opening round of the 2014 Mountain Dew AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series in Washington, Georgia. “I feel great about where I’m at!” Janssen said at press day. “I’ve been working tirelessly, and I know that’s going to show. A national season is a marathon; I’m just looking to start this season out the right way!”
Saturday was the big day, AMA ATV Pro Racing’s Opening Day and Cody’s 2014 Pro debut. The morning started off perfectly when the 21 year old qualified 10th in time qualifying, a major feat for a new comer like Janssen. He finished 14th in Moto 1, but followed that up with a stellar Moto 2. A mediocre start, followed by a tangle with another rider early in the race had things looking gloomy. But after Cody got the machine restarted, and got back on the track, the young rider caught fire! He went from 19th place after the tangle, up to 12th by moto’s end. The rookie scored a 12th overall on the day and was the highest placing rookie.
Cody said before the season started that he had two ultimate goals for 2014, win a Pro Am Championship and earn Pro Class Rookie of the Year. Between a goggle malfunction and losing his brakes, his Pro Am podium aspirations for this weekend went out the window. “Sunday just didn’t go our way.” Janssen said Sunday afternoon. “We had a few issues and that kept us off the podium today, but I know the hard work is going to pay off and we’ll come out swinging at Muddy Creek…I also am not going to let anything ruin how satisfied I am about how Saturday (Pro Class) went! 12th place, against the best guys in the world, in my debut? I’ll take that any day of the week! We’ll be ready for Tennessee.”
Last but not least, Cody must thank all his sponsors and supporters because without such great people he wouldn’t even have a chance to be at the races. First and foremost his team, FSI/Janssen Motorsports, Roy, Faye, and Troy Hill, Jimmy Sims, his amazing family, friends, and fan base. Thank you to Elka Suspension for everything they do for #40, phenomenal products and even better people. Also, Maxxis Tires, SSI Decals, Walsh Racecraft, Makson Construction, FMF, Renthal, DP Brakes, Thor MX, 100%, Oshkosh Tattoo and Good Girl Piercing, Dynamite ATV, Quadtech, Tweeked Powderworks, Honda East Toledo, Rath, Hinson Clutches, Stephen Propson at P501, CP Pistons, KIK ATV, Maxima, Sunstar, D.I.D, Don Straus, 136 Photography, Pro-Tec, ASM13, Jeremiah Jones, Corey Garrison at Parts Unlimited, Terry Moore at Advanced Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, his phenomenal mechanics Todd and Dan, and everyone else that supports him. We’ll see you guys at Muddy Creek in Blountville, Tennessee in two weeks! God bless.