Voss is world champion
Staff reporter
Heath Voss, THQ World Supercross GP champion, attributes his success to others but watching him race, it's obvious the man has talent.
Finishing last year in second place in the WSX points and sixth in the AMA series, Voss attributes this year's success to a combination of things that just added up.
"This year I have a factory-built motorcycle and support from Yamaha Motor Corporation," Voss said. "My mechanic Tom Wallace also is a big part of my success. He has helped me to improve my bike setup."
The 26-year-old Voss is married to Marion native Sarah Crofoot. They met in 1998 at a Supercross race.
"We just said 'hi' and that was about it for the first year," said Sarah. "Then in spring 2000 we began talking more."
Sarah spent some time during the summer of 2000 in Minnesota, attending several outdoor national races with Heath, and since then, "the rest is history," Sarah said.
The two were engaged in August 2002 and married this past June 21.
Sarah is the daughter of Jim and Joni Crofoot and granddaughter of Marian Crofoot and Mary Ann Wiens, all of Marion.
Voss grew up in Prior Lake, Minn., and graduated from Shakopee High School in 1996.
In 1991, when Voss was 12 years old, he saw motorcycle racing on ESPN and decided it was something he wanted to do.
"I saved my money from working construction with my dad and bought myself a CR80," said Voss. "My first race was in Grantsburg, Wis. I went with my cousin and got fourth place. That night I laid in bed and heard motorcycles in my sleep all night."
After spending three years on the circuit, Voss turned pro in 1994 at the age of 16. He got his big break last year when he earned a spot on the Mach I Yamaha team.
Sporting racing number 28, Voss now races a Yamaha YZF450, four-stroke, factory-built motorcycle.
"The Mach I Yamaha team has been great to me," Voss said. "I'm looking forward to working with them again in the future." Voss currently is negotiating a contract for the 2005 racing season.
Being a part of a professional race team has its rewards and advantages. The team has a crew member responsible for transporting Voss' bike and equipment to the races in a semi-truck.
"There also is a team manager, mechanic, and support crew who go to all the races," Voss said. Heath and Sarah fly in on Thursday and everything is there, waiting for them.
"This is so I can focus on racing," Voss explained. "We have lots of great people behind our team who help out."
Voss' home track, Spring Creek MX Park in Millville, Minn., is his favorite and most challenging track.
"This is my home track, where I grew up racing," Voss said. "The dirt is really sandy and the track has several large hills. It also has the most challenging section of the season — a very, long sand whoop section that is very intense."
Voss follows a strict diet and exercise program all year round, not just during the racing season.
"Some days are really intense and other days are skill-building with less conditioning work," Voss explained. He works with his trainer, Steve Bubel, in San Antonio.
"I do weight training on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and then ride five to six days a week," said Voss.
Supercross racing does not have much of an off-season any more.
"There are several big money and publicity races during the fall, which is usually the off-season," Voss said. "The season now starts a month earlier than it used to go."
Racers, competing for the world Supercross title, must race in Europe to qualify. Voss competes in two races in December in Europe.
"Now the outdoor racing doesn't end until the middle of September," Voss said. "There is only about two months of the so-called 'off-season.' There is a big race in October in Las Vegas called the U.S. Open and then rest of the time is spent testing for the next year."
Pain and injuries are a part of the high-impact, endurance racing. During his racing career, Voss has sustained a broken femur, arm, wrist, finger, ankle, and collarbone. He's also had a couple of concussions.
Voss has his sights set on finishing in the top five in the U.S. Motorcross series and to be on the podium of the Supercross next year. He eventually wants to win a 250cc AMA championship, which is a national title.
Grateful to his wife of less than a year, Voss appreciates her help — both at the races and at home.
"Sarah's help allows me to focus solely on racing," Voss said. He also appreciates his family, mechanic, trainer, and "everyone else who has helped me along the way."
