FOX Racing Shox is there when “it” counts — what is “it” to you?
"IT" is the last 20 minutes of a 2 hour long WORCS race of straight sand whoops. When the other competitors bodies and shocks have faded away, my FOX Racing Shox allow me to put in that last minute charge for the podium.

Tell us about your vehicle setup.
I'm back this year with Yamaha Factory Racing after a very successful 2009 on the new YFZ450R. Of course I will be running the Gen 2 FLOAT X EVOLs in the front, and the Gen 2 PODIUM X rear with bottom-out cup. With zero DNFs last year, I decided to stick with mainly the same sponsors with the exception of Devil Exhaust, MotoActiv, and Moose Racing.

What else is in your garage?
Well I'm a college student so I don't have a garage right now! So besides my race bikes the only other thing in my trailer is a bicycle. My other pride and joy though is my Toyota Pickup. My dad and I have built it into a pre-runner with long travel suspension, and the works.

What's your training regimen?
This year I'm working with Christian from MotoXNutrition to stay in shape for our long races. You can usually find me at the gym around 6 am Monday through Thursday before I head to class. Lately I've been getting in around 3 days a week of riding, which is tough to work in around my class schedule sometimes.

Any major injuries, and how did you recover?
2008 was a really rough year for me. I had just signed with the Factory Epic Can-Am race team to compete in the ATVA Nationals and got seriously injured while training at an indoor track over the winter. Broke 3 ribs, punctured a lung, got a major concussion, and fractured 3 vertebrae in my back. It was a long few months of recovery, slowly getting back into the groove of riding. Right at the end of the season as I was starting to get back into good shaped I cased a double training with Chad Wienen and dislocated my hip. I just had to put it all out of my mind and get ready for 2009 when I made my Pro Debut.

What's your typical pre-race meal? Guilty pleasure?
The morning of the race I will get in around 4 eggs and a bagel with peanut butter. A litle later in the morning I will get in my protein shake. Around 30 minutes before the start just before I head to the line I will drink my MotoXNutrition Endurogen Powder and eat 8 almonds. Yes, exactly 8.

What is your pre-race OCD behavior?
I don't normally get OCD too bad before the race. I'm confident that I did a good job prepping my quad, and I know that my mechanic at the race has looked everything over. I make sure my shock pressures are set right, check the tire pressures, make sure it's got gas …

How do you determine which races to enter each year?
With the economy kind of in a hole a lot of my decisions still have to depend on money. I have the support of some really amazing sponsors, but I'm still not getting that 6 figure paycheck yet. WORCS is always the first and most important on my list. I have been racing that series for years and love the events. After the WORCS events, I tend to just go to the Grand Prixs and other similar events that are close to home.

What are some of your best memories?
Winning my first Pro-Am championship was definitely a huge accomplishment, and something that will stick in my memory. And I think I'll never forget the Pismo WORCS race in 2007. I had a problem early on in the race that put me nearly a full lap down, which is a long ways on a WORCS course. It lit a fire under me and I was on rails that entire race! I came back to win the Pro-Am class by around 2 minutes and shocked everyone. People thought I was a lap down still!

What motivated you to get started racing?
I think it has just always been in my blood. Not many people know that I actually started my racing career at 5 years old in cars. I raced Quarter Midgets, MiniCups, and Bandoleros before I decided to race quads. Cars, RC cars, quads … My parents were always extremely supportive of whatever I wanted to do and I couldnt have done any of it without them.

How does FOX Racing Shox contribute to your success?
I think a lot of the time amateurs overlook the importance of their suspension and try to win races with power. I would much rather have a set of FOX shocks on my quad than a built motor. And there is a reason that so many Pros like myself pick FOX. You just can't match the performance of the FLOAT X EVOLs and PODIUM X. It's impossible to get on the podium these days without great performing shocks.

What would you be doing if you weren't a professional athlete?
If I couldn't be a professional athlete? Well if I wasn't racing quads I imagine I would still be racing either a car or a truck. My dad and I have always wanted to build a 16 car or something for desert races.

What's the best thing about being a professional athlete?
Without a doubt, doing what I love. I'm definitely not doing this for the money right now lol.

What other sports are you interested in?
I used to follow Nascar pretty closely (go Jeff Gordon!), but I go to a lot of desert races also. I have a black belt in TaeKwondo. Is Parkour a sport? The guys that jump off builds and run up walls. Because those guys are crazy!

Any advice to the readers dreaming to turn pro?
The biggest question I always get from people hoping to turn pro is how to get sponsors. You really just have to set a positive image for yourself all the time. On and off the track. You can't be all about drinking and chasing girls (or guys lol).

How many hours a week are you on Facebook?
Too much lol. It definitely doesn't help now that I've got an iPhone so I can get on Facebook whenever I want.

Are you a gamer? What are your favorite games?
Used to be more of a gamer than I am now. The money goes to racing now. But MX vs. ATV Reflex is an awesome game.

What are your favorite magazines and websites?
I check out ATVRider and the new Digital Dirt online magazine is pretty cool. I go to atvriders.com a lot too.

Who is your hero?
You know, I've never really had a hero per say. I've definitely admired some people like Doug Gust and Lance Armstrong though.

I love riding of course!

I want a Pro Championship

I believe in getting what you deserve

Beach or mountains? Beach

High fives or knuckles? High Five! (in Borat voice)

iPhone or Blackberry? iPhone

Are you a Mac or PC? PC

Top 3 bands I mainly like the shuffle function.

Greatest strength Biceps lol. My drive to succeed.

Most frustrating challenge A string of bad luck/races.

My website www.justinwaters.com (Under Construction)

My twitter name WatersRacing

Recent Headlines

03.24.11 Hot Seat Powersports.com's Justin Waters celebrated Spring Break with a top ten finish at Lake Havasu

10.23.09 FOX Racing Shox rider Justin Waters Earns Top Ten for WORCS Pro Debut Season!