Jeremiah Jones Interview:
Life after ATV Racing & Future Plans
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Jeremiah Jones- Quick Facts |
| Birth
Date: |
8/23/1979 |
| Weight: |
179lbs |
| Hometown: |
Bowling Green,
KY |
| ATV: |
Suzuki LT-R450 |
| Occupation: |
Race Consultant |
| 1st ATC/ATV: |
Honda 125 Fourtrax |
| Started
Racing: |
14 Years Old |
| Favorite
Food: |
Chicken |
| Favorite
Drink: |
Sweat Tea |
| Hobby: |
Skeet Shooting |
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It’s
been a little over a year since Jeremiah Jones’
tragic accident that seriously injured his
spine and left the three-time AMA ATVA Pro
Motocross champion paralyzed from the waste
down. In that time Jones, has had to adapt
to many changes in his life, but Jeremiah
has not let his injury hold him back. Even
though racing ATV’s is no longer possible
for him, Jones has stayed involved in the
industry that he loves and has proved himself
to be a valuable asset and an inspiration
to the ATV community both on and off the track.
ATVRiders.com
visited Jeremiah at his Kentucky ranch where
we were able to talk to him about the impact
his crash has had on his life, his involvement
with Suzuki, and about his hopes and dreams
for the future.
ATVriders.com: Everyone is curious;
what’s been going on with you this past
year Jeremiah?
Jeremiah Jones: Quite a bit of stuff has been
going on actually. I signed on with Suzuki
as a Team Manager/Rider Coach/Consultant.
I’ve also been getting a lot of stuff
worked out around the house…a lot of
equipment and whatnot. Everything has been
going good. I’m just trying to get everything
well adapted and try to be self-sufficient
and make everything work the way it’s
supposed to be.
How
is everything coming together for you since
your accident?
Overall, everything is great. I feel just
as good as I ever did. The support that everyone
has given me is tremendous. Just being able
to be at the track, being able to work for
Suzuki and seeing all my friends and fans,
and still being able to sign autographs…It’s
been awesome.
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| Jeremiah
Jones had a concrete pad installed,
so he can easily move around with his
wheel chair, and he also has his name
and Suzuki number plate painted on the
driveway |
Jeremiah
remains very active and he even continues
to wrench on his ATVs to have them ready
for when Doug Gust flies down to his
house for practice & training |
Can
you tell us a little bit about all the things
you have done around your farm?
We’ve put in a new concrete driveway
to keep me from having to wheel around in
the gravel because it’s tough to maneuver
in the wheelchair. We put some ramps on some
of the buildings and in front of my house
especially. We also put a lift in my motorhome,
so I can get in there and go to the races
like I always did before. Another thing we
did was put a lift on my tractor so I can
be self-sufficient on that and go out on the
farm and have fun on that. Yamaha also helped
me with a Rhino. They donated it to me after
my accident. I’ve modified it a bit
so I can get out on the track and have fun
with the guys that come over and ride. I’ve
got it equipped with a hand control system,
and I can transfer really easily to get in
and out of it. I use it as kind of my legs
around the farm.
Tons
of people really helped me out and I’m
really grateful for it, it’s been awesome.
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Jeremiah
had a lift installed on his John Deere
Tractor, which allows him to work to
mow his fields and do maintenance around
the track
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It’s
been a little over a year since your accident.
How are you feeling? Has there been any progress
medical wise?
Physically, I feel just as normal as I ever
did. Every now and then I’ll get a pain
in my side or something like that where they
did the bone marrow graft, but overall I feel
just as healthy. I eat normally; I live just
as normal of a life as I can, just a little
different than before. I have an exercise
bike at home now so I can do therapy here
at the house and work my legs and keep my
body in physical shape. I’m just enjoying
living each day.
…But
still no feeling or anything else in your
legs?
I haven’t had any improvement. The only
thing is that it feels like I gained back
a little more feeling in my lower back, but
besides that I haven’t had any movement
or anything like that.
Do
you plan on looking into any new treatments?
I’m actually supposed to do some therapy
research and development this fall. I’m
really looking forward to doing that and maybe
try to get my legs to move a little bit.
