Checking in with Josh McLean
From Enemies to friends… we check in with Josh McLean
With Australia signed up to race in the 2023 FIM Supermoto of Nations, I figured it's a good time to check in with Josh Mclean and provide some background on this fast Aussie. Josh came over to the United States and competed in the 2016 AMA Supermoto championship for Glenn Fuller's Lean Six Sigma raceteam. He made a return to America in 2022, winning the Pro Lites title and finishing 2nd overall in the Open Pro class. I rummaged through some of my wife's banger photos from last year for your viewing pleasure along the way. So here is my interview with Josh McLean.
Pro lites class saw a lot of battles between Buffum and Mclean in 2022
Butters: hey man lets start with some background on how you got into motorcycles.
What was your first bike and how did you get into riding?
When and what was your first race?
McLean: First bike: this was a PW 80, not sure how i ended up with this banger of a bike but i did, my self and best friend Thomas Alexander would later just raw around for hours and hours on our bikes and i managed to pretty much kill it in a short period of time
First Race: this wasn't much longer after getting the PW, dad managed to get me a brand new KX60, along with Thomas he also got a kx as well and we both ended up racing some local club level events and the rest is history
Josh and I battle at the final Anthony Hart Memorial Stateline Supermoto Challenge.
Butters: That’s rad the old pw80 so you been banging shifts since day 1. What lead you find Supermoto? And was your only background moto?
McLean: Yes motox has been my sport since the start and I was lucky enough to race all around Australia at a very competitive level for many years 2002 was my first Australian championship I competed in on a 65cc and managed to finish 6th that year.
My last junior national was 2005 in Queensland where I raced 85 125 and 250 for the whole week , I think I only managed a solid result on the 85 that year , after that I had a huge accident and broke my lower leg, which sidelined me for a few years and that’s how I feel into supermoto, around 2011 I started to adventure into the sport on a Yamaha 250 that burnt that much oil 😂 I had to top it up after every ride
But it just grew into what I’m Doing today
Butters: Wait you rode 85’s and big bikes at the junior national? Wild
McLean: yeah dude all 3 bikes for i think 2 years of racing 13yo- 16yo year range for each class, just back to back to back, had 6 bikes total each year 2 race and 2 pracy haha was wild
I did pass him, remember that in Italy this October Josh ;)
Butters: Well, you definitely got a never say die attitude so makes sense you made 85 and big bikes work. The first I remember you was 2016 when you came over to the states and raced for Glenn Fuller’s lean six sigma team, how did that ride come about?
McLean: Yeah, dude, 2016 was a trip! It all started after the 2015 season here in Aus. I had a good result at the nationals, and at that time, I was following supermoto S1GP and the AMA supermoto socials. I saw Josh Jackson winning, either in the SoCal series or the AMA rounds, and I just inboxed him, assuming he would have a spare bike, etc. We talked for a few months back and forth. Initially, he assumed I was from America and was tripping out because I would only reply at like 2 am their time. Long story short, I ended up at Glenn's house early in 2016, ready to go at it with the RSR crew at Bakersfield. Haha, the whole 2016 season was a good year. Matt ran that series really well, and that round in Canada we did with World Rally X was insane!
2016 AMA Supermoto Round 1
3rd:my dumb ass 2nd: Josh in his first race in the US 1st: The Goat of ama sm Gage Mcallister
Butters: I wish I had stayed healthy in 2016. We really didn't get to race each other other than round 1. Yeah, Canada was insane that first year.
It's funny looking back at that 2016 year; it's like the pits were split between Nicky Reimer Supporters or Josh Jackson supporters. I was definitely on team Nicky, but I had machined triple clamps for both of them, so I was semi-neutral. Mid-season, you started running both classes to help buffer Josh in the Lites title fight, and that had us Nicky supporters' panties in a bunch.
McLean: Hahaha, dude, vibes were low between us all, but I loved it. The sport needs that crap, I think it gets people excited.
Hell, Matt (Matt Stewart previous ama sm promoter) was even going to pay me and Nicky to scrap on the infield at the Colorado round 😂.
Butters: Yeah, it felt like Lean Six Sigma played the villain role in 2016, but everyone in the pits loved Glenn. It was just the Josh's... But to you guys, it was probably switched, and we were the villains. Each of us looking at each other as the haters.
Looking back on those times, it's funny and enjoyable to reminisce about. It's easy to forget we are all hot-headed and say/do dumb stuff because we are competitive, or else we probably wouldn't be racers.
McLean: Dude i still replay that video in my head from sturgis when I tried to go under Hoffman and then dropped it on the tunnel jump, and your just there on the side line watch just going off while I’m struggling to get up 😂🤌🏻
I scold McLean for thinking he could even think about keeping my teammate Dustin Hoffman behind him
Butters: So, fill me in on the next five years. I know you took on the ultimate role of being a dad, and Covid shut the world down. But ultimately, you made your way back here last year to race both pro classes again for the AMA Supermoto championship.
McLean: But man, after 2016, I was all pumped about coming back for 2017. But yeah, life just happened. My partner fell pregnant, and I decided to do the right thing, be around the whole time, and help her. I even quit my well-paying job at the time to be closer to her during the days, etc.
Then, before I knew it, 2021 had rolled around, and I had two kids 😆. I now have three boys.
I don't think I rode a motard or a bike for like three years, but it felt like only a few months. It was crazy.
But man, my old sponsor here in Aus called me at the start of 2021 and said, "Just got you a new 2021 FS450. Let's go racing again!" 🤯
I happened to see that the Tony Hart Memorial was going to be run in 2022 for the last time, and that event was on my bucket list to do. So I made contact with Glenn, and we talked about making it happen. Like typical Glenn (alrighttttt, let's doooooo this).
And from there, we just decided to do the whole season. I'm glad I made the decision because it paid off in the end, winning the 250 Pro championship, sandbagging the National Asphalt championship, and getting second in the 450 championship.
I had so much going on, trying to race three classes, work back home, lack of money, and on top of all that, my partner Tash ended up staying home with the two boys and a newborn all by herself while I was over racing in America. Man, she's crazy, and I don't know how she made that happen.
But it's all just falling into place. It's crazy how it all works out, and now we have the first Team Australia going to SMoN, and I think America has a team for the second time ever??
I love the dirt coming off the tires in this shot
Butters: YES Supermoto of nations! That’s what got me wanted to reach out and do this interview. The USA is fielding a team for the second time ever and Australia for the first time ever. Are you guys shipping your bikes or riding bike from a team over in Italy? Who are your teammates on the Aussie team?
McLean: Yes, SMoN is super exciting as we will be the first team to make an appearance for Australia. We managed to put together a pretty reasonable team, one that's super consistent. We hope to be around 6th or 7th overall, and that's our goal for our first time.
The team is made up of myself, Dominic Fletcher, and Loic Barbot. We decided that looking for help in Europe would be the best option for us to have the best chance of success. So, myself and Dom will be under the SGR Honda outfit, and Loic will be doing his own ride with support from Husqvarna Australia, which will see him on a 2024 FS.
He will then ship it back home to Australia. Sadly, backing from the Australian motorsport community hasn't been great. I am lucky to have some really good personal sponsors to help me out. We decided to make the journey over to SMoN to help grow the sport here in Australia, to show people that there is a reason to compete in Australia racing for an incentive of going overseas.
Butters: That’s awesome dude thanks for taking the time to do this. How can people contact you if they wanna support and follow the journey?
2022 Lightning on the Wolf Smec/AMA combined race
McLean: I appreciate it one wheeler!!
yeah if anyone would want to help support me by all means they can feel free to contact via email or whatsapp as i try push for a full time ride in 2024 i will require as much support as i can
whatsapp: +61437750461
scrool to the bottom on the page for more links
Butters: Sick. Oh I got a couple fun questions I wanna put in too
Who was your favorite rider growing up?
McLean: My favorite rider growing up... Honestly, that's a tough one. To be honest, as a kid, my favorite rider was one of my competitors. He had it all going on – a factory Honda-backed rider at the time as a junior racer, and before that, he was on the Yamaha team. He had national championships, and most times, he just couldn't be beaten. Haha, that guy was Kade Mosig.
The other guy who was also a competitor and inspired me to go to America in 2016 was Josh Cachia. He was racing supercross at the time for JDR KTM when Mookie was on the team, etc. He put a post on social media saying, "If you think you're bad enough, then go where the baddest riders are," referring to America.
Those two dudes just spoke their minds 24/7, and they still do now. Both of them no longer race, just being family men and making ends meet for their families.
Surgis 2022 in front of Reimer and Pearce
Butters: Favorite Supermoto rider?
McLean: Favorite Supermoto rider , i think its lukas Hollbacher , pretty much how he handles him self on and off the track and is sooooo patient when racing he got that style, he got the media down pack
Josh Leads Höllbacher while CP123 and Dean Frey admire
Butters: Best Race?
McLean: Best Race, hands down Canada round of the AMA in 2016
Butters: Who do you want to thank?
McLean: and to my sponsors who have been behind me since the start of all this, i have a small group of mates who help me also on the side and i cant thank them enough, as far as shit talking to me at the shop when im fixing the bikes, helping on race days and training days and just being around to help set up and pack etc help drive to the meets, my partner tash is pretty much a single parent at this point with the amount of time im away training and racing all this just keeps me motivated to keep going, along with all the supermoto racers in aus who keep showing up to the races we have, thank you guys for helping the sport continue
Mark Cooper at MCR Supermoto
Toby at Race Ready Suspension
Geno at EC Physics
Benny at Horsham Concrete Pumping
Gaz at Axle Armour Australia ( Crash Protection sliders )
Graeme at GK Auto Hire
JUST1 USA
Kel Sleep
KC Detailing
SV Plumbing
CM Constructions
Wimmera Glass Works
Natimuck Excavations
Vic Market Tattoo
Deckect Transport
Danbar Plastics
thanks for reading thru please consider helping Josh if you can. I can vouch that he is a great dude that I’ve witnessed go above and beyond to help other racers on race day while pulling double duty himself. good luck in your all your future endeavors Josh!
-Butters
find Josh on these links
Instagram: @joshuamclean60
Facebook: Josh McLean
Facebook for Aussie SMoN team: Supermoto team Australia
Whatsapp: +61437750461
Checking in with Eugene Fiorotto
After a devasting injury at SMEC round 3 we check in with Eugene Fiorotto
Sean Butterman:Hey man I wanted to get an update on you. This year in the SMEC Championship in the smec1 250 pro class you and Steve Ingram had split moto wins at the first two rounds and at the third round you won moto 1 but had a massive get off in moto 2. how is your recovery is going?
Eugene Fiorotto: It's going good, but very slow. Still have a long road ahead of me. It's very doubtful that I will race supermoto again.
SB: Oh wow. I’m not sure how to respond to that, I’m sorry dude. That’s rough I feel like you and Steve Ingram was such a fun battle to follow this year, you both stepped up your level. It’s gotta be heart wrenching to go out like that but maybe there’s some solace in the fact that you where doing what all us racers dream of fighting for race wins and the championship. Do you want to share what all was injured? And maybe talked some about how you felt about how the racing was going?
EF17: To be honest I wasn't even going to race this season. I ended the 2022 season 4th overall in the championship, due to missing the LOTW race. I told everyone I was hanging it up. But Sam Lakas #66 told me to give it one more year. So over the winter and early spring I worked out, did tons of mtn.biking and by the time VIR came late in May I was ready to go out and win this championship! So I broke both my tib, fib in both legs right at the ankle. Right foot also suffered a few broken foot bones. My left however was not as good, my heel bone was destroyed and actually was compounded out the inside of my foot. I also had back fractures in L5 and L6 and 3 fractured ribs.
SB: So we can blame Lakas… just kidding. Damn that is a serious list for an injury. Wow. Do you still have more surgery’s remaining to fix stuff?
EF17: Lol, no nobody's to blame here just was a freak accident. So surgeries are done, but the Dr said depending on how my foot recovers (side with the heel injury) there's a very small possibility that I might need cosmetic surgery to graft skin there to cover the exit wound. I'm hoping that's not the case!! I don't want any extra recovery time!!!
SB: No doubt, here is to you staying on the road to recovery with no complications. Let’s switch it up and talk about your SM history. What brought you to the sport of Supermoto and what was your first sm bike?
EF17: I appreciate it! So I rode sport bikes back when I lived in Arizona, I lived pretty close to Mussleman Honda Circuit. My R6 was to big for that track and a buddy of mine, Ian Adolphe had a 04 YZ450f supermoto he let me try and I was hooked! I went out and found a 03 YZ450f and pieced together my 1st supermoto in 2015 I believe.
SB: Oh snap that’s awesome, I too had a 2003 yzf450 but it was my second Supermoto bike in 2004. Those 4 speeds where gnarly from what I recall. Did you have any dirt experience before this or just road race?
EF17: I never raced any motorcycle event until the 2016 AMA nationals in Tucson. I just rode dirtbikes for fun growing up. So I have literally no background in racing at all. I did race some Harescrambles back here in NY once I moved back to the east coast in 2018
SB: Oh wow I didn’t know that! So how did that first race go?
EF17: So the Tucson race in 2016 was awesome, I think I qualified 16th out of 30 plus bikes. Moto 1 turn 1 I got hit from behind lol and had to battle back from last. I think I finished 14th in Amateur that race? I dunno it's been a while. Plus I was on a heavy CRF450X too! Lol
SB: I was at that race but just to hang out as i was recoverimg from a knee surgery, Larry Pegram rode my bike that day. So I was correct in correct in remembering you as a west coast guy before east coast. What was your favorite sm race?
EF17: I think my favorite race was the streets of Sturgis. I had a great time racing that weekend. But I'd say my most memorable race was by far the Quebec grand prix round. I pitted with Kevin Wehr and riding through the town and people wanting high fives as I rode by and some little kids wanting me to sign their shirts will by far live in my memories! RIP #9
Eugene and Kevin at GP3R
EF17: After he passed, I had my graphics guy make this as part of my design. Since then, I run it on all my bikes and jerseys.
RIP Kevin Wehr
SB: Kevin was awesome. Sturgis was my favorite as well.
What race or racing accomplishment are you most pround of?
EF17: I'd say this year's VIR race was my proudest moment in my supermoto career. I earned that overall win. It was a hard battle to the end and I stuck with it, and it was my 1st pro win.
first 250 pro win at VIR
SB: I love that. Have you always been into building your bikes out? The last few years you have had some of the sweetest bikes in the paddock
EF17: I have, its more of an addiction lol. I get carried away when it comes to builds, whether it's supermotos or bicycles
2017
2023
SB: Thanks for taking the time to reply to me today brother. A couple more questions Who has been your biggest rival?
EF17: No problem butters always a pleasure to chat! I'd for sure say my biggest rival has been Steve Ingram ever since I moved to 250 pro. But im also my worst rival sometimes, doubting my abilities to win and push on.
SB: What’s the dirtiest move you have pulled or had pulled on you?
EF17: I can't say I've ever done any dirty moves, I try to ride clean and always enjoyed hanging out with everyone in the pits more then racing most times. Not saying anyone did me dirty but I did end up with a hole in my tire at a Tucson night race before on a brand new tire just saying.
SB: What are your career highlights you would like shown and who would you like to thank?
EF17: My career highlights would be 3rd overall in AMA amateur 2017, champion of southwest supermoto series (AZ series) 2017. I was the champion of SMEC 2 in 2019 and again in 2020. Jay let me run #1 in amateur again due to covid and a shorter season. I would love to thank my very caring girlfriend Jeni Huber for putting up with my racing addiction and to my sponsors over the years for helping with the bikes and gear. Lastly I wanted to add my own bit on this interview I have to say it's been one hell of a run, I made some great friends, traveled the country, and had some great racing battles. I can say I went out on top my last race! And when I look back at my time supermoto racing, I will always have great memories of great adventures with great people!!
ROT rally austin tx
Sturgis
Eugene, Buffum, and Narbonne
Thanks to Eugene for the time you can find him on these links
facebook: eugene.fiorotto
instagram: @efiorotto17
Til next time my fellow SMR dorks
-Butters