Monster Energy's UNLEASHED Podcast Interviews 'King of Supercross' Jeremy McGrath for Episode 21

CORONA, Calif., Dec. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Roll out the red carpet for a special episode featuring a true icon! Monster Energy is proud to welcome the 'King of Supercross' and seven-time AMA Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath on Episode 21 of the sports and pop culture podcast UNLEASHED with The Dingo and Danny.

Released today across Monster Energy's social media channels, this latest one-hour episode interviews the 49-year-old from San Francisco, California, who laid the foundation for freestyle motocross by inventing one of the first aerial tricks and revolutionized motocross racing in his influential career.

"I still think about motorcycles every day. That's all I think about, to be honest. I don't ride as much as I used to, but I watch every race. I'm super into it. My love for it really created my length in my career and created this job after my career. I just love dirt bikes," said McGrath on the new UNLEASHED episode about the keys to an enduring career in motorsports.

Fans can now listen to McGrath's exclusive interview recorded at Studio M inside Monster Energy headquarters in Corona, California. Released today, the new podcast featuring the Motorcycle Hall of Famer is streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.

When it comes to the most influential motocross athletes in history, the conversation inevitably includes Jeremy McGrath. After falling in love with motocross as a young BMX kid, he brought a fresh approach into motorsports. His invention of the Nac Nac air is regarded as the starting point for freestyle motocross, while McGrath's racing accolades include a record-setting 72 wins in 250cc Main Events. The star of his own video game, McGrath owns an X Games gold medal and continues to collect trophies as a top competitor in Off-Road truck racing.

Speaking to the two UNLEASHED podcast hosts, Australian action sports personality Luke "The Dingo" Trembath and professional snowboarder Danny Kass, McGrath relives career highlights and shares the secrets to achieving longevity in the world's most fast-paced sports.

McGrath grew up on a steady diet of BMX dirt racing with sponsorship at a young age. "From the age of 9 to 14, I raced BMX pretty seriously. I was on a factory team and traveling across the country doing nationals. But I never gave much thought to motocross," said McGrath. That changed at age 14. McGrath discovered 125cc motocross racing as his next evolution. "Once I got a dirt bike, I figured I could just hit bigger jumps on that thing. That was a major thing that drew me to it. And I was a Supercross fan."

Drawing on BMX techniques such as 'pumping' for speed after landing a jump over a mogul, he cultivated a unique style that would make him a top contender on the amateur circuit. In 1989, McGrath landed a spot in the Kawasaki amateur support program and one year later won the Las Vegas Supercross as an amateur rider and placed second in the championship.

Aside from racing for the fastest lap time, McGrath also enjoyed unleashing his BMX-style aerials on his motorbike. "Freestyle motocross did not even exist back then. I mean, I was doing freestyle motocross in my backyard, before it even existed," said McGrath on the podcast. Ultimately, McGrath introduced his own signature aerial executed while kicking out a leg in mid-air – and the rest is history. "Arguably freestyle motocross started when I did the Nac Nac for the first time. The trick actually came from BMX, so we ripped it off from BMX. I was the first person to do it on a motorbike."

While he always remained a freestyle motocross fan, McGrath moved on to build a record-setting Supercross racing career. Named the 'King of Supercross', he won Supercross and motocross championship titles the same year in 1995. "Being a Supercross racer in the Nineties was something I could never have dreamed of. It was pretty amazing!" said McGrath on the show. Major accolades include winning the AMA Supercross Championship seven times, plus the AMA Pro Athlete of the Year Award (1996) and induction into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame (2003).

"When you get to a certain point and you eventually get to compete with your heroes, it's like 'Man! I gotta go out and beat the guy that I used to have on a poster on my wall!'" said McGrath about his legendary rivalry with Supercross champion Ricky Carmichael in the early 2000s. Looking back on his career, McGrath said: "I guess that's just the nature of sports. You're only as good as your last race. It's definitely true in Supercross."

Aside from his milestone-heavy racing career, McGrath also competed as a full-fledged X Games athlete, earning four medals in three different Moto X disciplines, including 2004 Step Up gold. "I have always been a huge fan of X Games, it just took me a while to figure out a discipline to get in," said McGrath, who at the time entered as a Moto X racer and competed in the high jump competition "as a sideshow" but ended up literally striking gold.

Today, McGrath shares his unique knowledge of the sport in the 'Science of Supercross' video series. Considering the evolution of motocross, the icon said: "The field definitely looks healthy. Today the kids definitely start younger and stop earlier." But McGrath has yet to stop! As his next act in an ongoing motorsports career, he has earned championship titles racing trucks in the Lucasoil Off Road Pro Series, where he is still a top competitor.

"You have to figure out how to have passion for what you're doing. Because passion creates length in a career. If you come around with a chip on your shoulder and start disrespecting the sport that's really provided for you, and you come up with a bad attitude, that can shorten things up," said McGrath.

But there's more! Listen to the full episode featuring the groundbreaking motorsports athlete now! Visit the landing page to access Episode 21 of the UNLEASHED with The Dingo and Danny Podcast featuring Jeremy McGrath.

Episodes of UNLEASHED are filmed on a special set inside Studio M at Monster Energy headquarters in Corona, California. The podcast is hosted by the dynamic duo of Australian action sports personality Luke "The Dingo" Trembath and professional snowboarder Danny Kass. Known for their deep roots in action sports culture, the two starred in the beloved cult TV show 'The Adventures of Danny and The Dingo' on Fuel TV for five action-packed seasons in the early 2010s. Both hosts have walked the walk as pro snowboarders and possess the interview skills to find common ground with guests from any type of background – sports and pop culture. Always look out for new episodes dropping bi-weekly on Mondays.

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The UNLEASHED with The Dingo and Danny Podcast is here to celebrate the personalities behind the Monster Energy lifestyle. With each episode dedicated to a unique guest or topic, listeners learn about living on the edge and advancing the state of the art in the world of high-energy sports as well as music, games, and pop culture from individuals at the top of their game. More than a drink, Monster Energy is a way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans – and the podcast is an extension of this unique DNA.

For more on Jeremy McGrath and our team of motocross athletes visit http://www.monsterenergy.com. Also follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok for exclusive content and athlete features.

About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes, and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at http://www.monsterenergy.com.

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