Seth Hammaker Interview: Tampa Press Day
February 07, 2025
Welcome to the East. How does it feel to finally be back racing?
It feels really good. Had a great offseason. It felt like a long wait to go racing, but we’re finally here and ready to get going.
Everyone talks about how long the offseason is and how they feel. Did you get to take some time off, or was it just grinding for a few months?
No, I had a later start to Supercross prep because I was coming off a shoulder injury. I couldn’t start riding until December, so December and January were strictly Supercross training and getting ready for the East Coast. I knew from the start that I’d probably be on the East Coast since I was recovering from injury. But it’s been good. Before getting into full training, I moved to Florida this winter, so I got to go home quite a bit before the real training began. That was a lot of fun.
Where in Florida are you based?
Dade City, at the Dog Pound with the Lawrences.
Nice! How has that transition been?
It’s been awesome. I’ve really been enjoying it. Just getting back to the East Coast and surrounding myself with those guys has been great.
Where were you based last year?
California. Ever since I went pro, I’ve been in California because that’s where the team is, and they have so many resources out there. But I wanted to try something different, and I’m glad I did.
How do you feel training at Dog Pound now with the Lawrences? Do you feel better than last year coming into the season?
Yeah, definitely better—just more confident. I feel like I have more tools in my belt if challenges come up, whether it’s track conditions, obstacles, or whatever. I kind of know what to do now and just feel more confident in my abilities.
Did you spend any time in California testing, or was everything done in Florida?
I spent about a week out there this offseason for testing, but not much time at all. Mostly, I’ve been in Florida. My bike feels great, and I didn’t make many changes, which is good. The team sent out our suspension guys to test with me in Florida, which was awesome. So, I did one week there, one week in California, and I feel good.
Last question—expectations for the season?
No specific result expectations for this weekend. I just want to go in with an open mind, put my best foot forward every weekend, and do what I’ve been doing in practice. Regardless of results, I want to have solid rides and be in the mix for the title at the end.
