NEW INTERVIEW
March 2009

Published: March 15, 2009 1:47 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA
(Juniorscave.com)

JC Sports Exclusive: 

Rick THorne,
The Biker in Black

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Â	  Rick THorne, The Biker in Black Â	Â

He is one of the coolest, toughest, raddest, and baddest professional BMX riders out there in Extreme Sports. He is also a super talented athlete with one of the best down to earth personalities around. Who am I talking about? He is the masterful Rick THorne, The Biker in Black. Rick is also an accomplishedmusician, TV and Radio Host, and a sleuth of other accomplishments that are all revealed in this exclusive ultra cool interview. 

Isaac: Rick, I wanted to first give you some mad props for being one of the coolest professional BMX riders out there in Extreme Sports. Let’s talk about how you first begin your journey. You began riding at the age of 12. During that time, did you always realize you wanted to ride professionally or did you thought you were just having some fun? 

Rick: “Thanks for the props homie and thanks for this interview, to answer your question, I never thought of going PRO. Back in 1982, the structure of the sport was completely different, I rode because of how it made me feel, the feeling of being free from everything. Today kids can see light at the end of the tunnel or the mold to fit into the sport, I think it’s cool people can make a living doing what they truly love nowadays. I started riding on my own actually then met local rippers and we built a scene even though we had no idea what we were doing.” 

Isaac: You entered your first competition at the age of 15 years old. What were some of your original thoughts about this competition? 

Rick: “I just wanted to be in the moment, the excitement of putting myself to the test to prove to myself I could produce under pressure, I remember getting pumped up the night before to Minor Threat.” 

Isaac: How did entering this competition changed your life? 

Rick: “It made me want more of the scene universally; I felt I had found other people that enjoyed the same love of riding and that were what I was searching for. Plus it made me set NEW goals to better myself and challenge my riding harder, I remember after that contest I said to myself I was going to be PRO one day. It took me 9 years after that contest, AFA Masters in Oklahoma City, OK, to finally turn PRO.” 

Isaac: Let’s talk about Famous Stars and Straps. How has representing this organization as a professional BMX rider helped you professionally? What are your thoughts about your time with Famous Stars and Straps? 

Rick: “Well I have been homies with Travis for years before I got on the team. I wanted to ride for him ever since the company started cause I fit the brand and admire Travis for what he stands for. We at Famous Stars And Straps are family with each other so I felt good to be part of some real ass homies for once in my career.” 

Isaac: What do you love most about being a professional BMX rider and the sport itself? 

Rick: “The feeling it gives me, to write a trick down on paper then bring it to life, the compassion.” 

Isaac: Name some of your biggest injuries? 

Rick: “Broke my face, jaw, eye socket, torn knees, broken legs, broken ankles, torn shoulder, torn urethra, ripped chin, sheeattt sucks but pain is just pain.” 

Isaac: Damn, and you are still riding strong today; you are one bad ass! 

Isaac: Besides being a successful professional BMX rider you play in a band called Good Guys In Black. Elaborate a little about the origin of this band and what lead you to working with the group. 

Rick: “Well I always have a need to express myself and have been into music since I was a little kid; my time had come to start a band. I started the band and its vision over a year ago; I take it very serious and work hard at wanting to write good music. I had a good first year and at this point the band has grown into it’s own sound, I think at the beginning wanted to sing but didn’t know how so I got into vocal training to challenge myself and write better music. What we have on our My Space,www.myspace.com/goodguysinblack, I wrote in the first five months by throwing myself to the music. I don’t want to be PRO Athlete in a shitty band, music first like riding is to me.” 

www.draven.com

Isaac: Another one of your many talents is being a TV and Radio Host. 

Rick: “Thanks, Television and Radio are completely different from each other, I started hosting TV back in 1995 and Radio in 2000. I enjoy all forms of entertainment and work hard to be the best I can be at each form of the industry. I have always felt that if you study and bring idea’s to the table, don’t be lazy and pray about what your goals are and eat it, breath it and live it you can do what you set out to do.” 

Isaac: You have an amazing presence in front of the camera. You can tell you enjoy life to the fullest when I see you on TV or hear you on the radio. How has being a host helped you professionally? What are some of the rewards that you get from being a host? 

Rick: “Well hosting is fun; I always looked at myself as an improv kind of host, more of an entertainer. It has taught me to be more in touch with listening and expressing myself without being scared of what others might say. The reward is to make other people laugh, or to forget their problems for the minute. Plus, I wanted to let everyone know to check out my Radio/Podcast Show for ESPN called, “ESPN Action Sports” go to ITunes and search “ESPN Action Sports” the show is FREE.” 

Isaac: I also read in your bio that you have appeared in several projects. What were some of your favorite projects that you have been featured in and why? 

Rick: “Tony Hawk’s “Boom Boom Huck Jam” was bomb; Warp Tour is sick, supporting role in Paul Blart: Mall Cop was off the hook, Host of FOX TV’s “54321″ was radical. I think there is too many to say which ones is the best, I try to treat every opportunity as if it was my first.” 

Isaac: Where you honored when you were featured in both of the Mat Hoffman Pro BMX games and Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland? What did being featured in these projects meant to you personally? 

Rick: “Sense of accomplishment, yeah it was an honor, I remember fighting so much for what I believed in growing up and all the negativity people would throw my way, I never gave up on me and I felt like to be in those games only would inspire others to take part in the sport I love so much.” 

Isaac: You also appeared alongside Vin Diesel in the film xXx. How did you come about working on this project? 

Rick: “I interviewed him for my Television Show at the time called, “X2Day” for ESPN during the XGames and he was one of the reasons I got in the film. It was my first major film and was more of an cameo, after that film I went to one of the best acting schools in Hollywood for three years to graduate and study films. I learned real quick that riding had nothing to do with acting.” 

Isaac: It seems like you have done a ton of neat things in life. What is next for Rick Thorne? 

Rick: “I started my own tour with Monster energy called, “Join The Army” Skatepark Tour where my band played and I did contests looking for the next BMX and Skate soldiers to be on the Monster Army Flow Team. I have been riding at Woodward West wanting to compete this year and writing a NEW album in our band, Good Guys In Black. I have a signature shoe with Draven Shoes, www.draven.com, right NOW and in the works putting together my own Reality Show. We are planning our next tour with Monster Energy for the East Coast and then there is Warp Tour this summer.” 

Isaac: Time for shout out time… 

Rick: “Thanks to all my sponsors, Monster Energy, Boost Mobile, Famous Stars And Straps, Von Zipper Sunglasses, Freestyle Watches, Skullcandy, ESPN Action Sports Podcast, Draven Shoes, Continental Tires, KMC Wheels. Thanks to all my fans for supporting me, Thanks to my Mother and GOD.” 

Isaac: Final thoughts from Rick Thorne… 

Rick: “Follow your dreams you got only one life to live don’t be blocked, blinded or held back from what other people think you should do, believe in yourself.www.rickthorne.tv”

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Rick Thorne’s Official Website

www.rickthorne.tv 

ESPN Action Sports Podcast

http://search.espn.go.com/espn-action-sports/audio/7 

Photos provided by www.rickthorne.tv