Diane: How old were you when you started having an interest in motocross?

Javier: I was probably five years old when I started liking motocross, but at that moment my family didn’t have money to buy me a dirt bike. It took my dad two years to save enough money to buy me a motorcycle.


Diane: When did you realize that motocross was something you wanted to do as a career?

Javier: When I was 17 years old I was finishing school and I still didn’t know what I wanted to study in college, but I did know that I love riding my dirt bike. When I was 17, I was still living in my country (Chile) and down there, is almost impossible to make a career as an athlete. It took a lot of effort and a lot of training to make it happen, but I don’t regret it one moment.


Diane: What has been your most exciting moment so far?

 Javier: My most exciting moment was when I became world champion in 2011, it was a long year and but the victory was a reward of so many years of hard work.


Diane: Scariest moment?
Javier: My scariest moment was when I broke my femora in 2007, it was my first time breaking a big bone and it was very painful, made me think if I really wanted to keep riding, but a few weeks later I was ready to start recovering and get back into my bike.


Diane: What is your next goal?
Javier: My next goal is to become the best freestyle rider in the world, I know it is a hard goal, because there is so many good riders out there, but I’m going to work hard to achieve it.


Diane: I believe Nuclear Cowboyz is new to you. What are your thoughts on it so far?
Javier: Nuclear Cowboyz is a very fun show and I enjoy all of the riding I get to do, especially when I’m doing it with my friends, we get to jump at the same time and do tricks at the same time, it’s very cool to look over and see the tricks mid air while I’m alongside the other riders. It’s also neat to be part of such a big production that includes more than freestyle… We have fireballs, fireworks a neat laser show, acrobats, dancers and much more! It’s a show everybody has to experience.

Diane: How does your wife feel about your career? Would you like your own children to be involved in FMX?
Javier: My wife is very supportive, she’s always helping me make this easier, she wakes up very early every morning to go practice with me, and she’s always there to take care of me if something happens. About my kids, I just want them to find something that makes them happy, if it’s freestyle, great, if it’s something else, great too. The only goal in life is to be happy.

Special thanks to Javier Villegas for this wonderful interview. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan. Email me at ELGeorgia@aol.com To read more about Nuclear Cowboyz click here!