This time of year is when things generally start to slow down after a long motocross season, but this year it’s been the direct opposite for 2015 ATV Derby Pro World Champion Cody Janssen. With the penultimate round of the ATVMX Nationals at Loretta Lynn’s, Doug Gust’s ATV/UTV Showdown, and ATV/UTV World Championship Derby all in the month of August, it’s safe to say the Janssen crew had their hands full. But after an injury-riddled season, a banged up Cody Janssen was bound and determined to end the 2016 season on a high note.
The former AMA ATV Pro Rookie of the Year was invited to Digger Doug Gust’s inaugural ATV/UTV Showdown, and boy did he put on a show! A twenty-some rider field was headlined by national Pro and Pro AM riders Sam Rowe, Zach Kaczmarzyk, and of course Cody Janssen. Janssen’s #25 machine’s setup peaked at the right time that night at Wilmot Speedway as he made a couple passes before grabbing the lead and never looking back. Cody was crowned the first ever winner of the event in front of 4,000+ spectators.
Coming off his victory in Kenosha, the 24-year-old looked to keep up the momentum as he headed to the World Championship ATV/UTV Derby to defend his crown just a few short days later. The reigning champion of the event came in as the odds on favorite, and though he’d never admit it, his health and mother nature would play a role in this weekend’s event. One could say it rained…a lot….but that would do no justice to the way the heaven’s opened up on that late August weekend. The track crew pumped 800,000+ gallons of water out of the stadium just to get the track ridable for the main events. Here again the card included Pros, Pro Am riders, and national champions. The injured Janssen, who has shown such heart as he has raced essentially all of the 2016 season hurt, put on a valiant effort after a mid-pack start to fight, scratch, and claw his way to the front by the finish. Cody didn’t want to relinquish his title, but he came up just short and finished 2nd in the 2016 ATV Pro World Championship Derby. To have a win and a second to his name in the World Championship is great, but not what he wanted. I can assure you he will be back in 2017, healthy and ready to take back his title!
“Winning is fun!” Janssen said after the couple days of racing. “I really wanted to be the 2-time defending world champ as well, but for how busted up I am I’m doing my best to accept the 2nd place finish and move on. I don’t want to dwell on it because we won [Digger Doug’s ATV/UTV Showdown] and that was huge. Then to come here and get a second, we put a good share of money in our pocket the last few days and that really helps my race program. Winning is fun, winning the other night was incredible, and we’ll be back to win the World Championship next year!”
At Loretta Lynn’s, the penultimate round of the 2016 ProX ATVMX National Championship Series for the Pros – but the final points paying race for the amateurs – Cody Janssen finished just outside of the top 10 in the Pro Class with an 11th and charged back up to 8th in the Pro Am Class despite flipping down the start straight at the beginning of Moto 2. Janssen’s final race of the 2016 season is slated for Soaring Eagle Casino on August 9th, the final round of the 2016 AMA ATV National Championship tour.
Race wins and podiums wouldn’t be possible for Cody and the Janssen crew without the great care and support of the people that continue to back him. He must thank his parents/family and the rest of the Janssen Motorsports crew; Thank you to the Londerville family and Londerville Steel for stepping up for Cody when he needed it most. Thank you to Elka Suspension for their support of the #25, phenomenal products and people. Also, thanks to Jay at Impact Solutions, Maxxis Tires, SSI Decals, Walsh Racecraft, Valvoline, Koster Racing, FMF, Pivot Works, Hinson Clutch Components, DP Brakes, Thor MX, 100%, E-Z UP, Cliff Cox and Oshkosh Tattoo and Good Girl Piercing, Risk Racing, Napa of Peru, Indiana; Pafford EMS, FourWerx Carbon, Sconnie Nation, 1st Endurance, Piping Service INC., DT-1 Filters, Sunstar Sprockets, D.I.D Chains, Galfer USA, Rath Racing, Renthal, Works Connection, 4Arm Strong, Don Straus, Pro-Tec, PHC Coatings, Jeremy Edwards at Edwards Auctioneering, Corey Garrison at Parts Unlimited, Terry Moore, Kay Gunn PT, Evans Coolant, Frank Vallone and family, his phenomenal mechanics (Joel Janssen, Haley Davis, Todd Blom and Dan Binder), Ken Hill always for the photos, and everyone else that supports him. The Janssen team is like a set of gears, Joel and Lisa Janssen along with Haley Davis (girlfriend) make Cody and his racing successful, it wouldn’t be possible without each and every one of them. Janssen looks to end the regular season on top at Loretta Lynn’s August 13-14, rain or shine! God bless.
