My dad never wanted me to ride a two-wheeler because he thought they were too dangerous, so we got three-wheelers. We all know how safe those are...
I got a YZ80 when I was about 14 and used to go out and hit the trails with my dad. Then when I was 19 or 20 I went riding with Jeremy McGrath at his parents' house and I was hooked again.
I have a few signature products: The Lopes 55 Sprinter Van by Sportsmobile is pretty cool, Bell is coming out with a full-face bike helmet and Troy Lee has a knee pad I designed. Kenda has a Lopes 55 tire which I also designed and ride called "El Moco."
I've known Johnny O'Mara for about 15 years. We usually ride at least once a week together. Since I'm riding motocross in the winter a lot, I'm always asking O'Show to go, but he has no interest in riding moto. He's all about cross-country mountain biking. Every once in a while we hit up the go-kart track for some fun battles.
The biggest comparison to jumping a mountain bike is when you're pinned on a motorcycle and you let up so you stay low and don't go as far. Basically there's no throttle control involved, and this is the only comparison to a bike.
I've done a few of the crossover events, mostly the supercross ones. I never won one but have been on the winning team a couple times. I got some seconds and thirds, but I always did something stupid like crash while out front.
I used to ride with Ernesto Fonseca, and he'd get me to try and jump the bigger stuff. Ernie got me to jump the biggest jump I've ever hit at Castillo Ranch, about 120 feet. Now I ride with Ryan Dungey sometimes. When you ride with such good pros, they can give you a few pointers and the confidence, and sometimes that's all you need.
Most of the mountain bike guys love moto. It's the style we're trying to emulate, and we all ride dirt bikes in the off-season, just at a different level.