Q&A with Jonny Statham

– Who is Jonny Statham? How old are you and where are you from?

Hey, I’m 16 and live in Derbyshire.  I’m currently taking a construction course at college.  I love riding BMX and MTB in my spare time.

– How old were you when you started riding and what first got you into BMX?

I was 11 years old when I got my first BMX.  I lived on the Isle of Man and my parents bought me a Blank.  I went to the pump track on it every day.  When I moved back to Derbyshire I had a go on a mates 18 inch BMX.  That same day my dad bought me a 18inch Haro Downtown.  I just fell in love with it.

– You have a very old school style. It’s really refreshing for me to watch. Is there any inspiration behind your riding?

With Asylum skatepark being my local park I definitely take inspiration from Tom Justice.  We have been riding together for a couple of years now and he motivates me every time I ride.  I guess riding with him so much has rubbed off on my riding style.  I also like copying his tricks.

– Have you entered any competitions? If so how’d they go?

Yes the first competition I entered was the UK Park Series stop at unit 3sixty.  I dropped in and did a can over the box and stacked it, great start, haha. 

I rode in the Coyote Jams when they were a thing and I actually won every one I entered.  Bit of an improvement from the first.  I’ve been to Mongoose Jam down in Hastings as well but the most recent comps were the Backyard Jams.  I think I did quite well as I beat a few sponsored riders and at the time I didn’t have any myself.

– Nice.  Speaking of sponsors, who are you hooked up by?

I’m currently sponsored by Tribal Bikes, Asylum Skatepark and recently Stvdio Brand.  Stoked!

– Have you got any plans for the future? Any trips or competitions?

My plan for the future is to get people stoked on bikes.  To be a kind of role model to youngsters who want to ride bikes, and show them what you can do on one.

I really want to go and ride Euro Camp in Spain.  The place looks incredible.  In this country though I definitely want to go to Cornwall with all the boys, go ride bikes and have a good time.

With regards to competitions, I want to enter anything that I can.  If Boris Johnson lets us, that is.

– How are you coping through Lockdown? Are you still riding? Do you have any other hobbies?

I’m coping OK, yeah.  I’m well bored though as is everyone.  I’m not riding my BMX as it’s been too wet and cold and all the indoor parks are shut.  That’s been a bit difficult.  I like to ride MTB as well so that is all I have been riding recently.

– Thanks for your time Johnny and I hope to see you out there shredding for many years to come. Any shout outs or words of wisdom?

Big shoutout to my sponsors for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to represent them.  Jack at Asylum for building such a sick skatepark for everyone and believing in me.  Shoutout to Adam for getting this interview sorted.  Biggest shoutout goes to my dad for being my biggest supporter, putting in so much time, taking me around the country to ride my bike.