Bobby Hewitt | How To Spot Talent

INSTAGRAM | @bbhewitt

PHOTOS | Husqvarna

It’s easy to be wooed by the next big thing, especially in racing. There are countless stories of teams that sign riders who are proclaimed to be the future star of the sport, but when things don’t pan out as quickly as they hoped, the rider is passed over by the next up and coming prospect. It’s a tough situation for all and rarely do we see an amicable split between the two parties.

Bobby Hewitt doesn’t work that way. The Team Manager for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing is known for hiring riders that aren’t always at the top of the talent list, but eventually, they come into their own and bring the brand success. It worked with Jason Anderson and Zach Osborne, two riders that were written off at an early point in their careers, only to becoming champions years later. That Dean Wilson and Michael Mosiman have signed contract extensions to stay with the team for 2020 (and 2021 for Mosiman) is an indication that Hewitt is sticking to the method as he plans for the future of the team. Wilson’s deal makes Husqvarna the only factory effort with three confirmed 450 full-time riders in 2020, while Mosiman will retain his spot in the four-rider 250 effort alongside Thomas Covington (despite some rumblings and rumors, Hewitt assured us that the second year of Covington’s contract with the team will be fulfilled), current amateur-soon to be pro Jalek Swoll, and a still to be announced veteran in the 250 class. 

During the downpours at Spring Creek, we asked Hewitt about the way he scouts talent, be it in the amateur ranks or established pros. “I’m looking for the guy no one else sees,” he told us as soon as the recorder was on. Over the course of three questions, he explained what he looks for in riders, and why amateurs get contracts over established pros.

Is it hard to spot the untapped talent now, just considering how everyone sees everything? You can’t roll up to an amateur race unnoticed and see someone for the first time, because there is so much hype and social media spread about everyone now.

The way the amateurs are now, I don’t do this, but they’ll sign someone so early. I don’t believe in that. Because after raising two sons and one that went from 60s all the way to the pros, you see the changes that they make between 16, 18, and 22. I’m trying to find what no one else sees, like a Mosiman. I wouldn’t say he was the highest prospect, but when I’m looking for a guy, I want to take him for three years in the 250 class because of the progression it takes. You always have that one-off guy (that can do it right away), but I’m looking for a guy that by the end of our second year together, he’s ready. I’m not looking for wins today. With four riders, for the sponsors and the OEM, you have to have two seasoned guys and two up and comers. I have Jalek Swoll and this will be his last year racing at Loretta’s, and then will be at Unadilla and the last three Nationals. As successful of an amateur career as he’s had, he’ll have moments of greatness as a pro but it’s going to take time. And you can’t substitute time.

Not to name names for your 2020 line-up, but it’ll be the same thing again. You’ll have an experienced guy coming in, another experienced guy staying (Mosiman), Jalek, and a developing guy that will need to prove a point in Covington. How do you find the balance for that and not get wowed by the young talent others chase? Because you’ve seen it not pan out so many times?

Yeah. I’m not going to compete with other manufacturers to sign a SuperMini kid or a guy on a 125. If you look historically, by the time they get to the B and A classes, there’s always that one rider that was overlooked when he was on SuperMini and in Schoolboy that is starting to peak. He’s not the guy, but he’s around them. That’s the guy I’m looking for, that’s what I mean when I say I’m looking for the guy no one else sees. Everyone else is looking at one or two riders, but I’m looking at the guy who from SuperMini to B Class has progressed. That, and the way they ride the bike, their family, if they fit the team well, how the parents are, what the work ethic is like. There are so many different things. It’s the same way in the 450 class. You can pick a winner and if you have enough budget, you can buy a guy. But I’d rather build a champion than buy a champion.

One thing that constantly gets brought up by fans is, “Why do teams sign these unproven amateur kids when there are 22 and 23-year-old guys with experience and top-15 results?” Because when you sign a kid, you don’t know what’ll happen when the gate drops on his first pro race. Why do teams go that way?

It’s difficult because you have the OEM involved and the title sponsor involved. And ultimately, I like to be involved [Laughs]. They want the pipeline of potential talent and they want the seasoned guys to compete for podiums. That guy that you’re talking about, the guy with a few years under his belt in the pro ranks, that’s the guy that I would look for to give an opportunity. He’s not the young guy coming up, but maybe one of my seasoned guys is moving up and I can slot someone in that’s on the cusp if they are given the right things. We have some team members next year that are coming on that I think have had moments of greatness and the potential, but because of injuries and things like that, they haven’t been “the guy.” But they are on the threshold of it.