Damian Jigalov - MotoAmerica Supersport Racer for 3D Motorsports

Dale Spangler:

Welcome to Pit Pass Moto, a show that brings you deep dive interviews with the motorcycle industry insiders and racers that make the sport move. I'm host, Dale Spangler, and this episode's guest is MotoAmerica SuperSport racer with the 3D Motorsports team, Damian Jigalov.

This episode is brought to you by MotoAmerica, home of AMA Superbike Racing, and North America's premier motorcycle road racing series. Watch every round of the 2023 series with MotoAmerica Live+ video-on-demand streaming service. Or visit the MotoAmerica YouTube Channel for race highlights and original video content.

For the complete 2023 MotoAmerica schedule, head to motoamerica.com or follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for real-time series updates.

Let's get started.

We'd like to welcome to Pit Past Moto, Damian Jigalov. Damian, how are you today? What are you up to you today, on the first day of Spring. Doesn't feel like it here though?

Damian Jigalov:

I know, right? Same here. I'm over in Chicago, so it's a little chilly, but thanks for having me on. Yeah, today is my off and rest day, so running some errands and things like that.

Dale Spangler:

So, I saw where you just competed in, I believe it was your first Daytona 200. How'd that go for you? And what'd you think of the high banks?

Damian Jigalov:

That's right. Yeah, it was my first time riding at Daytona. I've been there a bunch of times, so first time on the actual high banking. Overall, it was a great experience. It's so unique compared to any other track anywhere around the world. So, to be able to just experience the track itself was amazing. It was unique in itself.

Unfortunately, the race didn't necessarily go the best. We had some mechanical issues early on and I wasn't able to finish. But nonetheless, it was still a great experience.

Dale Spangler:

So, you didn't have any like we'll call it the Anthony Mazziatto moments where you kind of bounced off the bank? I couldn't believe that when I saw that last year, I was like, “Wow, that’s got to be sketchy.”

Damian Jigalov:

No, not quite, thankfully. No, but I could see how things like that can happen, especially when you're going that fast and the G-Forces are sucking you down into the ground. And when you're racing that tight, it's simple for little things like that to happen though. The wall definitely comes up on you quick.

Dale Spangler:

Definitely. Well, it looks like you got to be pretty excited coming into 2023. It looks like you have a new ride with 3D Motorsports and you're going to be taking on Supersport class in MotoAmerica on a Suzuki GSX-R750. So, are you excited about this challenge and how did this all come about with 3D Motorsports?

Damian Jigalov:

A hundred percent. I am so looking forward to it. I mean, we did some testing. Daytona obviously, didn't necessarily go the best when it came to the mechanical stuff, but I'm full of confidence going into the first round of the year.

For me, it's been a unique last couple of years when it comes to racing. In my past, I did some racing in Europe and once I came back, just based on the way racing was going when it came to sponsorships and stuff like that, I was racing in WERA for the last couple of years, but not necessarily a full MotoAmerica ride.

So, to finally be back in the MotoAmerica Paddock, just put a smile on my face the first Thursday morning I got to the track. And just being with all the fast guys and being with the best riders in the country, it's definitely a welcoming experience.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah. So, let's talk about, you have a very unique career. I mean, you're what, 19 now?

Damian Jigalov:

Mm-Hmm (affirmative).

Dale Spangler:

And I feel like you've lived so much of a life already, having gone to Europe. In a way, like you sort of started very differently than a lot of other Americans when it comes to road racing. Like you are 12 years old, you're in Italy, if I'm not mistaken, racing-

Damian Jigalov:

Yep.

Dale Spangler:

… in a series at 12 years old in Europe by yourself. So, I mean, how did this all come about? Not many people can say at 12 years old, they're in Europe by themselves racing a motorcycle.

Damian Jigalov:

No, a hundred percent. And so, for me, the way that kind of even came about was, so my dad never necessarily raced motorcycles. He did some track days, he was always into motorcycles. So, ever since I had memory, I also, took a natural interest in them.

So, I started riding, I started racing at a young age, right around eight years old, just competing in local championships. And then I started racing in WERA.

And actually, when I was 11 years old, I was racing here in the US KTM RC 390, which at the time, MotoAmerica had the RC Cup, the KTM Cup. And I was too young to race against it.

But a lot of the MotoAmerica guys would come over and race WERA on their off weekends, and I would actually beat them. And some of these guys were some of the guys who were battling for the championship. So, for me, it filled me up with confidence, but unfortunately, again, I kind of hit a wall just because of my age.

And at the time, I was actually sponsored by Dainese, the leather suits. And they had a connection over in the Italian Moto3 Championship with a team called RMU Moto. And they were actually a part of the VR46 Academy and everything like that.

Dale Spangler:

Very cool.

Damian Jigalov:

So, they contacted them and was just curious to see if they would like to do a wild card race with me and they kind of gave the okay. And they asked myself and obviously, my parents and I, it was a no-brainer.

It would've been such a cool experience even going into it, not necessarily with the expectations to get the best results, just to be able to say that I've ridden in Mugello on a Moto3 bike, it'd be amazing in itself.

And it was supposed to just be a one-off wild card race weekend. So, my family and I, sure enough, we flew out there. And what was funny was the minimum age was actually 13 years old. And the series made an exception for me to race at 12 years old. And that first weekend was actually the weekend of my 12th birthday.

Dale Spangler:

That's incredible. I mean, I started racing at age 12 and here you are, like I said, in Europe at 12. So, I just can't even imagine that.

Damian Jigalov:

No, and going over there, my first experience there, I mean, these kids were fast. I mean, they're some of the fastest in the world. And it was such a crazy experience initially just you see these level of these guys.

And for me, I always thought I started really young and you see these guys and they're ridiculously fast. And they started even earlier than I did.

But I mean, going into it, the team kind of said, “We don't expect you to get any good results, blah, blah, blah. We thought it'd be a good experience.” And even though that was kind of my intention going into it, it kind of rubbed me the wrong way, but ended up being positive because it kind of motivated me to do well.

Sure enough, the first race that I did there in race one, I ended up getting fifth out of some of the best 30 kids in the world. And so, for me, it definitely filled me with confidence and the team was more than happy. And so, they ended up signing me for the rest of that year and the following two years after that.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah. So, you were pretty busy during that period. I mean, you're kind of like, in some ways, we'll use the term kind of fast tracking. Like you were on that path in some ways to eventual MotoGP, like a Moto3, Moto2, and hopefully MotoGP. Was that kind of your idea going into this, that you potentially you end up landing a full-time European ride?

Damian Jigalov:

No, a hundred percent. So, I feel like every young rider who gets into it always has the dreams of making it to MotoGP and everyone kind of strives for that. And at that point, I really was, that was my sole purpose.

I did online school when I was racing in Europe, so my focus was 110% on racing. I did fairly well when I was racing over in Italy for those two full seasons. And from there I was hoping to move up into the World Moto3 Championship.

And one thing that was kind of unique in that next step kind of transitioning from the European Championship over into the World Championship was back in the day, a lot of the riders were making pretty good money just to race.

And kind of in this transition of when I kind of came up with the racing, it was the opposite. The riders were having to pay the teams to race for them. And in the European Moto3 Championships, it wasn't necessarily the craziest expense. It was enough to where I was able to get enough sponsorship to cover everything.

But I mean, financially, the teams in Moto3 were asking ridiculous dollars, which were just unreasonable, for me at least.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah, I can imagine.

Damian Jigalov:

So, once I got done racing in Italy, which again, it really developed me as a rider. Not only as a rider, but also, mentally, I had no choice but to grow up really quickly. Getting around in a country where I don't speak the language and the new experience, overcoming some of those nerves or being feeling anxious.

And so, at the end when I finished racing in Europe, I did the transition over and I did my first full season in MotoAmerica because I was finally old enough to do so. And so, from there I raced the full season in MotoAmerica in the Junior Cup.

And in the Junior Cup, I was competitive. I ended up switching teams towards the end of the season. There's a whole bunch of stuff that went into that. But I definitely, felt competitive racing over in MotoAmerica.

At the end of that season, I was contacted by a team over in the Spanish Championship. And so, at the end of that season, I ended up going over flying to Spain. I did a test with the team and we got along great and everything kind of went according to plan. And sure enough, I found myself back in Europe.

Dale Spangler:

So, then, like during this same period though, it kind of seems like in a way, you're a bit of a victim of circumstances, like you're saying, like team budgets, like having to pay for a seat with some of these teams. Which are it's kind of out of most people's budgets. They're not going to just pay a hundred grand to be on a team.

But also, COVID comes in at 2020. Was that a lot to do with how you end up back in the states and then you're kind of moved on to this couple of years of racing WERA?

Damian Jigalov:

So, to race in the Moto3 World Championship, the teams were asking for about a quarter of a million dollars.

Dale Spangler:

Oh geez, wow.

Damian Jigalov:

Which was a hundred percent out of the realm of possibilities for me. So, when I first came back to the US, it was just before COVID, when I first did the first season in Junior Cup. It was when I ended up going to Spain, that was the year of COVID. That was in 2020.

So, COVID is probably 110%, the reason why at the end of the season racing in Spain, I did end up back in the US. Fortunate enough, I had already signed some deals prior to COVID happening. So, when it came to sponsorship and racing in Spain that season, it was already kind of signed, sealed and delivered. So, it wasn't necessarily a concern for that season, but at the end of it, a hundred percent.

At that point, a majority of the companies that were helping me were struggling themselves, so they weren't able to throw dollars my direction. So, that a hundred percent is what set me back here to the US.

Dale Spangler:

Coming back after that, like what were your thoughts there? Were you like, “I want to try and make a career, like kind of transition into focusing on MotoAmerica,” or was it like, “Hey, I'm done with racing. Is it time to look for a job?”

I mean, what was your mindset at that point when you came back and all of this is happening? Like we're saying, the budgets are crazy to ride for these teams, you got COVID happening. It probably just was a tough time for you to kind of figure out where you wanted to be.

Damian Jigalov:

110% I was. And for me, living in Spain, I actually had lived there the full year. When I was racing in Italy, I was kind of going back and forth, my parents would take time with vacation going back and forth with me. Sometimes I would stay there for a month at a time, but it was never permanent.

When I was living in Spain, actually, it was my first time living on my own. I was 16 and because of COVID, my parents couldn't come and visit me. Family or friends couldn't. I had my own apartment, I was living alone.

So, for me, it was definitely another transition to me kind of having to grow up mentally. Teaching myself how to cook, teaching myself how to clean.

So, to your point, at the end of the season, once everything kind of came to a halt, I had to start thinking realistically. My expectation was to kind of come back and jump right into MotoAmerica Supersport, kind of like I am this year.

And to my surprise, the teams were asking outrageous dollars all of a sudden, now back in MotoAmerica. Some of these teams were asking like $160,000, which again, that's just not possible for me.

So, at that point, it was like, “Okay, well, I mean, this is starting to become unrealistic and at this point, I have to figure something else out because obviously, racing isn't going to pay the bills. I'm in the transition of eventually becoming a young adult here and I need to kind of get my stuff together.” I've always been very determined to be successful regardless of what it is that I do.

So, I was like, “Okay, now, I'm going to have to get a job and I'm going to have to start planning what I'm going to do here.” So, that's exactly what I did.

I wasn't planning on racing in the 2021 season. I ended up getting just a normal job, not doing anything spectacular. Again, I was still young so I couldn't really do much. And started saving my money and luckily enough, a local dealership that we had been friends with from the past, they ended up sponsoring me and they ended up giving me a CBR1000 to race in the WERA Superbike Championship.

So, even though it was amazing and it was good to still be on a motorcycle, so I don't kind of lose the experience I have or anything like that, it still wasn't necessarily the same. It wasn't my main priority just because I had other stuff going on outside of it, if that makes sense.

Dale Spangler:

No, that makes sense. So, it kind of seems like in a way, and I'm kind of curious to know what your thoughts are on this, but like spending two years in WERA, like it might have been like a little bit lower pressure environment, like maybe give you a little bit of a mental reset.

I mean, you're young enough to where coming back into this season, you still have a lot of potential career ahead of you to where you got to be coming in feeling pretty strong mentally, I would assume.

Damian Jigalov:

No, a hundred percent. And I mean, in those two years there wasn't much pressure involved. It was one of those things where in the back of my mind, I had already kind of made plans and goals outside of racing of what I needed to do and how I needed to accomplish them.

So, for me, racing was just one of those things like, “Hey, if I get found and picked up by a team, if everything makes sense, great. If not, this is something I love.” At that point in time, I wasn't doing it for any other reason besides the fact that I really enjoyed doing it and I love the sport.

And for me, because my big plans were I wanted to be in a position where as soon as I turned 18 years old, I have a good income, I can get my own place and I can start to continue from there. And that's kind of exactly what I did. I ended up moving out, I think it was like 20 days after my 18th birthday.

Dale Spangler:

Wow. There's going to be parents out there like, “Who are you? Who is this kid? Self-sufficient at 18? Come on now.”

Damian Jigalov:

Yeah, I ended up getting my first condo. What I ended up doing was at 16, I put myself as a secondary user on one of my parents' credit cards so that I could start building my credit. As soon as I turned 18, I got my own credit card, ended up getting a second one, and then I ended up getting a personal loan just so this way I could have an installment loan on my credit history.

And then that's how I was able to get my condo. And then I ended up becoming a salesman at a dealership. So, I had a decent income and I could start saving on top of my bills and yeah.

Dale Spangler:

Well, it seems like you could probably partially attribute that to your parents giving you that freedom. But I also, feel like this traveling to Europe had to have just matured you so much faster. Like you said, you're at 12 years old, you're by yourself traveling.

And I feel like racing in general does that to a lot of racers. You end up having to grow up faster. Like I think of another talented young racer coming up, Kayla Yaakov. I mean, she is just like so impressive, she's so well spoken.

And I feel like that's what comes from traveling, becoming a world traveler, experiencing other cultures. Would you say that's kind of been the case for you?

Damian Jigalov:

A hundred percent, yeah. I mean, I feel like the racing aspect of it definitely taught me more of the work ethic side of things. And I think the traveling and being in those uncomfortable situations kind of made me grow mentally and kind of put me in the position where I had to think and act like an adult.

Dale Spangler:

Well, you seem like a real deep thinker to me when I listen to you talk. And would you say that's the case? Are you kind of like a student of the sport, or? I think I even heard in one interview you did, you say like you're your own worst enemy sometimes because you maybe think a little too much about things.

Sometimes in racing, that could be one of those things where it's a good or a bad thing. Like personally, I could never crash and get back up and not be a little bit nervous about it. Whereas, some people have that ability to be able to just kind of not worry about fear and just go for it. I'm curious to know what your outlook is on them.

Damian Jigalov:

Yeah, it's true. And not only in racing and just about anything, I do tend to overthink. I do tend to try and plan for the future and I put a lot of pressure on myself, which at times it's not necessarily a bad thing because I tend to do better when I am under pressure, even if it is myself putting it or if it's someone else. I always tend to do better under pressure.

But it's true, like there's nights, usually the night before the race, I can't sleep. And even outside of racing, if there's something big when it comes to money or work or something like that and my brain always kind of keeps spinning. So, it's definitely true.

Dale Spangler:

We'll get back to the conversation in one moment, but first, here's a word from our sponsor.

Well, I can also, tell that seems like family is a huge part of your life and your racing career. I mean, it seems like you have such a great relationship with your dad and I think I even heard it during another interview that they never put any pressure on you to perform or succeed and even though you're traveling to Europe at such a young age.

So, talk a little bit more about that, like how that family atmosphere has kind of helped you with your racing career.

Damian Jigalov:

No, it's true, a hundred percent. I mean, anything when it comes to where I'm at now, when it comes to anything mentally, when it comes to the things I have, I've achieved, when it comes to racing, I owe to my parents.

One thing that I always really appreciate, obviously, that I'm a little bit older now. I really appreciate the fact that my parents never bought me things that they didn't have, but they taught me things they were never taught.

And a lot of that stuff really comes down to my dad, he taught me stuff. When it does come to work ethic, when it does come to things outside of racing, that kind of molded my mentality towards racing.

My dad didn't come from a racing background, like I said. So, when it came to the actual riding part of it, there wasn't much he could teach me just because he didn't have the experience himself. But everything else around it is really what kind of shaped me and molded me.

My dad always gave me my independence and actually pushed it on me. Whether it was something as silly as being a little kid and having to knock on the neighbor's door to see if the kids could come out and play or if it was going through the airport at a young age and making me kind of find where the gate is, fill out all our information, check in, things like that.

He really, really pushed me to kind of have the ability to do my own thing and not necessarily rely on anyone for anything.

And on top of that, my dad and I, we're best friends, I got to say. We've traveled the world together. We've spent so much time together. It's funny, people tell us we have the same mannerisms, we even look similar. So, him and I are definitely very, very close.

Dale Spangler:

I mean, it sounds like you've had some special moments, like you said, traveling. Those are those memories that you're always going to remember throughout your whole life and that's why I think it's just even more impressive because you're not even 20 years old and you've experienced so much already.

I'm curious to know though, what are a few of your maybe favorite race events or memories that you've attended to date, US or European?

Damian Jigalov:

I think that the biggest ones that come to mind, I remember my first race win was on a little bike again in a little local championship, which actually happened to be on Father's Day, which was kind of funny.

I remember, I think the big one was the first race in Italy, that race at Mugello where I got fifth. That was a big one because that's kind of what kickstarted my racing in Europe.

And then I got to say, my first MotoAmerica podium, which happened to be on my dad's birthday, which was kind of funny.

Dale Spangler:

It was at Mugello, your first podium?

Damian Jigalov:

In Italy. Yep, it was in Mugello.

Dale Spangler:

Wow. I mean, what an incredible place. I spent almost two years in Italy myself with Alpinestars. And so, I was able to go to Jerez and go to Mugello. I mean, these circuits are just — I mean, it's incredible the amount of history and then just the fans. I mean, it's just such a different experience, isn't it?

Damian Jigalov:

It really is. I mean, it's a different mentality out there. You see here people are interested in basketball or football or things like that. While over in Europe, motorsports are among those top sports.

Obviously, soccer is the biggest sport out there, but following that is motorcycle racing, car racing, just motorsports in general. So, over there there's such a passion for it on track and off track. It's incredible.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah, a guy like Valentino Rossi, I mean he's like a Formula One star where he can't even walk down the street in places in Europe. So, like you said, it's more like football and baseball. And you know they're sticking ball sports here in the United States, the popularity of motorcycle racing in Europe, that's for sure.

Damian Jigalov:

It's funny, you see a lot of the riders, they enjoy coming to the US because they don't get stopped in the streets like they do in Europe.

Dale Spangler:

They could be anonymous, yep. So, if you weren't racing motorcycles, what would you be doing?

Damian Jigalov:

So, what I do as of now, outside of racing is I'm a salesman at a dealership. I'm trying to save as much as I can. I want to invest in real estate, I want to buy rental properties. So, that's what kind of my focus is outside of racing, regardless if I do make it and if I don't make it.

I never necessarily wanted to rely on racing for income. So, as of now, everything with MotoAmerica and all my focus is just on doing well and enjoying it because if I don't do well then that's kind of it. And if I don't enjoy it, then there's no point. When it comes to the racing part, that's where my focus is.

But outside of racing, it's definitely investing in rental properties. Hopefully, over the years, acquiring more and more and hopefully, putting myself in a position where I don't have to work one day.

Dale Spangler:

Well, maybe here soon it'll be a battle between you and Jeff Mays, I think he has the self-proclaimed title of fastest real estate agent or something like that. So, maybe you guys will be battling that title here in the future.

Damian Jigalov:

There you go.

Dale Spangler:

Well, coming up to this season though, I would imagine all of your efforts are focused on the opening round of supersport here, coming up at Road Atlanta in April. You feeling excited to get out there and just kind of get your elbows out and have some fun?

Damian Jigalov:

A hundred percent. Even after Daytona unfortunately, the race didn't go our way, but that just added fuel to the fire. Physically, I'm ready; mentally, I'm ready. And I'm really excited to kind of show my worth. I've been out for a couple seasons and it's time to show that I belong here.

Dale Spangler:

So, realistically, you think this is going to be a more of a learning year in MotoAmerica or do you pretty much know all the tracks already?

Damian Jigalov:

I don't feel like it's going to be a learning year. I feel like for me, because I kind of had the last two years it was kind of a setback, so now, I am kind of playing catch up. This year, I don't necessarily plan on treating it as a learning year.

I want to fight in the top five, I want to battle for podiums, I want to be at the front. I want to be one of those riders and that's kind of my goal for 2023.

Moving forward, my dream in motorcycle racing is to make a living racing motorcycles. I mean, I feel like saying that I want to be a MotoGP champion and things like that, obviously, that's always the goal. But realistically, my goal is to make a living racing motorcycles.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah, I think that's pretty realistic. I mean, the way that the MotoAmerica series just keeps progressing and getting better and the television packages is pretty amazing. So, they seem to be drawing in a lot of great sponsors lately. So, yeah, I mean I think it's going to be a pretty exciting 2023 season, that's for sure.

Damian Jigalov:

No, a hundred percent. There's so many fast riders here now. I mean, even if you look at the Daytona 200, you look at the line, I mean, you have all these guys, with all this experience and all these achievements. You're racing against really, really legit fast guys.

Dale Spangler:

Definitely. Well, we're looking forward to seeing how things go for you this year, Damian. In the meantime though, anybody out there you'd like to give a shout out to, now, would be the time as we wrap up this episode.

Damian Jigalov:

No, I would definitely like to say a big thank you to 3D Motorsports, team I'm racing for this year. They found me at a time where I had no idea what I was going to be doing this year in 2023. And thanks to them, I'm back in competing at the top level in the country. So, I owe a majority of everything to them.

Obviously, I want to say a big thank you to my parents for putting me in the position I'm at today. And I would like to say a thank you to 4SR leather suits and LS2 Helmets.

Dale Spangler:

Well, looking forward to seeing how everything goes here in a few weeks in Road Atlanta. And once again, Damian, really appreciate your time today, and all the best on the great season.

Damian Jigalov:

Thank you for having me.

[Music Playing]

Dale Spangler:

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I'm Dale Spangler. I hope you'll join us next week for another episode of Pit Pass Moto. Thanks for listening.