Progressive AFT - News - Picking a National Number: No. 5 Jake Johnson

Picking a National Number: No. 5 Jake Johnson

November 26, 2014

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 26, 2014) - For Jake Johnson, choosing his single-digit National Number wasn’t entirely his decision.

“My dad picked all my numbers,” Johnson said. “When I first turned pro, I had to have my letter, but my dad liked the No. 14 because Hank Scott, he used to be No. 14.”

So when Johnson was able to pick from the lower numbers, his father – and the Scott family - was again a major part of the decision to go with No. 5.

“I picked No. 5 because that was (Hank’s) brother, Gary Scott,” Johnson said. “My dad was a fan of those guys when they raced when he was a kid.”
And it’s not like Johnson’s father didn’t have to twist Jake’s arm or anything to go with 14 and 5.

“They were cool numbers,” Johnson said.

When Johnson was able to pick from the single digits, he had his choice of 5, 6 and 8, as Sammy Halbert had just taken No. 7. If they were all available, Johnson said he would have gone with No. 2, but, of course, that’s held by Kenny Coolbeth.

“My original pick would have been 2, but 5 is just 2 backwards,” Johnson said. “I like 5, it’s grown on me, it’s my signature now.”

The No. 2 would have been the closest you can get to No. 1, Johnson said, but it was also a nod to motocross legend Jeremy McGrath, who was No. 2 when he wasn’t sporting the champion’s plate.

The No. 5 has since come to mean a lot more to Johnson, who is heavily involved with Colin Edwards’ Texas Tornado Boot Camp, a riding school hosted by the MotoGP and World Superbike stalwart, who is also No. 5.

“On my bike down there, I’m No. 05,” Johnson said. “There’s only one No. 5.”

There’s only one No. 5 in AMA Pro Flat Track too, and right now, that’s Johnson.