January 9, 2015 - Kidney recipient and MMI graduate builds the career of his dreams
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For as long as he can remember, Jedidiah Rodriguez wanted to work on the Supercross circuit. He loved the noise, the speed and the thrill of watching the riders give their all. He also loved engines and technology and, more than anything, he wanted to work on the circuit’s high-speed motorbikes.
But for this San Diego native, the road ahead was pocked with challenges.
Rodriguez has a rare kidney disease that sapped his energy and eventually led to nightly, life-saving dialysis sessions. He also knew the competition for jobs on factory racing teams is fierce, and only the best of the best get hired.
“My family, despite their support and love of racing motorcycles, knew that getting a spot on a premier race team was a long shot,” Rodriguez said. “They insisted I go to college instead to become a history teacher, but I wasn’t willing to give up on my dream, and I’d need specific, high-tech training to make it happen.”
So, Rodriguez enrolled at Motorcycle Mechanics Institute-Phoenix. While attending the Honda HonTech program and despite his illness, he never missed a day of school and, in March of 2011, he graduated with a 4.0 GPA and as his class’s winner of the "Top Tech" award.
Credentials in hand, he showed up at the Supercross race in San Diego, found the team manager for Monster Energy Tedder Racing and landed the job of a lifetime.
“I worked hard to earn a spot on the team, but it was my experience at MMI that gave me the competitive edge,” Rodriguez said. “People on the circuit know that when you come out of MMI, you have the knowledge and skills you need, that you work hard, and that you’re professional.
Rodriguez gained invaluable experience working on the Monster Energy Kawasaki bikes as well as driving the team truck, logging 33,000 miles across 41 different states.
From there, he worked his way up the circuit and today, he is a race team technician for Zach Bell, one of the up-and-coming young stars in Supercross. As a key member of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory race team, he’s responsible for building and servicing both the practice and race bikes.
Six months ago, Rodriguez had a kidney transplant. Despite the physical challenges of surgery, being hospitalized for a week and then recovering at home for an additional two months, Rodriguez checked in daily with his team.
Today, feeling better than he has in 10 years and free from dialysis, he is eagerly looking forward to a new season of Supercross. Although he still works 12-hour days, Rodriguez says can’t imagine himself doing anything else.
“I’m going to do this job until I can’t possibly do it anymore,” he said. “It’s my passion. I live for it. If you have a dream, don’t let anything or anyone hold you back.”
