168: Jon Taylor/MJT

MJT, November 2021. Photo: Tozer

Welcome to an absolute throwback of an interview in the finest Looking Sideways tradition. Yep, if you liked my recent chat with Ben Powell, for example, you’re going to enjoy this conversation with BMX legend ‘Mad’ Jon Taylor. For a start, it was face-to-face, which was such a laugh and something I’ve missed more than I’ve realised.

Secondly, there’s the fact that this is a riotous look at the life and times of one of the most beloved figures in UK action sports. Jon is a true living legend of the global BMX scene, somebody who has been there, seen it, done it and has the raucously entertaining anecdotes to prove it.

Jon in his element, shot by Nathan Moore at Peanut Butter BMX

British listeners not hugely familiar with the BMX scene may have seen Jon on the BBC’s coverage of the BMX events at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where he sat in alongside Ed Leigh and provided brilliant context to the mainstream audience. I’m not gonna go through the CV, as Jon does this during our conversation far more entertainingly than I’m able to here. But suffice to say this is a glorious trip through Jon’s life and times with one of the biggest characters in the game.

Photo: Tozer

I know some listeners have been crying out for this type of episode recently – like I say, it’s an instant LS classic in the truest sense of the word. Hope you enjoy our conversation!

Listen to episode below: