Cycle News

Cycle News 2013 Issue 10 Mar 12

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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VOL. 50 ISSUE 10 MARCH 12, 2013 NG IT AROUND out his first-ever Supercross win and the 250 East Championship door season and I finished every moto. And then the off-season was great, we started testing early and I stayed busy. We went to the Bercy Supercross and I got to spend some time on the new 450. I think everything we did, we just made the right moves and the right decisions and it's paying off right now. And GEICO Honda stuck with you through your hard times. I don't know how to explain that, but there was a point where they believed in me, but I don't know if I believed in me. I always knew that this is what I wanted to do; like this is my passion. But there's a time where you doubt if you're doing the right thing. I was second guessing myself, but these guys believed in me and knew I could do it. After you got that first win, did you feel pressure to repeat the performance going into St. Louis? It's weird, because I felt no pressure at all from the team. But for me, I felt like it was a must-win situation, so it was all pressure I was putting on myself. Getting that first one was difficult, but getting the second one was almost more difficult because the expectations were there and I felt like I wanted to back it up. I wanted to prove to everyone it wasn't a one-off thing. In St. Louis, you had the lead, but Dean Wilson was closing on you and he passed you at one point. How did you deal with that pressure? I was really bummed at how I rode the first eight laps, I think I ended up being a little bit too cautious. And when he stuck it in on me, it woke me up, and I realized I needed to get going. It was just a deal where I felt like I could pick it up when I needed to and hold him off. He passed me and I went right back underneath him and I did it. It seemed like even your competitors were happy to see you get that first win. Yeah, I rode by the 450 gate after that race and a lot of those guys had their hands up pointing at me, which was cool, because I have looked up to most of those guys since I was little. Not only that, I'm friends with a lot of those guys too, so at the end of the day, it was great to ride by that gate and see a lot of those guys happy for you. Supercross or motocross, which one do you like better? P43 I like both of them the same. I think I'm equally good at both. I've had problems in the past in the outdoor series, but this last year I started getting really good results in the outdoor series and I'm hoping I can carry the momentum I have right now into the outdoor series. Are you starting to look ahead to riding a 450? I would say I have one to two years left on the Lites bike and then I'll be ready to move up. I filled in last year on the factory Honda and I got some top 10s. Honda has a great bike and I'm looking forward to riding the big bike, and I'm looking forward to the day when I have a 450 contract in my hands. That is what you work your butt off for. You and Wilson are locked in a pretty tight battle for the 250 East title, what is your game plan going forward? It doesn't really change for me, I just have to go out and keep getting the starts and let the cards fall where they may. I just have to keep being smart like I have been and take the race for what it is. I'm not going to rush anything at this point, just get the start and let it happen. What is your older brother, Tommy, doing these days? Tommy has been working with kids back in Texas with onthe-bike training. He's also been racing locally and having a good time. He's at a point where he's having fun with it. CN

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