Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/103448
VOL. 48 ISSUE 44 DECEMBER 13, 2011 "Riggs Klika [his coach]… we've been working together for seven years now and I've had a lot of success with him and he's been pretty understanding about me. That's one of the things that we looked at this year. For 2011 one thing that changed was I got a little burned out on cycling and started playing a lot of tennis. And I basically played tennis all year. I don't think it was the best thing for my motorcycle racing. I didn't race badly; I still won the championship. I was still in the mix every weekend. But I think there was some component that I had before that was missing, so this year The Rival M training is going back to more of a lopsided program - towards some cycling and motocross and other things that I think were there when I was making more progress. We're going to go back and lean a little bit more towards that, but still be competitive, play the tennis, and have some fun with that more than making it like training every day." In the past, it wasn't that Hayes was bitter, but he did feel a bit cheated that it took him so long to get an opportunity to race in the AMA Superbike Championship. But those feelings are gone. Two Superbike titles and Blake Young (79) was a thorn in Hayes' side all year. uch has been made of the rivalry between Josh Hayes and Blake Young. It's natural as the two battled for the entire season last year. It was also bound to happen that the two would butt heads on occasion. So what's the relationship really like? "You know it's kind of hit and miss," Hayes said. "Blake and I didn't talk for a bit during the season and then at some point he kind of started chatting with me a little more. We had talked for quite a few years and everything was good; we had a good enough relationship. Then at Mid-Ohio he got a little frustrated with me and I don't think he wanted to chat with me too much anymore for a while. But then towards the end there when it was just kind of down to the two of us things kind of relaxed a little bit. It is what it is. "I'm sure that being in Mat's [Mladin] crew has an influence on how he approaches racing. I think that how they analyze things has a lot to do with how he raced this year. I think they had a game plan going 96-105 Hayes Interview.indd 105 P105 five AMA Championships overall is a tidy little resume and it has a way of calming you a bit. Hayes knows that now. "As angry as I could be about the years that I felt like I was held back from getting that opportunity in Superbike, and where it could've propelled me too… I'm in a good place now. I'm here, I'm with what I feel like is the strongest team in the series. And we have two championships in a row to show for it. I'm in a place that's comfortable. But I still have a great challenge in trying to maintain and keep the AMA Superbike Championship." CN into the races; they probably sat down and talked about it. I think he talked about this at the last press conference at New Jersey. "I think Mat [Mladin] made it no secret that he wasn't out there to make buddies. Everybody was an enemy and he might have to screw you so why be your buddy because he might have to screw you to get what he wants, which is wins. I've always kind of felt like some of my best races were against my buddies. You don't have to hate a guy to want to beat him. I think Mat did have to hate a guy to race him well. I don't. I don't have to hate you. I want to beat you even if we shake hands, high five afterwards… have a beer, whatever. "With Blake… I don't know, we'll see. I still kind of look at him and see a kid growing and finding his own place. With his experience this year, he might go, 'Hey, you know what, we all can get along and everything can be great and we can still race hard.' But he might decide 'You know what? I can't be the guy's friend he's the enemy. That's okay, too. I understand it." 12/9/11 3:12 PM