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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AMA PRO MOTOCROSS 250MX AND SUPERCROSS 250SX WEST CHAMPION AARON PLESSINGER P120 Interview long I wanted without getting tired, so it was definitely the train- ing that helped with both those championship. It also kept me calm because I knew that I had done the work. If someone was better than me that weekend, as long as I was on the podium, I didn't really have a worry." His 250cc tour of duty with Yamaha now complete, it was announced over the summer months that Yamaha's premiere Monster Energy Yamaha 450cc outfit was calling him up for the big show in 2019. "I think the 450 class is going to suit me really good," Plessing- er says. "I think I ride 450s pretty well so far. I've been trained not to use the clutch that much and to use the power of the bike to go around the corners and flow, and I think the 450 really suits that riding style. I think carrying momentum on the 450 is really important for some tracks. I think it will suit me pretty good. I don't vexpect myself to go out and win A1, you know? It's a tough class. A couple of top-five finishes and a maybe a podium this year and I'll be really stoked." And what of getting in the 60,000-seat ring with such champions as Jason Anderson, Eli Tomac, Ken Roczen to name a few come the winter of 2019? "There are some gnarly dudes out there!" he says. "It's definite- ly going to be one of the harder years, but I'm going to learn as much as I can and try and stake my claim in the first few races. If I go out and kill it and get top five or podium, I would know that I just need to keep doing what I'm doing. If I do go out and don't do very good, I know I'll have some homework to do. I'm going to keep an open mind and not get my hopes too far up unless I'm maxed-out at the practice track, then I'll get my hopes up! I'm going to keep an open mind and keep having fun. I think that will help me do good. "I'm in full swing now, you know? It will be 17 supercross races and then 12 outdoor races and 24 motos. I think it's defi- nitely one of the gnarliest sports in the world. It's definitely a dog-eat-dog world and it's going to be pretty crazy this year with me, Joey Savatgy, Zach Os- borne and Justin Hill all moving up. I think it's going to be one of the gnarliest 450 classes that people have seen in a while. It's going to be challenging, but I'm going to learn a lot. I'm going to try and stay consistent and I think that's the key." If anyone knows Aaron Plessinger it is his father, Scott. Now settled back in Ohio for the month of December before heading out west for the begin- ning of the 2019 Monster Energy Supercross Series, the old man, while playing things cool, couldn't quite conceal his enthu- siasm for his son's debut in the Formula 1 of motocross. "I think he's going to be great on a 450," says the elder Pless- inger. "I know he sure loves be- ing on one right now. I think the 450 is going to be a good thing for him. I really do. And I think everybody knows it." CN Off the track, Plessinger is laid back and easy-going, but on the track, he's none of the above.