INTERVIEW
P92
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSE MARIO DIAS/ESPN IMAGES
DESTRY ABBOTT
Abbott traveled to
Brazil to compete
in the X Games
Enduro-X.
The Pro Circuit Kawasaki team
currently in place for the 2013
season consists of Justin Soule
and Taylor Robert, but Abbott explains he has nothing to do with
the team. "I'm with Monster Energy still, and Kawasaki does give
me some support, but I don't get
paid anymore. I'm full privateer
now. I'll be in my van and driving
around and pitting out of my own
van.
"That's just the industry right
now," Abbott said. "It's all a lot
tighter. [Kawasaki] had to cut
back and I was one of those
guys. But that's all right. I don't
hold a grudge. They did what
they needed to."
After 16 years with Kawasaki,
Abbott admits it is bittersweet to
be on his own, but is looking on
the bright side of his newfound
independence. "The drag is
definitely the money part, but the
other aspects are good. I'm with
FMF, there are a lot of great companies, like Fasst Company – the
Flexx bars – that I've wanted to
ride for for a long time. When
you're with a factory team, you do
whatever the factory team wants.
But now I can make my own decisions and run the stuff I want to
run. It's nice from that aspect."
Any other 40-year-old in his
position might find it a good time
to consider the "R-word," but retirement is just not in the cards
for Abbott.
"A lot of guys are like, 'Man,
you're 40; why are you still doing this?' I'm like, 'I actually really enjoy it!' It's hard to give up
on something that you enjoy so
much. I don't want to look back
on my career and go, 'Man, I
wish I would have raced a couple
