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/126762
Interview: .leff Ward o more r. ice Buy! By Kit Palmer "No more Mr. Nice Guy!" says Jeff Ward. "In the past, I haven't been aggressive enough. But now, since my bikes are working so well, I'm really aggressive!" Jeff Ward's been around. At 21, he's already a veteran in the motocross world. He first made his name in the mid '70s, com- 22 peting in the mini MX wars. [n 1978 Ward moved up (rom the minis to full-sizes racebikes, riding (or Team Kawasaki. He finished seventh overall in I25cc National MX his first year, sixth the next. Since then, Ward's always been in the hunt, finishing no worse than fourth in the I25cc cham,Pionship; last year was his best finish, .. .. " second, just nine points behind Team Honda's Johnny O'Mara. But suddenly Ward is hot. He's winning races right and left, completely dominating the I25cc class in the just-finished 1984 Continental Motorsport Club (CMC) Skoal Bandit/Golden State Series and winning several 250cc motos as well. He won his first Supercross in the Seattle Kingdome. He leads 125cc National points standings, is second in the AMA/BeI-Ray Grand National Motocross Series, and is third in Wrangler I. [nSport Supercross points. What made the difference? During the off season, Je£( spent three weeks in Japan testing his works ma.chinery and the results are proving to be worthwhile. "My bikes are much improved over last year' . which helps my attitude towards racing. [ spent those three weeks in Japan dialing in my bikes. MyoId bikes didn't work so well, but [ was still able to keep even with everybody. Now, the motor and suspension have been improved. Before we used to have a motor, but the suspension wasn't so good, then it was the other way around, so this year they put it all together, and it's paying orr now. The people behind me are working extremely hard, so now [ can get behind them. ''I'd like to win the 125cc Nationals, the Wrangler Supercross Series and the Grand National Championship," says Ward. "]n the GNC, I'm only one point behind Bailey, but] think he will have problems during the season. Broc (Glover) is having his problems right now and so is (Goat) Breker. [have no doubt that I'll beat them in quite a few motos this year. But, mainly, ] just have to keep winning." Whether it is Supercross or outdoor racing, Ward is always a threat, but he has a preference: "[ like indoor racing much better than outdoor, because the rider can show more ,!ggressiveness; right-over-your-head- to-pass type things. Indoor racing shows more technical and slow riding abilities. ]n the outdoor races, it's longer and it shows more o( the rider's ability to go (ast. I think I'm faster outdoors, but I'm definitely on the top in the indoors too. It's a malterof changing your style and your type of riding. [ don't have any problems adapting from the 125s to the 250s and vice versa, but] am definitely a 125cc rider. " Many riders consider Ward to be one of the, if not the, most physically fit men on the circuit. Ward is shorter than most of the riders he competes against, but he makes up for it with sheer strength. Ward considers training a hobby. "[ like weightlifting and bicycling," he says, "and it goes along with the training; it's my hobby, too. [ like doing it and [ get something out of it. [also ride just about everyday, except when I'm beat up; then I'll maybe take a dav off or two. Also, when [ have a litile bit of extra time, [ like to ride my Jet Ski." Ward forsees a long career in motocross and plans on spending it with Kawasaki. "['m really happy with Kawasaki. Roy Turner (Kawasaki's race team manager) and Mike McAndrews (Jeff's mechanic), plus everyone else involved with our racing effort, help me out with everything [ need. I'm very happy here and have had no problems so far. My two-year contract runs out this year, but I'll probably be riding with them for the next couple of years. [don't plan on going anywhere else unless problems arise, but I don't see that happening.] want to keep a good name going, so if I get a three-year contract, then that might be my last three years. It wouldn't be good to start jumping around to different factories right now. ] have a good name going with Kawasaki, but if] swit h now and have a couple of bad year, then] may be done. It's just not good to be Jumping around. Righi now I can look back to see who's coming lip from behind, and there isn't anybody out there right now that I'll have to worry about five years from now. There isn't anybody coming up right now that can beat me. I can count on thatl" Racing is in Ward's blood. When his motocross career finally comes to an end, he doesn't plan to quit competing. ''I'm looking into car racing and stu£( like that; something that doesn't make many physical demands. That's one of the reasons [ would have to get out of motocross. [ will aJway have my riding abilities like all the other older riders, but it is the injuries that slow you down. However, in car racing, you can get away with bad knees and that sort of thing. [ don't want to get into motorcycle road racing because there isn't much of a future there for me. It's hard to get into, and you have to go to Europe if you want to make any money. Plus you have to race over here at least three or four years before you can even think about going over there. Eddie Lawson finally won his first GP over there this year, but for me to catch up to that level, it would take too long, especially starting this late." Right now, the future is the least of Jeff's worries. He's dedicated to his business and wants to live down his second place reputation. ''I'm, not going to be the nice guy out there anymore. That's what it comes down to. Everybody is out there going (or number one and if you're not aggressive and don't hold your ground. then you will get beat. I'm just going to pace myself out there right now so ] don't get burned out. It's coming down to where you have to beaggressive everywhere, and [ want to win!" ." ~ • I. • ...