Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Billy Liles: Out to win in Europe M ud has been the biggest problem Billy U les has faced in Europe . Liles (fa r ri g ht ) was stuck in th is hole in Spain for an entire moto. By Alex Hodgkinson Since Brad L ackey became the firs t' American to win the 500cc World Championship in 1982, th ere has been a lull in American riders competing on the European GP circu it. American riders have been successful in the Motocross des -Na tions, European supercrosses and Grands Pri x 16 run on American soil, yet on ly two American riders have recently spent a full season on the Continent. In 1987 Billy Liles left the United States a nd joined Bobby Moore, who has now spent the past two years chasing - the I 25cc. World Championship, as the only other American to compete full-time on the 500cc Grand Prix circuit. In 1986 Liles spent his last -year on the American circuit riding as a privateer, after losing his factory contract with Kawasaki at the conclusion of an injury-plagued '85 season , in the 250 and 500cc Nationals. He finished eighth overall and first privateer in the 250cc class and seventh in the 500cc series during his last year of competition in the States. When the season was over, Li les headed to Italy where he finished fourth in a 500cc International race. Following the race he was involved in a serious car accident in which his mechanic, Bob Pearson, was killed. Liles suffered a concussion and numerous bruises, but he raced the next day in an International Supercross and won it. While in Italy he also managed to generate an offer from Kawasaki Italy to contest the 500cc GPs in 1987, which he eventually took. T his year Liles intends to return _ to Europe for a second attempt at the crown with backing from three major sponsors and the Italian Kawasaki importer. O ur man in Europe recently caught up to the newly-crowned Italian 500cc C hampion _from Fairburn , Georgia, during the offseason to chat with Li les about life in Europe and contesting the GPs. Wh y did yo u decide to race in Eu rope? I was looking for a change, and the sponsorship opportunities for me in the States were not so good. So when I got the offer of a salary, bikes and camper from the Italian Kawasaki Liles w ill contest his second full season on the 500cc GP tour for the Italian Kawasaki importer and possibly three other major sponsors. importer Cinti it seemed like a good idea. I had always wanted to race the World Championships, and at the age of 23 the time seemed right. H ow do the European contrac ts sha pe up against those in the Sta tes? The dea ls on the bikes and parts are pretty much the same, but the clothing contracts are much better. Overall I have been happy wit h the help I have gotten. The Eu ropean life-st yle must be different to th at in America, H ow have you come to gri ps with it ? One of the biggest problems -I have had in adapting is the time at wh ich U les holds off 500cc World Champion Georges Jobe at the Dutch Grand Prix. Liles hopes to win the World Championship before leaving Europe. people eat. In Italy, where I am based, restaurants are open from 12 noon u ntil 2:00 and from 7:00 until 9:30 in the evening. If you don't eat then , you don't eat at all. In different countries the times can vary, bu t nothing is opea all day like at home. The same goes for the grocery stores which all shut for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. When you are used to being able to get anythin g you want 24 hours a day, it takes some getting used to. You always need to keep an eye on the clock and organize your schedules around the times when things are available. Generally speaking that has not been such a problem in the other countries because we generally had something in the camper when we were on the road. But all of those different currencies! It is like p laying a major Monopoly game.except I never knew how much cash I had in my pocket. I think I've got eight jars of different change at ho me. I spent six hours sorting it all o ut one evening after I had been here a couple of months. What about th e language? In the end you start to get used to it. A lot of people speak English in some way or another. I soon lear ned some Ita lian, and most of the time when you need to speak to people who don 't speak Engl ish it's at the national borders, in shops and in the banks. Sign la nguage and a bi t of patience usually solves any pro b-Iem s. There is usually someone who speaks English at the races. Have you been disappointed wi th your results? I was looking to be in the top five of the World Championship, and ' instead of that I ended the seaso n struggling to stay in the top 15. I

• Cover