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/127655
Polen and th eRC45 e threw numerous ques tions at Doug Polen during his recent tests a t Eastern Creek in Australia , and the Texan tossed back answers... How have the tests progressed for you? We are on a schedule and we are moving through all of the procedures of the test and everything is coming along. We are learning a lot of things and that's what is important. What are your goals for the coming season? To win the World Championship for Honda is the number one goarl! has been really enjoyable sqfarto , ork l w for the guys at Honda. TheHRC , guys are real keen to work and it is in teres ting for me to be around that a n d see how it wo rks and und er stand it myself. What's th e new RC45 li ke to ri de? How does it compare to the Ducati? It' s hard to say rig ht no w. I haven 't ridden in six months. The last time I rod e was in August, so it's a whole different deal. It's going to be hard to say what it is like, but so far, so good . I'm jus t re ally sta rting ove r from sc ratch - a ne w tea m, a n ew bike. Overall, it's like shaking the bag up, turning it upside down and starting all over agai n - just like a jigsaw puzzle. Tim e-wise, are you close to' being where you want to be? Phillip Island wasn't that go od, but at Eastern Cree k it was much better. We were a bit behind there, but we are much closer here (Eastern Creek) . Are you using an on-board computer on the bike? Yes. It' s the first time I've every had the opportunity to ride withtelem e, try . For, me this is really good.' I ~ ~ ~ rela ~ to the computer side t!)ings . because computers are my hobby : ,an yw ay. That; to me, is really inter- , esting. HRC just has loads of thestuff covering everything on the bike . The , computers will confirm aspects on the bike and allow me to have another tool to work back and forth with. Ho w long is your contract? Is it a good deal? Six figures or seven? . Two years. Good try. Who do you think will be the top . three this season - you. Scott Russell and Pirovano? I'm sure (Carl) Fogarty will be there. I d on 't think he'll be there for the championship, but he will definitely win a few races. Everyone does their thin g during the off season, and you don' t really find out anything until the first round. We are going to run the Supercup race at Donington Park on April 4 and Jam ie Whitham is supposed to be there on the factory Ducati. So tha t will tell us a mo nth before we start. What are your plans beyond th is team? Is there a Grand Prix ride in your future? """; It remains to be seen. I' I! probably ' ride .a SOD this year - just to. ride iLl just wa nt to ride it to 'se, ,'wha t it's e like. Ifir's a blast - wel I,'you'never know. Although at th is point and time it would not be th e smartes t thing for me to do. It would be worse than this - I would be starting a t the very beginning," W Any Questions? Rf IRenRE If you're serio us about riding, send $2 for our new tire catalog, IRC USA 2851-8 Whipple Road Uni on City, CA 94587 A DIVISION OF I N C A C S O'W't!!s HE ace i l. CRAIG "'ICI"~ . AMA Supercross 25 1st l a m po , fl " tAaln Event Senes " tAUG Stad~urncA An ah eim , :;OOKS 250« 1st (Yarn) I.ARRY For (Yam) d Confidence, . COII1foR~e~ rely on··· Top W I . ~HOEl' ~ . . f ChClI1'lPlons "The ChOice 0 OllfOllAliON 'C tlELft\El C CA r:{fJ71 8AG1 StlOEI SAFEl 2550 los Angeles, 3335 .Hope 51.. 5\e ' FAX \21 3\617, \213\ 628-0275