Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

to me. It's at the shop. They're supposed to prepare it because I was supposed to do Laguna, but I decided not to. I just don't need to go back there. Being in the middle of their year and they're trying to do a championship. Laguna's not a place that I really like anyway. Road Atlanta - I love it It's my home track. That's a lot of the reason I want to go back there and there are a lot of reasons I don't want to go back to Laguna. In September, it's the last race of the AMA series, and we'll know where everybody stands and maybe it won 't be such a conflicting deal for me to come back and race against my own team. And it would be on last year's bike? Yeah, but that's all right. I feel that I can still win on tha t bike. That's the bike I went (with) to Australia and tested. It seems like there's a riv alry betw een y ou and Polen, but you two haven't raced that much. We've never gone head to head. We did back in '88 in Su p erspor t, H e was in Superbike and Super sp ort and I was a Supersport rider, but 1 don't even count tha t. He won that battle, he won the championship. I broke my leg, my kneecap, the day befo re the last race at Sears Point That's the only real year we kind of went at it. They're making it into that, which is all right Unfortunately for Doug. he doesn't have the bike. It's kind of too bad that the Honda's not better than it is. It's a little unfair now because I know my bike's better. But I don't have the time to worry about that now. That's his deal. He's always made all the right moves everywhere he's gone, as far as riding for people. He's won a lot of championships. He definitely knows how to do it Bu t this time, he might have bitten off more than he can chew. How long is your contract for? Threeyears. This is the first When you signed the contract did you then realize that you wouldn't get a chance to ride a 500? Yeah, well, I looked at it like this: after the year I had last year, winning Suzuka and winning the championship, that was the best year a guy could almost ever have. The only thing I missed winning was Daytona. And if they (GP teams) didn't come knocking. they're not coming. But's it's all right, though. I like the GP's, I always rea lly wanted to do them and I still do . If that opportunity comes up, I1I do it, if I still can. But I'd like to see this seriesgrow, too. . Being part of it here, I'm a big fish in this pond. I know I could go to GPs and cut it There's no question. I'd step right in there and I can cut it - I guarantee it There are guys there that don't belong. It's just who they knew and where they were standing at the time. That's why they're there. As far as getting down to real riding, half those guys don't need to be there - but we don't need to talk about that I'd just like to make this series better. H ow b usy ar e you with being World Champ ion? Is it more than you expected ? Not really. I haven't done that much press stuff. That's something I wish Kawasaki kind of did more of, but I kind of enjoy my time off. If you're GP World Champion, you're not home much, I think. I still have plenty of time to myself which is good because I can do without it (all the promotion and attention). I don't dig on it that much any more. I did for a while, but I just love to race. Do you ever push it yourself, go out and look for sponsors? It's probably something I could do , but my deal's good enough now . They know who I am, (at least) the important people do. I've got a good contract. I'm making enough m oney. I'm not worried ab ou t Continuedon page 82 r-----------------------------------------------, . ? Attach Label Here -~ . For FASTEST service attach mailing label. Please allow 3 weeks for change to take effect If label is not available print your name and old address in this box. Print your NEW address here. NAME . ADDRESS L . CITY . STATE ZIP Mail to: Circulation Dept. Cycle News, Inc. 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806 ~ ~ CI3 ~ ::E 41

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