Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

results may not show it, but I feel much more comfortable and confident. A normal stadium race requires you to be very precise, but at Daytona it's more of a hang-loose-andhold-it-wide-open style. Some riders don't really look forward to this race. How about you? Well, I didn't do too well there last year, mostly because I wasn't fit enough. I'll be better-prepared this year. The track is very demanding. not only do you have to deal with the big jumps, you have to ride in conditions that are rough as hell as well. I like that, and I'm looking forward to a good result there. Cover up that helmet hair with the new Cycle News "CN Baseball Hat." Available in three styles and color combinations, each hat features the new " CN" design embroidered on the front of the highquality felt top, and the arched " Cycle News" logo embroidered on the back over the adjustable headband. Order your CN Ballcap today! 16.9 5each $ ' Cal~omia Residents add 725%Sales Tax I LACounty Residentsadd 8.25%Sales Tax Jeff Emig Team Kawasaki You struggled early in the supercross season, but seem to have things worked out now•.. Yeah, my starts are finally getting better, and I've realized that I was just putting too much pressure on myself. I always do that - put too much pressure on myself at . the beginning of the year. Not that I don 't perform under pressure, I just needed to relax a little. I'm having fun and I love racing. I wish I could race every day, but I have to wait for the weekends, I guess. The Daytona Supercross is regarded by most to be mor e like an outdoor race w ith jumps. How does the track suit your. style and strengths? In the past I haven't gotten good starts there and I've had to come from behind . I always feel fast there, though. You have to ride. the track differently, the floor is sand y but the jumps are clay, so big holes develop everywhere. It's a special race because of where it is - everyone from motorcycle racing is there, and I want to win . Steve Lamson Team Hond all-SllO-CollectlFox So f ar, you r supercross results haven't been all that you had expected... No, they haven' t, but I've had a couple of good rides. I had some friggin' bad luck at the first coup le races, but it's getting better. My starts are getting better and it will happen eventually. Daytona is rough and you're one of the strongest riders out th ere. How do you feel your chances are at Daytona? The track suits my rid ing style, but for some reason I've never had a really good race there. 1 always get bad starts or get tangled up with so meo ne and have to play catch-up. 1 ride good there, though the track gets so rough. You have to get the bike set up well. For me, the race is fun because it's more like a 250cc National, and I don't get to ride those. IT I can get a good start and stay stead y and consis- . tent, I think I can win. To O sethe CycleN rder,u ewsproduct o rderform in thebackof.this issu eor Call to order 42 (310)427·7433 9amto 5pm'PST : Mike laRocco Team Suzuki You'v e finished second at Daytona f or the last two years... Yeah, my luck there hasn't been too bad, but I still haven't won a Daytona main event yet. The track is more like an out.door than a supercross, and I like that. The track has supercross-style jumps, J ut they get so chewed up by the main event that they're more like just another bump on the track. Do you feel as if you can get your first Daytona win at this year's race? I think my endurance is really good right now, and the Suzuki is working goo d . I'm looking forward to going back east where the dirt is soft. It will be like any other race - to beat McGrath you need to get a good start. I've had to come from behind the last two years. Phil Lawrence Team Great Western Bank How have you done at the Dayto na Supercross in the past? I like the track, but I haven't really done well the four years that I've raced there. I've never been lOG-percent healthy for Daytona, so I guess this year will be the first time. I'm ready for it, I'm riding strong and I'm excited about the race. Do you have to set up your bike differently and adjust your riding style for the track? Yeah, you really have to just lean back, hang on and pin it there. A lot of people think that because it's a part of the supercross series, that it's a realsupercross. But it's not. Sure, there's jum ps and stuff, but by the main event the track is so rough that you don 't really jump them all. I'll be running my outdoor suspe ns ion with stiffer springs. Damon Bradshaw . Team Yamaha Day t ona is one race that you haven't won ... Well, 1 won an Eastern Region al 12See main the re in '8 9 and I wa s second behind Stanton once. I've always really liked the track - I like the sand - it's a lot of fun. Da ytona is always a di fferen t track, and it's usually good unl ess it rairis, It's like a combo between Southwick and a supercross. Does th e style of th e tra ck suit your style? Yeah, I think so. The track gets rough and the race is a lot longer than most others. Endurance comes into play, and the track changes from lap to lap, so you have to be on your toes. I'm looking forward to the race. I really love the whole Bike Week thing. and I always ride better when I'm having fun I look at it like it's just ano ther race, but I look forward to Dayton a more than any other . Larry Ward Team Honda of Troy/Sinisalo You've been struggling all season lo ng w ith a broken thumb, w ill you be 100percent fit for Daytona? Well, I've got one supercross and a 250cc National in between then, so there's no reason that I won' t be 100 percen t. I've been having trouble with arm pump - I'm struggli ng with the pain in my thumb and trying to get use d to the new bike and new suspension. I can't believe how bad I've been pumping, but I'm gonna get it figured out by Bike Week. You looked fast at last year's race. What will it take for Larry Ward to win the '96 r ace? Yeah, I felt 50 fast last year. I won my heat race by a mile, but I got taken out in that first-tum crash and came back to fifth. I really like the track - it's rough and choppy - you can't really ride it like a supercross. To win I'll need to get a good start and be patient. The race is a long one almost 30 minutes. The track is so rough that even the best riders will make a lot of mistakes, You have to keep trying hard and not get discouraged. Mike Kiedrowski Three-time Daytona Supercross winner As a three-time winner and the team con-

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