Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

By Davey Coombs with Honda? When we last left you after the World Supercross Series, it didn't seem like anything was wrong. Nothing really went wrong with the team itself; everyone on the team was great. They gave me 100 percent effort and supported all of the time. They always gave me the same respect that I ga"e them. What went wrong was all politics with management. The effort from Japan and the race department was excellent - it was just palitics with the contract. Was it the terms of the contract or the money? A lot of people are going to assume it was because of the money, but that was never an issue. My decision to leave never, ever had anythJng to do with money. If anything, I'm taking a chance on that end of it. It had everything to do with· being myself and being the same person that I've always been throughout my career, at least ever since [ got up to the top. [ don't know how to really explain it - it was one of those things that you have to live through to understand. I just wanted to be happy in my every day life. he ball hasn't even been teed up for the kickoff to the 1997 AMA Supercross Series, but the biggest story of the season may have already played out. After weeks of rumor and speculation, four-time series champion Jeremy McGrath confirmed to Cycle News that he is leaving American Honda to race a factory Suzuki under the Nac Nac Enterprises banner. The surprising move ends McGrath's sixyear relationship with Team Honda - a union that resulted in the last four AMA 250cc Supercross titles, the '95 250cc Motocross Championship, a pair of 125cc West Region SX titles, 'a set of FIM World Supercross Championship trophies, and two appearances on winning Motocross des Nations team. This new deal came together just one week before the January 11 opening round' of the 1997 AMA Supercross Series opener, a series that McGrath was heavily favored to win again had he stayed with Honda. Now the unknown factors kicks in: new bike, new team, new mechanic, new attitude. But while giving Cycle News an exclusive first interview, McGrath sounded confident, focused and very satisfied with his "My decision to leave move. He also went to great lengths to assure us that his departure from Honda never, ever had anything to had nothing to do with salary, equip-do with money." ment or team personnel; it was a matter of personal happiness. And by all signs he seems ready, willing and able. to win on a Suzuki. That's why you're a motocross racer, Is this all for real? Are you really leavisn't it? Because it makes you happy ing Team Honda? and the success gives 'you a chance to Yes;it's finished. I am no longer with live yOUT life as you see fit? Honda. Exa.ctly, and [ was always happy at What are you riding now? Honda, but the terms of the new conI just got done working on my Suzuki tract were just getting really, really techRM250. nical and I wasn't ready for all that. I How weird does it feel to say that? don't need that kind of pressure and It's weird, real weird.. I still can't believe those kind of rules. I've always wanted it myself. The whole deal has been a surto win every time I get on a motorcycle prise. When it first started to sink in that and that had not changed. No one has to I wasn't going to be riding for Honda, I tell me to do this or do that - I know was kind of nervous because I never what it·takes to win and I do what it really rode for anytakes to win. That's one else. But now where the discrepanthat I have my mind cies with Honda and "I thought for sure that 1 set on what [ am the ne\oY contract doing now, everywould be,," Honda rider came into play. thing is perfect. I'm Did it surprise you until the end of my having a great time that they wanted to motorryde career." with the change and harness you now everything has after all those titles? turned out better Yeah, it really did than I could hope. I think it's going to surprise because I thought we would work out perfectly. have the same kind of deal as before: Did you ever imagine leaving Honda Honda gives me equipment and support before the end of yOUT career? and I give them championships. I don't No, I thought for sure that I would be a know why all of the sudden they wantHonda rider until the end of my motored to change the structure and make it cycle career. I thought I would finish my hard fox me to be me. career with the same guys I've been Have you spoken to (team manager) with these last four years, and that Wess McCoy or (teammate) Steve Lamwould be it. I never 'thought I would son or was this something that· end up with someone else. It's been realinvolved the people upstairs? ly good for me because the change has . I spoke to Steve a little bit about it put a little bit of life back into what I'm before when I was kind of making my doing, and that's exactly what I was decision, but I haven't spoken to him in looking for. a while because he's been getting ready When did, you realize that it was over for the season himself. I haven't spoken 7I to Wess McCoy since we started really getting into this in the last month, but he hasn't called me, either. I did try to call Wess today (Friday, Januwith Bell Helmets, Alpinestars, Spy... . ary 3) but he wasn't there, so I just left a And Pro Circuit? message. I want to explain everything to Pro Circuit is helping out big-time. him and why it worked out the way it Mitch (Payton) is doing back flips for did. me to help get the bike the way we want Everyone wants to know what exactly it, and it's just awesome. It's almost as if the new deal is. What is the name of we were back in the old Team Peak yOUT '97 program? days, the way the atmosphere is right The program is called.Nac Nac Enternow. We've been doing a lot of work on prises, or at least that's what it's going the bike at the shop and he's dqing a lot by right now. of testing to make it even better. We How is the program going to work? have a big day of testing coming up on Well, my new program is perfect in that Sunday but already the bike is getting it's exactly what I wanted, and we may so much easier for me to ride. even get in there and change the sport What about No Fear? with it. Through Nac Nac Enterprises, No Fear will always be my sponsor, for which is the team I am contracted to, I my whole life, no matter whether I'm will have factory Suzilkis that will be racing or' not. They're a really big part of supplied by Suzuki. I'll be working out my program right now, especially Jeff of the Suzuki semi and they are one of Surwall. I can't say enough about him. Nac Nac Enterprises' sponsors. They're He's got a lot of work to do but it seems supplying the team with bikes and givlike over these last two weeks he's been ing 100 percent supdoing everything port, and they're for me. It will be allowing me to bring really hard for me to ''What went wrong (at in my own sponsors, ever repay the guy too. Suzuki of Troy Honda) was aU politics for what he's done will be a big part of for me. Same with with management." my program - Phil (moto agent) Dave . Alderton assures me Stephenson, who's that he will be doing been working along everything he can to support me as well. with Jeff and my parents to get this Of course I-BOO-Collect will be involved. whole program together. They've been with me since '93 and they Why Suzuki instead of one of the other are totally supportive of my new probrands? gram. Roger (DeCoster) had a lot of interest in Have you picked a clothing company me and my goals, and it's a big chalyet? lenge for me to help his program as I am very happy to say that I will be well. Kawasaki already has their guys, with Fox Racing again. Arld I'm also still Yamaha has all of the people they want, t-.. 0\ 0\ ri' I.f').. . ri Cell ~ -- 11

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