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/127822
INTERVIEW and Suzuki seemed like they wanted me and needed me the most. They haven't won in a long time, either, so they're hungry. Maybe with my help we can get Suzuki up on top. How stoked was Roger DeCoster when you called him up and said that this might really happen? Roger was happy! Actually, now that I think of it, when we first talked about getting involved.with Suzuki he didn't believe us - he thought it was some kind of joke. He couldn't believe it was all coming true. Roger is a great guy and he wants to win just as bad as I want to win, and that's what is going to be so good about it. my motorcycle contract with Honda. My first and foremost love is, was and always will be motocross. I'm not ready by any means to even think about stepping out of it. I still feel great, I still love to ride and what better way to do it than' to make a new challenge for myself? How do you like the bike so far? Oh, man, the changes we've made in the last few days have been unbelievable! I've adapted to this thing so quick. It really suits my riding styl~ and feels, really similar to what I raced last year. There's a lot of buzz that this bike is perfect for you because Roger based some of its development on the '93 Honda CR250, which is pretty much the motorcycle you've risen to the top on, but a·lot different than the '97 Honda. Was your decision influenced "Maybe with my help we. in any way by the '97 Honda you would have been riding? can get Suzuki up on top." No, it was never a matter of equipment. We had some struggles there in Europe with the new Honda but that happens with every new bike - it always takes a I know that you've long been friends with Greg Albertyn - are you excited little while. It would have worked itself out. As for this new Suzuki, it's excelabout working with him now? lent, and I've hac;! more fun riding in the Sure. Everything is going to be great last two or three weeks that I've had the because everything is new, and that bike than I have in a long lime. really motivates me. Greg lives right down the road from me, so we'll be ridWas the first Suzuki that you rode ing together a lot, and that will help Albee's race bike? both of us. I think we're going to have a No, but the first bike I rode was supreally good team with 'myself, Albee, posed to be Albee's practi ce bike this' year - a '97 RM250. We've done a lot of (Mike) LaRocco and (Mickael) Pichon: I think that Suzuki definitely has a winwork in a short period of lime, and I feel ning team, and now I've got new moti" really comfortable. I'm not worried vation to get in there and prove that. about the equipment at all. I can't wait Are you glad that for the first race. We you were able to haven't had much find new motivation time testing and that "It Otis Suzuki) really suits within the sport, might hinder us for my riding style and feels a little while, but it's rather than quitting all together and a long year and really similar to what I going car racing or there's a lot of races, raced last year." so I will have a lot of something? I know that there time to make was a lot of speculachanges if I feel that tion, with a car-racing deal, Honda was I need them. It's a huge challenge just going to do this and that, and we did because of the unknown and all, but I touch on that when we were dealing sure I will win on this bike, I'm sure' with the contract. I can tell you that the of it. Will you be running the same graphics change had nothing to do with any as the rest of Team Suzuki or will you deals with car racing in the future or whatever. It had everythit:lg to do with be running your own stuff? am 12 Nn, I will be choosing my o,;"n graphics. My program is running in tandem with Suzuki. Again, I will be in the semi with everyone else, so it's not going to "Suzuki is look real different at first. going to do the We're leaning toward someday having my own sameforme: team, but everything is in they're going to early development. give me Are you happy with your everything I new mechanic Wyatt need to go out Seals? Wyatt and I'go way back. there and win. " We've known each other since '91 when we were both working with Team Peak, and he and Skip (Norfolk, Jeremy's old mechanic) have been friends for a long time., He also used to work for Grayson Goodman, and he and I are