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/127938
(Opposite page) Jeff Emig's downward spiral has conjured up many seemingly farfetched rumors about the defending supercross champion. (Leftt) Emig rode well at the Daytona Supercross, where he finished second and showed signs of breaking out of his slump. But the slump returned the following week at New Orleans. (Right) A back Injury has been slowing Emig's progress. which is going to be on national television; if not those races, then the Glen Helen National, for sure. I'm really bummed out today because I went for a run on Sunday morning and it really aggravated my back. I'm really disappointed because now it may take even longer to heal. Your situation appears to be very frustrating. Are you trying to keep your chin up? Yes, but now I have to deal with all of these rumors that have been going aroul1d. What rumors are you referring to? There have been rumors flying' all over the Internet that I'm addicted to cocaine, and that I missed the St. Louis race because I was in a drug-rehabilitation clinic. 1 don't know how this shit can happen. I mean, the same thing - rumors - happened with McGrath last year when he wa n't doing so well. That really hurt him. I mean, some of these peapIe doing this really know how to kick a man when he's down. The rumors really bum me out. I've heard rumors ranging from that I've been fired from Kawasaki to I was in jail in New York for possession of cocaine. Where does this stuff come from? All this is really tough right now. The year's been bad, and now that I have a break, I can't even relax because of all these problems with my back and these rumors. I just want to get back to racing. While they are obviously wrong, it appears that a number of enthusiasts are making up their own stories as to why you have been struggling. What do you attribute your inconsistent year to? 1 don't know. 1 think the big mistake was that I didn't have it goal set at the beginning of the year. I was still riding the wave from last year. When the season started, there were new people with new bikes, and everybody was starting off at their best. Right now, however, it's _ only Lusk, McGrath and Windham who are doing anything. Everyone else is just going along now, and the season is lost for them. As far as the inconsistent results - I don't know. My vision at night has been hurting me. I'll go outside and look at a light, or an object, and it will take me a while to focus on it. At the end of the year, I'm going to look into having orne surgery done to correct the problem. Has the fact that people keep coming at you and asking about your problems and struggles this year affected you? Yes. ow everyone doubts you, and no one is picking you to win. The fans in motocross, no matter how good they are, don't give all the riders enough credit. It seems like most of them just root for the guy who wins. I look at someone like John Dowd - he's one of the greatest riders I've ever raced against. I watch how he rides and how' good his attitude is, and he is the greatest person, but he gets no respect or applause from the fans for his talents. That's not right. A number of supercross fans seem much more fair-weather fans than outd,oor motocross enthusiasts. That's a perfect word for it: "fair-weather." I guess that's understandable, because we created it. A lot of people see a I-BOO-COLLECT spot with McGrath on MTV and they look to him and supercross. We built this (supercross). A few of the fans are fair-weather in that when you win, you are the greatest, and when you don't, you're a cocaine addict. Shit, that's not fair. I mean, I like to have fun sometimes, and I certainly enjoyed myself a lot last year - 1 could do no wrong last year. Now, some things go wrong and everyone point the finger at me. It really bothers me that I can't do anything about my back - nothing. I wasn't brought up that way, and I'm so eager to get back to racing again. You did very well at Daytona, which has always been considered more of a national than a supercross. With your strong performance there, are you looking forward to the national season starting up? Yes, but I don't want to put too much pressure on myseU. I'm very confident in myself and my abilities, and I know I'm a very good outdoor rider. But look at JoLm Force (multi-time NHRA Drag Racing Funny Car National Champion): For the past six or seven years, he . couldn't be..beat, and now he hasn't won a race yet this year. You can never tell in racing. o There have been rumblings that the factory Kawasakis aren't as competitive this year. What's your take on that? I was watching the New Orleans Supercross on TV the other day, and I watched my crash in the whoops. When it happened, the commentators claimed tha t there had been talk that the Kawasakis weren't working that well and that's why I crashed. That's not true. We have a great bike, and Kawasaki is the best production bike made. Ryno (Ryan Hughes), Damon (Huffman), Phil (Lawrence) and myself are not doing the bike justice. Kawasaki knows how to build great bikes. In fact, my bike is the best 250 I've ever ridden. One thing that is true in this sport is that what wins on Sunday sells on Monday. What's going on with me has nothing to do with the bike, and that bums me out. "J've hear~ rumors ranging from that J've been fire~ from Ka",asaJ(i to J ",as in jail in ne", York for possession of cocaine:' Why has the tearn been doing so poorly in the results column this season? I don't know. I can't speak for Damon or Ryan; they have their own problems. When the chemistry is there, like it was last year, it's bitchin'. However, when it's not, like this year, it hurts. Bruce (Stjernstrom, the team manager) gets faxes from Japan asking what's up with us, and that has to be tough. I know that things won't be the same at Kawasaki next year, and even I don't know if I'll have a contract or not. Damon, Ryan and I have been together for three years, and in motocross, that's a long time to be on the same tearn. The other evening, the three of us went to dinner ourselves and sat at the same table. While we were there, we wondered what table the three of us would be sitting at next year. With your supercross season now in a shambles, what are your goals for the rest of the year? If I can make it back for the remaining supercross races, I want to win a super- cross. I also want to win a national motocross, Would you like to ride on the American Motocross des Nations team in the' fall? Well; that's a long way away, but if I can peak again, I would love to. I arn always real honest with myself about the des Nations, and if you are not riding your fastest, you shouldn't go. How do you answer to the American motocross fans - those who have stayed with you through the ups and downs this year, al).d those who may have abandoned you? I understand tha t the fans want to see the riders perform well and put on a . good show. I hope I can put on a better show in the future. When I see videotape of myself racing, it doesn't look like I'm having fun. The strange thing is that this year, when it comes to the auto e graph signings or dealer visits, I've had the most fun of my career. However, when I get on the bike, I don't feel good. I need to be more creative and to have more fun on the bike. No matter what, I'm going to remain positive. Ws been one bad year, but I've got five good years left in me. Have you and your mechanic, Jeremy Albrecht, maintained your strong relationship through all this? Yeal1, it's real good. We are both staying positive. He knows I have to work though all this, and when I give him the signal that I'm back and ready to go, we'll both know it. He's been frustrated - I mean, it has to be hard for him to put out the pit board that says, "Need two spots to qualify." How do you feel about Jeremy McGrath's return to form in 1998? He's done a great job. Now that we are past the midway point in the season, a lot of the riders have backed off. Jeremy has an aura around him that declares, 'Tm going to win and you guys can't do anything about it." I'm like that in motocross. What are you up to today? Well, I'm sitting here with Phil Lawrence and we're both injured and can't do anything. We can't ride, run, mountain-bike or snowboard, so our goal today is to buy a Stairmaster (laughter). We'll go spend some money and do something low-impact (laughI:N ter). "- l!) ...... ...... ..... I-< ~ 17