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/127946
Madera called Little Okies. I rode a KX60 in the Beginner class and ended up third. I got a trophy, so I was hooked. What about your Sportsman racing and your competition? I raced mainly at Lodi and Newman. I started in the 80cc class, and within a year 1 turned Expert. The next season I won the black plate in District 36. All year it was a back-and-forth battle between Johnny Murphree and me, but I finally got the best of him. From then on, it was Johnny and me battling up through the ranks, starting with the 250cc class, and then on up to the 600s. I turned Pro about half a season before Johnny, so our rivalry was put on hold, and I had to deal with the local fast guys like Rob Damron, Robert McDonnell, and the McDowell brothers. I learned a lot from all of them. They ta ugh t me tha t 1'd better learn fast or else I'd be at the back of the pack. . When did you tum Pro-Am? I turned Pro-Am in 1994 and won 31 out of 36 main events. I raced at Lodi· and Newman and won the Pro-Am Speedweek Series in Castlerock (Washington). Mainly I raced all the Salinas guys, like Greg Miller and Cecil Short. When I turned Expert, I got thrown to the dogs and started going to races like Daytona and Oklahoma City. For someone who hadn't raced anywhere but locally, it was quite an experience. The competition was tough, and the tracks were much more different than anything I had ever ridden. It took about a year for me to start making main events and placing well. How did you get your National number? I earned my National number at a 600cc ational in Castlerock. 1 ended up DNFing that race, but 1 got my number, so I was pretty happy. That was about the biggest thing that h(lppened that year for me besides some local wins. The National number did, however, help land me a ride with Bartels' HarleyDavidson. What was your program at the beginning of last season? I moved to the Skip Fordyce Racing team. My sister and brother-in-law bought me an 883, and the team took care of it and gave me parts for the year. the last four races of the year, I was promoted to ride theIr 750, and I got hl get my feet wet in the Grand National class. How did you manage financially to contest the entire Grand National series? I made all the 883 races, so I was making a little bit of money each week, and I did pretty well on my 600 at the local races, which helped out a lot. It was tight, but I just lived cheap and slept in my van, so my expenses weren't that high. When it got real tight, my parents would sponsor me a little so that I always had food in my stomach. You managed to have both a 750cc program an.d an 883 program. How did you pull that off? It was a lot of work, especially since I was traveling by myself. But I just worked at it with taking care of the bikes and the van and driving to races. There wasn't much time left and when there was time, I was training, so I kept really busy. What and where were your best National and 883 finishes? I've made two Nationals: one 600, and one Grand National. Both times I ended up with DNFs on the last lap. My best 883 finishes have been a fourth at the Springfield Mile in 1996, and Las Vegas also, in 1997. AlI other mains produced a top-10 finish. Did you have any direct transfers into the nationals, or were all of them from tlie semi? AlI from semis, which I won both. What were your goals for 1997, and did you meet or exceed them? I had a goal for a top-five finish in the 883 class, and for most of the year that was within reach. But when I dislocated my hip, 1 missed a race and had to run a couple of races at less than 100 percent. 1 lost a lot of points, so I guess overall I was happy with my eighth-overall finish: What are your plans and goals for 1998? To compete full time in the 883 and Grand National Championship series, and race a 11 the nonconflicting Hotshoe Nationals. (I want to) finish in the top three in the 883 class, and to make more mains in the 750cc class, and hopefully finish in the top 20 in points. I would like to thank Skip Fordyce, Harley-Davidson, Motion Pro, Bieffe, White Br.others, K&N, Motul, AFAM, NGK, NJK leathers, Jim Kelly Racing, my mechanic, Bob Herrick, and definitely my mom and dad, for all the help that they're giving me this year. What are your favorite tracks? My favorite track is the Springfield Mile. It's like riding an asphalt race; (you're) hooked up the entire time. Just knowing you have to race hard enough to be in the top five for the last couple of laps to run to the checkered flag is awesome. It blows me away that anyone of the guys in the lead draft can win. Project 2000 is just around the corner. How will it affect Billy Martin? Right now I'm not looking that far ahead. I have an important year ahead of me, so I'm trying to concen tra te on that, but I can see myself trying my hand at road racing. However, dirt track is de.finitely my first love. Who do you see as your immediate competition in the Grand Nationals and in the 883s? In the 750cc class, I'm at a point where everybody that pulls up to the line is my competition. I just want to turn in some good results this year so when I come to the line, everybody will feel the same way about me. In the 883 class, Carnlin, Hacker and Shaun Russell are the guys I'm going to have to bea t to be up front. When will Billy Martin hit his prime? I feel this year my sponsors have given me good bikes and put a lot of work into my program so I can go fast. This is the year I want to show everybody that .I'm someone to contend with every time I pull to the line. I like all the racing, but just about any track with a blue groove on it has to be my favorite, since that's what I've ridden all my life. Now that you've gotten to spend some time in the grind of the Grand National tour, what is your advice for other up-and-coming Pros? I would like to tell all the young riders out there to ride as much as you can, and to race as many different tracks as you can for the experience and competition. Enjoy the other things in life, too, so that when you get to be 20 or 21 you won't look back a~d regret things that you could have done when you were young. What else would you like to say to the ra·cers and fans? This is the year that they are going to see Billy Martin coming to the front of the pack. f~ 25