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/128086
STORY PHOTOS tuned instincts or natural speed. But the fact of the matter is that there are others - especially now that he's hit 28 - who are arguably speedier than the champ, and what truly separates him from the pack is the fact that he is a thinking man who leaves as little as possible to chance or hope. Jeremy McGrath understands the sport of Supercross and his place in it I~ke no other, and until that changes, there's no reason to think that the race results will. We spoke with McGrath at the end of November about the approaching Supercross season. How have your pre-season preparations gone? By CHRIS JONNUM By FRANK HOPPEN ~ hile it's true that the 2001 Supercross ~ . season promises to offer some close racing, and that many people expect Jeremy McGrath to have his hands full with racers like David Vuillemin and Ricky Carmichael, it's equally true that you won't find many of those people betting big money against the Californian repeating as champ. The case for McGrath is simply too strong, and to bet against the Yamaha rider, one would have to ignore a near-perfect record that has McGrath winning every 250cc Supercross title he's You know, I've been working at it a little bit, but tried for in his career but one - and he was a close [trainer] Gary [Semics] just arrived yesterday, so second (on an unfamiliar bike) for that one. No, now it's really boot-camp time. But I'm ready to go; McGrath is undoubtedly the man to beat, and you I've been riding a lot lately, and my last race in Gerwon't find many who will argue that point. many was pretty good [McGrath won]. One thing people do love to argue, however, is I had some probl.ems exactly why McGrath is so good. You can write it France with off to natural talent, but how is that talent ....-.~;_~ the bike, but manifested? What makes the perfect ~~;;;.;.. .. Supercross racer? One could argue that it's his timing, so flawless that McGrath often looks like he's barely working, and that when he lost his front brake in a first-turn incident last year, /"Ie was able to intentional,ly case jump landings without crashing - in prder to scrub off speed for comers and finish a phenomenal fourth. Many point to McGrath's ability to fly ~ jII1Inps but still c:1etR ~, shaving cis from competiIts his Q A 6 JANUARY 10, 2001 • cue •• n e _ s we got that out of the way, and I'm doing good, now. on paper, this season appears to have the potential to be rather hard-fought. well, it seems like that's accurate, but it seems to never work out that way. Every year, it seems like, "Shoot, we're going to have a tough season," but it just doesn't work out. I know ~hat I'll be ready, and I'll be ready to fight for it the whole Q A ", think there's a lot 01 guys out there that make too much money lor the results that the~re getting. II way, so I'll do whatever it takes. Everyone seems to think that there's a few other guys that are going to be in there, which may be, or maybe not. Who do you expect to give you the most trouble? I think [David] VuiJIemin will be strong, just like last year, but I can put it this way: I don't think that I'm going to be the fastest guy at every race, [but] I really am confident that ['11 win the championship. I know that there are five guys in there that are going to be fast, and probably a little faster than they were last year. but I know that I have it for 16 weeks, and I don't know who (else] does. Vuillemln has proved that he does have it for 15. so he's the closest, I wiIUfd havti to say. We'll see. What do you think of Trnis chances in the 25Oc:c das? Well, I think that TraYis rider. and I think that he But it just depends if he learned this Y" 120001 in the 250 class and . , . he first got in 125 be disaster for hint. doesn't get hurt, hyper like that. But. then I think he'U do Iy strong enough at tbiili 20 laps, and he will be have any doubts