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
go in that direction. [Pauses] With being on a private team, or being on a support team, or being on an outside-sponsored team - not being on a factory team - I don't think the salary's quite there. This way, I can get my own sponsors, and make my salary to what I want it to be, or what I think it's worth. I think there's a lot of guys out there that make too much money for the results that they're getting. Not to cry about money or anything, because I'm fine with it, but I don't think [Chaparral owner Dave] Damron was ready to take it up to the next level where it should be. And it was the perfect time. We had no problems; it was just the perfect time for me to own my own team, and he kind of got his fiJI. Has it been more of a challenge than you expected? No, because I've got Larry [Brooks] - he's good. I don't have to do anything. He does it all. It's the same [as before]. So you didn't run into any obstacles in particular? [Looks over his shoulder at two Yamaha officials] No [smiles]. There was a little stickler, but it's part of the growing pains, I guess. Word has it you wanted Kevin Windham for the team, but that Yamaha would have no part of it. No, that's not true at all. If I was going to have Windham, I would need to have another major sponsor, because I'm paying for everything. Windham makes whatever he makes from Suzuki, and honestly, I can't afford what he's worth, so I would need to have another sponsor. But I don't think Yamaha would have a problem with it. But it was never an issue because I never asked; it was just a rumor. Tell me about your business ventures. may be helping [No Fear again]. He's so focused, and he's so smart. My bikes are so awesome - I loue them. How is your relationship with David Vuillemin now, after his comments in that French publication? (Vuillemin was quoted in MX magazine, making derogatory comments about McGrath being money-hungry.) Well, there was friction for a long time. We were in France racing, and there was never a perfect opportunity for him to come and apologize to me about it. Personally, 1didn't do anything. I'm the easiest guy to get along with. I don't have anything bad to say about anyone, and for someone to shoot their lips off like that, I thought it was a little unfair, and I was pissed off. Now Supercross comes back around, and we're starting to ride and test together, and they were trying to schedule us to test different, and it was just bullshit. So we got it worked out. He came and talked to me about it. I'm an adult, and that's all I needed - I needed to know. Basically, I know what to expect, and what it's going to be like. At first it was really ridiculous, because I was so mad. I mean, I wanted to do the irrational thing, and try and fight him or something like that, and that's stupid. He came and talked to me about it, and that's basically all I needed. I wanted an explanation and an apology. I was thinking about it for a long time, and it was always on my mind, and it's not on my mind anymore. So it's behind us. What's your reply to the accusation that you're only interested in money? I have one thing to say about that. If all I was interested in was money, my results wouldn't be the way they are. I have passion for what I do, and I love it, and I love to win - I'd do anything to win - Well, my deal with No Fear is No Fear MX, just me and Jeff (Surwall] own the whole thing, together. We have a licensing agreement with No Fear, and Jeff and I own all of No Fear MX together - 50/50. So I'm owner of that. My title is CIO, instead of CEO - Comes In Occasionally [laughs]. My part of the job is on the track, and as long as I'm successful with that, I'm doing my job. Jeff's the business guy; he takes care of it. With Spy, I'm just a shareholder. I have shares with Spy, and that's a whole other deal. Did you and Randy Lawrence part on good terms? I think Randy was a little upset with me, but I think Randy's priorities were mixed up at the time. Randy and I have been friends for years, since I was little. We're fine now, we have no problem now, and I'd do anything, because he's my friend. But he had his - [hesitates]. He just wasn't focused, and he had other things going on that I wasn't interested in. It was none of my business, but it becomes my business because I'm trying to run a professional operation here. His priorities were mixed up. I love the guy. He's my friend, and that will never change. It's just the working part of it was a little mixed up for a while. How did you convince Skip Norfolk to go back out on the road? Well, I didn't really have to conuince Skip, with the series only being 16 races, and him not having to drive, and h.im being cooped up in an office. I think he's got his family in order now, and he was ready to do it. It didn't take any convincing; all I had to do was say something. He [still] consults [with No Fear] a little bit on some stuff, but for this part of it, until the summer, he doesn't have any time to do anything. When the summer comes, he Q A cue. _ n __ S • JANUARY 10, 2001 7