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/128135
Cycle NeWlls Rider of the Year Ricky Carmichael decision for me. You always wonder if you made the right decision, but once I made my decision, I said, "This is what I'm doing and I'm not turning back." Q A How did the good-byes go? lt was all right. I mean, those guys gave me anything I could ever want. They gave me a great opportunity to win a lot of championships, and I won a lot for them, as well. They helped me out a lot, and I helped them out a heck of a lot. I have nothing bad to say; everyone there was really nice. For me, at this point in my career, I'm ready for a change, and I believe the Honda will be a little better for me. They have a little more technology, and that's what I was looking for. They [Honda] always have the latest and greatest technology out, definitely. When you see stuff'like that, it helps you make your decision. They have a four-stroke, a competitive four-stroke, and the four-stroke thing has always been in the back of my mind. Q Have you considered racing a four-stroke next year in the Nationals? Supercross fans got to see Carmichael race the Honda for the first time at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas. After getting lowered to the stadium's {loor while wearing a king's crown and cape during the pre-race hoopla, Carmichael experienced something he had ne.ver experienced before - booing. And lots of it. The booing could've been brought about by a couple of things, like the get-up Carmichael was wearing, which some felt was disrespectful to the one who many still consider the king of supercross, Jeremy McGrath. (After all, McGrath does have seven SX championships to Carmichael's one.) Or, DefinitelY. It's an option I have. It also depends on Honda, if Honda wants me to. But I do have the choice of riding the four-stroke. If I don't feel 100-percent comfortable on it, with the way it works, then I'll ride the two-stroke. It gives me something to look forward to; I'll have some fun in the outdoors on the four-stroke. A Q Yes, I rode one and I think they are awesome. I haven't ridden a 450 that was set up for me, but I know they're faster, and the thing is so fun to ride. If I had to buy a bike, I would definitely buy a fourstroke for the outdoors. A HOW has been going on Q CR250R?the testingadapting to the the Honda Are you aluminum frame? GOOd; the last couple of months, I've gotten to know the bike a lot better. I spent a lot of time riding it at home. You know, the '02 frame is a lot more forgiving than the '01 frame, which is good. I've ridden them both ['01 and '02 CRs], and I think the '02 is good - it's definitely got some A WhY do you think you were attacked so much by the "boo birds" at the a.s. Open? I think it has a lot to do with the switch [from Kawasaki to Honda], and probably a little has to do with the crown. That whole crown thing isn't me. I'm kind of bummed t4'::i:~~ about that, because it hurts. That really Q A the cat calls could've been brought on by Carmichael's switch from Kawasaki to Honda. Either way, it was a new but unpleasant experience for R.C. 14 JANUARY 2,2002' lCl U II: I e n e Have you ridden the CRF450R yet? "" so strong points about it. I think the stability is really good for me, and that's what I was looking for. I think my weakness last year was through the whoop sections; you saw me take a few good tumbles last year in some of the heat races and practices, so that's what I was looking for - great stability through the whoops. That aluminum frame is good; it's definitely a lot firmer than a steel chassis - it's not as forgiving, but it's like anything: Each bike is good in areas, and each bike needs to work in areas. All around, I think it's a better bike. Are there any areas where you're struggling with the bike? Not really; we've just been fiddling around with the suspension settings. That's about it. Other than that, everything is good. The motor seems pretty good; [we're)' just trying to get the suspension dialed in to where I feel 100 percent on the bike. I think that was one of my advantages last year - I knew all the time what my bike was going to do and how I was going to do it, and that's what I need to know about the CR before the first Anaheim comes around. Q A isn't me, and the people who know me know that isn't me, so that probably had a little bit to do with it. Hey, I understand the west-coast crowd, they like Jeremy. It's just like when you come to Daytona and Atlanta, they're going to root for the east-coast boys. You know, the Vegas crowd is a hard crowd to please. It's no big deal - some of the fans are just harsh out there; you've got your true fans. Man, I feel bad for INASCAR racer] Jeff Gordon. That guy seems so cool, and people just boo him so bad - hundreds, thousands of people giving it to him. The guy is just out there doing what he likes to do, going out there winning races and then getting hammered, but there's nothing you could do about it. Hopefully, I'll go to Anaheim and things will be different. I want to go up there and try to have a good time, do what I love to do, and that's all that I can do.