Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Mike Hale when talking about the present and the future, however, that the glamor-boy smile filled his face. After all, he'd just returned from California Speedway in Fontana, California, where he was suddenly on the pace in comparison to the others at the test, further building his confidence to the point where he truly believes he will be a factor in AMA racing in 2002. YOU obviously believe that you can get back to where you were as far as your racing career goes. There are plenty of naysayers, however. Why should the rest of us believe that you can do this? l think you're going to have that in any career you choose, and people can think what they want to think. Basically, at the end of the day, you look at the stopwatch and that's what's going to determine who's right and who's not. So far, we've been making the proper steps in the right direction and we're getting better and better results. Obviously, coming off that last test in Fontana, my confidence is growing and growing, and I'm feeling better and better. Q A You've tested in Las Vegas, Thunderhill, Daytona, Willow Springs and then Fontana. What's improved? I spent two years off a race bike, so I had a little rust to knock off. I had to get up to speed and really get an understanding of the bike and tires. The Supersport tires have advanced and developed so much since I rode on them last - they really have a lot of grip. I have to understand how far you can push them, how far you can trail brake... things like that. I'm at the point now where I can feel what the tire is doing, and I'm pushing the front and sliding the rear comfortably. WiII the 600cc Supersport class be harder for you than Formula Xtreme? I don't know. I think they are both going to be very competitive classes, and they are going to be tough. I don't have any expectations right now because I don't know what to expect. I do know that it's going to be tough. I'm training hard, and I'm going to do everything that I can to be prepared. Once the season starts, we'll have a better feel for who is doing what and who:s winning and who's not. We're doing our homework, and that's all I can ask for. Q By one at Honda sill believes in him and because of PAUL CARRUTHERS that he'll ride Erion Racing Hondas in the AMA 600cc Supersport and Formula Xtreme classes this year. He's hoping the homecoming brings back the emotion that he hasn't felt since September 24, 1995 - the last time Mike Hale won a motorcycle race. Hey, the past is past, water under the bridge, Hale says. Let's move on, talk about now and not PHOTOS BY HENNY RAY ABRAMS y ou can see it in his eyes when you bring it up. . Mike Hale doesn't really want to talk about the past. He doesn't want to go back to the fact that he walked away from Honda to follow his dream, to go World Superbike racing with Ducati in 1996. With hindsight being 20/20, the Texan knows now what he didn't know then. He knows he should have stayed in AMA racing. But he was hot property after winning two AMA Superbike Nationals in 1995, and the offers came. The one with Ducati was too good to pass up, so he took it and headed to Europe. Now he's back in the comfort zone after basically a two-year hiatus from motorcycle racing. Some- 24 FEBRUARY 6, 2002' cue I e n e then. But you really can't talk about Mike Hale without going back in time. We caught up with Hale recently during a press introduction for Honda's CBR954RR in the garage area of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. And much to his chagrin, we talked about the past. But it was _ s Q A Which class is more important to you? TheY're both important - they really are. But I think I would get more respect by winning in the 600cc class because I don't think Formula Xtreme is really recognized at the same level. I do think that Formula Xtreme will be a lot more competitive this year. There's more guys in it, and the factories are putting more effort into it. It's getting more important to the factories. It will be some very

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