Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

momentum as the series rolled toward Springfield for the big Labor Day tripleheader. "That was a big boost to my confidence," Russell said. "It actually started to get better for me at Sedalia [Half Mile]. Of course, that's a night that we would all rather forget, but for me it was the first main event that I had made in like a month and a half. So I was feeling pretty high when we went to Springfield the next weekend. I had a good weekend and finished well. That carried on to the end of the year. I had a couple DNFs after that, but I still felt good going into the off-season. I left the year on a high note, and now I'm ready to go for it." Part of that positive attitude is reflected by the fact that he will have some extra help this season. Russell has struck a deal with three-time West Coast Flat Track Series Champion Ronnie Brown to have Brown spin wrenches for him at the Grand Nationals. A competent GNC-licensed rider himself, Brown should be a huge asset to Russell's program. An excellent machinist and mechanic, the 32-yearold Californian is also a master at finding the setup. "I'm really happy to have Ronnie," Russell said. "We've been friends for a long time, and we've already talked a lot about how I want things, and we agree on how things should be. Last year, I learned a lot by doing all of my own work on the bikes at the races, and now that I have someone to work with again at the track this year, I can talk with him and let him handle the bikes, and I can just concentrate on riding again." And Russell's Bartels' deal will, of course, once again pair him with dirt track legend Jay Springsteen, the teammates pitting together at all the races. On and off the track, it's a relationship that Russell said he would not trade for anything. "The first time I met Jay was at the San Jose Mile when I was about 8 years old," Russell said with a laugh. "But the first time that I really got to hang out with him was when I was 16. It has been good. We've had a lot of fun as teammates over the last six years, and I've been staying at his house during "Jay is pretty smart about things," Russell said. "We have two different riding styles, so I can't just go ask him, 'Well, what are you doing here or there?' It doesn't necessarily apply to me. But he can tell me, 'Well, you need to try this or that,' and he can apply it to my riding style in a way that really benefits me." It is clear that Russell has picked up more than a few pointers from Springsteen on the miles, where Russell is now a consistent threat for the podium. Still, he strives to be the complete rider, capable of excelling at all four disciplines on the U.S. Flat Track Championship schedule. "I do well on the miles, but I don't want people to think that I can only ride one type of track," Russell said. "To do good, you have to be able to ride all different types of tracks. On the miles, I think that's just a case where I've been lucky to find a good setup that I like, but I feel I can be a contender anywhere." Russell is anxious to prove just that in 2002, especially to his long-time sponsor, Bartels', which has stuck with him through thick and thin. "Bartels' Harley-Davidson is the real deal," Russell said. "It was my first ride, and they have had a lot of riders come and go, but I've stayed around, and I'm very happy about that. Bill Bartels is just a great guy who really loves dirt track - and racing in general. I think that I have as good a ride as anybody in dirt track racing right now, and I want to show him what I can do with it." For Russell, that means running in the top 10 every week. "I wouldn't even be here if I didn't think that it was the season for the last four years. We just hang out and go fishing a lot, which is not exactly my favorite thing to do, but it's something different." Russell said that he has been fortunate to gain a lot of racing knowledge from the 01' master during their time as teammates. something that I could do," Russell said. "I know that it takes a pretty consistent year. You can allow for some mishaps here or there, but for the most part you have to be consistent and run in the front, near the top five. That's what I'm focusing on." For Shaun Russell, it's just time to turn it up. eN cue I • n ... _ S • FEBRUARV 27,2002 31

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