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/128184
Red Bull 1Cr""'s Grant Langston going to be supercompetitive, and I'm not going to be dirty, but I am going to be aggressive and not leave the door open for anyone. I would be happy with top five in my first year." How to beat Ricky Carmichael or James Stewart: "You have to get into Carmichael's head. He is so superstitious, and if you can get into his head, then you can beat him. I mean, he has so many gone in fit, I would have won both motos. Then I got my knee done again, came back at Millville and was the fastest guy on the track. Then I crashed, and I think I crashed because I wasn't 100-percent mentally strong, and I was pushing and getting tired. I think had I been 100 percent, I would have saved that crash - I was just not strong enough to stay on the bike." By GEOFF MEYER PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN he past 12 months have not been what 20-yearold Grant Langston would call the best period of his short career. After the heartache of losing the 125cc National title in 2001 when a broken rear wheel kept him from finishing the final moto of the season, he hasn't seemed to be able to stay healthy. Not much had been going right for the South African speedster since that day, until his recent Bercy Supercross win - in his last race on a 125. To win in Bercy, he led home other 125cc notables including 125cc Western Regional Supercross Champion Travis Preston and Boost Mobile/Yamaha/Troy Racing's Ivan Tedesco, proving that he has regained the speed and conditioning that it seemed he had lost. We sat down with Langston after his t3ercy victory, and this is what he told us. T How international riders are treated by the fans in America: "I have found it to be good - some are die-hard American fans, and they only root for the Americans. Many people, though, don't care where you're from; they just want to root for who you are, and people like that I arn a fighter. People told me to look out for the American race fans. I was told I would get booed, although I've been really lucky. I W8'S surprised at the stadiums. Many times I got a lot of cheers - more than the Americans." Grant Langston on... International riders struggling with a sophomore slump when they come to America: "I noticed that it seems to be the trend. I think I would agree with you, although in rQy situation I came off two shoulder surgeries and into the season without much testing or riding. Chad [Reed] was a tough competitor, and if you had taken him out of the picture, I think I could have cleaned up the East Coast l25cc series. I went into Glen Helen not even healthy and got second; I believe until this day had I 26 DECEMBER 11. 2002' cue I e n e How 2003 will be different: "I think now I am riding a lot more, a lot of testing, and I am without a doubt better prepared. I just pray that 2003 will be a good year. I don't want to come into supercross and just survive - too many guys have that attitude and get injured. I'm going to give it 100 percent, and it will be my first season in the 250cc class, so I'm not going to win the championship - I want to get some podiums, and getting a win would make me so happy. The 250cc class is _ so things he has to do, like wearing the orange-colored clothing. I mean, Vuillemin beat him. and he's not so strong in the head himself. I know guys like Chad Reed and myself are strong in the head. I've noticed Carmichael will pick on a rider and try and break him down. If Carmichael tried that with Chad or myself, then he is going to be banging heads. I'm the kind of guy who gives baCK what is dished out to me. I saw what happened in Las Vegas between Chad and Carmichael. I really think Carmichael will try and break Chad down, and I think Chad knows that, and he will put it to Carmichael." His 2002 season and the 125cc National loss: "If I don't ever win a National title, I will always look back at the 2001 season and think what might have been. It would have been great to win. What happened has happened, and so what? Life goes on. I don't want people to think I was lucky to win the World Championship and never won anything again. I want people to say, "He was unlucky to lose that 125cc championship, then came back to win the 250cc outdoor title." I would love to go out and beat Ricky in the outdoors. I mean, in supercross he is awesome, although he has to be the king of outdoors, six from six [championships] in motocross." Banging bars with good friend Chad Reed: "We have talked about that, and I doubt we would take each other out on purpose. We are both aggressive - block-passing is a part of the game.