Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

timing has also played an equally important role," McGrath said. "By that, I mean that, after a great deal of Jeremy McGrath says that announcing his retirement was the hardest day of his life. thought and retrospect, and after looking at the career that I've had, "To me, this sport is a lifestyle, a this sport has brought me more than I passion - not just a job. I promised could have ever imagined or dreamed myself early on in my career that if of. It just seemed like the right time. I'm closing this chapter on the racing and competition part and starting the next chapter of my life. "As many of you may know, this summer during a test session, I sus- and when I wasn't 1 DO-percent focused and motivated, it was time to step down. It is important to me to keep this promise to myself. This sport has given me everything, and tained an injury. And while I was lay- it's something I really love. However, ing on the ground for about three if you get to the point where you have hours with my dislocated hip, it really doubts and hesitations, it can become made me stop and think about my your enemy. And I could grow to hate life, my family and my future. I had it. But I love the sport too much to every intention of fulfilling my con- allow that to happen." tractual obligation and racing for the next two years. I know many of you are probably wondering, 'Why now?' And to be honest with all of you, I never knew how all of this was going to end. I actually thought I would have been retired by now. But during these past few seasons, I continued to In addition to what will be an emotional farewell tour during the 2003 supercross season, McGrath has already begun planning an autobiography that is slated to be released in the fall of 2003. He says he also has plans to expand his production com- be motivated, and I wanted to be out pany and will continue to work on there. I wanted to win. I love the com- personal merchandising efforts. petition. However, as all of you may "Aside from all the business or may not know, it kills me to be out stuff, I also look forward to starting a there and not winning. family," McGrath said. In less than an hour, the starting gate was going to drop at Edison Intemational Field for the start of the 2003 AMA Supercross season. And Jeremy McGrath wasn't going to be there, something which hasn't happened since 1992. Just days earlier. McGrath announced his retirement from supercross racing, so now, instead of making last-minute preparations to his bike, or getting a final pre-race pep-talk from his tuner Skip Norfolk and manager Larry Brooks, McGrath was still signing a few posters for last-minute autograph-seekers from the Bud Ught KTM pits. For me, it just seemed weird, sitting here casually chatting with McGrath, moments before one of the biggest races of the year. and for him, it probably seemed even weirder. Now that McGrath has had a few days to reflect after making the retirement rumor official, I wanted know if he had any different feelings now that his decision to retire was truly becoming a reality. But first, the hard part: getting a few moments alone with the champ. As it turned out, McGrath was perhaps more busy on this race day than he had ever been before. Pretty much every minute of his day was already planned out - photo shoots here, photo shoots there, autograph sessions at this time and at that time. After a couple of postponed appointments, I finally got a few minutes alone with McGrath inside the Bud Ught KTM semi and asked him how it felt not to be participating in the soon-to-be-run races. "My feelings are the same," McGrath said. "I am very confident and feel relieved and really happy about my decision, but at the same time it's going to be emotional when I go out there lfor opening ceremonies, in which he was going to participate]. I think the hardest day of my whole life, of my whole career, was Thursday at press day. I mean, those were all of my friends, all my peers, all the people I've grown up around. That had to be the hardest day of my life. "Tonight is going to be emotional and hard; it's probably going to be one of those things that is probably going to get my feelings going, and maybe it's going to be a bit sad at the same time. I mean, it probably won't be as hard as Thursday, because I can't see anybody; I'm just talking in general. But you know what? I heard the bikes today, and I didn't feel in my heart or in my stomach like, 'Man, I'm missing something.' That's how I know that I made the right decision." McGrath went on to say th"t he's looking forward to going to every race and hanging out with his fans. "I think it's important that the fans know that this season is for them," McGrath said. "That's what this is about. "I never really knew how this [his supercross careerl would end, what way it would end and all that. I always wanted to have a farewell tour while I was riding, but I've got to be truthful to myself. I'm not feeling like I want to be out there - there is hesitation, and I've always wondered what that meant from other guys who have retired ahead of me, and now I know. "To be honest, 1 see myself to be a recreational rider now. A lot of people have the misconception that I'm quitting riding, but I'm not! I'm just not going to race on Saturday nights - supercross. I mean, I'm a big fan of the sport. I'm an enthusiast. I'm going to ride to the end. This whole supercross season for me is a way to say 'thank you' to the fans. I just think it's important - the fans have done a lot for me. That's been a big contribution in my whole career - I mean, when I'm racing, I can hear the fans. I've had some great races, and I've been in the back at times, and the fans have really cheered me on. I remember the one time I got a really bad start here [Anaheim], and I passed Larry Ward on the 11th lap for the lead, and the fans were going nuts. This is just a way for me to say thanks for all the support from the fans land] all the industry people. I don't want to just up and walk out. This sport has given me everything - more than I could have ever asked for. I want everyone to know that I'm thankful for that and that I'm grateful." Some people have said that McGrath should've retired earlier, perhaps while he was still on top. wearing the number-one plate. But not McGrath. "There were a few times last year when I was struggling that I was thinking to myself, 'Hey, I wonder what would be like to not have to struggle like this and to be on the other side?' But I kept pushing and pushing and trying to be better. I mean, I want out of myself what everybody else wants out of me. There were some thoughts, just a lillie bit, that entered in my head [about retiring earlier], but not anything serious until I got hurt [dislocated hip]. Then I got knocked out (concussion I. That really takes your motivation away. I have a beautiful wife; we want to start a family... There are other things that are becoming as important las supercrossj. It aU happened so fast, I wanted to make sure; I didn't want to start this series and go down a road that isn't going to be good for anybody. I want to promote my sponsors, Bud Light. KTM and all the other sponsors, but I don't want to be out there and not be able to win. That's not my style." I asked McGrath if he has any regrets regarding his racing career. "No. I think, in general, the last five years have been a lot more getting involved in business, but if I had advice for somebody like Carmichael or someone that's coming up Reed - I've always chosen the path to take a different line than anybody else and trying to create better opportunities, trying to better myself, trying to leam more about business and stuff like that. To me, it Ibusiness] sometimes became a little distracting; takes away from the other part, the racing. But I don't have any regrets at all. I've had a great career, and I can't complain. I'm really lucky and fortunate. "As far as goals, I achieved every goal and more than I ever thought I was going to do. I wish I would've won the title in '97, but that was my own fault, really. I did everything I set out to do." And it only seemed fitting that, right at this moment, Larry Brooks poked his head around the door and said, "Sorry guys. Jeremy, opening ceremonies are about to begin it's time to get ready." Kit Palmer eN cue I e n e _ S • JANUARY 15. 2003 17

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