Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

ChellY Tftlcks KaJlllasald's James SteJlllart Jr. won 11 Loretta Lynn titles - which was more than any rider before me, even more than Ricky Carmichael, who had the record before me. for that race. I really wanted to prove that I was quicker than Chad, and Unadilla worked out perfect for me. I won both motos under difficult conditions. What about school? Do you still do school work? l left school when I was 15 years old, and I now do my schoolwork at home - my parents teach me. Now I can train, ride and then do some school work. My mum Sonya is really helpful with my schoolwork, and she's taught me pretty good. I'm ahead of where I should be at my age, so I might be able to stop with the schoolwork at the end of this year. Q Which race is the highlight in your career so far? For sure, Unadilla. At that race, I really had a good start in the first moto, then I slowed down and let Chad catch up. When he caught up, I passed him and took off. I wanted people to see that I had the speed, and it didn't matter if Chad was in front of me or behind me. I knew I could beat him, and in that first moto I really grew in confidence. In the second moto in Unadilla, I lost my clutch and really had to fight for the win. For sure that day is something I will never forget. I enjoyed the track and got to show everyone that I had good speed and could race from any situation. A Wh Y motocross? Why did you go in that direction with all of the other sports available to you? I did a little of that at school, although I was more interested in motocross - probably because my dad did it. I also had my heroes when I was growing up, and they were motocross riders. I also liked to be different from the other kids, and racing motocross was something nobody ever did. Q A Q What about the difference between supercross and motocross? Which do you prefer? It seems like I still have not worked supercross out. 'I mean, last year I made a lot of mistakes, and again this year. Phoenix was like the first race that I went through practice and the race and didn't crash. My worse race ever was the Dallas Supercross last year; I crashed, like, three times in one lap in Dallas. I Have a feeling that plate is the first of many? He clinched never raced supercross in the amateurs the 125cc National Championship with a race to run In his rookie season, all the championships I won when I was young was in the outdoors. We just don't tracks that much. I ride mainly hard tracks, like race Supercross until we go professional, and that clay tracks. I don't know why I am so good in the makes it difficult. In motocross, I have a really good sand. I seem to be able to jump a lot of the rough corner speed - I can run with anyone outdoors, and I sections of the track when the sandy tracks get think I proved that last year racing against Chad. really rough. He's a very good motocross rider. I mean, he finished second in the 2001 World 250cc Motocross What about people like Tiger Woods and the Championship then finished second [actually third] in Williams sisters? Do you look at those people the AMA 125cc Nationals, so he ain't slow on a as inspiration? motocross track. I never watched golf before, but since Tiger has come along, I've taken an interest. The lt seems all the best riders are good in the Williams sisters are really good to watch. I mean sand. Does living in Florida help you and guys I'm proud to be African American, and I like the like Carmichael and Ferry? idea that maybe I have brought interest to our sport I get this question all the time, and what is funny because I am a Negro, although it's an added presis that, while I live in Florida, I don't ride sand Who was your biggest idol? Jeff Matiasevich - he was my idol. He was racIng Kawasaki and was very aggressive. He would take riders out, and I enjoyed seeing him race hard on the track. A What about Chad Reed? He has moved to the 250cc class and is really showing some great results. Do you look at him and think about racing against guys like Carmichael and Reed? YOU know, Chad is an awesol't1e rider. He's proven it many times in 2002, and I'm happy for him that he's winning races this year in the 250cc class. He won some races against me, and he won the 125cc East Coast series, so he has been good for a while now. I don't think too much about the 250cc class. Sure, I want to be the best, but first I want to win the 125cc West Coast Series, then maybe I'll look at the 250cc class. I've thought about doing Daytona on the 250cc bike, although I won't race any 250cc races until I am sure I can win. I don't want to race for a top-five place; I will only race against Carmichael and Reed when I am sure I can beat them. It's pretty cool, though, thinking that I beat him in the Nationals last year and now he is winning supercross races in the 250cc class - that gives me some confidence. I still have to win some more races in the 125cc class - many people thought I would walk away with the series, and Travis Preston has already beaten me, so I have to work on this series first. I truly believe that Travis is as fast as Chad was last year. Travis Preston can race with just about anyone. Q A Q Q A Tell us a little about what happened at (]nadilla last year - the race where you played around a little and scored maybe your most important win of the year. At first, I didn't want to say much about what happened at Unadilla. I mean, no disrespect to Chad Reed, but a lot of people said he could beat me if he got a good start - even Chad said it a few times. I was disappointed that people felt that way, and I wanted to show that it didn't matter were Chad was on the track; I could beat him. I really wanted to race with somebody that day, and Chad happened to be the guy in second place, so it worked out good. I felt really good during practice Q Bubba sprays the champagne regularly, but he can't drink It for another four years. A 20 FEBRUARY 12, 2003' cue • • n e _ s A

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