Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

sure I don't need. I have enough pressure to win races - people expect me to win, and I don't want the added pressure of leading the African American people into motocross. It's cool, though, knowing that I am one of the only African Americans racing at this level. You have already achieved so much in such a short time. How do you feel about the last couple of years? And when do you think the move to the 250cc class will come? I've done okay. I mean, I won the Outdoor Championship, although I messed up a little in the 125cc West Coast series, which I would like to make up for this year. I don't know if I want to race 250 just yet. I have the 125cc championship to win, and of course I want to win the 125cc Nationals for a second year in a row. I hate getting second place, which is maybe the key to winning. If I get second place in anything, I am not the happiest person in the world. What about winning the Anaheim Supercross recently? That seemed to cheer you up. If you're going to win a supercross race, you want it to be at Anaheim. I wanted so bad to win the first round of the series because that is the most important race of the year. When I won round three of the AMA series, I was so excited, I played around a little for the crowd, and I really enjoy doing that - it makes me feel good, and the crowd seems to enjoy it. Like when I did my dance on the podium in Phoenix, I love doing stuff - putting on a show for the spectators. What about all the stuff going on with Ricky Carmichael getting booed by the crowd? Can you understand that? What's your take on what happened? I don't like it. I mean Ricky Carmichael puts a big effort into racing for the crowd - he's the best rider there is, and he's racing for the win. I didn't see what happened between Ricky and Travis [Pastrana]. I think it's just racing. I don't want to knock somebody down, although if somebody is in my way then I'll knock them down, simple as that. I think if somebody is slowing you down and you can't get past, then a block-pass is okay. I believe in hard racing for sure. I think Ricky is good for the sport, and it would be pretty boring if nobody raced hard. I'm lucky the crowd seems to like me. I mean everyone says Jeremy McGrath was clean, but he wasn't the nicest guy when he began racing. I watch a lot of the older tapes of his races, and he was tough on the track. In the later years, Jeremy was so much quicker than anyone that he didn't need to knock anyone down. Everyone is going the same speed now, and it's tough to get past riders. In the old days, if you took a chance on a section of the track and made up ground, you got the win. Nowadays, everyone is on the same speed, and blockpasses are often the only way of getting into the lead. What about taking records? Last year, you beat the record for most wins in a 125cc National season. Do you think about those things? I really liked taking the record for most wins in a season last year, although it's not like I started out thinking about it. When somebody told me I can get the record, I pushed for it, although it wasn't the most important thing for me. I want to win races, and I think that's what everyone wants to do, then the records will come and I'll enjoy taking them. I mean, I would never say I could beat Jeremy McGrath's record of 72 wins in supercross, because I don't even know if I could do that - I haven't even won a 250cc race yet, and I don't even know how long I'll be racing. What about Daytona? Are you going to race the 250cc there? I don't know. I planned on winning Anaheim I and then making a good run so that the championship was decided early. I figured then I could maybe do some 250cc races. I just don't know. I might do some 250cc testing, although it depends on how the 125cc series is going when Daytona comes around. test. Most riders like to take Sunday off, but for me relaxing is going riding on my bike. I do some gokart racing and ride my pushbike. What about the Motocross des Nations? Do you want to race that event? You know, last year we didn't have time for me to race that race - it was like two weeks after the season ended, and we would have had to do a lot of testing. I will have to race a 250cc machine because of the changes in the format. I'm not too keen on racing in Europe. I've been over there a couple of times and didn't like it at all. I've ridden at Gaildorf in Germany, and it was so muddy - I'm not a mud rider, never have been. I don't know about racing in Europe. If the 'World Supercross Series takes off, then I'll go over and do those. We just have to wait and see what happens with that. What do you think about the THQ World Supercross Series? Is it good for the sport? I think it is. We take the sport to more people, lland that's pretty exciting. I mean, it's a great sport, and racing some races in Europe or other countries is going to take the sport to more people that can't be bad for the sport. Who gives you the most help outside your parents? Tony Haynes. I talk to him all the time. He tells me so much stuff. He was the hero in my area when I was a kid and was beating guys like Carmichael. Tony got injured pretty bad some years ago and is now in a wheelchair. He is my trainer and has always been an important part of my career. He used to run the number 259, and now I run it, and I'll run it forever. eN How important is your family to your racing? That is important for me. I have a good bond with my family. They have helped me a lot, and they have been to just about every race I've ever entered. It's good to have a family backing me up. I'm also lucky because the people at Kawasaki and Oakley are also like family to me. Stewart Is well loved by the majority of motocross and supercross fans, as this scene following his 10th win of the year at Steel City in 2002 shows. How do you relax away from the track? The best day for me is Saturday. When Saturday night comes around, I'm happier than ever when I can race my motorcycle. I want to ride every day. We test a lot, and I would love to just go into the mountains and do some riding on the days we don't cue I e n e _ os • FEBRUARY 12, 2003 21

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