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/128214
CN: How do you think being a married man now is going to affect your racing? DV: I don't know. I think it's good. I'm settling down, and I'm not a teenager anymore. I'm trying to be professional, and I think it's going to open my mind, actually, but for the racing I think it's going to be the same for me. CN: Why is it you go to France when you get injured instead of seeing doctors here? DV: I oon't know; I haven't found somebody as good as my doctor, so that's why when I have a big thing, I'm going to go back home. I have three guys that follow me: I have a surgeon who did my shoulder surgery, I have an osteopath that's really good, and somebody who does acupuncture for my bones and stuff, so I have known those guys like over 12 years, so I trust them, and it works all the time. Trying to find doctors like that in the U.S., well that's kind of difficult. Instead of looking for somebody, it's easier for me to just go back the~e. CN: How do you think things have changed for the top riders since your first season in the U.S.? DV: I think it's the same. There's a little evolution because the bikes are better and maybe the riders are more prepared and stuff, but I think it basically is the same. You know, McGrath and I in 2000, we were the two top guys, and now it's Ricky and Chad. It's always the same, just evolution of the bikes and the fitness of the riders have changed. CN: Speaking of Ricky Carmichael and Chad Reed, what do you think of that big blow-up they had in Salt Lake City? DV: Eve.rybody is really tense, you know? That's a championship, and there's a lot of consequences, and if you win, you win a lot of money, and you're a champion, and that's a pretty big deal. Everybody's tense, and it's understandable from both sides, you know? CN: Do you think it's going to help Carmichael and Reed at Glen Helen because they've been racing at 100 percent for so long? Or do you think the guys who have had some time off will be stronger? DV: I think Ricky and Chad will be ready for the Nationals. They've been racing every weekend, and they did not get hurt - they don't have to come back from anything. Like for me, I'm working out right now just to get back in shape, you know? Those guys, they are in shape already, so they just have to do a few things a week, and that's not like what we're doing right now. I think they have a little advantage, and I'm sure they're going to be fast. But that's good to have those kind of guys to race against. DV: I don't know; I think... I would say maybe five guys or something like that. If you look at the championship from last year and you can see it's going to be difficult, but it's a new championship and a new year. and there's a lot of new guys coming back, and I think it's going to be different. Chad showed it this year in supercross, and I'm sure somebody can show it also in the outdoors. CN: We know that Reed tried out the YZ450F. Did you give it a shot? DV: I tried it, but we're going to see. We haven't decided yet. Nobody did, actually. Chad and I will decide what we're going to do, you know. Both bikes are competitive, so I don't think that's going to be an issue if we race with it or not. CN: How are you and David Bailey working together, and what does he have you doing differently compared to last year - or even six months ago? DV: We had to change our program because I got hurt and everything. We're trying to get ready as soon as possible for the Nationals. He comes to see me ride and gives me some advice, and I hope it's a long-term relationship - you cannot get ready in two months. It's not possible. You need to work and have a philosophy of work. If you change everything, you want results right away, but I think we're doing good, and we get along really good, too, so I hope it's going to work out. CN: Since there will be so many riders back for Glen Helen, where do you think Mickael Pichon would fit in, since he's dominating over in Europe again? DV: I have no idea. I don't really care about that [laughs]. I'm over that Europe-and-U.S. rivalry. If the guys want to show us that they're good, they have to come here; we don't have to go there. That's too much talking for not much. It's been online forever, so... The best is they come here, and we'll see what happens. CN: Which tracks do you think you'll have your best advantage outd.oors? DV: I'm a pretty good overall guy in the Nationals, but I like Sacramento - I kind of like the not-so-great tracks. The more people that don't like the tracks, I like them. I like Sacramento, and I like Mount Morris, and I don't like the tracks like Troy. I like more of a natural sort of track. CN: If there's one thing that you'd like to get across to the fans or the media about you, what would that be? DV: The only thing I could say is that instead of having an image of me, just try to know me instead of trying to judge me from the press or from what people say online. I think they should just try to know me better instead of judging me by something el~. ~ (LeftJ He .... one of the most unique riding styles on the c1rcuIL Some of his top competitors call him "The World'. Fastest NovIce" • am-.gh he'. shooting to dI'op the "Novice" part from that soon e-.gh. (Below) He'. a married man _ . "I'm not • teenager anymore, n he says. CN: How many people do you think have a realistic chance of winning an overall this summer? cue I e n e _ s • MAY 14, 2003 49