Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

recover," he said. "I am now very fit, and I can push really hard for several laps. I don't think Everts is capable of doing that, and Smets I'm not sure. I can just change lines, slow down and then recover. I have found I can get an extra second or two to my lap times; if I can do that for three or four laps, then I have made a good break on the others, and as we have seen so far this season, they cannot follow me." At the Spanish Grand Prix in late March, Pichon made one of his few errors so far this year, although he quickly responded. "In Spain, I was trying to find out how fast I could go, and I got tight and looked over my shoulder, missed a turn and Smets passed me," he said. "It's the only time this year I've made a mistake, so I feel I am pretty much in control of the situation. I followed Smets for a little while then went passed him, put in some really quick laps, and he didn't respond to my change of speed. I was a little surprised by that, and it gave me a lot of confidence for the season." Prior to the Dutch Grand Prix, Pichon told reporters of his inner strength and the way he will use it if needed. After being more than a second slower than Stefan Everts in Saturday's qualification, the Frenchman pulled out the quickest lap of the day. "I think I showed how determined I am in qualification in Valkenswaard," the Frenchman said. "Everts was quickest early in the day, and I didn't want to give up so went out and did some extra laps and got pole. I will never give up. I have strength, and if these guys think I am worried by what they are saying, then they are mistaken. I think Everts is a little weak in the head, not me. I think Stefan is not as strong mentally as he thinks. I think if we get into a fight on the track, I will win. I think Stefan has to be much quicker than me, or he isn't going to beat me. So far, his speed is not better than mine, and that is his problem at the moment." As for Smets, Pichon has a respect for the tough Belgian, although he also sees faults in the KTM factory rider. "Joel never gives up; I know from International races I have had with him, he is so determined," Pichon said. "I'm not worried too much about Joel. He has more speed and is more aggressive than Everts in some races - although Stefan [Everts] thinks a lot, he is very careful; he does not take chances; although sometimes you have to disconnect your brain and just go flat out; Stefan won't do that. Maybe that is the advantage Smets and I have over him. Sometimes I make mistake and ride dirty - that's what they do in America, and it works for them. In motocross, you have to do that." As for America, Pichon enjoyed his AMA Supercross race early in the year and would look to 2004 as a possible move to do some more races stateside. "I might go back in 2004, better prepared than this year; I really needed to have a better bike setup and train for supercross," he said. "I mean, not many people realized how much different the AMA bikes are from GP bikes - different chassis, different suspension. When I got there with the stock chassis and stock parts, it was really hard to get a good setup, and a good setup takes a lot of work. I was like there for a couple of weeks. Nobody cared that I was there; nobody wanted to help me with setting the bike up. I also had a hard time from Suzuki to go to the supercross race in February, so I am not sure how it would work for 2004 - I have to talk with Suzuki and see what they think. I would liked to have ridden at Glen Helen for the National, although motocross/supercross riders we have ever seen, but I also think he is already near the end," he said. "He has put in so much hard work in the last few years; I mean their season is like two of ours. They really have to work hard in America. He is at a point in, his career when he will start getting beaten often. Look at Chad Reed - he is building up really strong; he wants to beat Carmichael so bad. Carmichael is now going for championships and not thinking about winning races, and when you get that attitude, you begin to lose motivation for each race. Ricky could ride maybe another five years, but he does not want to race for second place, and I think when he begins to lose often, he will retire. Look how much money he has made." Pichon is also impressed with Kawasaki's James Stewart Jr. Having begun his American career in the West Coast series 10 years ago, the French rider knows something about progress from the 125cc to The bike Pichon rides in the MotocrossGP series is very, very different from the production-based one he rode at Anaheim II. Suzuki wants the World Motocross Championship, so the USA might have to wait." Although America is a place Pichon has enjoyed in the past, he is only interested in going back on a longer scale if he can get his family members over to the land of the stars and stripes. He also wants the American people to understand him and respect him, so getting in some races in front of the evercritical yanks is high on the World Champion's agenda. "I like to train in America; it is good weather in California, and many French riders are over there, so I can hang out with them," he said. "I have a problem, though, with the fact my family can't come to America. My sister has many friends in America, and she can't get a visa. If I go to America, I want my whole family to come with me. It's a nice place, and I have many friends in America. I've grown up a lot; things have changes since I was there in 1999. I've learned so much about life. I like to hang out with my friends, and I like my home - even when I go to Belgium for training, I get tired of it. I didn't like living in America, and that is nothing against America, but it was not home. When I am in a difficult situation, I am a bad boy, and you can ask my girlfriend. Still now I have that problem - if I am not happy, I play up. When I was in America, I was not happy with living - I was getting angry very easily. Now I've changed. I still have something to prove in America. I can't go there and think about beating Ricky and Chad; those guys are too quick. I'm not the kind of guy who thinks that I can beat those guys. Watching them in San Diego, those two are really on another level. I think I can get top five in 2004, or maybe even a podium, and that is my aim for 2004." The two-time World Motocross Champion is also impressed with the 2003 performances of Australian Chad Reed and feels the 2004 AMA Supercross Champion will not be Ricky Carmichael. "I think Carmichael is one of the fastest the 250cc class. "Stewart is another guy who will make it tough for Chad and Ricky; I can't wait to see him on a 250cc machine," Pichon said. "Chad is still improving, and in 2004 he will be much better than this year. I really can't see Carmichael beating Reed in 2004, then when Stewart goes to 250s, he will be the one to beat. To me, Ricky is one or two years away from stopping. Ricky is really on the limit in Supercross, and Chad is just so smooth; his margin for improvement is so great. Ricky won't be getting any quicker. When Stewart gets comfortable in the 250cc class, he's going to set another pace, and Ricky will never be able to get faster, just like Jeremy McGrath couldn't - and other great champions before him." As the most successful Grand Prix rider to come out of France, Pichon is not thinking about breaking any of the all-time records set by Everts or Joel Robert. "I don't have a good chance to match the record set by Everts," he said. "Stefan has ridden Grand Prix Motocross for 14 years. He began doing the GP scene in 1989, while I began in 1992. I missed five years when I moved to America from 1994 until 1999, so it's going to be difficult. I would love to win the most; Stefan has 14 years of GPs, while I have had just seven. I might ride another four years; I guess if I won 10 races each year then I have a chance. First, I want to win championships. If I can win 40 Grand Prix overalls in my career, that would be pretty cool." As for a bigger family, Pichon is looking at adding to his. At present, he has one son and looks to the future with more children, although his racing comes first at the moment. "I would like two or three children - I really enjoy being a father, but it is difficult when the season is on," he said. "You' have to have time for your children, and at the moment it's all work for me." Retirement is another thing Pichon looks at, having even thought about it at the end of 2003. Racing makes up for the long hours of training, testing and practicing. "Yes, sometimes I want to stop; even last week I wanted to stop, but I want to work hard and stuff so at the races I am ready and focused, but the practice and training is really boring for me," he said. "Even in practice at Holland, I was not pushing because it's not important for me. When the qualification begins, I go. I'm ready to produce the goods. Sometimes I want to race for a long time, then I get sick of the training and being away from home. At the moment I feel pretty good, though." eye I e n e 1M eN 50 • MAY 28,2003 47

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