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/128218
OfI-Boader Shane Watts By GEOFF MEYER s he limps through the pits of the Italian round of the World Enduro Championship, Shane IItts looks like a battered man. The Aussie is recovering from a broken leg sustained early the GNCC Series. Having swept to a World Enduro Championship back in 1997, Watts had the world at his feet - he had conquered Europe and signed a deal with KTM to race the GNCC series, one of the most prestigious off-road series in the world. A serious knee injury, however, .set the Australian back in his tracks in 1998, yet despite doctors telling Watts he would never race again, he returned. Within no time he'd shown the Americans a thing or two about true grit and topped the 2000 GNCC Series, winning ahead of England's Paul Edmondson in an epic battle. It was at the end of 2000 that the rider from Maffra, Victoria, Australia, was considered the fastest, most determined rider in off-road racing. Then the bad stuff started. With his flamboyant style came more accidents and more injuries, and by the end of 2002, Shane Watts was a walking time bomb. The career, which looked to be on the threshold of greatness, suddenly began to look like the equivalent of Travis Pastrana's motocross career. We caught up with Watts after he had completed last weekend's Italian round of the World TwoDay Enduro. He finished in last place in his class and certainly didn't look anything like the Shane Watts of 1997 or 2000; instead he looked like a raw novice. One thing Watts did add to the Italian event was his wild crowd-pleasing side. The Aussie was often seen waving to the children at the side of the course or wheeling his way around the special tests. This trip to Europe was not about winning, but getting his body back in shape for the more important American scene. a than my time said. I've always said the European riders are the fastest in the world. Riding the 450cc KTM was maybe not the best choice; it didn't suit the tests. The team wanted me to ride the 450cc, and I had a great time on it. Every minute on the bike I felt stronger; I also made many small mistakes." The real trouble was his wrist, not the bike. The 18-month-old injury caused him problems, yet in typical Watts fashion the KTM factory rider fought on. "My wrist was a little sore over the event - we rode long days. My leg feels really good; I didn't have any trouble with my leg at all. I want to get my body working to the point that I can race 100 percent for three hours. If I it was at a supercross race in his home state of Victoria where Watts' world came tumbling down. "My worst injuries started at the start of 2002. dislocated a bone in my wrist in a supercross in Australia. I was trying to ride, and the doctors didn't see I had a problem. It was a really big problem - I mean my hand is a centimeter shorted than my other hand. The doctors had to make a new wrist from the bones that were still in there. They took the three wrist bones and threw them away and made up the wrist from whatever bones they could find in there. I don't have too much of a problem. I only have half mobility in my wrist; that does not restrict me, though. I had trouble in Italy with my strength. I would get halfway through the test, and I couldn't pull the clutch in no more. I just didn't have the strength because the muscles are not strong enough yet. The clutch on the 450 is heavier than the 200. Some places I didn't have the confidence at first, but then after a day I felt confident with the complete course." Regret is a word that Watts would rather leave for the wankers of the world. Having fun or racing for big dollars, Watts is always looking ahead, never behind. '" don't have regrets. I practice a lot on supercross tracks, and the race in Australia was a nothing race, but it happen, and I can't look back at that fun race as a mistake. The mistake was not getting my wrist checked out quicker. We went to the local hospital, they said it was broken, my hand was going numb, so I cut the cast off because I thought it was a lack of circulation, and it was still numb. Next time I have this sort of injury, I'm getting it checked by a specialist straight away. I had the chance back then and didn't do it; now I've paid the price with a really fed up wrist. It's something that could have been fixed even without surgery, so that pisses me off a little." Watts has been linked with KTM throughout his career, and having handed them a World title and a GNCC title counts for something, although it's doubtful even KTM will re-sign with the Aussie if he can't complete Despite having a great time in Europe, Watts was a little surprised by his poor effort in the 450cc FourStroke class. Gone was the amazing speed in the MX special tests; this was obviously a tentative rider, looking for time on the bike. And his times echoed that. "I was not worried that I could not race for the win. I'm disappointed in my result, but I didn't feel I was going that slowly. I thought I was not taking any risks, although I felt like I was taking more risk 54 JUNE 1 1, 2003' cue I e n e vv so Off-road star Shane Watts has been often compared to Travis Pastrana, as they both possess awesome talent but have been squelched by injuries. can do that in America, then I can get on the podium. Once I get to that stage, I can think about winning again. I have not ridden a full GNCC race for like nearly two years, so I first have to ride one, finish it and then move on." The 2002 season was a big setback for Watts. Always a rider who picked out special events to race, "My contract with KTM is finished at the end of the year, but that was the same last year. Of course, if I'm struggling to finish races this year, then things might change. At the moment KTM is happy with everything, as long as I can get back into shape. They need to see if I can finish a GNCC strong. I also need to know that. If 1 can't, then not only do I not have a job, but it's a waste of time for me to race. I could possibly come back to Europe if I can't handle the pace in America, but I want to be in America, and I am confident that my wrist will be okay. I rode six hours a day in Italy and felt okay;