Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Pro Circuit/KaMlasaki/ChellV Tftlcks' Eric SorbV Eric SortIy's been on the podium .. tile .... two 12lk:c going In10 SouthwIck. He has estllbll8hecl Who's Sorby Now? MatI_'s himself _ .........tw til.... -rv time the 1258 ,.... up, indoonl or out. °t Kawasaki's Frenchman is making e for himself outdDDrs Well Eric, you know why we are having this interview. So far this season, you've stepped up big-time outdoors. What's changed in your program? I haven't changed anything special. I just feel . more confident. I've been riding more and riding JIi!:h James Stewart. And we've been testing; 1 really Ike my bike. 50 you've been riding with James Stewart a lot. How did that come about? I ride with him a lot in supercross, Not really outdoors. I do some testing with him, but not a lot of outdoors, By JASON WEIGANDT PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN Are you guys buddies now? Oh yeah. He's a pretty good kid. I think I'm going to go with him to his house after Budds Creek. I'll be in Florida. He trains and rides hard. ith a mass import of foreign racers now making names for themselves on the AMA motocross and supercross circuit, the novelty of a rider coming out of Europe to do battle in America has worn off. In fact, with so many riders venturing overseas to race the Yanks and so many ~tellite factory big rigs in the pits to hide them in, sometimes it's hard to tell who each rider is. But thanks to several strong performances to kick off the 2003 AMA/Chevy Trucks 125cc U.S. Motocross Championships, people are starting to notice Eric Sorby a lot more - and for the right things. After a rough stretch a few months back where he was chastised for intentionally blocking and cutting off former 125cc West SX Champion Travis Preston, people are now starting to talk about Sorby in a positive way. We wanted to learn more about the 23-year-old Frenchman too, so we decided to interview him during the morning of the Thor National at High Point, where he scored a solid third overall. W 62 JUNE 18, 2003' cue I e n e When you first came to the a.s., people knew about your friendship with David Vuillemin. How's your relationship with him? We're still friends. If I'm here today, it's because David and Erica helped me out. So thanks to them. Do you ride with him a lot? A little, but not all the time. I do a lot of training with Steve Boniface. I've known him for 15 years now, because we grew up racing together. Right now he's my best friend; he's like my brother. Sounds like you stick pretty tight with the French riders. What's the deal with the French flag on the back of your chest protector? vv s It wasn't me! It was the guy from Thor: Beeker. He made it; I didn't ask. I mean, I'm French, but when I'm here, I like it here. Since Bubba is out, do you feel pressure to win a race while he isn't here? For sure. It's more easy to win now because James is not here. But when he comes back, he can crash. But he has proven himself to be the best 125 rider. His lap times are close to the 250s. At Hangtown, you rode strong in both motos and almost went around Ryan Hughes. Do you think that has changed people's idea of you? Do they think they're thinking of you differently, like you're more of a threat? Not really. A couple of months ago, you got into a wellpublicized battle with Travis Preston 'at Anaheim. Your blocking moves there resulted in some bad press. Last week, you were really aggressive, trying everything to get around Hughes. Does that run through the back of your mind, that people may boo you or put you down if you try something too aggressive? Yeah. I didn't try a block-pass, because I know it's a long season. I'm not scared, though, you know. I'm just strong. And if I'm in the same situation again, where I can do something on the last lap, I'll do it to race. I'm here to win, not for second. I will try, but I will not do a block-pass like I did on Preston. So you've experienced some highs and lows this season. How does your team feel?

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