had to ride the CR250R two-stroke on the
edge to keep up with the four-st:rokes. The
question on everyone's mind is: "Can Ricky
Cannichael win on the four-stroke?"
According to Ricky: "I've been riding the
450 for a while. I feel that I'm smart enough to
ride the thing like it's supposed to be ridden. It's
an easy bike to adapt to because you just have to
relax more . Ride it really mellow. 50 I look at it
like it's easy to take two steps back, hard to take
two steps forward. It's actuallybeen an easy transition for me."
Says Windham: "A lot of people have commented on my style and how it fits the bike.
Anyone who's seen Ricky's style knows that it's a
lot different than mine. So there's a lot that's
going to be proven this year. It's going to be
proven ifyou can ride a 450 in an all-out, feet-offthe-pegs old Hannah style, Ricky style, and see if
they can make that bike work like that. It's kind
of been said to date that you have to ride that
bike a little bit smoother than a two -stroke and
make the race come to you. And that 's definitely
not Ricky's style."
What's the difference in the bikes?
According to Ricky: "The bike is such an
advantage. I had to ride (the two-stoke) on the
edge to at least try to win the race. I didn't see
any other two -stro ke out there at Unadilla within a minute of Kevin - except for me. Fourstro kes are better, have less disadvantages and
they' re only going to get better. 50 that's what
you need to be on for outdoors."
And are there any tracks where Ricky
may wish he'd still been on a two-stroke?
According to Ricky: "Naw, not at all. I don't
CYCLE NEWS • MAY 19, 2004
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