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/128335
RodnEY Smith still has what it akes to aRt: un for the GNCC hampionship By JASON WEIGANDT PHOTOS BY RAYMOND GUNDY INNING AT eam FM F/Suzuki factory off-road ride r Rodney Smith has don e it all t hro ughou t his care er. He's won motoc ross GPs in Europe and South America, he owns countless ISDE med als an d poss e ss e s four AMA Grand National Cross Coun try Ch ampionships. But when he finally hangs up his boots , the 2004 GNCC season may stand out more than any other. Not only has Smith passed his 40th birthday, but he's also in the midst of perhaps his closest title fight ever. And they say life slows down after 40! After winning his fifth GNCC of the season at the Deep Cree k Mountain Resort in Wisp, Maryland, we caught up to the series points leader and talked about the season so far. With the series now in its summer break, Smith leads Raines by five points with four races to go. (Edilor's Not»: Since this inlelView, one race was held in Ohio in which Joson Raines won and Smith look second.) T 66 AUGUST 4,2004 • CYCLE NEWS Rod ney, the competition is stronger than it has ever been in the GNCC series, bu t this is turning out to be one of your best seasons yet, A Yeah. Jason [Raines] and I are just pushing each .foo'other every week . Not to say anything wrong here, but I'm glad we're batt ling. If he wasn't here, I would have a three race lead in the championship. And if I wasn't here , he would have a thre e-race lead. I think it's bet ter that we're fighting for it, because it will mean mor e. I don't care if I end up winning it or not, but it's good for the sport, and it's good for us. But one of us is going to lose. I think it will be harde r for him. He's looking for his fi rst championship, while I already have four. Q Right , but it looks like you 're trying harder than ever. Oh, I'm tl)'ing! I'm not saying that. I'm just saying it's I"'lgood for the sport, because one of us could just back it down and cruise to the end . So I'm glad it's going thisway. Q A 40th Anniversary think that is? this Q W hY do you others, someone Usut sally, in conseries and in ge some fidence rolling , and they're able to pull a big points lead, You did it in 200 I, Jason did it in '02, and last year Barry Hawk did it. Why have neither of you been able to do t hat t his year? A I think we're just matching each other. It's good . I'm I""'\pushing him, and he's pushing me. Each race it comes down to the two of us. Barry was in there too, but now he has gotten hurt. So I don't know who else can get between us. We have a new guy [juha Salminen] who will race in O hio, and then Barry will be coming back too . So maybe that will mix it up. riders have Q Ot her with you andbeen able to contend and battle Jason [Raines] before, but it seems like on the last lap it's down to just the two of you , Is that determination or fitness or what? ~