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/128399
Andrew McFarlane: Next stop USA, Australia's Andrew McFarlane confirmed his second-place position for Yamaha in the 2005 MX2 Motocross World Championship when he captured fourth place overall at Desert Martin at the final round of the 2005 FIM series on September 17. good Grands Prix at some pretty technical tracks and some with muddy and treacherous conditions. As I do in any race, I put a I20-percent effort in, and obViously it pays off when you're standing on top of the podium and leading the World Championship. Australia's most-successful-ever motocross racer, McFarlane secured his MX2 runner-up mantle after battling to seventh and I Ith positions on a very rough and technical sandy terrain in northern Ireland before announcing his departure to ride for Yamaha of Troy in 2006. en: Can you explain your deal en: What were your objectives at the beginning of the year? andrewmcfar1ane: My ultimate goal, my ultimate dream was to finish on the podium at every round, and score as many points as I could. Things started off slower than what I expected. But I was always confident and knew that if I did all the work in the wintertime, things would go well. en: By midseason you were leading the World Championship and you had won three Grands Prix. andrewmdarlane: Yeah, I won some for 2006, and where you'll be based? andrewmdarlane: I'll be based in California and I'll be riding for Yamaha of Troy - it's a factory-satellite-supported team behind the official Yamaha factory team of Chad Reed, so we'll be doing quite a bit of riding and training together, and learn a little from each other. I'm doing the East Coast Supercross series, which starts on the 18th of February, so it's something to look forward to. I'm really motivated to achieve some good goals. en: You've raced in America As far as the outdoor season goes, I'll be quite confident and hope to improve on a few things over the winter and also prepare for the Supercross series. en: The East and West Coast Championships have been dominated by one particular rider, respectively. Who do you think you will need to beat to have a chance In the championship? andrewmdarlane: Grant Langston won one of them, and Ivan Tedesco won the other. Tedesco has won the championship the last two years, and he's had to step up to the 250 class. I think Grant Langston's gonna be strong next year in Supercross. I think there's a bunch of guys who can do well, just like here in Europe. In the 125 class, there's 10 to 15 riders who can win a main event at an outdoor National. I think Iwill have good power to be able to go with those guys and maybe bring something that they don't have. before? andrewmdarlane: I made two outdoor Nationals there in 1997. I was only young back then, and I had a great time. I had a good result in the last round - I finished 12th, so it was quite a good achievement. 14 OOOBER 12, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS en: How long do you think you'lI be in the 125 class before you join Chad in the 250 class? andrewmdarlane: That depends on my contract. ObViously my first year in America will be in the 125 class, because I think it's a rather big step to go into 2505. I think Chad would say the same thing. Both Chad and "Bymer" [Michael Byrne] started in the 125s, and I want to do the same thing. I'm not saying the 125 class is going to be easy. I think there's a lot more depth in the 125 class than in the 2505, to be honest. Any race isn't easy, but it's a good starting point. If things go well in the first year, hopefully in the second year we can negotiate something in 2007 for the 250 championship. By Dory! Flock