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/128404
Samuli Aro: The Flying Finn Despite not always being the fastest rider in the Enduro 2 (250cc two-stroke/45Occ four-stroke) World Championships this season, KTM factory rider Samuli Aro played an important role in the Austrian manufacturer's dominant WEC season. Finishing on the podium every day of the series, the Finn earned his third World Championship title. While defending champ Stefan Merriman was held back by injury, Aro's championship was well earned. pressure as the rider KTM chose to compete against Stefan Merriman this year? samuliaro: Yeah, of course I felt some pressure - I was the rider KTM chose to compete against Merriman, and because I had won World titles before, they expected me to win again. I tried not to think about it too much; I just tried to do my own thing. I was nervous because the magazines were talking about our big fight before the season started. cn: Was consistency a big part of you winning the title this year? samullaro: Yeah, I think so. I finished on the podium at every race, and from the middle of the season, I didn't have to ride at 100 percent and take chances, because I had a good championship lead. This season I have been comparing myself to Stefan Everts. He doesn't win every race, but he is so consistent and is almost always on the podium. That's what I did this season. en: Is the wee better now than It has ever been? samuliaro: Some things I don't like and some things I do like. It's a more professional place now, but when I started to ride enduro, I liked the relaxed feeling in the paddock. Now it is much more serious. This season, Giovanni Sala has done a really good job [with the organization]. The riders don't complain about the special tests as much now. Only a few times this season, riders have complained about something, and then something got done about it. A couple of seasons ago, special tests were getting canceled cn: Did you feel under any extra Worth Convention Center, and few thought that the series would reach the status that it enjoys today. The series was later moved to the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth and then last year to Dallas. It was nine years ago that Kidd sold his series to Clear Channel Communications, which still runs it today. However, after splitting with Clear Channel almost two years ago, Kidd joined forces with Advanstar to form a new series, known as the BooKoo Arenacross Championship Series, and now finds himself back at the Fort Worth Convention Center for the first race of their new series. It seems that Kidd and Arenacross have gone full circle. cn: How does It feel to be back In this arena? mlkekidd: It's kind of strange that we're back here. This is the same building where we started. We had the race here and the motorcycle show next door. And here we are 21 years because they were so bad or dangerous; now "Gio" makes sure they are safe before we get to the races and makes simple changes to them if they need it. en: You admitted to being "the best rider in the E2 class in 'as, but not the fastest.- Do you think that Merriman was pushing too hard this season and that's why he crashed and Injured himself? samuliaro: Yeah, I do. I guess you have to ask him that, but Ithink there have been a few times this season when he has been pushing too hard. It certainly made things easier for me. en: Two-stroke or four-stroke? Are things starting to swing back In favor of two-strokes In the wee now? samullaro: KTM's 250cc two-stroke is a very good bike, and the races we have now are quite tight and technical there's not so much of an advantage for later, in the same location. It's really fun, but I've had a lot of butterflies, almost like lining up for a race. en: Tell us about some of the things you have planned, mikekidd: Well, we've got 13 hours of television coverage on the Outdoor Channel, which repeats, so there is actually 26 hours. We start in January, and it's gonna be a good show. The first show is on New Year's Day; then it will run for 13 consecutive weeks. en: A former racer yourself. you seem to like to maintain a good relationship with the riders. mikekldd: I've been ridiculed by some other promoters for spending so much time down in the pits and not walking around shaking hands with our sponsors and all. But to me, once we get here, it's our job to put a show on. I am a big fan of the riders and I enjoy watching them, so I spend a lot of time making sure the riders are happy. I am a former racer, and I know if they are happy, then they are going to put on a good show for me. the four-stroke like there was a few years ago. I'd say it's SO-50. You could easily be competitive on a 250 in E2 class. I like the four-stroke, because of the bottom- and midrange power, but it's harder to ride in the mud because they push the front end in the comers, which makes them harder to tum. By Jonty EAlmunds en: What are your plans for the future? mlkekldd: Well, I joined Advanstar 18 months ago, and in April we decided to launch this Arenacross program. And now that this is up and running, we'll be looking at doing some other things. Maybe some flat-track racing, where my heart is, and maybe doing some Supermoto. And we've been talking with the AMA about doing some stuff with them. We are going to open up a race division and expand and see how much we can do. en: You've expanded your territory, as well. mikekldd: Yes, for the first time, we are finally getting to take Arenacross to Southern California, to the face of the motorcycle industry. So we are really looking forward to that. We will be at the Long Beach Arena with the Motorcycle Show, so it should be a good weekend for us.