Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

The Racers' Holiday Spirit t's that time of the ~ when we (!jve gifts and we get gifts. Some are good, some not so good, but k's aM in the spirit of glvina - right? We posed a few questions on the holiday spirit to some of the stars of our sport in an effort to find out what they've enjoyed getting - and giving - over the years. I Ricky Cannkhul What was your worst, and why? As for gifts, I remember that it would be a good Christmas when we would come downstairs on Christmas morning and the bathroom door was locked. If the door was locked, that meant there was a motorcycle in there. If it wasn't locked, that meant we must have been naughty and all we were getting was socks and underwear. The only time the door was locked and it was bad was when the only motorcycle In there was a scooter for my sister. And even though she would take the key and hide It from us, it didn't take Tommy [Nicky's brother Tommy HaydenI long to teach us how to unhook the starter and just kickstart it. Needless to say, she didn't think It was too cool when she saw me and R.og [Roger Lee HaydenI coming up the driveway riding double In the snow on her new scooter! That scooter, I think, was made for paper boys, not the Hayden boys, because it didn't hold up long! What was your best-ever Christmas gift, and whY? My favorite Christmas present was a 1973 38cc Moto Villa. It was a Christmas present In 1972, and It was my Ilrst motorcycle. I ended up running my first full season of races on it In 1973. That's where it all started. What was your worst, and why? The worst present I've received Is any article of clothing that ever had Christmas stuff on It. I've had numerous articles like that over the years. Needless to say, I never wore any of them, and they all eventually made their way to the Goodwill. What was the best present you ever gove Sometimes I think It's the simple things that are the most meaningful. For my mom, especially, I don't think the value of the gift reflects its meaning, so you would probably have to ask them what the best gift was. Josh Hansen John HopkIns What was your best-ever Christmas present. and why? Every year from the ages of 6 to 10 was unreal. One year I got a bicycle and a Z-SO In the same year - the best ever! What wos your worst. and why? A sweater from my grandmother every year when I was expecting toys as a kid. Whot was the best gift you ever gove someone else? I gave my dad a truck for Christmas one year. I parked It In his driveway with a bow on top. When we were leaving to go hunting on Christmas afternoon, I drove myself and expected him to drive up to the hunting camp in his new truck. But he was in such a hurry to meet me to go hunting that he didn't even notice his new truck at the end of the driveway and he showed up in his old truck. I didn't mention it the whole time that we were hunting and let him find it when he went home. Nicky Hayden What was your best-ever Christmas gif!, ond why? I would say about the coolest gift I ever got is the year we all got boxing gloves. That was some good entertainment back on Eari's Lane for a few days. 6 someone else? Uke my first present, I bought a PWSO for my oldest son, Cale, and that was good and bad. I found out early on that he doesn't particularly care about motorcycles, which I figure is going to save me a lot of money through the years. The bad part is that I won't have an automatic trail-riding buddy as he grows up. James Stewart What wos your best-ever Christmas gif!. and why? The best Christmas present I ever got would have to have been when I got my first KX60. Waking up and unwrapping that bike was awesome! Unfortunately, I broke my leg the first time I rode it and had just gotten my cast off the day before from a broken bone on the opposite leg. What was your worst. and why? I can't really think of a worst present, but one thing that Is getting a bit much is getting, like, 10 shaVing kits at Christmas. What was the best present you ever gove someone else? The best present I ever gave was when I bought my mom her Ford Mustang the year I signed my first contract, at 16. Travis Pastrana Whot was your best-ever Christmas present. and why? The best Christmas gift was a motorcycle when I was 4, because it gave me the opportunity to meet some great people in the sport and live the life I live today. What was your worst. and why' Is there such a thing as a bad gift? Free is good, my friend. What was the best present you ever gove someone else? JANUARY 4,2006 • CYCLE NEWS What was your best-ever Christmas gif!, and why? My first motorcycle. when I was 4, because I loved motorcycles and wanted my own - that was all I wanted. What was your worst, and why? Maybe some SpongeBob boxers I got a couple of years ago - don't tell my grandma! What was the best present you ever gove someone else? The best was a car for my mom. Why? She never had a car, because she always had to drive trucks, SUVs and RVs, taking me and my bikes to races - and because I love her. Chris Carr What was your best-ever Christmas gift, and why? The best Christmas present I ever got was a Gucci diamond spinner ring, because It was a gift that I really felt some thought was put into when it was bought for me. What was the worst, and why? Some gifts are better than others, but as long as I feel like the person made an effort to find something I would appreciate. It's always a good gift. What was the best present you ever gove someone else? I have given a lot of good gifts because, like I was saying about the effort, I always try and give a gift I think will make the person feel like I tried to find something they would really appreciate. That's what it's about - giving something that makes the person know you care because you took the time to give something that matters. And that's whether it's expensive or inexpensive. Some of the most-appreciated gifts I have given for Christmas were simple things for fans that did not cost me anything, but I could tell how much it meant to them. And that makes them some of the best gifts I have given.

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