Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

and so were a number of photographers and TV people. It was like being in the movies. Eric drove us directly to the hospital, and my doctor had arranged everything with a colleague of his who is a specialist in arms. The surgery only took 45 minutes, and I now have a titanium pin in both bones. Q A The surgery went well? Everything went great. In fact, when I woke up there was a picture of the repaired arm next to my bed. AII things considered, you Q have a realistic shot atdomak- Last year, your season was ruined by the i'1.iury you suffered at Beaucaire. However, this time, injury and all, it appears that you still stand a very realistic chance at making a run at the title. Has that helped your spirits? Yeah, I feel a little better now. I'm thinking, It's only this arm break, and I just need to make a small change to my program. The year before, I missed the entire championship. I know it is now time to win another. I Itad beenworl<,ng so hard I'm getting older now and need to win another championship. for this year, and everytlting Q A was going in tlte rigltt direction - tlte bike, tlte team, How did Husqvarna react to he bad news? For them, it was a shock. Everybody, even the riders, were shocked. They couldn't believe that I had been hurt at the same track 365 days ago! A ing it back for the first few my riding - tlten it all just fell rounds of the 500cc World Chamin tlte water. pionship Series? My doctor and I discussed it in the car, going from the airport to the hospital. I HOW will you approach your recovery and told him if I wanted to have a shot at the champi· onship, I was going to have to race in Italy in six the start of the season? Do you have a weeks' time. [Round two of the 2000 series is to be strategy in mind? held at Castiglione del Lago, Italy on April 2]. He First off, I'm going to listen to the doctors. I told me that it should be possible. However, we are don't want to do anything stupid. I know I will still not 1DO-percent sure. struggle in the beginning. I'm sure I will struggle. If I can ride in Italy, I will just ride to get strong again I know it is very, very early, but how does and to try and get some points. I just want to get the arm feel thus far? through the first few GPs and work up my fitness. At the moment, I have a plastic cast around it which goes above DesPite the obvious setback, my elbow. I can move my hand and can you still make a serious I know it is now time to win actually make a fist. I'm trying to run at the 2000 500cc World anotlter. Pm getting older 'now keep the muscle in the arm moving. Championship? I know how much and need to win anotlter Next Thursday I will go back to the the title means to you. hospital and they will remove the Everything is so hard to say championslrip. stitches. For three to four weeks right now. I was feeling after, I will continue to wear a cast. pretty good on the bike before When the doctors see the bone begin to heal, and the injury, but everything was not 100 perthey are sure all is well, they will remove the cast, cent yet. However, I feel that if I don't have and I will work at regaining movement. I'm hoping it too many problems with the injury, I still will heal up in less than five weeks, so I can start to have a good chance. ride. I don't want to have to show up in Italy to race Have things gone well in developwith no time on the bike. ing the new Husqvama? There has been some talk that you were we've been working really hard, and not completely used to the big Husqvarna the factory has been working so open-class bike. Have you heard anything like hard. However, there was not a lot of that following the accident? time to develop some of the materials Yeah, some people said things for the first Grand Prix. like that or asked questions like In some ways, that was Tlte engine, tlte S70cc motor, that. For me, there was absolutely not good because we is ltnbelievable. 1 mean it is nothing wrong. I felt real comforthad to make some incredible - especially on able on the bike. For the last seven very big decisions with starts. years at Beaucaire, I have not felt some of the major setgood on the bike at all. This was the tings on the bike very very first year that I actually felt quickly. So far we have great. I got a holeshot in the first race, and in the been making the right decisions, but second I stalled the bike in the starting gate. When believe we need to get a lot more experi. that happened, I thought, I'm just going to ride ence. However, I will say this: The engine, smooth and finish the race. I'm just going to practhe 570cc motor, is unbelievable. I mean it tice and learn the bike. I was running real strong. I is incredible· especially on starts. had got up to 19th place, and the race wasn't even Your comeback from the knee injury halfway through. last year, an injury that, at least on The accident appeared to touch off a pretty the surface. seems to be a lot more seribig media storm. Did you have the Euroous than the recent arm break, pean, and particularly Belgian, media coming at was amazing. Upon your you immediately? return, you won the German Yeah. I have done so many interviews, most of Grand Prix at Gaildorf, and them in prime time. It seems like a lot of the narrowly missed winning media is there quicker when you get hurt than when the Budds Creek USGP you win a race or a World Championship. It's really over Kevin Windham. pretty strange. In three days I'm forced to deal with You then went on everything, then it's over and there's nothing. But to win the presyou know, it was the same way with my knee last tigious Fast year. I knew it was coming. Cross in A Q A Q A Italy and the Motocross des Nations in Brazil. You must be somewhat confident that you'll be able to find your speed relatively quickly. Yeah, I feel confident that I can do well, but there is also destiny to deal with. If I can still make it back and win at the end of the year, I'll be able to say, "Don't forget about my injury." But I must also remember that this is a different situation. I will now have to catch up to everyone. In the past, I have not done the best when I have been in that situation. I do better when there is a little less pressure on me. A Stefan, now that the track has reached up and bit you twice, will you ever race at Beaucaire again? I say, "No more." Two times is enough. I've suffered so much pain from that track - just too much pain in one year. On Sunday, it was just unbelievable. Q A NOW that you're home and have a feel for where you stand, have you been able to keep your spirits up? I'm happy to be home. But I keep struggling and struggling. I don't know how long I can last if this keeps up. I need to keep thinking positive that everything will come out all right at the end of the year. _ Q A Q A Q Q A A Q Q A cue I e n e _ S • MARCH 8. 2000 29

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