Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

It almost goes without saying that racing has taken over Bradshaw's life, but the young rider from North Carolina doesn't seem to mind. In fact, he enjoys it. "Racing has changed my life a lot and I've had to make adjustments. When I was 13, I decided that I wanted to make this a career, or make it my job. I've had to make some sacrifices, but I was willing to do it. A lot of people think it's all glory. They think we just show up at the race and race. It's not always like that. We go through a lot; it's just like the people who sit back and see what these basketball players are getting paid and say they're getting paid way too much. Well, they might be to a certain extent, but they deserve a lot of it. Spectators don't know what they go through. I can kin!i of understand, because I know what I go through sometimes. Everybody always says 'You have it made.' Well, my comment always is, 'Hey, hang around for two weeks, see what it's like.' You travel, you have to be here, you have to be there, you gotta train, you gotta do this, you gotta do that. At least I want to do it. If I had to do it, or if tomorrow I didn't like it anymore, I'd tell Yamaha that I was done. I'd quit. I'm not going to go out there and try to waste other people's money. Racing is the most important thing in my life, by far." Perhaps another negative side effect of being a top professional motorcycle racer is dealing with pressure; pressure of championship titles, bonuses and big purses, or always having to live' up to people's high expections. These are the types of pressure that Bradshaw is quite familiar with. "Pressure takes a lot out of me; it's just one of those things, but I seem to deal with it pretty good. This year at L.A. I think was probably the first time I didn't deal with pressure the way that I would've liked, because most of the they keep the unnecessary shit away . from me. They try to make the path as easy and smooth for me as they can." Brian Lunniss is a major factor in Bradshaw's racing. "Me and Brian are real slmilar. We both are real competitive; we both want to win. Brian gets upset sometimes, and I get upset, get mad and yell, but that's just part of it. It's all part of letting your feelings out and comunication is the name of the game, and we do that whether we're yellin' or talkin'. We have a good relationship, which always takes a few years to really, really develop, like what makes each other tick. We've figured that out now. Brian knows how I operate. And then there's Keith McCarty, Bob Oliver and John 'R' (Rosenstiel), and the rest of the mechanics; I think we have a real good package. We have the best and friendliest team." While racing is Bradshaw's foremost priority in life, he doesn't forget that he also has a life other than racing motorcycles. "Racing is number-one, then comes my family, my girlfriend and my friends. I have a lot of interests. I'm the type of person that when I go to the race track, or when I get on the airplane to leave to go to the race, I put on a different face. I get to the race, I do my job, and when it's over, I leave it there and go home. I spend most of my time off huntin' and just relaxing, spending time with my friends. During the off-season, I don't necessarily go on vacation, but I usually go to Colorado and go deer huntin'. But staying home - that's my vacation." Shortly after the '92 Camel Supercross Series ended in July, Bradshaw under(Right) Bradshaw is perhaps the most "wanted" racer in the pits. (Bottom) Hangin' out with teammate Doug Dubach and team manager Keith McCarty. times when I'mUnder pressure, I do real well. That particular race I didn't. But 99% of all pressure, I put on myself. Yamaha doesn't put any pressure on me, nor do my parents, and none of the outside people put pressure on me - I do it all myself, because I want to win. I don't want to get beat by anyone, anywhere at anytime, so anytime I race, there's pressure regardless if it's a local race or a . supercross, so there's always going to be pressure. You just have to learn to deal with it. There's times at races when there's so much going on, especially when I was leading the series last year. There were so ·many people wanting interviews, so many TV people wanting me to do this, and it was like every weekend for press 'day, that they wanted me, they didn't want the other riders, they wanted me there. That can start getting to you, but you have to do what you can; push the rest away and do what you have to do to prepare for the race. That's the things that kind of make it tough. But my mechanic Brian Lunniss helps me deal with a lot of that. The guys at YamaHa help me deal with it, because went surgery to repair his knee that he originally injured in a water-skiing accident over a year ago. He sat out the final round of the AMA National Championship 250cc MX Series and the entire National Championship SOOcc MX Series and it wasn't until November 20 when be got back on a motorcycle for the first time smce the Los Angeles Supercross. Despite the long lay-off, Bradshaw is confident he'll be stronger than ever in 1993. "I'll be there just as strong - probably stronger. I think Stanton is going to be tough next year, and I think Jeremy McGrath is going to be there, too, but he's got a lot to learn. I know I did. I don't think it's going to come as easily for him as some people think. "Mike Kiedrowski wiIl be tough. I think his confidence level is going to be pretty high. Mike LaRocco is going to be there, too, but I think it's going to be between me and Jeff. I don't think there's going to be anyone guy that's going to stand out, but then again, I'd like to say there will be, and I'd like to say it's going to be me." CN 27

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