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/1542337
Ever since switching from motocross to off-road, Nathan Woods has been a fix- ture with Yamaha and Ty Davis'Zip-Ty Racing Team. Under theguidance of long- ume off-road racer and friend Davis, Woods has gone on to win two WORCS titles. He'll be going for title number three this year but on a green bike, hav- ing moved over to the green awning at Kawasaki Team Green. We caught up with Woods while he was preparing for the opening round of the WORCS series in Arizona. cn:5o how has th€ chang€ b€€n qoing? nathanwoods: The change has been great. We've been working hard ever since I 8ot off the Yamahas. Kawasaki has been putting in a big effort towards their off-road program. We've got a great bikei Bubba's proved that it's been a great bike [in Supercross], now it's my turn to prove that we can ride it off road- I'm really looking forward to the season. I know it's going to be a lot tougher than the last couple of years, but l'm ready for the challenge. l've been training really hard and feel- ing good. cn: What was th€ inc€ntiv€ to mak€ th€ switch? nathanwoods: There was a great incentive to come here. but it wasn't all about the money, lt was a lot to do with me being able to go off on my own and make a name for myself. Off-road is a small community, and for me to do that, I had to go somewhere else and make a biSger name for myself - that'! why I did it, cn: How is qour r€lationship with Tg nowP nathanwoods: Me and Ty have a great relationship at this poinq we're really good friends. He's done great things for me the past couple ofyears. I'm so appre- ciative for what's he's done. I've learned a lot - now what he's taught me, I get to use it against him, bu! that s jus! fie way the sport is. nathanwoods: Suspension is really big in off-road, so we've been working with Pro Circuit to get the suspension and motor dialed in. The motor on the bike is actually really good - stock, it's awe- some. The main thing is suspension and getting the bolt-on parts. Really, my bike is basically a stock bike nothing major, no factory parts, just basically a stock motorcycle. Every.thing l've got on my bike, you can buy. cn: At l€ast gou'rc alr-adg us€d to th€ fouFspc€d tnanng. nathanwoods: I've been riding a four- speed tranny for a couple of years now, so that's not a big chanSe for me at all. The biggest change really is, the frame on the bike is a lot different - aluminum frame to a rteel frame is different. The bike urms 8r€at, it feels light and nimble. (nr What s gour thoughts on Rgan Hugh€s coming to woRcS? nathanwoodsr Ryan Hughes coming to the off-road scene is awesome. lt's only going to better us as off-road ride.s, it might pull in a different crowd - it's noth- inE but good. To defend my championship now that's going to be a different deal. It's going to be tough, I know that. But I proved myself the last two years that l'm really consistent, and that's what it takes to defend a championship. You don't have to win every race, but you have to be up there every race and always purting your- self in an opportunity to win the race. Kit Polmet cn: How is th€ ncw lq4soF off roadP Nathan Woods: Gone Green PLUS up to Y @ ,b (7 \t V *glanrcn iF. :, #h IN FREE ACCESSORIES on select models* I fr .r EHHT a a :JT :1@": il I / h