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/298857
INTERVIEW BRADLEY SMITH P82 of it was that I looked myself in the mirror and I wasn't happy with what I was doing so I went away and did something about it and I improved in that area. I suppose I do self-criticize a lot and I put myself down, but it's how I make myself better and how I continu- ally improve. One thing that does bug me is when I do then settle and say, 'Okay, that's enough' but then end up being beat by some guy. That bugs me even more. As long as you don't settle and as long as I continue to push my technicians and continue to push my tire guys, I'm good. Fundamentally, though, I need to push myself. I don't need anyone else to do that. I'm hard enough on myself because I want to be better and I think that's a positive trait." Just what do you now have to do to run with the Big Four? It takes a lot of hard work. It takes belief in the bike and the package. Then, finally once you ride there, then that takes expe- rience. I need more race time. You can practice all you want. You can test. You can run fast laps in practice. But that extra pressure, that extra adrenaline, the extra riders around you on the track – you know a five-man battle – that's what I need more experience with. That's one thing I learned a lot at Qatar and what I hope to learn again here at Aus- tin. I'll learn that throughout the season. You need to be riding tooth and nail with these guys to learn that next level. Compared to some of the other flamboyant riders around here, you're quiet and reserved. Does that come across to the fans? It's just the way I am. I can't change who I am. I give my opin- ion, always. If I'm asked my opin- ion, I give it. I give it in a more detailed manner. I try to give my opinions based on fact. I try not to speak from how I think. You can't argue with anything if you speak fact. That's one thing that I like about journalists and about people, I like when they speak facts. I don't mind being low pro- file. I like it. I like to keep myself to myself. I don't really like to have too many people around. Me and my dad travel the world together. We enjoy it like that. Sometimes I would like to be a bit more out there and maybe for people to like me a little bit more, but I'd much rather that they say that I'm a fast motorcycle racer, rather than a likeable guy." Your thoughts on both the fans and focus? I really appreciate the fans. That's really important to me. I like to spend time around fans. I like to give back to the people