Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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INTERVIEW AMA SUPERBIKE CHAMPION JOSH HAYES P144 so often by Blake [Young]; Blake never beat me by more than two-tenths of a second." And even Blake Young taught him a lesson: that getting beat sucks. It's frustrating, sure, but it doesn't always mean reinventing the wheel. During that time, with the exception of his crew chief Jim Roach, he was under pressure to change the way he raced. Hayes stuck to his guns, weathered it out and came out on top at the end. "Jim and I seeing that through, I remember be- ing one of those lessons learned, don't give up, stick to the plan, and it worked out," Hayes said. he mentors and applauds the kid. Is he really that nice? "I think so," he answered a bit sheepishly after being put on the spot. "I think I definitely played the game a little different than the rest of the guys do. I still played the game; it's just on a much smaller level. I genuinely like all the people in our pad- dock. They're my peers. We need all of us. I care about them. And I don't want anybody to get hurt. "I will race you on the racetrack as my best friend or whether I hate your guts the same. I don't know if you've seen any videos of me and Melissa [his wife] "And even this year I would say with Cam's blinding speed it was a little bit of, 'hey, don't lose confidence in yourself, buddy. You still know how to ride a motorcycle pretty good.'" MR. NICE CHAMPION? Fierce competitor and being nice is a bit of an oxymoron. But Hayes can balance both, perhaps better than most. How many highly competitive athletes out there would be friends with an up-and-coming kid that happens to be his teammate. Generally that doesn't go over well. Hayes not only gets along with who he See's as his biggest threat—Beaubier—but in the backyard, I will knock her down and throw dirt in her face just as quick as I will do anybody else. I don't need to hate you to race you well. "For instance, Cam, I love the kid," Hayes said. "I think he's a great kid. I want him to go on and do great things. I don't want him to beat me. I think he's probably supposed to though. But I'm going to do everything I can to not let that happen, and I hope he goes on and wins the World Championship in his first year or the next year. Maybe that will rate me a little bit better." He then went on to add: "I hope I'm that nice a guy. My dad will punch me if I'm not." Speaking of his dad, one of the times (Left) A racer's relationship with their crew chief is key to success, Hayes and crew chief Jim Roach's four titles in six years is a testament of that. (Right) Happiness is sealing the deal on your fourth AMA Superbike Championship… Wife Melissa runs to congratulate Hayes on a job well done.