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/434045
INTERVIEW 2014 NHRA PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE WORLD CHAMPION ANDREW HINES P174 ropes signing autographs for the fans and think- ing, 'If these people only knew what I was feeling right now.' I was definitely counting every single point that weekend." Hines didn't have to do much more than qualify for the Pomona round in order to clinch the title, but he admits that his obsessive nature didn't allow much time for celebration until Sunday, when he was officially crowned champion and hoisted the Mello Yello Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship trophy. "I wasn't about to celebrate until it was done, and by done I mean officially locked up," Hines said. "The thing about racing with Eddie is that while we're competitive, we work and race well together. We can turn it on when we have to. We joke about how we can be competitive with one another, but as soon as it's over, it's over. When one of us gets beat, that disappointment is over by Sunday night. I won the championship this year, but that will just make him more determined to get it back next year." Not long after celebrating his fourth title, Hines and Krawiec embarked on Operation Apprecia- tion, a ten-day tour of U.S. Military bases around the world. Their travels included stops in Bahrain, Kuwait, Djibouti, and Ethiopia. "We've been doing this for a few years and it's a great way to show our appreciation for our soldiers and all they do for us," said Hines. "It's also an op- portunity to visit some place that I would probably never be able to see otherwise. It really is a memo- rable experience and after a long season, it helps to put everything in perspective." With the 2014 season squarely in his rearview mirror, Hines can now begin to turn his attention to 2015, and the possibility of catching the late great Dave Schultz with a fifth NHRA title. With 38 ca- reer wins, Hines is also just three behind Sampey and seven behind Schultz for the class' lead. "I want to go out there and have the number plate on my bike every year," said Hines. "It's hard to win championships and it's even harder to de- fend them. You've always got that bull seye on your back, the big number one on the side of the bike. You get some respect for it, but you get a lot of people taking potshots at you, and they want to take you down. All you can do is pre- pare yourself the best you can and try to stay fo- cused. That's my goal for next year." CN Hines went into the final round in Pomona with the title nearly secured needing only to qualify to clinch the title.