INTERVIEW
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2014 ROCKY MOUNTAIN ATV/MC WORLD OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES CHAMPION GARY SUTHERLIN
hard on bikes," said Sutherlin. "I knew my equip-
ment was good, but I had to change my riding style
a bit over the past year-and-a-half and really try to
smooth it out and really focus. Destry Abbott has
been a big influence with that–learning to ride the
bike to its potential ,but keep it together to pull off
the win. You can be the fastest guy out there, but if
you can't keep the bike under you because of the
way you're riding, then there's no sense."
This was a big challenge facing Sutherlin not
only in the WORCS Championship, but also at the
Six Days. The Argentina ISDE was as tough as it
gets when it came to making the equipment go the
distance–in one day over 100 riders suffered me-
chanical failures–but Sutherlin was able to reach
the finish in winning fashion.
"I know there were people that had bets go-
ing on how many days until I blew up the bike
or had bike issues," Sutherlin said. "I knew that
was six long, grueling days and I kept the bike
together and pulled off the win. I was really hap-
py about that.
"Being able to change my riding style and actu-
ally go faster and take the support I had this year
and turn it into something I did was great. I'm very
thankful for all the sponsors that helped me get to
this point because it was a long road. You don't win
championships in a year. It takes years of trying and
learning and growing. I'm 27 years old right now
and I feel like right now I'm really figuring out a lot of
things. I think I have a lot more left in me and I have a
lot more potential with the right amount of support."
2015…
With the new season rapidly approaching, Suther-
lin is putting the finishing touches on his new race
program–one that includes much more support, and
should give him every hope of successfully defend-
ing his WORCS Championship. But whether he's a
full factory rider, or a privateer on a magazine bike,
one thing central to his racing will always be Emery–
his number one.
"Whether it's a race weekend or not, we still go
have our fun and she still gets to be a little girl,"
Sutherlin said. "I still have to be a dad. That's my
number one priority–my little girl." CN
