Cycle News

VOL. 52 ISSUE 2 JANUARY 13, 2015 P81 would be better than to see the old domestic series being the biggest one again. Where all the money's at, where we're making a living and living in California, living the dream. But on the other hand I've always had the dream to go to the World Championship and even in the heyday I wanted to be a World Champion. For me, my goals are to get to the world stage regardless and try and push for that. That's the biggest goal I have. "But I would like to see MotoAmerica come back, at least become a series that's recognized so people can get picked up. We don't even get looked at, and that's an issue. Whereas we used to get looked at and used to get people coming in and out— international riders coming in, our riders going out. That's what we need to build back. Rainey said there's no bridge across and they need to figure out how to get a bridge, not have people like me and PJ [Jacobsen] swimming across and dying." But then again, if the road racing championship in the U.S. was so strong, would Rispoli have made the jump overseas? "One-hundred percent, I got forced out. It's not like I didn't have a ride, I just got forced out with the better option. It was better to go overseas than it was to race in America. And it shouldn't be like that. It shouldn't be easier to go overseas and do that. But, for me it was the push I needed to go. It was time for me to go and I needed to. I could have taken an easy option and raced in America last year, but I'm kind of stubborn like that. I always go the hard way. I try not to, but it seems to have paid off so far." Now that the painful learning year is out of the way, Rispoli goes into the 2015 year ready and with confidence. "Expectations this year are just as the team owner [Keith Flint] said, we're looking to win," Rispoli said. "We're building a championship bike, we're building a championship team. That's why I came back with TTC this year. I was given the opportunity and they made a promise that we're going to have a championship- winning bike and team and that's what they're building right now in the off-season and that's what I'm doing here at Rockwell [Training Facility]. Trying to up my game and make sure I'm at the best fitness. "When I go over there I'm looking to win this year. I want to be on the podium. I want to do what I did in Supersport. I want to be setting the pace. It's not going to be easy by any means and we still got to find some time, but I think we definitely can do it. With the right amount of testing and the right team behind me like I have, I think when the bike's right we can do it. In racing, it's not just about the work you do on the track, but off of it as well. And trainer Johnny Louch, Rockwell Training Facility's founder, was just the man he needed. "Working with Johnny [Louch] is going to be good this year. He's got the facility, he's got the rehab center. Unfortunately I had to get a shoulder operation a couple weeks ago, so to be in this environment, to be in California where all the moto guys are, to get that vibe, is what I was looking for, for next year. I want to be in good spirits when I go over there. "Johnny's proven; he's worked with Hopper back in the day. He's proven to get success and that's what I look for. I put successful people around me and that's how you become successful. Everything I need is here to be [physically] ready and mentally ready. This is the winning package that I need." CN "THAT WAS THE TURNING POINT IN THE SEASON. I KNEW I WAS GOING TO DO IT. IT WAS EITHER WIN OR CRASH FOR ME. I'VE NEVER THOUGHT LIKE THAT, BUT IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT WAS LIKE, I HAVE TO WIN, OR CRASH."

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