Cycle News

VOL. 52 ISSUE 14 APRIL 7, 2015 P71 them [the KYBs] to try them and see how I liked them. I think a big thing is Eli [Tomac] and Trey are different riders than I am. They're a little more aggressive. I'm more of a smooth rider and more calculated. I think the Showa stuff is a little more clutch and suits my riding style a little better." There has been a big difference between most of the tracks so far this year: some have been one-lined and hard to pass on; some are techni- cal and a little easier to pass on; while others got new dirt this year and the riders immediately took to them. Seely, on the other hand, seems to be comfortable on about anything. "I thought that most of the tracks have been really good," says Seely. "The only two tracks that really stick out in my head that I didn't really like were Atlanta II because of that funky over the bridge then right back under it. It kind of threw off the flow of everything. And this last week- end's track in St. Louis, I wasn't a big fan of. The whoops were way too small. I actually asked one of the AMA officials if they had somebody else build the track this weekend because it was so different and so off from what we were usually racing on. Other than those two, I think the other rounds have been great. Good for passing here and there, good flows and different line options. I think that they've done a really good job other than those two that I listed." Since the start of the year, there seems to be a big push by Honda and HRC in the AMA series, with Honda personnel showing more presence than usual. When asked if that puts any added pressure on him, Seely simply shook it off. "It doesn't get to me much," says Seely. "It's cool to have that extra support and extra help overseas, having the guys over here. It's been cool and definitely different for someone like me who hasn't had many options in the past to try so many different things and really explore and figure out what my options are every weekend. If I need more power, if I give up power, if the chassis setup could be a little different. It's just been a really crazy experience learning how different the bike can feel from one setting to another. It's cool to have those guys over here and I think that they definitely help. Me, Trey, and Eli have done pretty good this year. Right now we're sitting second, third, and fourth in the standings. It's been a really good year for us. Dungey has been really solid every weekend, but I think we've done really well this year as well." cal condition. His cardio is awesome. Also I don't ever wonder where he's lacking as far as his training during the week is. Great people working with him behind the scenes, so it makes my job so much easier. He is such a good starter. Is that just some- thing that comes natural for Cole? Cole has always been a natural starter ever since he's been on the team. Out of Eli, Trey, and Cole, Cole is our most consistent start- er. Some of it has to do a little bit with his size. I think his style just lends a hand to the bike and it works well together. I think Trey's little bit of a disadvantage is his size. It's hard for him to be able to get over the bike and keep his balance. As far as the confi- dence, when Cole got his first heat race win, you could see something click. Now you can see that he feels like he be- longs on the podium. It's just a momentum thing. When you have a good weekend it makes that next week, that train- ing week, that much more enjoyable. It motivates you to work that much harder. And then you carry that into next week and it just snow- balls. It just keeps building confidence. Like I said, he's a quiet kid. When you guys are out practicing do you see him having fun? Oh yeah. But like you said, he's a quiet individual. He's kind of maybe a little bit introverted, but he's a great guy, great person. I think he actually does have fun. I think the way he expresses it is he maybe keeps it to himself a little bit. But he's a great kid. "THE 250 YOU'RE SO STRUNG OUT AND THE THING'S ON THE LIMITER PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE TIME YOU'RE RACING IT. I DON'T LIKE TO RIDE LIKE THAT."

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