A2 Press Day Interviews and Pictures
Brett
Metcalfe. 1/4 of the ";Aussie Invasion."; He's here racing with fellow
Aussies Chad Reed, Michael Byrne, and Andrew McFarlane. Brett Metcalfe
Australian Brett Metcalf has raced in the US since 2003, and most
recently had the distinction of being one of the last holdouts racing a
125 2-stroke in the Lites class. No major team is running a 125
anymore, so this year Metcalf gets to focus on racing the same
bike as everyone else.
Brett, how is the season treating you?
A little slow start, but hopefully I can turn it around this weekend.
Last year you were the 2-stroke guy. Are you glad you are not that guy this year?
Yeah. I am glad I am on the same bike everyone else is on. But to be
honest, I wish everyone was riding 2-strokes and we didn’t have
4-strokes. (laughs) But the bike is awesome.
One more quick question on that, if they were to up the cc’s of
2-strokes to make them competitive with 2-strokes, how far would they
need to change it?
I really have no idea. I have ridden a KTM200 and that was close. It sounds ridiculous but at least 150cc, something like that.
Does it help having another Australian (Andrew McFarlane) on your team?
Yeah, I’ve enjoyed it. The whole off season, since he has been out, we
have done a lot of riding together. It’s good having another Aussie guy
here that’s relaxed about things. I think a big benefit with Andrew is
he is 28, so he is very experienced with setting the bike up with his
choices. It is good to have him around.
Did you talk to him before he made the decision to move here.
Yeah he called me once and just asked about America and what it is
like. I talked to him once, and then I heard he was on the team so that
was pretty cool.
Are you guys the new French or something? It seems we had this wave from there, now it Australia.
[Laughs] Its funny because I remember when I was 16 and
Vuillemin was challenging Jeremy and Roncada was there it was like
America vs France, and now all the Aussies are coming over. It’s cool
though.
We’ve heard Chad’s story about how he used to watch MC on TV and was
inspired to race supercross too. Do you have a similar story?
Yeah, back in the day we didn’t have too much American supercross to
see. If I got a tape I would watch it 100 times. I could still tell you
who won the race and the heat races. I was watching Jeremy and Ryno, my
trainer now. That is kind of exciting to train with him. He was one of
my heroes. He and Jeremy were the guys.
What is your racing goal for this year?
I want to be top three in supercross and outdoors, definitely in the
top 5. We have a great bike this year. I haven’t really had great
results in the outdoor circuit, being on a 2-stroke I think it was very
tough for me for sure. This year I want to get out and prove myself
that I am a good outdoor rider.
What was your professional experience before you came here to race in 2003?
Europe, GPs.
If you come here from GPs, how much time should it take to get ready for supercross?
For me it was different because I only spent one year in Europe, and it
was a half a year because I had a shoulder injury and I was out for 6
months. Before then I spent my whole like in Australia, riding
supercross and motocross tracks with supercross jumps, so I was used to
it. For Andrew, I watched him come over and he has been here for three
months and right now, he is a good supercross rider. When he
first came over he was definitely rusty. It is not necessarily the
speed on the track, but thinking about a supercross track day in and
day out. I think that is the hardest thing to get used to. When he
first came over, speedwise he was a couple of seconds off. Now we are
running the same times. It took him a lot of time but he has picked it
up a lot.
Jesseman seems relaxed and ready this year. Branden Jesseman
Branden Jesseman, a past regional champion in supercross Lites, has had
a rocky couple of seasons that included too many injuries to count, and
just over a year ago he was making a fresh start for himself by racing
arenacross. For 2006, he is on a new team and he’s back in supercross.
Branden, It’s good to see you.
It feels great to be back.
How did this happen?
I got hooked up with Dan Gerkey and Shae Bentley. Then I got hooked
up with YOT and things just took off from there. I got signed with them
and just spent three days on a supercross track and tested a little
bit, and here I am.
When did you get your Yamaha of Troy bike?
I got one just a couple of weeks ago. I went down to Florida and rode a little outdoors with some friends close to Croom.
So on this trip, this was your first chance to ride the YOT bike on a supercross track?
Yes. I will stay out here and ride supercross with these guys. I
think it will be good to spend some time with my teammates, and Chad. I
get to watch a race too, I haven’t seen one of them live.
Last year, we ran into you at Arenacross (he laughs) how did that adventure go?
It’s OK for some people I guess but I didn’t like it very much and
wish I never have to do it again. It was something I felt I had to do
at the time, to make some type of money. . [Laughs] That’s why I did it.
Then I found a ride with Motoworld for the East Coast, then the
outdoors and I got hurt again a few times as well. I am lucky to get
this ride with YOT.
So you get a break don’t you? It’s a chance to ride with a good team and show what you can do this year. 2003 east regional champion Branden Jesseman is back.
Definitely, I got a break and got good equipment so I can prove myself again.
How does your health, skill and mindset right now compare to just
before 2003, the year you won supercross east for Team Suzuki?
Just before 2003, I would say I am in better shape, physically and
emotionally and mentally, than I was in 2003. I just need to spend more
time on the bike to get comfortable with it. It’s been three days
riding supercross so far but that is just a starting point. I have a
lot to work on but I know I can definitely be there for the
championship.
So, you are ready to repeat 2003 once we get back east?
Yes, to prove to myself, which I know, I know I can really do it, and to all my skeptics.
I think Ricky was saying that about a year ago too. So, where is your home now, are you back in Pittsburgh?
Yes. Pittsburgh.
Still going out to UPMC? (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center)
Yeah I still go over there for training and for therapy.
Thanks and see you in the east.
Thanks, see ya.
Canadian Marco Dube is the veteran at YOT. He was hired as a test/development rider, but he races too. Marco Dube
Canadian Marco Dube was hired in October as Yamaha of Troy’s
test/development rider, and he has a limited racing schedule in the
states as well. Dube has raced arenacross and supercross on both sides
of the northern border, so we wanted to asked him about a few things….
Marco, who are you and why are you here?
[Smiles] I am here to test Yamaha of Troy bikes. I have been here
since October to help them get the supercross bikes ready for Metcalf
and McFarlane and the east guys.
So you are there as a development rider?
I am there full time as a test rider. They gave me a chance to race
too and I appreciate that a lot because I don’t have that much
experience in 125 supercross racing. I have been a 450 rider for so
long, it’s going to help me when I am back in Canada.
When you go back, do you have a race schedule?
Yeah I do. I am supposed to be here until San Diego, doing those
west coast rounds. Like in 2 weeks we start outdoor testing, Frenchie,
the chief mechanic at Yamaha of Troy hired me to do that. I will
probably be at Daytona and Orlando and Detroit on a 450. I am pretty
big for the Lite bikes. I would like to invest a lot more time on a
supercross track. I feel more comfortable on a 450. I am here for the
experience and help the other guys as much as I can.
You raced Toronto and Vancouver didn’t you?
Only Toronto. In Toronto, halfway through I twisted my ankle when I
cross-rutted a triple. I was riding well, from almost dead last in the
first corner to about tenth.
Q: How has Supercross going to Toronto and Vancouver helped racing in Canada?
We are all motocross fanatics, we would like to have a series up
there too. But our population is so small compared to the states, that is
why we don’t sell as many bikes or as much of anything. That’s
why our racing budgets are not as big as here. We would like to race
all year long. For sure next year I will be there.
Since you raced some American arenacross, and supercross
professionally in Canada and here, what’s your view on this idea to use
arenacross as the development series for supercross, will it work?
I don’t think so. Everyone’s skill or what they want to do is their
choice. I don’t think it’s a good way to develop a young rider in
arenacross because it is way different. It is a lot more intense and a
lot more short. It could be good in one way but you don’t see a track
that tight in supercross. I have been riding arenacross for some time
and when I got to a supercross I don’t turn as fast as those guys in
the corners. Its totally different.
Good luck and thanks.
Thanks.