Grant Langston Update

After pulling out of the Sacramento opener, Grant Langston gutted out a couple fourth-place motos at High Point to keep himself in the championship hunt in the Lites class. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider, who recently moved to Florida, was hoping that the two-week break before Southwick would be all he needed for his wrist to return to normal. We spoke to Grant yesterday and, unfortunately, it's not healing as fast as he hoped.

"It sucks when you are passionate about racing, because although the highs are really high, the lows are really, really low," he said. "I mean, I feel like I should be winning all of these races, but I just physically can't. My wrist hurt so bad at High Point, but I knew I had to get some points or the season was over. I was on pain pills and all kinds of stuff just to get through the day. My fitness isn't there either, because I can't ride during the week. It's just really frustrating. It seems like every year it's something."

But Grant is one of the toughest guys in the sport, and if there is any way possible to keep himself in the points chase, GL will figure it out. While he won't comment on his future plans, early rumors have him going to Yamaha for 2007 and beyond. With Chad Reed starting his own team and Heath Voss moving on, Grant would be the only 450 rider under the blue tent. We asked Grant about the prospect of Mitch Payton starting a 450 team this year and it doesn't sound like things came together in time. Mitch is good at waiting for the right opportunities to come along at the right time.