Windham Sore, but Ready to Soar In San Diego
February 16, 2011, 3:50pm
SAN DIEGO – A little tumble off his Honda isn't going to keep GEICO rider Kevin Windham from racing at this Saturday's Monster Energy Supercross Series event in San Diego.
"I'm gonna need to nurse my injuries and just fight through it," Windham said. "I want to get back to the level I was in Houston as soon as I can. The life of a motocross rider involves dealing with injuries and at this point in the year there isn't anyone out there that isn't banged up somehow.
"When you have all the races in a row there just isn't adequate time to recover. We'll do the best we can."
Last week at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Windham crashed while leading the Supercross Main Event, injuring his ribs and suffering a slight concussion.
"The race was going so well and I was pulling away from second place," said Windham, who stumbled in the 11th of 20 laps. "I probably could have quit doing the obstacle that tripped me up and still won the race. I mean, it's never over until it's over but I liked my chances from that point on.
"The track was deteriorating and a lot of the top riders had quit trying that maneuver where I wrecked. By the end of the race none of them were trying it. Man, it just breaks your heart."
Despite some initial Internet rumors to the contrary, Windham said the No. 14 plate will be at Qualcomm Stadium.
"Fortunately nothing's broken," Windham said. "I'm in a pretty good amount of pain in my ribs and there is definitely some cartilage popping when I move around, but it's a manageable pain and we'll be racing in San Diego."
GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac is gunning for his fourth straight Lites West podium and his first win of the season. Tomac said because this weekend is his last chance to race for two months, getting the victory is goal No. 1.
"I'm really ready to go racing," Tomac said. "I really don't like watching it on TV. I wish I was out there myself. I really want to get my first-ever win in Supercross. With this big break coming, I don't want anything to dwell on. I'll be going for this win for sure."
This is the last Lites West race until mid-April and Tomac said he's so much more confident than when the season started back in January.
"We're on the same program as every week," Tomac said. "Things are going pretty good. The biggest thing for me has been my starts, but I think I'm also getting more comfortable on the tracks. You have to attack more when you are racing, which is something I wasn't doing at Anaheim 1. I've got it figured out now so things are going better."
Tomac is in third place in the Lites West standings, 22 points behind leader Josh Hansen.
Tomac's Lites West teammate Jimmy DeCotis was pleased to have the week off because he banged up his ankle at the last race and really needed to catch his breath after being thrown into service following Wil Hahn's season ending injury at Anaheim 1.
"My heat races have been pretty good," DeCotis said. "For the main, I just have to put it all together in my head, my form and on the bike. The team is working awesome for me, now I just need to put my head down and do a little more work."
Practice and qualifying for Saturday night's Monster Energy Supercross Series race starts at 12:30 p.m. PST from Qualcomm Stadium. Opening ceremonies start at 7 p.m. The race will be broadcast live on SPEED starting at 10:30 p.m. EST.
"I'm gonna need to nurse my injuries and just fight through it," Windham said. "I want to get back to the level I was in Houston as soon as I can. The life of a motocross rider involves dealing with injuries and at this point in the year there isn't anyone out there that isn't banged up somehow.
"When you have all the races in a row there just isn't adequate time to recover. We'll do the best we can."
Last week at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Windham crashed while leading the Supercross Main Event, injuring his ribs and suffering a slight concussion.
"The race was going so well and I was pulling away from second place," said Windham, who stumbled in the 11th of 20 laps. "I probably could have quit doing the obstacle that tripped me up and still won the race. I mean, it's never over until it's over but I liked my chances from that point on.
"The track was deteriorating and a lot of the top riders had quit trying that maneuver where I wrecked. By the end of the race none of them were trying it. Man, it just breaks your heart."
Despite some initial Internet rumors to the contrary, Windham said the No. 14 plate will be at Qualcomm Stadium.
"Fortunately nothing's broken," Windham said. "I'm in a pretty good amount of pain in my ribs and there is definitely some cartilage popping when I move around, but it's a manageable pain and we'll be racing in San Diego."
GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac is gunning for his fourth straight Lites West podium and his first win of the season. Tomac said because this weekend is his last chance to race for two months, getting the victory is goal No. 1.
"I'm really ready to go racing," Tomac said. "I really don't like watching it on TV. I wish I was out there myself. I really want to get my first-ever win in Supercross. With this big break coming, I don't want anything to dwell on. I'll be going for this win for sure."
This is the last Lites West race until mid-April and Tomac said he's so much more confident than when the season started back in January.
"We're on the same program as every week," Tomac said. "Things are going pretty good. The biggest thing for me has been my starts, but I think I'm also getting more comfortable on the tracks. You have to attack more when you are racing, which is something I wasn't doing at Anaheim 1. I've got it figured out now so things are going better."
Tomac is in third place in the Lites West standings, 22 points behind leader Josh Hansen.
Tomac's Lites West teammate Jimmy DeCotis was pleased to have the week off because he banged up his ankle at the last race and really needed to catch his breath after being thrown into service following Wil Hahn's season ending injury at Anaheim 1.
"My heat races have been pretty good," DeCotis said. "For the main, I just have to put it all together in my head, my form and on the bike. The team is working awesome for me, now I just need to put my head down and do a little more work."
Practice and qualifying for Saturday night's Monster Energy Supercross Series race starts at 12:30 p.m. PST from Qualcomm Stadium. Opening ceremonies start at 7 p.m. The race will be broadcast live on SPEED starting at 10:30 p.m. EST.
