Interviews by Jordan Roberts
Kevin Windham, GEICO Honda, Sixth place in SX Class
Racer X: The transfer jump, did you do that in practice?
No, I never test ran that one. I walked the track earlier; I had Dirt Wurx pull the tape for me on it. They told me it was 70 feet. And that berm got so rutted all day, I never got a chance during track maintenance to do it. And man, I kind of almost learned a lesson because I almost ate it. I mean, to jump 70 feet the first time that you’ve ever hit it or thought about hitting it, and in the dark, it was just stupid. I don’t even know what I was thinking but I made it, barely though. It was close, but I think it kind of makes it that much cooler though, you know? Everybody’s kind of like, wow, that was really close. So glad I didn’t eat it. But you know, mark my words it's going to happen one day. Let everybody know that when I crash I knew it was coming.
Yeah, that was huge! I think it’s the biggest one so far this year.
It was good. It was a rather long one. When I first started they were 40 feet, then they kind of went to 50, and then to 60. Now it’s like, if it’s anything lower than 70 you kind of laugh at it. Not me, but other people. It’s getting gnarly. It’s a part of the night I love, but it’s really good to get it over with.
You had a couple of good races [heat and main] tonight. Did this track suit you better than last weekends?
Umm, it was ok. Once again, I think with all of the tracks everyone is doing the same stuff. But, you know, the fast guys always find a way to be fast. I was happy with my performance tonight on most fronts. I think it was a good rebound from my horrible result in Dodger Stadium where I really let the night and emotions of all that was going on with the crashes overwhelm me. I really wanted to come out here and have a good ride, which I did. But the 2012 reality of supercross is that you can have a really great ride, and ride strong, and get 5th or 6th. That’s kind of where it is right now, that’s where the sport is. Those guys up front… maybe here in the future I can run with them, maybe I’ve ran with them in the past, but if you’re not right there with them from the get go you’re not going to run them down, or I’m not going to run them down, I’ll put it that way. But still, all in all, I was happy. I wish I could’ve gotten [Andrew] Short, but he rode a great race.
"But still, all in all, I was happy. I wish I could’ve gotten [Andrew] Short, but he rode a great race." - Kevin Windham
Photo: Garth Milan
Ryan Sipes, Rockstar Valli-Star Yamaha, Fourth place in SX Lites
Racer X: You had a mid-pack start and ended the race with a pretty good finish. Take us through it.
Yeah, it sucks to feel like a fourth is pretty good, but with the way the season has been it wasn’t too bad. During the mid race I kind of had some off laps. I made a mistake and it kind of flustered me for a little while. Toward the end my lap times were as good as Eli’s [Tomac], the last five laps. Strong finish, strong beginning, just the middle part, still working on it and working on my starts.
What did it take to turn it around mid race?
We work on it a lot. Make a mistake, reset. Take a breath and reset, and get back to going fast. I work on doing it in one or two turns and it took about five laps this weekend. So that’s kind of a bummer because I actually passed [Marvin] Musquin in the beginning and he got second. So it sucks to see that and I end up fourth, but I gotta keep working. I feel like a rookie almost by making some dumb mistakes.
Well it’s good to rebound, come back, and almost make the podium.
Yeah, and it’s going to keep getting better. I’m looking forward to next weekend.
"Yeah, it sucks to feel like a fourth is pretty good, but with the way the season has been it wasn’t too bad." - Ryan Sipes
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Andrew Short, Supercross.com Honda, Fifth place in SX Class
Racer X: Your night went pretty good. You got fifth in a stacked class. How’d it play out for you?
Yeah, it was good. I got good starts tonight. The track was so tricky and rutted and technical that I felt like it was a big advantage. It seems like starts have been so crucial this year and tonight was no exception. I was happy with how the bike evolved as the night went on. We made a lot of changes with the suspension in stiffening it up and my riding got better too. I got to see what the fast guys were doing all night and to finish fifth is a great step for me. I feel like I have a lot of room for improvement and each weekend I’m chipping away at it. I want to work on a few things, like my speed, and see where that goes.
"I feel like I have a lot of room for improvement and each weekend I’m chipping away at it." - Andrew Short
Photo: Garth Milan
Cody Mackie, DNA Energy JWR, Sixteenth place in SX Class
Racer X: You made the main in your first heat with JWR, which had to take some pressure off your shoulders. How did the main go for you?
The main went good. I got a really good start. And then on the first lap I got hit pretty hard from, well, I’m not sure who but it kind of stuffed me the whole rhythm section and I had to roll and lost about six or seven positions and then it was just a freight train out there. Pretty much a lot of us were the same speed I think so it was a bit hard to pass.
Would you say this track suited your riding style better than any of the previous rounds?
No, I think all of the tracks have suited me. As long as it’s not muddy, I think they all suit me. I’ve definitely got a better bike under me at the moment. So that’s probably a big help, and a great team. I’m just thankful for the opportunity.
So how did you get onboard with this team? You're running number 333, and Josh Grant ran 33. Do you think Jeff Ward just really, really likes the number 3?
I’ve never thought of that, but as you’ve brought it up it’s probably that! No, I just got a phone call from Lucas and he said he’d give me a shot this weekend and he gave me a shot. I’m pumped the whole team has behind me and it’s been great.
"I got a really good start. And then on the first lap I got hit pretty hard from, well, I’m not sure who but it kind of stuffed me the whole rhythm section..." - Cody Mackie
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Gavin Faith, GEICO Honda, Fourteenth place in SX Lites
Racer X: This is your second supercross race in the States under the GEICO tent. How’d it go?
It’s gone pretty good. I had a good heat race, worked my way through some guys. The main event was alright. I got a mid-pack start and started working my way up through a couple guys. I actually had some problems and knocked my brake lever up a little bit and couldn’t really use it. And my arm pumped up pretty bad. It’s unfortunate, but it’s good to show I had some speed in the heat race and hopefully we can keep progressing on through next week and have a good race at A2.
"I actually had some problems and knocked my brake lever up a little bit and couldn’t really use it." - Gavin Faith
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
