Ominous clouds and showers gathered over the Charlotte Motor Speedway for a damp eve to the MXGP of Americas today and where AMA 250MX and 250SX Champion Cooper Webb took part in a ceremonial first gatedrop at the impressive and fast new layout within the dirt track compound at the vast facility.
It is hard to describe just how much the CMS dominates the landscape a short distance from the 85 Interstate freeway, the 90,000-seat NASCAR bowl is flanked by the dirt oval and an immaculate four lane drag strip that houses MXGP’s admin base and was an early consideration for the new-build MX course (that was covered with plastics late Thursday).
With a tropical storm hovering dangerously close there is a strong chance that the first official day of the seventeenth round of eighteen will be a wet one. Rainfall already began late Thursday afternoon and after Webb – heralding from North Carolina and the focus for many within the 14,000 stand – took part in an opening formality for local TV and press. After using his YZ250F for duty the twenty year old then chatted about the coming spectacle…
On potentially banging bars with MX2 Championship leader Jeffrey Herlings…
It will be really exciting. Obviously his focus is on winning another championship and we were in that same situation earlier this year. I think it is just be an exciting event on an all-new track that nobody has ridden. Nobody has ever raced dirt bikes here at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He has won in MXGP and me in America so to bring the two best 250cc riders in the world together will be a showcase and something for everybody to see. There is always that question: ‘who is better the Europeans or the Americans?’ and in one race you will never get a true answer but it will open a few people’s eyes as to what can happen.
On his home race…
Coming from North Carolina and coming here to see NASCAR races – I think I was ten the first time I came here – if someone had said: “you’ll be racing dirt bikes there one day…” I don’t think I would ever have agreed! It is cool to see the progression in the dirt bike world and to bring a world event over to the USA, and have some of the best of the best [together] with the Americans and the GP riders is pretty cool. Not all the U.S. riders are here…but most of the Europeans are. Everybody is pretty comfortable and dialled in with their settings and for those guys it is quite cool to finish the season over in the States. For me to come here and try something new is challenging. There will be a lot of family and friends and a special atmosphere. I see they have the North Carolina clay and good dirt in here! The track is definitely something I haven’t seen before so I think it will be special and I like how you can pretty much see the whole thing; for a spectator that will be huge. It has a ‘home track’ feel for me. I think I will have the crowd behind me – which is always a plus – and we’ll go from there. In the American series I have a lot of fans and I think there are people who don’t like me but I think this weekend and with that ‘Europe vs U.S. attitude’ I will have a lot of Americans behind me. You cannot please everybody but I try to be myself.
On ‘interfering’ with the MX2 title chase…
It is tough to say but I am not out here to jeopardise anybody’s championship. I will just go out there and race like I always do. I am not too aggressive and won’t be going there to take anybody out for sure. I will try to win and I know that every other rider in the gate will want that to. I won’t be doing anything stupid but I am also here to win.
On doing different races and different series and maybe future riders being flexible…
Everybody is different but the way I have always looked at it is that I want to race the best around the world, whether that’s supercross or motocross, and any opportunity I get to race internationally then I will do. When I look back then some of my favourite memories as a racer have been in Europe, Australia or Japan. I have learned things racing the Europeans that I could apply here in the States. I think it is important and I think that people can get a little stingy and just stick to their series and that’s it.
On former GP racer Gareth Swanepoel’s [his trainer] influence…
He is open to it. Coming from MXGPs Swanny loves this series as much as the American series…but he hasn’t had too much influence [on his decisions]. He might say if something is a good or bad idea but usually he’d pretty open and that’s nice. I know that some teams and trainers don’t want it [extra races and commitments] to happen but luckily I have a good group of people around and support me with what I think is best.
On guys not racing the Motocross of Nations…
It is tough. Honestly, if you are selected I feel that it is a great honour and you should do it. I understand with the way the series’ works in the U.S. and things like the Monster Energy Cup then it is long [series] and you want your off-time to be able to relax…but at the same time you should be able to manage your off-time in other weeks and months of the year. Maybe me being young I am not seeing what these other guys are seeing. But I think it is a great opportunity and last year it was my favourite race and I look forward to going back and having that same feeling and after losing you always want to come back and try to win.
