January 30, 2005
Bikeland's exclusive interviews with Colin Edwards, Josh Hayes, Jason Pridmore, Rich Oliver and Mike Sullivan
On January 25th, 2005 Bikeland asked it's membership, "If you had the chance to ask these riders some questions, what would they be?"
The riders were in Vancouver, BC, Canada to attend a charity event in support of the Children's Cancer Foundation. On January 29th Bikeland had the opportunity, courtesy of Dat Louie of Action Motorcycle Schools, to spend some time with these World Class riders and Motorcycling Superstars. Here's what they had to say in response to your questions!
Listed below are the answers to the questions our members asked, in the order that we interviewed the riders.....
We'll begin with Team Michael Jordan's Jason Pridmore (2002 AMA Formula Extreme Champion,1997 Supersport Champion, World Endurance Champion) and owner of S.T.A.R. Riding Schools
Sagot from Vancouver, BC asks
Jason, who's faster you or yer dad!?
Jason
That's tough to answer. We're talking about different generations of bikes. The modern bikes are so different. My Dad was World Champion. He was the best. You can't take anything away from him!
Spyral from Jacksonville, Florida asks
I'd like to ask Jason Pridmore what it was like winning the FIM World Endurance Championship?
Jason
That's very cool that someone remembered that! What a great question. I was young when I won the Endurance Championship and I got to travel the world. It's one of my better accomplishments. Winning was very cool!
DB from Connersville, Indiana asks
If a person could only afford one riding school this year why it should be your Dad's school and not any of the others?
Jason
Well, it's unfair for me to comment on the other schools because I haven't been to them. Our school is low pressure. Not overly serious. It's an enjoyable environment to learn in, and I have the best staff in the country.
TurboBlew from Atlantic Beach, Florida asks
If there was a no holds barred free for all ring fight....... who would be the last rider standing? And what kind of helmet would you wear?
Jason
That's a hard question to answer! Out of the AMA riders? Ummm... Mat (Mladin) 'cuz he's strong and Yates (Aaron) 'cuz he's big! Oh... and DON'T MESS WITH TEAM SUZUKI! And I'd be wearing my HJC helmet!
Bikeland
How did you meet Dat and how did you become involved in this event?
Jason
Dat was taking students to Dad's school. Dat asked my Dad if I could come out and sign some autographs. I support Dat's causes and this charity. (Children's Cancer Foundation).
Bikeland
What is your favorite road to ride, and what bike do you ride on the street?
Jason
Honestly I haven't ridden on the street for about four years now, but if I had a favorite road it would be Highway 33 in California.
Next we spoke with Team Attack Kawasaki's Josh Hayes ...
Josh
Wow! You have braces too! (exclaiming to fish_antlers!) I finally decided that I'm 30 years old so I'd better get braces! Now when I drive my BMW I tell people I'm driving my Dad's car! Heh heh heh...
Bikeland
How long have you had yours (braces) on for, and did they hurt a lot in the beginning?
Josh
I've had them on for almost two years now! They didn't hurt at all in the beginning. They more now, and hurt even more with every wire they put in. The thicker wires really hurt a lot!
Bikeland
My wires come undone every now and then and poke into my cheek. Do yours do this too?
Josh
No... when you get thicker wires they don't come out at all. In one month I had eight teeth pulled, Laser eye surgery and braces put on. I had to get it all done quickly so I could be back in time for testing.
TurboBlew from Atlantic Beach, Florida asks
If there was a no holds barred free for all ring fight....... who would be the last rider standing? And what kind of helmet would you wear?
Josh
That's a tough one!
Bikeland
Well... what type of helmet would you wear to the fight?
Josh
An Arai! I couldn't imagine wearing anything else! I think I could do pretty well in a fight 'cuz I can take a beating because of all the crashes I've had. I would probably be one of the last men standing. Jason DiSalvo would probably win 'cuz he's so short and he could duck everybody's blows.
Freek from Whistler, BC asks
Is there a common determining characteristic that gets top level motorcycle racers to where they are? Is it pure natural talent? hard work? Passion/drive? Or just good PR/networking skills?
Josh
Getting the ride is the hardest part... the rules have really changed for that... and nowadays the rules change from person to person. Great riders have talent that they're born with, skills that they learn and they have desire. If you don't have desire you're not going to get very far. Desire can help you overcome a lot.
Bikeland
How did you meet Dat and how did you become involved in this event?
Josh
Jason Pridmore called me up and got me involved in this event. I only just met Dat yesterday at the airport!
Bikeland
What bike do you ride on the street?
Josh
I actually finally bought my first streetbike that I've had in years. It's a Kawasaki ZX-10R. It's the first bike I've ever really wanted to own! It's amazing! It's the first streetbike I've ever been on that compares to my racebike and rides like my track bike! My ZX-10R is a 2005 and it's Titanium in color. The bike is just amazing, and I only have 100miles on it so far!
Bikeland
What is your favorite road to ride?
Josh
I live in Mississippi and I like to ride down to the beach and hang out with my friends. I don't speed or goof around on my bike or anything. I like to go to bike nights with my friends.
Bikeland
Do you have a different perception of "Safe Street Riding" because of your level of training?
Josh
I think a lot of people have a problem with doing trackdays, so instead they ride on the street. For me it's the opposite! I'm scared of riding on the street! The stigma of doing a trackday is that people think that when you're on a track you have to ride so hard that you push yourself until you crash. I think that the majority of street riders who have never done a track day think like that.
Because of that they'd rather take their chances on the street. For instance Deal's Gap is a good example. It's just up from where I live. People save their money all year to go and do Deal's Gap. They should save their money and got to a trackday instead and keep it safe and learn some skills at the same time. It's much better to be on a track pushing yourself than on a road like Deal's Gap where you could come around a blind corner and find a semi doing a 90' u-turn.
Bikeland
Are you going to the show at Indy?
Josh
Yes. I'll be there with my race team http://www.attackperformance.com
Mike Sullivan (2004 WMRRA Superbike Champion) and owner of Sullivan Race School
Bikeland
Tell us about your racing school and how would I sign up to attend it?
Mike
Two ways.... Online at http://www.sullivanraceschool.com or pick up a brochure at a local bike shop, or you can just call me and I'll hook you up!
Bikeland
What's the difference in methodology between your school, Jason's school, and Keith Code's school?
Mike
We've been concentrating for the last year and a half to two years on the street level rider, and not the racer. We want to get the street level rider who does track days. I want to teach these riders who do track days, how to do track days the right way... not to go around and around the track making the same mistakes over and over. We also have some classes for the sport-touring market. We want to show them on the racetrack how to deal with things like decreasing radius corners... so that they don't get into trouble on the street. We also want to teach them to move around on their bikes and to hang off a bit. The goal of this is to show people who are into sport touring that they can use some race techniques that they practice on the track, on the street and make riding safer and more enjoyable.
Bikeland
What are your plans for next year for racing?
Mike
In 2005 I'm going to be riding an R6 and an R1. I plan on competing in 5 to 6 AMA races including Daytona, and get in as many Northwest races as I can. I have a really great sponsor and he lets me ride as many races as I can, so I like to ride as many races as possible!
Bikeland
Are you going to race in Superbike at Laguna Seca this year?
Mike
Yeah!
Bikeland
Who do you see as the up and coming riders in WMRRA and OMRRA for next year?
Mike
Mitchell Pierce.. he has a dirt track background and he's broken a bunch of track records.... And Casey Clark is up and coming...
Left to right: fish_antlers, Dat Louie, Colin Edwards, Mike Sullivan
Colin Edwards (Two-Time World Superbike Champion and Yamaha MotoGp Rider)
"D" from Orange County California asks
Colin what are your expectations are for this year?
Colin
To WIN the Championship of course! That's how you have to think!
Bikeland
How has the transition from the different manufacturers bikes' affected your riding? Negatively or positively?
Colin
Positively! You have to ride one bike one way and a different bike another way. To be stuck in a rut is bad. You have to be flexible.
Bikeland
Does your kid have a bike yet?
Colin
No... but she likes to sit on the handlebars of my CR50 as I wheelie it around my neighbourhood!
Bikeland
What do you think of the skill level of the American riders this season and how do they compare to you in your opinion?
Colin
You know.. that's a loaded question! Everyone out there is a winner... They're used to winning!
Rubberpants from San Marcos, Ca asks
What is the difference between your experience with the Yamaha & Honda teams as far as attitude (really ) IE: Who are the "nicer guys" Honda or Yamaha?
Colin
Yamaha! They are more "real". They are nicer. If you were to compare it to "real life" it would be "The Military" vs "Family" ... That's how it really is.
Ninjaman12R from Dyersburg, Tennessee asks
Colin, what are the biggest differences between the Yamaha and the Honda? We all hear that the Yamaha is still down on power when compared to the Honda, but is it that big of a difference?
Colin
Not really... well.. In 4th, 5th and 6th gear maybe there is a bit of a difference compared with the Honda, but not as big of a difference as say, with the Ducati. They're different "beans"....
Bikeland
What about the handling and braking between the two? Which bike is the most fun to ride?
Colin
The Yamaha.. definitely more fun!
Bikeland
What's it like to be Valentino's teammate??? That has to feel good to be associated with the reigning world champion, and a motivator as well.
Colin
What more motivation do you need??? He's the World Champion!!!
Swft from Port Orchard Washington asks
What do you think your future at Yamaha will hold? Do you plan on finishing your career there?
Colin
Well. I planned to finish my career there 8 years ago. Being with Yamaha for so long I thought it would go on forever. Fortunately or unfortunately it didn't.
Bikeland
Besides yourself, who's your favorite American rider in MotoGP?
Colin
Kenny Roberts Senior! 500 "Old School" is my favorite to watch!
Beansbaxter from Spokane Washington asks
If I send you a picture of me sitting on Rossi's motoGP bike, can you get it signed by Valentino for me? Please? I'll even pay return postage.
Colin
Uh... yeah ...I'm right on it
TurboBlew from Atlantic Beach, Florida asks
If there was a no holds barred free for all ring fight....... who would be the last rider standing? And what kind of helmet would you wear?
Colin
Win out of the GP guys? Alex Hoffman from Kawasaki simply because he's such a big guy and you don't want to fight a big guy! As for the helmet... maybe a hockey helmet? Or the one I've got... an Arai!
Rich Oliver (2003 AMA 250 GP Champion
k Bryant from Anaheim Hills California asks
"Who's your daddy?"
Rich
Kerry Bryant, of course! He sold me my first bike! It was an old Kawasaki 1000 with a Yoshimura pipe with a lot of "special parts" on it. He sold it to me because he wanted to buy a TZ750 Grand Prix racebike. It was because of him that I got involved in racing.
Bikeland
What do you remember about your early days racing with Kerry?
Rich
Kerry loved Sears Point. It was his home track. Suzuka was always something he wanted to do. He got me into it. Eventually I left California to do the International circuit and I lost touch with him.
Bikeland
In Kerry Bryant's recent article for bikeland.org entitled ""Resigned" - Leaving Corporate America? he spoke of a terrible crash he had which prompted him to leave Roadracing. In his article he commended you for "cowboying up" and continuing to race. In your racing career did you ever have a moment like Kerry did where you crashed and considered leaving the sport?
Rich
At least 20 times or more! The difference between me and Kerry was that Kerry had a wife and was just starting his family. I didn't have anyone. I was just a 20 something punk who was racing. After the first bad crash you get back up and you still ride. You get hurt, but you do well and you keep going. Some days you think, maybe it's time to start playing golf instead of racing, but then you get out there and you do well, so you keep racing. You learn to recognize traumatic injury and the mental damage that goes along with it. You psychoanalyze yourself out of it and keep going.
Bikeland
I understand that you paint. Tell me about your painting? Acrylic or Oil?
Rich
Acrylic
Bikeland
How did you get into painting?
Rich
No TV! I got rid of my TV and it opened up hours and hours of free time. I painted for a year in private. After a year I finally showed my family some of my work. My Mom loved it of course! Mom's always do. I've sold a couple!
Bikeland.org would like to thank Dat and Action Motorcycle Schools, and all of the riders for allowing us their time to ask questions from our membership.
Source: Bikeland.org