MTM Talks With Kevin Windham

Kendra—Before we get into the logistics of racing, I want to know did you fly yourself here this weekend?

Kevin— You know, actually I didn’t. I’m pretty banged up. You know I love to fly, I’m a pilot but I flew on American Airlines this time. Not quite as fun just sitting there in the back, but I had to get here. Can’t wait to get this thing off so I can start doing all the fun things like flying and riding.

Kendra— How much longer do you have until you’re back out riding and training?

Kevin— I went to the doctor yesterday, and it’s gonna be eight more weeks until I can get back on a bike. He actually wants me to start doing some range of motion and training, you know, running and riding my bicycle, stationary stuff, nothing out on the road or anything. He gave me a cool cast that is removable, so I don’t have to worry about sweating into it. Dr. Ryme did a good job on the surgery, and everything is going well. I’m expected to make a full recovery.

Kendra— That’s always good to hear. Do you know which race you’re going to be back for yet?

Kevin— It’s a little too early to tell, you know. I’m going to be sitting off a total of twelve weeks. At that point I don’t think anyone expects me to be race ready, that’s just when I can start riding again. We’ll go back and start riding pretty intently, and maybe go two or three weeks past that twelve-week mark so I can be race ready. It’s not a lot of fun to go out and race when you’re only riding and these guys are running all around you and killing you. It’s good to be competitive, but it’s gonna take me a little while to get to that point.

Kendra— This year it’s going to pretty much be outdoors for you in terms of title and focus?

Kevin— Well, definitely for a title shot. I think that’s a pretty realistic goal. I think, obviously, my sponsors want to see me in Supercross. Supercross is just blowing up right now, it’s a huge draw, and the crowds have been incredible. I want to be there and they want me to as well. We hope to make the last couple races, but for sure outdoors is going to be where my focus is at this point.

Kendra— How do you feel about everyone moving to 450's now? You kind of started that awhile back and now everyone’s just following along in your footsteps.

Kevin— It’s very cool to see. I always thought that our bike was good. When I came back from my leg injury, I was going to Honda and the whole deal with Factory Connection was working out, I thought it’d be kind of silly for me to go and ride two stokes for a year or two. Because I thought that the four strokes were gonna be where everyone winds up. Sure enough that’s what’s happened. With the support that we get from Sobe, and Samsung Mobile, and Honda coming together with this team our technology has increased tremendously and our bikes are good. I think everybody is starting to do that, so that’s why you see more and more guys do it. It makes me feel good to know that I was somewhat able to contribute to the development of the four strokes, especially the Honda. It’s a great bike, and I think those guys are doing the right thing by riding them. Some people don’t like the change of racing; the whole change of face; I love two strokes to but I think because of EPA standards, I think everyone’s going that direction. It’s great to be able to have a competitive bike to do it on.

Kendra— What’s one thing that interviewers never ask that you wish they would ask?

Kevin— I think at some point they pretty much cover everything. They get your personal life a little bit, they definitely hit everything at the races. Either we do a lot of interviews, and I guess everyone has a wide variety of questions, but somewhere down the line we pretty much get asked anything and everything.

Kendra— Thank you for doing this interview for Making the Main. Good Luck with the recovery, can’t wait to see you back out there.

Kevin— No problem. Thank you.