Wednesday, February 13

Interview - Jeremy McGrath

By B.J. Smith

Jeremy McGrath is in unfamiliar territory when he doesn't finish on the podium, or even win the race for that matter. Outside the top five? Unheard of. McGrath has taken a beating this year, not only on the track but in the media as well. Is it arm pump, mental, burn out? What's the real story? We'll let Jeremy answer that one.

It's been a tough year for the seven-time Supercross champion. For the first time ever in his career, McGrath is struggling just to break the top five.

MotoWorld.com: All right Jeremy. Each week has been getting a little better, how are you feeling this week?

Jeremy McGrath: I'm feeling really good. I was really happy with my ride last week (Anaheim III) and, you know, each week I've seen to be getting couple more laps out of it and slowly but surely my body's healing and I'm able to put my Bud Light/Yamaha up in front.

MW.com: Well, we haven't actually got to talk to you since the beginning of the season.

JM: I haven't actually deserved an interview have I?

MW.com: What exactly happened? You've been to doctors and doctors and testing and testing, the media's been slamming you, give us your perspective.

JM: Well, it was a rough first month, you know, I think, a lot of people don't understand what we go through anyway cause everything is mostly always good and for me, I've never really experienced a problem. But, I had a crash after U.S. Open at the Yamaha track. I never really went and got straightened out, the chiropractor, anything like that. My back was a little bit C-shaped, so it was pinching off some nerves on the right side and my right side was getting pumped up while I was practicing and then I was over-compensating with the left arm and I think I just injured my arms because I was trying to ride through it and it was something I needed to rest and I just didn't know.

MW.com: And you've never been one to make excuses ever in your career. Has that kind of work against you this time because you're just like, 'hey I'm doing everything I can.'

JM: Yeah, well, I mean, I'll live and die by what I say, you know, what I believe and I don't believe there are a lot of excuses out there. I mean, I should have known that there was something wrong and probably worked on getting that fixed and being healthy and, you know, it was kind of my ignorance I guess I just didn't know I tried to ride through it and it didn't work. I'm not going to go tell everyone, you know something else is wrong even though something was wrong. It was super frustrating for me, but I'll work through it.

MW.com: You're the leanest and meanest we've ever seen you, working with a trainer has really paid off.

JM: Yeah, I mean, I feel really good. I mean I worked six, seven months instead of taking the summer off, you know. I worked my butt off, did a lot of training and a lot of riding. That's why it's so strange to me, because I was more than ready at the first race and I just got kind of shut down by my own body. Something that's coming back slowly, but I'm looking for great things. All I can do is do the best I can do. I'll try and put that Bud Light Yamaha up in the front as many laps as possible and each week I seem to be getting a few more laps out front.

MW.com: Have the problems the later you get in the race, have they forced you to leave the door open a little bit in the corners?

JM: Well, yeah like last week I felt I could have ran away with a race had I felt good. I mean, up until lap ten, I felt really good, lap 11, lap 12 is when I started, kind of, making a few mistakes and it's not a physical tiredness thing, it's just that I get a little tight in my arms and I can't really grip the bike that good. You know, I got to slow down and that's when the other guys caught me and there's not a lot you can do, when you get arm pump and stuff like that. You can't really open your hands to get the levers, to get the brakes, or anything. It's kind of a dangerous thing, you know, I almost fell off the bike a couple of times last week, something I'm trying to work through.

It's a lot better than it was. The first few races it felt like someone was stabbing me in my arms with a knife or something, you know, it was just so painful. And now, now it's getting better.

MW.com: Competition is really deep, too. The deepest it has ever been, I think.

JM: Sure, the depth of the field is awesome. There are a lot of great riders and you know it seems like a few guys could win each week. It's going to be a long series. It's been a long month for me and I hope to get it back on track really soon here.

MW.com: Well, two weeks ago, lead five laps, ten laps, 20 laps this week?

JM: I hope so. You know, I mean the goal, I've got to have short-term goals right now. That's like trying to get the holeshot, lead the race, lead as many laps as I can. You know, I know the series is kind of, pretty far out of reach, so I just got to take it step by step, and try to start with the start, and try to lead as many laps as I can.