GLEN HELEN NATIONAL: TWO DAYS TO GO
By: Zap
QUOTE: "We need it bumpy." Roger DeCoster's tip for a good (MOTOCROSS) race this weekend...which unfortunately runs counter to what others are hoping for.
Perhaps looking for some redemption following his Supercross title loss, with just over a week before the Glen Helen opener, U.S. Suzuki filed entry forms for Chad Reed for the whole series.
MXA MINI-VIEW: RICKY DIETRICH
MXA: Are you planning to race the Glen Helen National?
Ricky: Yeah, right now the plan is to do Glen Helen, Hangtown, Colorado and maybe some more. I train with Ryan Hughes and recently we've been doing 100% motocross training. He also works with Broc Hepler so I've been able to ride with guys like that which has really helped a lot. Ryno has definitely brought my speed up quite a bit with his own techniques.
MXA: What are his techniques?
Ricky: It's all about squeezing the bike with your ankles, keeping your butt out and locking your hips. That way you control the bike with your legs and not your arms.
MXA: What does MX specific training consist of?
Ricky: Working on my speed which for motocross is totally different from what I do for WORCS training. It's also been about bike set-up and I finally have a good outdoor set-up for my suspension. Last year when I raced the Nationals and my settings weren't good at all.
MXA: So right now you're like "The Man" in the WORCS series – how does that feel?
Ricky: It feels great for sure and it's the payback you'd hope for after putting in so much hard work. It takes so much time to put together a successful program with all the training and bike set-up. To be able to show up at a race and feel like everything is under control is great for your confidence.
MXA: When we talked to you at the Nationals last year you said that you would enjoy racing motocross full-time. Is that still true? Last year Yamaha was not in favor of Bobby Garrison racing motocross, how does Kawasaki feel about you racing the Nationals?
Ricky: I have to say it's still in me to race motocross. I mean, there's a lot more opportunity out there, but before I get serious with MX I need to get some results first. I also know that right now the offroad world is where I'm making my living. Mike Fisher did say that he'd keep an eye on me this year so we'll see.
Having recently gotten the call-up to the DNA Energy/BTO Sports/BBMX team, Ben Lemay is still getting used to his Honda 450, but he was putting in the laps at Glen Helen last Thursday.
MXA MINI-VIEW: JUSTIN BRAYTON
MXA: What are your plans for the outdoor series – the 450 class?
Justin: Yeah, I'll be moving up to the 450 class along with Josh Summey. I love the big bike and I think it suits my riding style much better than the 250. For me it's easier to ride and I'm not always on the ragged edge. On the 450 you can go fast without having to hang it the whole time. I've always tried to ride the 250 that way, but it never worked out!
MXA: On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your indoor season?
Justin: I'd say an 8. I made three podiums which is two more than I made last year. I mean, it's not really what I wanted, but I felt like I was getting better with each race. I'm slated to ride the 250 indoors next year, but I'd like to the move up. We'll have to see. My contract with KTM is up this year, but we're already talking.
 Will Glen Helen regular and newly crowned World Four-Stroke champ Weston Peick have anything for the big name riders invading his turf?
Besides a trio of fast Americans, the Monster/Pro Circuit team will also feature the foreign talent of Frenchman Christophe Pourcel (left) and South African Tyla Rattray.
Years after they were an official couple when they both worked for White Brothers team, Doug Dubach and Alan Olson are together again. Yes, Doug is still funny and Alan is still cranky, but you'd be hard pressed to find two guys who are as devoted to the sport as they are. Doug will be racing in the L.A. Sleeve Two Stroke Invitational at Glen Helen and Alan will be wrenchig for him. On this day they were running a YZ450F rear end on his YZ250. Doug said it slipped right on and took about a pound of weight off the bike. Be sure to give an extra cheer for these two old guys - they deserve it.
Look for Star Yamaha riders: Broc Tickle, Michael Hall, Matt LeMoine and Daryn Durham to be rattling the cages of the leaders all season long.
MXA MINI-VIEW: ALEX MARTIN
 MXA: Your Ti Lube ride was a Supercross only deal...now that the indoor series is over, what's going on with your program?
Alex: Ti Lube will be helping me a little bit, but I'm basically on my own. I've got some new sponsors; Factory Connection is doing my motors now and I'm running Dunlop tires and Gaerne boots. Jessica Patterson will be taking my bikes to the races for me and I think Wonder Warthog will be providing me with a mechanic. It's a pretty cool program because the mechanics take care of their own expenses so that will save me a few hundred dollars each week. Right now I've been my own mechanic...this morning I had to switch my suspension and that was pretty rough. But, last week I changed my tires out and I was real proud of myself for that!
MXA: How did your Supercross effort go?
Alex: I didn't set the world on fire, but I made three main events. Right now all I can hope for is to get through the year with some good results so I can hopefully put something together for next year.
 After parting with his long-time trainer Randy Lawrence and moving over to work with Jeff Spencer, there was another big shake-up in the Villopoto camp when his equally long serving mechanic Jon Micheff (left) was let go just two weeks before Glen Helen.
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