PP: Any close encounters with the SX stars on the track?
CB: I think I've been pretty good about staying out of their way.
PP: How are you treated out there in general?
CB: Everybody kinda does their own thing. They're just putting in their fast lap and I'm trying to put in my fast lap. Everybody's pretty good about not tangling with each other too much. At least in practice. Racing, I've been cleaned out by guys, I've cleaned other guys out, though. That's the fun of it.
PP: All right, Chris, here's the big question. Did you ever read the pit board I was holding out for you?
PP: Chris?... Hey, Chris?...
Note: The cell phone connection ended here. Chris claims it was a random disconnect. I called him back. He answered the phone like this -
CB: Hey, the phone, it lost service back there.
PP: I think you're buying time to come up with an answer to this question. Did you ever read the pit board I was holding out for you?
CB: I'm not going to lie. No, I didn't read it. Wait, actually I did see it once. I saw a number of some sort.
PP: How helpful is it for you to have someone to come out to the races with you to help out?
CB: You saw at the first race of the year there's a lot going on. We had two or three people running around doing this or that. Usually it's not that bad. The first rounds always seem to be like that, but it's always good to have one person around to give you a hand when you need it. It's nice to have someone to hold your bike when you want to watch practice, or maybe give you a water, a pat on the back. Maybe a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Don't worry, I won't tell anybody about the foot massage you gave me.
PP: Why'd you even say that, I'm recording this conversation. Okay, I mentioned in your intro that you never got nervous. Do you ever get excited or nervous when riding?
CB: Yeah, usually when I make my biggest mistake on the track.
PP: I mean before, when you're waiting in staging or on the line. Do you ever get butterflies?
CB: I got 'em a lot when I was first racing supercross. I don't get them a lot lately, which I think is a bad thing because nerves get your heart racing and get your adrenaline pumping, and you think a lot quicker, charge a little harder.
PP: Give me a riding tip for the novices out there that you see when you're practicing at local, public tracks. What's the biggest mistake you see?
CB: The biggest thing would be line choice. A lot of people come in tight, then brake, then turn, then go back out instead of just making one smooth turn and sweeping around it. Most guys need to go out wider coming in and make it smoother all the way around.
PP: Do you give riding classes?
CB: I get some guys, but really my dad and uncle and I are doing motorcycle repair with Barrett Racing, and I sometimes get some riders wanting lessons that I meet through that. Our number is 760-887-1363, and the best e-mail is cb426mx@hotmail.com.
PP: Who are you sponsors for 2009 SX?
Note: The phone cut out again. A real phone problem, or a ploy to make the first random disconnect more believable?
CB: You know, if you don't want to talk to me anymore, it's cool.
PP: I'm just trying to get to the question you've been waiting for -
CB: Wait, there's one thing. If I get a ticket for talking on the phone while I'm driving, are you guys gonna pay for it?
PP: That's a typical privateer question. I've never had a factory star ask me that. Are you ready for your question to pay some bills? Who are your sponsors for the 2009 supercross season?
CB: Alright. We've got AXO, Yoshimura, Maxxis, X-Brand Goggles, Bell Helmets, Orange County Honda, Leo's Outlaw Racing, and Dirt Rider the main's sponsor. You guys got me a bike to ride for doing a Long Haul with the new Honda CRF450.
PP: How are you liking that bike?
CB: I'm loving it. The bike is awesome.
PP: What have you done to it for supercross?
CB: We did some suspension and put a Yoshimura pipe on it, and went a little bigger on the rear sprocket, and put on the cool RidePG.com graphics.
PP: What are your outdoor plans for 2009?
CB: Actually, I kinda want to go do some more Endurocross, and do the Glen Helen National and Hangtown, and maybe even some WORCS races. I gotta work on my endurance for that.
PP: Your feelings won't be hurt if I pit board for Ricky Yorks at Anaheim II, will they?
CB: No, I didn't qualify, I didn't perform, you're moving on to the next guy. I know how it works. Actually, thanks for mechanicing for me.