PP: How has it been working with Roger?
CR: It's been fun. The advice that he has is different from the advice I've had before. He's a rider that's been there himself, he's been around a lot of very talented people and I think he gets it. And that's something I've never had in a team manager. I think he gets me and he does his job and he plays his role. He doesn't want to be your best friend, he doesn't want to be your man friend, he doesn't get emotional over you saying this doesn't do this or that doesn't do that. He's just a guy with an open mind at all times, and he's just willing to make things better, and that's what it takes to be the best team out there. And I believe we have a really strong team, the best one.
PP: So here we are, Thursday afternoon, before Anaheim 3, there's tarp over the track, I saw some raindrops coming down. Are you looking forward to a mud race, or is that something that concerns you?
CR: Either way I'm okay. It's So Cal. They're claming rain, it's raining right now, but who knows how long it's going to stick around. All we can do now is prepare and if it's raining then it's going to be a tough race. This is the McGrath (designed) track and I did press day to day, and it's probably one of the more technical tracks that we're going to see all year long. To have that muddy, it's going to be extremely tough on everybody. In those situations you've gotta be on your game and get a good start and stay out of trouble. It can go both ways. You can lose a lot of points, or you can gain a lot. So I'm gonna try to do what I've been doing, put myself in a good position, and take advantage of the situation.
PP: You talked earlier of adjusting the number of laps based on lap times, you're already thinking like a promoter. After this series is over, tell me a little about your plans when you go back to race in Australia.
CR: Being involved in promoting Australian supercross has really given me an insight and outlook to the sport from a different angle. I sometimes get caught up in it and I'm the fan and the rider too much. You don't really see that if the track sucks, or it's a particular way, or the berm's low here or it's low over here - those things, there are reasons why it's like that. After working in Australia last year I've really seen it from a different view, and I think I'm more understanding. I don't think I was the only one bitching, but I really understand this year there's a real reason why it's like that. If you've got a really short track, then add a few laps to it. But a short track, sometimes, you're talking about trying to give other people a chance to win. If James and I get bad starts on a short track and short lap times, a sprinter can get a good start and go. They've got a good chance of holding us off, so it's all a two way street, and there's always different ways to look at it.
PP: So you're sitting in a good position in the series. Have you been doing anything different, or are you just keeping it business as usual during the week?
RD: I haven't really switched a lot up, but I think there's progress to be made, for sure. But I think with my program, with time, it will come over the season. Things are going really well, I've had some great finishes. I'm really enjoying it and I'm having fun. But the Pro Circuit guys aren't making it easy, they're right there, right behind me. Weimer's putting up a good fight and hey, it's gonna be a battle maybe to the end even. We'll have to see. These next two rounds it'll be nice to get a couple wins if not be right up there, but then we have a nice break, so it'll be good to finish strong.
PP: Last year you got some really good results on the 450. Two questions here - do you have any plans to get out there in the Supercross class, and what bike will you ride (new rules allow a rider to race a 250F in the 450 class)
RD: I'm not gonna lie, the 450 was a lot of fun last year. It was probably one of the best times of my life. I think last year it was something to get in, get my feet wet, have fun. There was no pressure to do anything, and there wouldn't be this year, but I think if I were to do it now, I want a whole off season to prepare for it and I want to come into it swinging. If I were to race the Supercross class (this year), I'd do it on a 450. I would like to have the power, except if if were Daytona. There I'd like to ride the Lites bike, it would be fun.
PP: I heard last year when you raced some 450 supercross rounds you were doing it to keep your head out of your own series, and keep you busy and keep you in shape. What are you going to do during the break this year?
RD: I'd like to get a headstart on outdoors. To be honest I haven't really thought about it, I've been focused on the West coast championship, trying to get these rounds in and then we'll take it from there. Eight weeks is a long time to just hang out and chill. I think, too, like you said, last year I went into the break just not knowing what to do. 'I don't know where I'm at, I have to find myself.' And racing that (450) just brought back the fun, I got to race in my hometown, it was so much fun that I found myself enjoying it and realized what I'm doing this for and just realizing what life's all about. There's a lot more to life than just racing. I really feel like I found myself.
PP: Here we are before Anaheim 3. Are you watching the weather report? And what do you feel if it's going to be a mud race?
Anaheim 3 could be a mud ...
Anaheim 3 could be a mud race
RD: This morning I woke up, the first thing I saw was the radar. I'm like, 'Dang it, it's coming!' But it is what it is. Like Anaheim 1 last year. We had a few mud races in the West coast and everybody's got to race it. And not to take any serious chances. Just being smart, play it safe. You can't control everything, right? You've just got to have faith in it.