DR: Are you looking forward more to supercross or the outdoors?
JG: Supercross is more my style. I like the flash of it and the atmosphere.
Cody Cooper
DR: When did you get the call to be on Joe Gibbs Yamaha?
CC: We'd been talking with about four rounds to go (in the 2008 outdoor series). My manager had spoken to them at the beginning of the year, but they'd already gotten their riders. It just fell into place. Everything went well, and after des Nations I got on their bike and started riding, so I've been on it for a little while now.
DR: Did the change require a move?
CC: Yeah, I've moved up to North Carolina where the team's based. I like the area and it's easy training with other people. We've got a trainer who works with us every day; I've always got someone to do that with. And someone to ride with. We all hang out as mates, too. It's pretty fun.
DR: The impression is that you had a pretty minor support ride prior to joining this new team, which is considered a big, all-encompassing team. What's the biggest change?
CC: I've been on the big Honda team in Australia so it's sort of like that, but on a bigger scale. It just feels the same to me, doing the same riding and I don't want to really get into the big side of it...all I've got to think about is riding and training and being as good as I can. That's my job. The team is great. All the stuff they've provided us to train and do what we need to do is mind blowing, pretty much.
DR: How's it been adapting to the new bike?
CC: Good, A couple times when I first got on it, it felt different, but now when I get on, it's what I'm expecting. I know what it feels like when I'm not even sitting on it.
DR: In the 2008 outdoors you were the only guy who could match Stewart's speed on several occasions. It put you in the spotlight. What are your goals for 2009?
CC: For motocross I definitely want to do better than I did this season. Top five will beat it. Supercross is still a little bit away, but I want to do the Switzerland supercross before I set some goals. Get a race under my belt and see where I'm at and then I can set some realistic goals.
DR: What's the supercross track like that you train on at the Joe Gibbs facility?
CC: It seems pretty easy at the moment. After coming out here and riding the Yamaha test track, that one's pretty gnarly.
DR: Is supercross fun for you or is it more of a struggle?
CC: I think it's quite fun, but now and then I get frustrated. It's just only because I want to be...you gotta put the effort in, so it's hard when I try to learn something and it's not happening. But it takes time. I've got to just gradually go into it, otherwise I won't be riding at all, I might get hurt. So I just take it one step at a time.
Dirt Rider Gone Skate
Dirt Rider isn't usually known for influencing any of the skateboarding industry-until now. Hawaiian local Justin Burbage was spotted at a local skate comp in Mililani, Hawaii, sporting his Dirt Rider shirt proudly while showing off his signature "Flick" trick. Way to represent and thanks for the support.
Photo: J.B. White
Photo: J.B. White