Q - Chad, you had an exciting night.
A - It was good. I loved the track. I loved the dirt. I’m disappointed and pissed off. Little mistakes like when coming through the lappers, I have to get better at that. A couple of things were out of my hands, there were a couple of a Tuff Blox and I landed on one and got caught up on it and lost a lot of ground. I felt strong.
Q - Were you doing that triple-triple after the start and the first whoops?
A - I never did it until the main event. I wanted to do it in the main event right away. I was watching James. I felt comfortable doing what I was doing. In a couple of laps I made mistakes and he just got right up on me. He passed me there. I was like hey I have to do it, I have to pull the trigger. I’m excited. I’m super-pumped that I did that. Normally that’s something you just do in practice. I felt confident in me and my bike and just did it. I was happy for that.
I felt like I had a lot of fight in me tonight. I felt good on the bike. The bike was awesome. We made a lot of changes from the heat to the main. It was a lot better. I got the start again. I felt good. I felt great in the whoops, the jumps, the turns. Those mistakes cost me the win. I can handle that. That is something I can go home and work on. It’s not good when you are chasing things on the bike. The bike is good.
Q - What will you different for next week?
A - I will just keep doing the same as I have been doing. Dallas is going to be a lot different. This is by far the best track, preparation, dirt, layout, that I have ridden in 4 years. We are probably going to go to one of the worst this weekend (in terms of dirt). Who knows what the layout is going to be? I enjoyed this track and let’s see what next week brings.
Q - What should the AMA do about Sorby, he seems to get in your way?
A - It is what it is. What can you do? It’s one of those things where if you have friends and if he is willing to do that, good for you. I don’t agree with it. You have to watch out for him (Sorby). You know it’s coming. You don’t know what he is going to do, if he is going to slow down, or if he is going to take you wide and take you out. All the above have been done at this point so you just never know.
Sorby sent this response in via email.
Hey everyone,
This weekend was a good weekend for me, I got 5th in my heat race and after coming from dead last in the main event I ended up 13th overall.
I need to clarify something before rumors get ugly. I heard how Chad Reed was complaining about me because I am always in his way because I am friends with James Stewart. Being friends with another rider doesn't mean I do his dirty work for him. I focus on my riding and my career. Not James' or anyone else's.
In San Francisco, I never saw Chad and I was keeping my line in the outside. This weekend I guess he complained (no surprise), because this time I was in the inside like the pictures show. There is nothing I can do anymore. Do I need to go off the track when I see him? I don't think so. I also blocked James before the triple and I didn't mean it. It's all part of racing, if you make a mistake people automatically assume you did it on purpose.
I honestly respect Chad, he is a very good rider. I like watching him ride because he has so much talent and I respect him like a champion. But when he disrespects some riders, like Tedesco in the past , or RC last week on the Racerx.com and me again, I don't really feel as though it fair. I am not here to cry about it but just here to clear things up before it affects me and my reputation.
Stewart doesn't need anyone to help him for the championship, to me he is most talented rider. RC is not here anymore, and I think it's James' turn to step up in the reigns and take over...is that what makes Chad mad? Who knows, but I just want everyone to know I am not here to help him, I'm here to help myself and become a better rider. I don't worry about anyone else's racing career but my own and that's the bottom line. All the rider's do what they have to, to be where they are at right now, and I do the same. Racing is my passion it's been my whole life, and I would never jeopardize in any way.
To all my fans out there who have stuck by my side through everything in the years, I want to specially thank you. You are what keeps me going out their on the track. and I will promise to make that 2 -stroke on the main event if not this year then for sure in 08. You can all stick me to it.
Thanks again,
eric sorby
