. Garry McCoy - Team Xerox Ducatiw-sbk/moto gp motorcycle racing rider interviews

> DRIVER / RIDER INTERVIEWS:

I've been fortunate enough in the last almost 30 years to visit circuits and speedways around the world and in my travel I've bumped into motorcycle racers and racing car drivers from all the major world series. Here's the interviews for...
NASCAR Nextel Cup . WSBK . F1 . Champ Car / IRL Stars

Garry McCoy - WSBK / MotoGP

It was a resolute, determined and optimistic Garry McCoy I met at the Melbourne Australia Ducati dealership ahead of the 2004 World Superbike race in nearby Phillip Island, Victoria.

To say Garry McCoy endured a tragic and hapless 2003 season in MotoGP (and perhaps even 2002) would be an understatement. Not only that "those green things were just too fast", the Kawasaki he'd been riding suffered from lack of developement, and the whole thing fell to bits when he fell and broke his arm, just another injury in his incredible heroic saga of racer's mind over temporal body.

His 2004 season, this time with a WSBK ride, had already begun with a series of challenges. Not only was he changing from the MotoGP modified rockets to a different handling and heavier production based series, he hadn't signed to the Ducati team until the 11th hour, there had been little (if any) testing available, and his first race with the new team's efforts went down the drain after a botched promise to stop the race should rain fall in Valencia meant that he had to weather the sudden downpour on slicks! Still, Garry, almost a posterboy for the "little Aussie Battler" is perservering and playing up his hopes of riding his Ducati to success this year and returning with time to MotoGP, clearly where his heart is and where he feels he still has much to prove.

So where does Garry like to spend time when he's on the road with his racing? "Really we don't get all that much time off to look around. With Grand Prix racing for example you're racing almost every 2 weeks, you spend a few days at and around the track and try to get home for a little while before it's off again."

And where's home? "Andora, Spain, around 6 hours from Valencia Cheste and 2 from Barcelona. On the French and Spanish border. Lots of riders live there. It's very, very nice."

So how are your travel plans made? "The team organizes when and where I have to be, and they pass that on to my girlfriend, Genna. After she's made arrangements based on that, she hands it on to me," he smiles, "for final approval".

Handy, I thought. "Do you suggest stopping at cool places en route? Do you like to do that?" "Sure," he smiles again, "I always intend to stop here or there, particularly when the races are out of Europe and its a long haul, but it always seems to fall apart and I just go straight to the race place."

So where on the MotoGP and WSBK tours do you look forward to visiting? "Australia, of course, I've got a place up in Northern Queensland that I like to visit around race time and during the off season, and when you get to Phillip Island if it's warm through the enitre weekend, which is rare, since it always seems to be 4 seasons in one day, you couldn't ask for a better place! Let's hope it's like that for the race on Sunday. Then I like to get to Malaysia because of the heat there, I like warmer climates, that's why I got the place in tropical North Queesnsland. One place that I can tell you that I don't much like to visit is Japan, it's not that it's a bad place, it just almost always seems cold and wet. I really like the heat. Also I don't feel comfortable there because, of all the places I've visited, so few people there seem to speak English."

And what about as a kid? I know Australian children are brought up living and breathing motorsports, with so many great destinations in what is primarily a "revhead" culture. "Yeah, my folks took me to racetracks and I remember watching some great riders who are now either in Veteran Classes or retired, like Glen Bell and Geoff Link. I remember as a kid going to the speedway just up the road from where we lived, Oran Park, where they held a round of the Australian Motorcross Titles. That was cool. But soon I told them 'I want to be a racer' and our trips turned from spectating to competing in races."

Garry checks out a Ducati 999R... lovely!
So, where's the best motor museum Garry's ever seen? "I gotta say the best one I've seen is at Motegi Japan, at the circuit. It's run by Honda and they have cars, bikes, and even lawnmowers there. (laughs). It really is special. They have other makes there, like I remember seeing Wayne Rainee and Kenny Roberts' Yamahas there. That's a trip worth taking!"

And had he seen the Museum at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit that holds, amongst other things, a Wayne Gardener World Championship Bike? "No, unfortunately I never got a chance. But I will now you mention it!"

I told him that if the Island put up all 4 seasons this weekend, I'd take him on a tour of the museum myself!

Piergiorgio Bontempi - W-SBK

Representing Suzuki on a #5 Zongshen Team - Suzuki GSX 1000R, this affable Italian says the Phillip Island Circuit is a favorite for the challenges AND the views. Read the exclusive grandprixcities Bontempi interview.

Pier Francesco Chili - W-SBK / MotoGP

What can I say? Yes, I met the legend himself. Fearless Pier Francesco Chilli says he is getting a little tired of traveling, but still looks forward to some great competition on world class circuits! I've been blessed to meet Famous Fast Folks (interviews) in my life but spending 30 minutes with Frankie was a thrill I'll never forget.

Troy Corser - W-SBK / MotoGP

Aussie motorcycle legend Troy Corser says he doesn't have time to be a tourist. He's too busy doing what he does - riding bikes!

Jiri Mrkyvka - SS / SBK

Bike (#23 JM SBK Team - Ducati 988RS) & language problems meant for a short interveiw with the pride of the Czech Republic, Jiri Mrkyvka, but I did get a promise to follow up via an interpreter by email ASAP! INTERVIEW EVENTUALLY.

Gianluca Nannelli - SS / W-SBK / MotoGP

Italian racer Gianluca Nannelli who in 2003 was riding the #69 Team Pedercini Ducati, says he gets up to surf at 7am on the perfect March waters off Phillip Island, Australia. "Extra Cool!"

James Toseland - W-SBK / MotoGP

Factory Ducati whiz James Toseland reflects on his times traveling with his career. James went on to win the 2004 WSBK World Championship on his #52 Ducati Fila 999F04. Amazingly charming (and talented) individual.

Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh - SS / W-SBK / MotoGP

The young Flying Dutchman, Van Den Goorbergh is a verteran of many series in his young life. You name it, he's raced it across the many corners of the world, but the hardest to visit is his homeland, Assen, the Netherlands. Jurgen Van Den Goorabergh

Chris Vermeulen - SS / W-SBK / MotoGP

Young Aussie rider Chris Vermeulen is causing quite a stir, vaulting from SuperSports Champ to the front end of the big league world sbk in 2004 and onto MotoGP in 2006! Nice guy too.

Chris Walker - / W-SBK / MotoGP

When I met Chris "the Stalker" Walker he was riding the #9 Foggy Petronas FP1. He told me that his motorsport travel itinerary will include more and more "stops on the way". Read the interview.

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