“Billy The Kid”
Interview with Billy Laninovich
Story & Photo by Eddie Graveline
www.motopress.net
 If you follow the American MX scene
very closely, you’re well aware of the fact that a good portion of the
professional talent comes out of Southern California. That’s not to say that
other regions and states don’t produce plenty of good riders. It’s just that
the MX community in So-Cal is so big, that an abundance of really fast guys is
inevitable. Meet one of the latest in that group, Billy Laninovich (it’s
pronounced Lan-uh-vich). Based out of San Diego, the 18-year-old has been
ripping up the California amateur scene for years. As an Intermediate, he has
had some great on-track rivalries with guys like Sean Hamblin, Turbo Reif and
Bobby Bonds. Unlike some of his cohorts, though, Billy won’t hit the National
scene as a privateer or on a small satellite team. Billy will make his entrance
at Anaheim in January aboard a Factory KTM SX125. He’s got a two-year contract
to ride the orange bikes, which will give him the luxury of being able to learn
his way around for the first year. Billy was in Las Vegas during the U.S. Open
to attend the KTM team press intro and I cornered him for a few minutes to find
out how things were going. We didn’t have a whole lot of time to talk, but I
can tell you that Billy is a very nice guy and I’ll be following up with him
during the upcoming season.
Billy, as an amateur, I know that you
had good support and good equipment, but what’s it like to enter the pro ranks
on a factory team, aboard the best equipment possible?
“It’s been my dream since I was a
little kid to be a professional racer. It’s the best feeling ever. I
couldn’t be happier. I got on a really good team with KTM. Hopefully I can do
good next year.”
What were the highlights of your amateur
career?
“I won man titles at Vegas (World
minis) and at Loretta’s (National Amateur Championship) I won a few titles. I
won two titles in Texas this year, so I have a few amateur titles.”
Will you be riding any of the big
off-season invitationals or any overseas races?
“I think I’m going to do the Glen
Helen Invitational.”
 Have you gotten to go riding at the KTM
track yet?
“Yeah, this whole week. I rode with
Ping (David Pingree) and Brock (Sellards).”
Based on riding with those guys, how do
you feel about your own riding? Do you feel you’re ready, or do you need to
move to another level?
“I know that I have a lot to learn.
Ping and Brock, just from watching them at the Supercross test track, they have
a lot of experience. I know I can learn a lot from those guys.”
Do you have much experience on
Supercross type tracks?
“No. I rode the Suzuki test track
one time. This is mainly my first experience on a Supercross track.”
When the Supercross season starts,
you’re going to be having tons of first-time experiences and I would think
that the whole thing will be pretty intense. How do you expect to do in
Supercross this year, realistically?
“I want to use this year as a
learning period. My plans are to hopefully get a few podium finishes. I’ll be
happy with that. I don’t know, though. I know that I’m going to a whole
different level now and the competition is going to be a lot tougher.”
Thanks for taking some time to talk,
Billy. We’ll be watching this year, hoping that another California kid goes
big.
“I
hope so. Thanks.”
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